[]

Fr. Adam Szufel, OFM, 89, of St. Petersburg, Florida, passed away on Sept. 5, 2026. A Franciscan friar for 70 years, he faced his final days with courage, humility, joy and trust in God's presence as he battled esophageal cancer.

Br. Erick Lopez, OFM, will preside at the Funeral Mass for Fr. Adam on Tuesday, Sept. 15 at 10 a.m. at St. Mary, Our Lady of Grace Church, 515 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

He is remembered for being a dedicated friar who was loving, kind, peaceful, deeply generous to the poor and a devoted U.S. Air Force chaplain.

Fr. Adam professed first vows on Aug. 15, 1956, and solemn vows on Aug. 15, 1959. He was ordained a priest on June 13, 1964.

Originally from Poland, he was born to Michael and Zofia (née Wasilewska) Szufel on May 16, 1937. As a young boy, he and other children were sent to the U.S. for their safety. Arrangements had been made for Polish families in the U.S. to foster refugee children arriving from Poland and his family later immigrated to the U.S. He attended grade school at Holy Family Institute in Emsworth, Pennsylvania and Holy Cross School in Glassport, Pennsylvania. His high school years were spent at Padua Prep School in Watkins Glen, New York. He earned a theology degree from Christ the King Seminary in West Chicago, Illinois, and graduated from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, with a master’s degree in religious education.

In the late 1960s, he served at Archbishop Ryan High School in Philadelphia.

From 1971 to 1995, he served as a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force and retired at the rank of colonel. He continued to assist military personnel as a retired chaplain while living in Macon, Georgia, from 1995 to 2011.

From 2011 to 2016, he served at St Francis of Assisi Church in Greenwood, Mississippi.

In 2016, he retired to St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg. Fr. Adam was a thoughtful and kind presence in the retirement house. He lived simply and was incredibly generous. He maintained long standing friendships with families he had met very early during his time in the Air Force.

Whether ministering to high school students, parishioners or men and women serving in the Air Force, Fr. Adam shared the Gospel with love and courage throughout his life.

Please keep Fr. Adam’s family and his brother friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe in your prayers.

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The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe rejoiced with the Church as Pope Leo XIV announced the appointment of Br. Gerardo Antonio Vargas Cruz, OFM, as coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Fajardo-Humacao, Puerto Rico, on Sept. 8, 2026. The diocese serves the faithful throughout the eastern region of the Puerto Rican archipelago, and the announcement has been received with considerable enthusiasm and unity across the community.

The Diocese of El Yunque, as it is alternatively known, encompasses 21 parishes across 10 municipalities. The announcement was made on the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, adding particular significance to the occasion for the local church community. Bishop-elect Gerardo will assist Bishop Luis Francisco Miranda Rivera, O.Carm., who currently leads the diocese. The Vatican released the announcement at 6 a.m. local time (noon in Rome).

"With grateful and joy-filled hearts we receive the news that our brother, Br. Gerardo Vargas Cruz, OFM, has been named coadjutor bishop of the Diócesis de Fajardo-Humacao in Puerto Rico," said Minister Provincial Br. Michael Perry, OFM, of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "We thank God for this gift to the Church, and we rejoice with the people of Fajardo-Humacao, who will soon know as their shepherd the brother we have long known as our own.

"On behalf of the province, I unite with Bishop-elect Gerardo as he responds to this call of the Church. We pledge him our fraternal support, holding him always in our prayers and in our hearts. He remains forever a member of our Order and of our Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. May the Holy Spirit, whom St. Francis called the Minister General of our Order, enlighten and guide him as he now serves the Church in a new way, still faithful to the gospel form of life that Francis proposed to us."

This appointment positions Bishop-elect Gerardo in the apostolic line of succession for the eastern Puerto Rican diocese. At the appropriate time, he will assume the role of diocesan bishop and advance the mission established in recent years. The Diocese of Fajardo-Humacao was founded on March 11, 2008, by Pope Benedict XVI. Its inaugural bishop was Monsignor Eusebio Ramos Morales, who subsequently became archbishop of the Archdiocese of San Juan de Puerto Rico. On May 16, 2020, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Miranda as the diocese's second bishop, a position he continues to hold.

