On November 14, 2024, during Mass at the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Maryland, USA, twenty-four friars of the Province of Our Lady of the Angels in the USA were honored for their combined 950 years of service. Fifteen of the jubilarians celebrated anniversaries of profession and another nine celebrated anniversaries of ordination. The Most Reverend Michael T. MARTIN, OFM Conv., Bishop of Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, presided. The Most Reverend Gregory J. HARTMAYER, OFM Conv., Archbishop of Atlanta, Georgia, USA, concelebrated.
“I am honored to be here today in the presence of our brothers who have dedicated so much of their lives to the ministry but more importantly, to the walk of St. Francis of Assisi, which has inspired all our lives to give of ourselves in service of the Gospel,” Bishop MARTIN said.
The Mass was attended by eleven of the jubilarians and about seventy friars. “We give God, thanks for our jubilarians who encourage all of us friars to be faithful to our vows and our ministry to the people of God. I’m glad we’re here to celebrate that,” said the Minister Provincial, Friar Michael HEINE.
In his homily, Friar Andrew SANTAMAURO, who is celebrating his 25th anniversary of priestly ordination, said, “The Kingdom is manifest in our friaries when we’re patient, kind, merciful, empathetic, and yes, forgiving. As we look back on the years that have brought us to this jubilee, in those same friaries, among those same friars, we see countless instances of God’s grace — times when we have experienced His love, mercy, and guidance. We just had to have our eyes open to the possibility.”
Friars celebrating ordination anniversaries:
Friar Paul VARGA – 60 years
Friars Germain KOPACZYNSKI, William ROBINSON, and John RUFFO – 50 years
Friars Jude DeANGELO and Daniel FINK – 40 years
Friar Michael LORENTSEN – 30 years
Friars Abelardo HUANCA MARTÍNEZ and Marek STYBOR – 25 years
Friars celebrating profession anniversaries:
Friar Raymond BORKOWSKI – 70 years
Friars Joseph ANGELINI and Julian ZAMBANINI – 65 years
Friar Robert SCHLAGETER – 50 years
Friars Santo CRICCHIO and Lawrence LaFLAME – 40 years
Friars Robert BENKO, Pedro Miguel DE OLIVEIRA, Michael LASKY, Vincent P. RUBINO, and Gregory SPUHLER – 30 years
Friars Emmanuel O. ACQUAYE, Paul GABRIEL, Daniel LUTOLF, and Andrew SANTAMAURO – 25 years
Friar Andrew concluded his homily by saying, “As we continue to celebrate our jubilee anniversaries, let us give thanks to God for His faithfulness and grace. Let us rejoice in the many ways His Kingdom has been revealed among us and commit ourselves anew to being instruments of His love and peace.”
Kevin A. KEENAN, Director of Communications
