Ave Maria!

We are happy to announce that ten Franciscans of the Immaculate were ordained to the priesthood through the imposition of the hands of His Eminence Crescenzio Card. Sepe, Archbishop of Napoli on March 24, 2007 in the Church of St. Theresa of the Discalced, Naples. This is an incredible blessing to the order and the Church. As the saintly Don Donlindo Ruotolo put it, “The priest is a flower that has bloomed in the magnificence of the love of Jesus Christ … that shines in the splendor of his dignity and excels all others … a rose from the Immaculate Heart of Mary”

There were no Americans ordained this year but one of the ordained, Fra Agnelus from England, made his postulancy and novitiate here in America and several American seminarians were in the Church and are anxiously awaiting their ordination in just a few short years, after which they will be able come back and minster to us here.

Fra Bonaventure from Cameroon was ordained as well. Generous benefactors from the US paid for the plane tickets for his family to come and see his ordination. All those who contributed will be glad to see that they were, in fact, able to come. They stand out in their beautiful traditional African clothes, captured here in some of the slides.

The beautiful church is staffed by the FI sisters who also sang magnificently for the ceremony. Thank you, Jesus and Mary!!

Ave Maria!

The post Video – FiNews #11: Ten Franciscans of the Immaculate Ordained to the Priesthood first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Homily #080705 ( 11min) Play – At this funeral Mass for Thom and Marc Girard at St. Mary’s Church in Baltic we learn of the power of faith in the resurrection to give hope in the face of such loss. Thom was faithful to God and family, truly living his vocation as Father, husband and Knight of Lepanto and imbued this faith to his family. Marc, Thom’s eldest son, received from this faith the desire to give himself to God as a Knight of Lepanto and as a friar here in the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, planning on entering this August. Through this faith he had the strength to try to save his Father and his family had the strength to endure this tragedy with calm and hopeful joy. Fr. Angelo reads part of the Knights of Lepanto induction ceremony which Thom wrote (really a first draft) knowing that his son Marc will be the first to go through the new ceremony last May at the Knight’s Encampment. Farewell, good knights. Farewell, good friends.
Ave Maria!

+++

The post Jul 05 – Homily – Fr Angelo: Funeral Mass for Thom and Marc Girard first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fi News #63 – Team of volunteers set the new altar top in place. ( 05min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Recently the renovations for the chapel at our friary in Bloomington, IN were completed with a full refurbishment of the Sanctuary.  It now has an altar rail, stained glass, and a new altar and rererdos suitable for the Traditional Latin Mass. Archbishop Daniel Mark Buechlein, O.S.B. performed the consecration ceremony. The ground breaking for the new friary, which occurred the same day, will be posted as a separate video.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

+++

The post Video – Fi News #63: Renovation of the Bloomington Chapel first appeared on AirMaria.com.

Fi News #65 – Construction begins on a new Friary for Our Lady in Bloomington, IN ( 04min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

Just when you thought no more exciting news could come from Bloomington we have here the video of the Ground Breaking Ceremony for our new friary which is to hold 35 friars. Thank you to all our benefactors and please keep this project in your prayers.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

+++

The post Video – Fi News #65: Ground Breaking for Bloomington Friary first appeared on AirMaria.com.

On September 7th, 2012, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in Griswold, CT, five postulants were invested as novices and officially became Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate! Along with the caperone (small mantle) and cord, each young man received their new religious name…

Introducing (left to right) Friar Felix Mary of the Holy Face, Friar Eugenio Maria of the Five Wounds, Friar Thomas Mary of the Holy Cross, Friar Gabriel Mary of the Sorrowful Mother and St. Gemma, and Friar Charles Anthony Mary of the Holy Rosary.

Congratulations to our new brothers and may the Immaculate live and breathe through them for the salvation of their souls and those of the whole world!

Ave Maria!

The post Fi News: Five Postulants Invested as Novices first appeared on AirMaria.com.

On Saturday, September 8th, 2012, on the birthday of Our Blessed Mother, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in Griswold, CT, two novices: Friar John Paul Marie and Friar Alphonsus Mary, make their first profession of vows. Giving their lives with the  evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, they profess a fourth public vow: the Marian vow of unlimited consecration to the Immaculate – a first in the history of the Church – a gift for God and for the Church – a gift from Mary, a gift for Mary.

“You have called me Lord, here I am.”

“In your desire to follow Christ perfectly, are you resolved to love the Immaculate unlimitedly, to live in chastity for the sake of the kingdom of heaven, to embrace voluntary poverty, and to offer the sacrifice of obedience?”

“I am.“

“In the presence of my brothers, I, Friar John Paul Marie of Our Lady of Grace, desiring to give praise to God, with the firm will to observe more perfectly the Gospel of Christ, and perceiving that the Lord has given me this grace, vow in your hands, Father Ignatius Mary of the Sacred and Immaculate Hearts, for one year, to observe the Rule of St. Francis of Assisi confirmed by Pope Honorius, the Traccia, A Marian Plan of Franciscan Life, and the Constitutions of the Institute of the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, living in total consecration to the Immaculate, in obedience, without anything of my own, and in chastity…

Therefore, I entrust myself with all my heart to this fraternity, to put into effect my total consecration to the service of God and neighbor, through the enabling action of the Holy Spirit, the intercession of the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary, our Father St. Francis, St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, and all the saints, and with your fraternal help.”

“And I, in the name of the Church and our brotherhood, receive your vows, and on the part of almighty God, if you observe them, I promise you life everlasting.”

(Signing the formula of profession at the altar.)

“Lord God, † bless these capuches as a sign of the protection of the Immaculate. May it enable these your servants to serve you in ardent love, holy purity, and modesty, in imitation of Her who is pure and ever Virgin, through Christ Our Lord.”

“May the Lord place on your head the capuche of salvation to fight and conquer the snares of the devil, with the maternal protection of the Immaculate which you bear in your heart and over your heart.”

“Receive, brother, the Rule of our Order, the book of Life, the marrow of the Gospel, the way of perfection, that by observing it you may attain to perfect charity.”

“Amen.”

(Friar Camillo Mary of the Passion makes his first renewal of vows.)

Friar John Paul Marie of Our Lady of Grace and Friar Alphonsus Mary of Our Lady of Sorrows

Congratulations to our newly professed and renewed brothers! Through the intercession of the Immaculate Virgin Mary,  we pray that you daily “fulfill your vows to the LORD before all His people” (Ps.116:14) until your very last breath! Ave Maria!

“O Friars and Sons forever blest,
hear the voice of your father:
Great things we have promised,
greater have been promised us;
let us observe the former,
let us aspire to the latter;
pleasure is short,
punishment, everlasting;
suffering is slight, glory, infinite;
many are called, few are chosen;
retribution to all.
Brethren, while we have time,
let us do good.”

-Holy Father St. Francis

Marian Vow of Unlimited Consecration to the Immaculate

The post Fi News: Two Friars Make First Profession of Vows, and Renewal of Vows first appeared on AirMaria.com.

On December 7th, 2013, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel in Griswold, CT, our postulant from Australia joined the current class of novices by officially becoming a Franciscan Friar of the Immaculate! Along with the caperone (small mantle) and cord, he received his new religious name…

Introducing Friar Charbel Francis Mary of the Sacred Hearts!

Congratulations to our new brother and may the Immaculate live and breathe through him for the salvation of his  soul and those of the whole world!

Ave Maria!

The post Fi News: Australian Postulant Invested as Novice first appeared on AirMaria.com.