The position of coadjutor bishop carries distinct significance within the Catholic Church. Unlike an auxiliary bishop who provides assistance without succession rights, a coadjutor bishop possesses the automatic right of succession to the current bishop. Consequently, when Bishop Miranda retires or transitions to another assignment, Bishop-elect Gerardo will assume the role as the third bishop of this relatively young diocese. This structure ensures stability and continuity for the diocese while facilitating an orderly leadership transition.

Br. Gerardo entered the Order of Friars Minor 29 years ago, and since that time, he consistently poses the same question to himself: "Lord, is this truly what you desire for me?" For him, this continuous dialogue defines his vocation. "There was no divine light from heaven that illuminated me, nor was I born with this calling," he states. "I believe it has been a journey of questions, and the Lord has been providing answers gradually."

Br. Gerardo was born on Dec. 2, 1976. He attended public schools, and upon entering the Order, he completed his postulancy and novitiate in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. He professed his first vows on July 19, 1997, then returned to Puerto Rico for philosophical and theological formation. He obtained a degree in social work, made his solemn vows in 2004, and was ordained as a deacon and priest in 2006.

Since ordination, Br. Gerardo has served in numerous capacities. He has been a teacher of postulants, a parish priest, a parochial vicar, vice and custodian of the Caribbean, a vocation promoter, a teacher of simply professed friars, an economus (steward of finances), and a guardian. For six years, he resided in a fraternity where he helped establish the Nueva Esperanza Children's Project, collaborating with families and children from vulnerable communities. His ministry has extended to Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico. Currently, he serves as the episcopal vicar for priests of the Archdiocese of San Juan, teaches at the Central University of Bayamón, and assists in animating the friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe in their Puerto Rican mission.

As a university professor, he concentrates on the ethical and spiritual formation of college students, developing pastoral practices as an advisor to the School of Theology and Ministry. In his role as episcopal vicar for priests, he maintains responsibility for the spiritual well-being of nearly 100 diocesan priests serving 143 parishes throughout the archdiocese.

"I was raised in parcels — small plots of land allocated to families for housing," Fray Gerardo explains. "I inform people that I am, with pride, a parcel priest. This represents my background, and I cannot claim to be anything other than what I am." When feelings of pride begin to emerge, he engages in a specific practice: "I remove my shoes and walk barefoot, ensuring I never lose sight of the fact that I originated from a working-class neighborhood and that my parents were laborers."

What provides him with the greatest fulfillment as a Franciscan brother? "It is when I hear someone express gratitude because you have renewed their sense of hope," he states. "Understanding that as a friar, I have succeeded in transforming lives and have demonstrated a more compassionate, more accessible representation of the Church."

[]

This October, Franciscans nationwide will invite all to celebrate Franciscan Month, encouraging people to rediscover the compassion, gratitude, simplicity and profound joy at the heart of the Franciscan way. The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe is honored to join their Franciscan brothers and sisters everywhere in an initiative called Franciscan Month, a website where readers can access reflections, events, prayers, and other devotional content that span topics from how to care for the earth to living the Gospel and embracing a life of purpose and service.

The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe has helped curate this year's resources. Brothers Marc Sheckells, OFM, and Jimmy Kernan, OFM, have provided reflections, and Brothers John Doctor, OFM, Adolfo Mercado, OFM, and Michael Ward, OFM, are serving on Franciscan Month's planning team along with Dr. Kerting Baldwin, Ed.D., APR, the province's executive director of communications.

Since its launch in 2023, Franciscan Month has flourished through the collaboration of Franciscan colleges and universities, religious communities, and lay organizations. Led by Br. Gregory Cellini, OSF, director of the Office of Mission, Ministry and Interfaith Dialogue at St. Francis College, the initiative has grown from a local project into a widely embraced celebration among OFMs, Capuchins, Conventuals, Poor Clares, Secular Franciscans, and other Franciscan communities.

