On Friday, November 12, 2021, a new stained glass window honoring †Father Ignatius MATERNOWSKI, OFM Conv. (1912-1944) was blessed in the small church in Cauquigny, Normandy, France.
Friar James McCURRY, OFM Conv., the Minister Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of the Angels in the USA [OLA] blessed the window honoring Father Ignatius, who was a member of the OLA Province. Father Ignatius was the only United States chaplain to be killed on D-Day, June 6, 1944, during World War II. The people of Normandy would like to preserve the memory of his heroic death.
In his homily, Friar James said, “The first Franciscan friars came to Normandy by foot in the 13th century, during the lifetime of their founder, St. Francis of Assisi. Over seven hundred and fifty years later, another Franciscan Friar arrived in Normandy, not by foot but by parachute. Father Ignatius MATERNOWSKI, a Conventual Franciscan priest and chaplain, came here to Amfreville, Picauville, Guetteville and Cauquigny, on June 6, 1944 – D-Day […] Father Ignatius shed his blood here in the soil of Normandy a few hours after he arrived. He was the only American chaplain who died on D-Day. […] This beautiful new stained-glass window in the Chapel of Cauquigny will forever remind us that heroic love is possible–love of country, love of humanity, love of God. The artist of the window, Mr. Joseph Beyer of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the United States, has depicted Father Ignatius as a hero of love, wearing the grey habit of the Conventual Franciscan Order and displaying the uniform of the 82nd Airborne Division. Actually, Father Ignatius was a man who wore three different uniforms–each distinct: his Franciscan robes, his priestly vestments, and his soldier’s battle dress.”
At the end of his speech, Friar James gave thanks to all who made the celebration and blessing ceremony possible.
For more information on the life of Friar Ignatius MATERNOWSKI and the blessing of his stained glass window, please visit:
https://www.olaprovince.org/2019/09/26/in-memoriam-fr-ignatius-maternowski/
and:
https://www.olaprovince.org/2021/11/12/provincial-visit-to-normandy/
Editorial Board
