On June 18-22, 2018, the Capitular friars of the Province of Our Lady of the Angels in the USA met in Buffalo, New York, for the second part of their Ordinary Provincial Chapter.
Friar James McCURRY, the Minister Provincial of the OLA Province was the praeces, and he was assisted by Friar Michael HEINE, the Vicar Provincial.
The friars concluded their preparation of the Province Four-Year Plan and revised the Provincial Statutes. They voted to approve the renovation of certain Province buildings in Rensselaer, NY; Syracuse, NY; and Hamburg, NY. The friars supported a plan to investigate a mission ad gentes during this mandate, and to twin with the friars of African Federation of Conventual Franciscans (AFCOF) to support a new mission in Nigeria. In keeping with the Province’s commitment to take good care of its older friars, they also supported a proposal to assist the Province of Sicily in its renovation of a friary to care for the needs of its elder friars.
The Chapter concluded with the ordination of four friars to the priesthood (Emanuel VENTURA VASCONCELOS, Luis PALACIOS RODRIGUEZ, and Moises Maximilian D’AVILA PACHECO from OLA Province and Jorge Milton (de Jesus) TORRES ALBARRÁN from the Custody of Venezuela).
The Most Reverend Gregory HARTMEYER, OFM Conv., Bishop of Savannah, Georgia, and a member of the Province, presided over the ordination. Friar José Luis ALVENDAÑO MONSALVE, the Custos of the Provincial Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto in Venezuela, was also present for the ordination as was the Most Reverend Elias MANNING, OFM Conv., Bishop Emeritus of Valença, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Friar Jude WINKLER, Assistant General for the CFF (Conventual Franciscan Federation)
