On April 20, 2018, Friar Marco TASCA, the Minister General; Friar James McCURRY, the Minister Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of the Angels in the USA; and Friar Ciprian BUDĂU, the Custos of the Provincial Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa in Great Britain-Ireland, made some visits together.
The three friars visited the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore Maryland (USA) to examine the missal which is believed to be the one which St. Francis opened three times to discern how he was to follow the Lord. This missal is currently in restoration (a two year project), but the curators of the Walters Gallery were most gracious in hosting the friars and explaining the history of this missal which originates from the Church of St. Nicolo in Assisi, Italy.
The next day, Friar Marco, the 119th Minister General of the Order, met with Friar Joachim GIERMEK, the 118th Minister General of the Order, in Ellicott City, Maryland (USA). They discussed the state of the Order and shared information about the friars.
Later that day, Friar Marco and Friar Jude, the Assistant General for the Conventual Franciscan Federation (CFF), visited the post-novitiate formation house in Silver Spring, Maryland. This is one of two post-novitiate formation houses in the United States for the Federation, the other being in San Antonio, Texas (USA). Friar Brad MILUNSKI is currently the director and Friar James MOORE is the assistant director, although with Chapters currently being held in the United States, this will soon change.
Friar Jude WINKLER, Assistant General for the CFF