[]

Workers coast to coast are looking forward to a long weekend for Labor Day – but Br. Brian Jordan, OFM, sees the holiday as more than an extra day off.

"It's not just a secular holiday," said Br. Brian, pastor of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Manhattan. "For me, it's sacred, the same way Holy Week is."

Through the Workers Chapel at St. Francis of Assisi, Br. Brian has spent years accompanying labor leaders, union members and workers who come in search of prayer, reflection and support. Standing alongside working people and affirming the dignity of labor have long been Franciscan traditions – and this ministry reflects that.

"It's appropriate to have a workers chapel because Franciscans have always had a witness to the dignity of human labor," he said.

In the heart of Manhattan, the chapel welcomes elected officials, labor leaders, and workers from an array of professions. Many, said Br. Brian, arrive with the burdens of their jobs and personal lives.

"They come here to look for solace, an oasis," he said. "They're gratified to see that we recognize the dignity of human labor. They bring their burdens here, and we want them to go back out enthused. That what they're doing is great, and we appreciate them."

A Franciscan tradition of accompanying workers

This bond between Franciscans and working people has stretched for centuries.

"Franciscans were spiritual directors for labor guilds," Br. Brian said. "In the 21st century, we are spiritual directors for labor unions."

Br. Brian said the Church's concern for workers remains especially important amid rapid technological change. Citing Pope Leo XIV, he noted that society must ensure emerging technologies serve the common good and protect human dignity.

Each person possesses God-given dignity, regardless of occupation or social status - a belief deeply rooted in the Church.

"Work doesn't define what we are, but work is part of God's creation," Br. Brian said. "Whether it's someone who is poor or undocumented, to a high corporation president, every person has dignity. We're all born in the image and likeness of God."

For Br. Brian, Labor Day offers an opportunity to recognize the God-given dignity of workers and to celebrate the countless ways their labor builds communities and serves the common good.

"With dignity, there is purpose, there is love," he said. "There is the great aspect of celebrating this wonderful American holiday called Labor Day."

Remembering workers who never came home

The Worker's Chapel ministry is about more than celebration and remembrance. The Church of St. Francis of Assisi works with the New York City Central Labor Council to honor workers who've lost their lives on the job. Every third Wednesday of the month, the names of workers killed during the previous month is read aloud and remembered in prayer during a special service.

"We think this is so tremendously important, to maintain the dignity of work and the humanity of workers," said Brendan Griffith, president of the New York City Central Labor Council.

Gathering those names can be difficult. Kate Whalen, communications director for the labor council, said there is no comprehensive public accounting of workplace fatalities in New York City. The council relies on information from unions, media reports and government agencies to identify workers whose deaths might otherwise go unnoticed.

For Griffith, ensuring those names are spoken is an important act of remembrance.

"It's easy to forget that every worker has a family, has a life," he said. "If they are gone, they will be missed. It's important for us to make sure that those names are spoken, those lives are remembered, and the loss of those families is acknowledged."

A spiritual oasis for all workers

These efforts culminate in a Mass on Sept. 12, in remembrance of workers who lost their lives during the 9/11 terror attacks, along with those who helped in rescue, recovery and rebuilding efforts and later suffered health issues.

Griffith said workers continue to shape New York City in ways both visible and unseen.

"They're not ordinary. They are extraordinary," he said. "What they do makes New York City what it is. They build community, and I couldn't be more grateful for those who wake up every morning to do the work that makes New York City what it is."

The ministry's doors are open to all, regardless of faith tradition.

"St. Francis was an interfaith, ecumenical saint," Br. Brian said. "All are welcome to pray here. This is a spiritual oasis for all the people of God."

As Labor Day approaches, that message of dignity, gratitude and remembrance remains at the heart of the Franciscan ministry to workers, offering a place where labor is not only recognized, but blessed.

[]

"I wish to compose a new hymn about the Lord's creatures, of which we make daily use, without which we cannot live, and with which the human race greatly offends its Creator." The Assisi Compilation 83 (1244-1260)

Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures,
especially Sir Brother Sun,
Who is the day and through whom You give us light.
And he is beautiful and radiant with great splendor;
and bears a likeness of You, Most High One.

Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Moon and the stars,

in heaven You formed them clear and precious and beautiful.

The Canticle of the Creatures (1225)

In the Canticle of the Creatures (a canticle and therefore a song rather than poetry) St. Francis composed the greatest and most well-known of all his writings a year before his death.

Suffering from a form of leprosy, burdened with the Stigmata, and marginalized by the community he tried to lead, Francis did not succumb to despair or hopelessness. Rather, these afflictions awakened in him the realization that in everything that God has created lies the presence, the reality, of God.

The Canticle of the Creatures does not portray creation as static. Francis sees creation as alive with the presence of God, animated by the Creator and continually unfolding according to God's design. This insight is reflected in the Latin word creatura, which speaks not of something fixed but of something active, growing, fruitful. Near the end of his life, Francis recognized a simple but profound principle of sacramentality: all creation has the potential to reveal something to us of the wonder of God. Every creature is both a song of praise and a symbol of the God who creates and sustains all things.

The Canticle does not place humanity above the rest of creation. Rather, it admonishes humans to recognize and respect their place within all that God has created. It offers a strong critique of humanity's failure to live up to the divine command given to it in Genesis 1 – to act as stewards of all creation; to make a world out of what we have been given, a place where everything created knows its value and worth. That command remains as urgent today as it was in Francis' time.

Francis' appreciation for creation is more than environmental care. It is the revelation that humanity is connected deeply, radically and exceptionally to the cosmos, to that which is greater than itself. The Canticle hails this connection as the best and most profound way to encounter God. The water, bread, wine and oil used in the sacraments – created from this good earth – form the means of our continual encounter with God. Caring for creation like Francis, then, is both a call for all humanity to be attentive to this connection and to be good stewards of that which anchors our relationship with God.

What does it mean to act as a steward of creation? How might you act in a way that demonstrates to all created things their worth and value?

What experiences of creation and its creatures have left you amazed with wonder and awe? What in these experiences have helped you understand them as revelations of the wonder of God?

How does your experience of God's presence in creation shape the way you experience the sacraments? What created gifts used in our liturgies most help you encounter God?

Image: Nicholas Roerich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

[]

As the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks approaches, the Franciscan friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe join millions of Americans in remembering the nearly 3,000 people who lost their lives that day. We also pray for the families, first responders and survivors whose lives were forever changed. Among those killed on Sept. 11 was our brother Fr. Mychal Judge, OFM, beloved Franciscan priest and FDNY chaplain, who became the first recorded victim of the attacks. 

A native New Yorker, Fr. Mychal served as chaplain to the Fire Department of New York from 1992 until his death. Known for his compassionate ministry among firefighters, first responders, the homeless and those living with addiction or illness, he was administering last rites to a fallen fighter when he was killed at the World Trade Center. His life and witness continue to inspire people around the world. 

Several events being held in New York City this year will honor Fr. Mychal's legacy and the memory of all who died that day: 

9/11 Walk of Remembrance 

The annual Father Mychal Judge Walk of Remembrance in New York City traces the route that Fr. Mychal took from St. Francis of Assisi Friary to the World Trade Center on Sept. 11. Along the route, participants pause and pray at fire stations and New York Police Department and Port Authority Police Department precincts.  

The walk will begin at 9 a.m. with a rosary outside of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, 135 W 31st St, New York, NY, United States, 10001, and will continue down 7th Avenue to conclude at St. Peter’s Church on Barclay Street around 12 p.m. All are welcome to attend. 

Click here for more information. 

"The Stations of Mychal" 

A musical presentation that tells the story of Fr. Mychal’s life – from his humble beginnings to his ministry as chaplain of the Fire Department of New York – will be performed at 7 p.m. on Sept. 9 at St. Joseph Church, 120 Hoboken Rd, East Rutherford, NJ 07073, and at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 10 at Riverside Church, 490 Riverside Dr, New York, NY 10027. Performances are free and open to the public. 

