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The provincial chapter of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of the eastern United States recently united the former provinces of Immaculate Conception in Rensselaer and St. Anthony of Padua in Ellicott City, Md., into the new Our Lady of the Angels Province, headquartered in Ellicott City.
Formally established May 5, the territory of the new Our Lady of the Angels Province stretches from Ontario, Canada to the eastern United States, from New England to Florida. The province includes Costa Rica and custodies in Brazil, Great Britain and Ireland.
In the archdiocese, the friars serve at the St. Francis Center for Spirituality on Staten Island.
Father James McCurry, O.F.M. Conv., the first minister provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province, was installed May 7.
The following friars were elected to serve in the new provincial administration: Father Brad Milunski, O.F.M. Conv., vicar provincial; Father Richard-Jacob Forcier, O.F.M. Conv., secretary; Father Mitchell Sawicki, O.F.M. Conv., treasurer; Father Anthony Kall, O.F.M. Conv., definitor; Father Jude Surowiec, O.F.M. Conv., definitor; Brother James Moore, O.F.M. Conv., definitor; Father Donald Grzymski, O.F.M. Conv., definitor, and Father Michael Heine, O.F.M. Conv., definitor.
The merger of the provinces occurred at the provincial chapter in Buffalo May 5-9.
Our Lady of the Angels Province, which numbers more than 200 friars, will assemble in Buffalo Aug. 4-8 for the second session of Chapter 2014, when the friars will chart the course of the province’s ministries.
