Saturday, May 1, 2021 marked the season opener weekend (photos to come) for our Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site., including Masses celebrated by our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. Throughout the Summer Season (May 1 – October 31), services will be held in their outdoor Saint Maximilian Kolbe Pavilion, rain or shine. They will celebrate a 4:30 p.m. Vigil Mass on Saturday and a 10:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, every week. The Grounds are open 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. daily with the Shrine Office open Friday through Tuesday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.. The Office is closed on Wednesday and Thursday. The Shrine also has a Gift Shop, open Friday-Sunday-Monday-Tuesday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Gift Shop is closed on Wednesday and Thursday. St. Peter’s Chapel and Native American Exhibit are also currently still closed, but the Candle Chapel, Outdoor Sanctuary, and Hiking Trails have remained open year-round, dawn to dusk, weather permitting. Summer Calendar
Note: You may have noticed the new logo featuring the iconic main building that welcomes visitors to the Shrine. This building reflects both the spiritual and cultural mission of the Shrine, as it houses both the Native American Museum and Saint Peter’s Chapel, named in honor of Saint Kateri’s place of baptism. The color purple acknowledges the Iroquois Confederacy; the people who lived on this site historically ~ Saint Kateri Tekakwitha’s people.
Artist/Author Karla Korzach (at center) of soon-to-be-published St. Kateri Coloring Book, pictured with her husband Walter, and (left to right) St. Kateri National Shrine Director ~ Fr. Timothy Lyons, OFM Conv., renowned Algonquin member Terry Steele, Mrs. and Mr. Korzach, and our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.
St. Joseph, Light of Patriarchs Reflection by Our Lady of the Angels Province, Minister Provincial The Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.
St. Joseph, Husband of Mary Reflection by Our Lady of the Angels Province, Vicar Provincial Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv.
St. Joseph the Worker – Year of St. Joseph Reflection by Our Lady of the Angels Province Friar and Assistant General of our Order of Friars Minor Conventual Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv.
The Prayer of Saint Joseph & St. Joseph – Guardian of Christ Recited and Reflection by and our Province Vocation Director Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv.
There are two Feast Days devoted to St. Joseph as an individual: March 19th is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary & May 1st is the Feast of St. Joseph, the Worker. The shared Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is celebrated the Sunday after Christmas, each year. The March 19th Feast Day is the most commonly celebrated Feast Day of St. Joseph throughout the world. Although a remembrance of St. Joseph on March 19th goes back as far as the 10th century, March 19th was officially established a Feast Day by Pope Pius V in 1570. It was not until 1955 that Pope Pius XII established the second Feast Day on May 1st, as the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, coinciding with May Day – International Workers’ Day. During this Year of St. Joseph (December 8, 2020 – December 8, 2021), the faithful are also encouraged to remember St. Joseph on the 19th of each month and every Wednesday. Reflections from Vatican News
Although it really can be started at any time, traditionally each year, on March 10th, many of the faithful begin a St. Joseph Novena. Many versions can be found online and it is also prayed after Mass in many parishes, from March 10th until March 18th. The online resources are a great way to join in prayer during these times of pandemic restrictive protocol.
Official Prayer of the Year of St. Joseph To thee, O blessed Joseph, we have recourse in our affliction, and having implored the help of thy thrice holy Spouse, we now, with hearts filled with confidence, earnestly beg thee also to take us under thy protection. By that charity wherewith thou wert united to the Immaculate Virgin Mother of God, and by that fatherly love with which thou didst cherish the Child Jesus, we beseech thee and we humbly pray that thou wilt look down with gracious eye upon that inheritance which Jesus Christ purchased by His blood, and wilt succor us in our need by thy power and strength. Defend, O most watchful guardian of the Holy Family, the chosen off-spring of Jesus Christ. Keep from us, O most loving Father, all blight of error and corruption. Aid us from on high, most valiant defender, in this conflict with the powers of darkness. And even as of old thou didst rescue the Child Jesus from the peril of His life, so now defend God’s Holy Church from the snares of the enemy and from all adversity. Shield us ever under thy patronage, that, following thine example and strengthened by thy help, we may live a holy life, die a happy death, and attain to everlasting bliss in Heaven. Amen.
Composed by Pope Leo XIII in his 1889 encyclical, Quamquam Pluries.
His Eminence Wilton Cardinal Gregory, the Archbishop of Washington, celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Good Counsel (April 26) with a visit to Our Lady of Good Counsel High School. Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Tom Lavin, OFM Conv. has served as Chaplain at the Olney, MD high school since August 2015.
Cardinal Gregory celebrated Mass alongside Friar Tom before taking a brief tour of the campus, visiting their grotto, and meeting some of the students. Due to COVID restrictions, the Mass was Livestreamed to all the classrooms and to the virtual students, at home. A small group attended the Mass in person, as a representation of the greater school community.
Kevin Abdo -Director of Campus Ministry, Paul Barker -President, Cardinal Gregory, Fr. Tom Lavin, OFM Conv. -Chaplain, and Tom Campbell -Principal
A small sampling of the larger group who gathered for Mass and then Dinner, from the Syracuse University Catholic Community, stopped to take a quick photo with Friar James.
As travel restrictions begin to soften up a bit, but with strict care, caution, & safety protocols still in place, our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. is once again able to begin his Provincial Visits with the friars, friaries and ministries of our province. Last night, Friar James was able to join the Catholic Community at Syracuse University to celebrate evening Mass, followed by a community dinner, at their Catholic Center.
Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Fr. Gerry Waterman, OFM Conv. has been serving as Catholic Chaplain at Syracuse University since August 2016, while residing in the St. Francis Friary; home to nine friars, serving in six ministries. Friar James will also visit our friars in Rensselaer, and visit our National Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine, in Fonda, for the May 1st Season Opening of the Shrine, before leaving the New York area.
Over the next few months, three of our friar students plan to profess the Solemn Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. Here is a bit about what they have been experiencing during their Apostolic Year of Formation:
In 2019, friar Richard Rome, OFM Conv. participated in the JPIC Summer Experience in Shamokin, Lexington, Colombia, and El Salvador, led by Fr. Michael Lasky, OFM Conv., along side four more student friars, with a “home base” set up as Mother Cabrini Friary, in Shamokin, PA. In May 2020, friar Richard returned to the Shamokin area to begin his Apostolic Experience serving as Coordinator for FAR (Faith Alliance for Revitalization) of The Franciscan Center, in Coal Township, PA. There he has been working in conjunction with our three friar priest who are in pastoral ministry in Shamokin, Coal Township and Trevorton, PA. In a video on FranciscanVoice.org, friar Richard sums up his time in ministry there as this: “We don’t just serve in the churches here. It is not just Sacramental Ministry only. There is more to it than that. We get to go out of the friary and out of the churches, to serve the people of God; to meet them where they are at, to meet them in their struggles, in their joys, and walk ‘with’ them as we are all working together to rebuild Shamokin.”
In September 2020, a short lived opening in the USA/Canadian Border, afforded friar Tim Blanchard, OFM Conv. the opportunity to begin his Apostolic Experience, serving alongside our friars in Toronto, ON, and focusing on ministering to the people of The Franciscan Church at St. Bonaventure and to the needs of St. Clare Inn (a transitional housing project that offers accommodation to homeless women between the ages of 30-60 who are struggling with a diagnosed mental health issue). He also spent countless hours working behind the scenes on digital content for these ministries, and new content for the province JPIC Commission and Vocation Offices.
Although this school year has been a very challenging one for all, the Fraternal/Apostolic Experience (last year of formation) for friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv. has also been a joy filled one. Since August 2020, he has been serving alongside our friars in Columbus, GA, with his main focus in ministry to the St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School (PreK – 12th Grade) students and St. Anne Catholic Church parishioners. The intent when he first began the school year was to assist with campus ministry programming, offer classes to all grade levels on Franciscan Spirituality, and pitch in where needed should a teacher be absent or out for a couple of days. The year proved to be so much more.
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Another friar who will be Professing Solemn Vows this year, is Fr. Louis Maximilian Smith, OFM Conv., who serves in Campus Ministry at The Catholic University of America. Friar Louis Maximilian is a friar priest who has transfiliated from another Order, and has been in formation to become a Solemnly Professed Franciscan Friar Conventual with our province, since 2018.
Keep friar Richard, friar Tim, friar Franck in your prayers, as they finishes up their Apostolic Experience, and then mve onto a month long preparation (including communal and private prayer, fraternal interaction, and a retreat) for Solemn Vow Profession this Summer. Also please keep Fr. Louis Maximilian in your prayers as his 3-yr probationary period comes to and end, and he can now fully become a Solemnly Professed member of our province.
For more information on discernment as a Franciscan Friar Conventual of our province, visit FranciscanVoice.org
April 12-19, 2021: Our Lady of the Angels Province JPIC (Justice, Peace & the Integrity of Creation) Commission Chairman, Fr. Michael Lasky, OFM Conv. visited the North American Novitiate, to speak about social justice, his experience in his JPIC Ministries in Shamokin, PA and the 2019 JPIC Summer Experience he had with five student friars in Shamokin, Lexington, Colombia, and El Salvador. The 2020-2021 Class of Novices were grateful for the quality time they spent with Friar Michael.
Great Job, St. Lucie Catholic Church, our pastoral ministry in Port St. Lucie, FL, served by Fr. Mark Szanyi, OFM Conv. (pastor), Fr. Curt Kreml, OFM Conv. (parochial vicar), and Fr. Gabriel Scasino, OFM Conv. (parochial vicar).
Season One is presented Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv.
(Province Vocation Director) and in
Season Two, a variety of friars tell the tales of their vocation journeys:
The friars of our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody, living in St. Francis Friary and serving in the Ferns Diocese (Wexford, Ireland) were asked by the Diocese to contribute an reflection for their evangelization website. “The Wonder of God’s Creation in a Flower“ was recently published on the site, by Bro. Solanus Mary Simms, OFM Conv. 
In 2019, friar Richard Rome, OFM Conv. participated in the 
In September 2020, a short lived opening in the USA/Canadian Border, afforded friar Tim Blanchard, OFM Conv. the opportunity to begin his Apostolic Experience, serving alongside our friars in Toronto, ON, and focusing on ministering to the people of 
Although this school year has been a very challenging one for all, the Fraternal/Apostolic Experience (last year of formation) for friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv. has also been a joy filled one. Since August 2020, he has been serving alongside our friars in Columbus, GA, with his main focus in ministry to the 
Another friar who will be Professing Solemn Vows this year, is Fr. Louis Maximilian Smith, OFM Conv., who serves in 
