On Sunday, November 7, 2021, Friar Raymond BORKOWSKI, a member of the Province of Our Lady of the Angels in the USA, celebrated his 60th anniversary of priestly ordination. The event took place at the Church of St. Paul in Kensington, Connecticut, USA. The large group attending the event included Conventual Franciscan Friars, Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, family members, friends and local parishioners.
Friar Raymond has been carrying out pastoral ministry at the Church of St. Paul since 2010, but his sixty-seven years as a Conventual Franciscan Friar include years of study in the USA and Italy, followed by service in varied ministries including teaching, vocation ministry, formation work, pastoral ministry and missionary work. In the St. Paul Parish bulletin, dated November 7, the Pastor, Friar Joseph BENICEWICZ, stated: “Friar Raymond has served the Franciscans and the Church in so many ways over the years. He often has a smile on his face and is ready to share a story or a memory that is often accompanied by one of his hearty laughs! His Franciscan spirit is alive and well, sixty-seven years after his profession of vows.” The event was a great way to start off National Vocation Awareness Week. Friar Raymond was the main celebrant at his anniversary Mass. Several of his confreres concelebrated, including the Minister Provincial, Friar James McCURRY, who delivered the homily.
Other friars in attendance included Friar Joseph BENICEWICZ (Pastor of St. Paul Church), Friar Michael ENGLERT, (Parochial vicar of St. Paul Church), Friar Mark CURESKY (Pastor of St. John Catholic Church in Cromwell, Connecticut), Friar Piotr TYMKO (Parochial Vicar of St. Paul Church), Friar Richard-Jacob FORCIER (Provincial Secretary, Director of the Shrine of St. Anthony and Spiritual Director of the Companions of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Maryland, USA), Friar Vincent VIVIAN, Friar Mitchell SAWICKI (Chaplain for the Our Lady of the Angels Care Center), Friar Charles JAGODZINSKI and Friar Mieczyslaw WILK (Parochial Vicar at the Basilica of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr in Chicopee, Massachusetts, USA).
Province of Our Lady of the Angels
