Special Events

Farewell Fr. Michael

On April 24,2014 the F.M.S. of Assisi celebrated a mass of farewell and thanks giving for Fr. Michael who was elected the new Provincial minister of St. Bonaventure province for the OFM Conventual. A delicious supper followed after mass. Sisters gave two gifts:

1.An alb presented by Sr. Mercedes, the oldest in age among the sisters. A reminder of the contribution of the first Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi to Fr. Michael’s initial formation to his priesthood in Ellicott City.

2.Statue of Our Lady of Loreto which was presented by Sr. Cristina Sascau the youngest among us, both in age and in profession. To remind Fr. Michael of Blessed mother Mary’s constant protection, FIAT to God and a model of genuine trust in God.

Sr. Theresa Mwelwa, vice provincial superior expressed her gratitude to Fr. Michael for his generosity and always seeking the best for the Sisters. She went on to thank all the eight Friars present for the good collaboration, keeping alive the bond that existed between St. Francis of Assisi and St. Claire and between our founders Fr. Anthony Marchesselli (OFM conv.) and Mother Angela Delgiglio.
On June 6, 2014 the Sisters again hosted Fr. Michael’s family members, about thirty of them who came by a big bus from Maryland to celebrate Fr. Michael’s twenty fifth anniversary of priesthood. See some pictures.

New Bishop of Springfield-Bishop Mitchell Rozanski

Mitchell Thamas Rozanski was born in Baltimore, Maryland on August 6, 1958. A Baltimore native of Polish-American descent. He is a graduate of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel High School, the Catholic University of America before entering the Theological College at the University of America where he received seminary training.
He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen on November 24, 1984. He served as an associate pastor at St. Michael, Overlea in 1984 and then the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. He was appointed associate pastor at St. Anthony of Padua, Baltimore in 1985 and St. Isaac Jogues, Baltimore in March 1990. He was appointed administrator of Holy Cross and St. Mary Star of the Sea parishes in Baltimore in March 1993, before being appointed pastor there in October. In January 2000 he was appointed temporary administrator of Immaculate Conception, Towson and in June assumed the same duties at St. John before being named pastor on November 28, 2000.

On July 3, 2004 he was named by Pope John Paul 11 as auxiliary Bishop for the Archdiocese of Baltimore and was ordained on August 24, 2004 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. After his ordination as bishop, he served as Vicar general and Episcopal vicar for the Seton Vicariate of the diocese, college consultant for the Archdiocese and Vicar for Hispanics.

Bishop Rozanski has served on the National Committee for the Protection of Youth and Young people. He serves on the advisory Council of the National Association of Catholic Chaplains, Episcopal Moderator of the National Association of the Holy Name Societies, co-chair for the Polish National Church-Roman Catholic Dialoque, Audit Subcommittee of USCCB, Knight Commander of the Royal Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, Consultant to the National Association for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities, Chair of the Ecumenical and Inter-religious Affairs Committee of the USCCB. He will also serve as the liason with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB).
Bishop Rozanski will be installed as the 9th Bishop of Springfield on Tuesday, August 12 at the Cathedral of St. Michael the Archangel, Springfield, MA

Sr. Sofia
From June 9-14,2014, Sr. Sofia attended the Fran J. Lewis Institute for Campus Minister Orientation at De Sales University in Pennsylvania. She was sponsored by U-Mass, where she works part- time for Peer Ministers.
The purpose of this workshop was to gain more knowledge about the document “Empowered by the Spirit,” so as to know how improve and offer better services at UMass.

Sr. Theresa
Sr. Theresa also attended two days workshop June—to–on Spiritual Palliative Care for the terminally ill and the aged, at the Carmelite Sisters in Germantown NY. It was focused on dealing with challenges experienced in caring for patients, etiology of suffering, pain medication, when to and when not to hydrate the patient. It was an intense 9 hours workshop; it is recognized by most health care organizations. Certificates were given to all 50 participants who came from far and near. Presenters included Doctors and Nurses.

Welcome Sr. Claudia Kim – May 20, 2014

With joy we welcome Sr. Claudia Kim from Korea. We thank the Lord for your courage to leave your home land and all that you treasure to come and render service in this part of the world. May God continue to guide and to inspire you. Welcome!
Sr. Theresa

Mansa, Zambia Welcomes a New Franciscan Brother and Bishop

Sr. Theresa and Sr. Victoria who are currently serving in the Vice Province of the Immaculate Conception-USA, are originally from Mansa Diocese. They are happy to spiritually join the people of Mansa, as they proudly adorn and welcome their New Franciscan Brother and Bishop – Chisanga. The people of Mansa are well grounded in their faith.

The church in Zambia is in the hands of Lay people. Majority of the parishioners know and accept the fact that the Pastor’s first task is being a Spiritual shepherd. I thank the Lord that Christianity in Zambia and in many other African countries are flourishing. Many young men and women are responding to God’s call to become Priests or consecrated religious.

The small Christian Communities share church responsibilities such as cleaning the church and its surrounding, church choir, RCIA, CCD, adopting Seminarians and many more. They do this free of charge.

The group of Women’s League are always on the four front to organize such celebrations, in the pictures they are wearing white shirts and blue and white wrapper tops known as chitenge in native language.

“I wish Bishop Chisanga God’s guidance in his new ministry.” – Sr. Theresa Mwelwa, Vice Provincial Superior

50th and 25th Anniversary of Religious Profession in the USA

‘For who can know the ways of the Lord?’

“Did any of these four women ever think that they would be celebrating their 50th or 25th anniversary of religious profession in the United States?” This is one of the questions that Father James McCurry, OFM Conventual asked in his homily at the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Sister Mary D’Angelo, and the 25th anniversaries of Sister Annie Mbewe, Sister Victoria Kamungu, and Sister Agnesa Negru on October 26, 2013. As Sister Theresa Mwelwa, Vice Provincial, noted in her thanks to Father, he took us on a tour of the world, revisiting the different countries and early life circumstances of each of these women who heard God’s call to be a Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Assisi. Italian, Zambian, and Romanian Sisters, like these, have joined Sisters from Korea and the United States, also, to witness and serve in the States since 1961.

We gave thanks to God for these particular Sisters at the Liturgy at the Basilica of Saint Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr, where we have worked with our Friars since 1983. Many friends and family members came: friars from the local area and from all over the Saint Anthony of Padua and Immaculate Conception Provinces came, Sister Mary’s sister and brother-in-law, niece and nephew, and many friends from near and far, and over many years of ministries and memories. Our Sisters renewed their commitment, invited all to sing Mary’s ‘Magnificat’, and greeted all who shared in the joy of the day.

After Mass, over 250 guests gathered in the Parish Center for a meal. Before we ate, we presented a pictorial summary of each Sister’s witness over the years. The hall quieted, our guests’ attention focused and all viewed the pictures with interest and gratitude: the unique circumstances, personalities, and gifts, prayerfulness and service of each Sister came to mind. And, by the end of the meal, gratitude to God broke into song and dance, with Joe Dziok, a young parishioner, playing the accordian to accompany the Sisters and all who joined in the fun. The ‘Brides’ then cut the cake together and the festivities continued.

Thank you, Sisters, for your faithful, and faith-filled lives among us!

New path & Stations of the Cross – June 2013

What an amazing job! Great things happen when people are generous and use their talents to reach out to someone in need. Our sincere gratitude goes to Dr. Daniel, Dominic and Joseph who sponsored this noble project. See our refurbish stations of the cross and a new stone path. Come, walk it! Ponder on your own struggles and share everything with Jesus as you contemplate His redemptive LOVE. Heed Jesus’ invitation “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I’m meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves…”Matthew 11:28-30.