‘Blessed Bloomers’ distribution 

Mychal’s Message will hold its annual Blessed Bloomers distribution on Sept. 6 at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi, providing new socks and underwear to people experiencing homelessness while honoring Fr. Mychal and all who served at Ground Zero, including clergy, emergency personnel, firefighters, police officers and volunteers. The nonprofit organization, founded in Fr. Mychal’s memory, continues his legacy of compassionate service to those who are homeless, hungry, poor or forgotten. 

"Remembering Judge" documentary premiere 

This 30-minute FDNY documentary about Fr. Mychal's life and legacy will premiere on Sept. 26 at the 9/11 Museum. Several screenings will be held at Firehouse Cinema, 87 Lafayette Street, New York, NY 10013, throughout the month of September. Click here for more information. 

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It began with a single volunteer, a set of tools and a pair of portable repair stands. Three years later, Bikes from the Heart has blossomed into a ministry that builds community, provides dependable transportation to thousands of people in need and – just as importantly – restores dignity.  

On Aug. 15, the all-volunteer outreach ministry at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Tampa, Florida, stewarded by the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, celebrated the donation of its 3,000th bicycle. The event included a blessing and a community ride that drew more than 100 participants – including bicycle recipients, civic leaders, ecumenical partners, Franciscan friars and volunteers.  

The event began on the steps of Sacred Heart Church, where Tampa Mayor Jane Castor joined clergy from Sacred Heart, Hyde Park United Methodist Church and St. John's Episcopal Church. Maggie Rogers, executive director of Catholic Charities for the Diocese of St. Petersburg, helped co-founders Tim Eves and Tom Henry present the milestone bicycle to a resident of Tampa Hope Homeless Shelter.  

Then, Br. Michael Jones, OFM, offered a blessing before participants rode 3 miles through downtown Tampa and into Seminole Heights. Escorted by Tampa Police, riders later gathered at Sacred Heart's North Campus for fellowship, tours of the ministry's workshop and a bike sale benefiting future outreach efforts.  

"When we started this ministry, we really thought it was going to be a nice way to stay busy in retirement," Tim said. "We never thought we would be refurbishing and giving away a thousand bikes a year." 

##gallery1##

From humble beginnings to a thriving ministry  

Founded in 2023, Bikes from the Heart has grown from a modest operation to an award-winning community outreach program.   

Businesses, community partners, local churches and Sacred Heart parishioners donate used bikes, which are refurbished and distributed to people and families who lack reliable transportation. Today, the ministry operates with 10 permanent repair stations and approximately 30 active volunteers.  

"We have really gotten to know so many of our clientele, who are now friends and some even volunteers," Tom said.  

For Br. Mike, the ministry embodies Franciscan values of hospitality, stewardship and respect for human dignity.  

"Bikes from the Heart is a pure reflection of pax et bonum (peace and good) and Franciscan radical hospitality," Br. Mike said. "A bicycle represents freedom, self-reliance and connection."  

##gallery2##

Franciscan values on two wheels  

Volunteers carefully clean, repair and tune each bike in preparation for donation. Recipients receive a gift prepared with care and dignity. The ministry is committed to refurbishing discarded bikes, a reflection of Franciscan stewardship of creation.  

"A bicycle can be the exact bridge between unemployment and a steady job, or between isolation and community engagement," Br. Mike said.  

The impact extends beyond recipients.  

A man provided a memorable moment by returning a bicycle the ministry had previously given him.   

"Nothing is wrong with it," he told the volunteers. "This bike helped me to find a job and get back on my feet. I now own a car and do not need this bike anymore. I hope you can give it to someone else and change their lives."  

A volunteer told ministry leaders that Bikes from the Heart "saved his life" after he experienced a period of deep depression. He found friendship, purpose and a supportive community through the ministry.   

Three thousand blessings

Lined end-to-end, 3,000 bikes would span more than 3 miles. More importantly, each bicycle means one person will gain a measure of connection and freedom. Stories like these help explain why reaching 3,000 bicycles means more to volunteers than a numerical achievement.  

"The grateful recipients make every single bike we give away a blessing to all of us," Tim said. "So, we have received over 3,000 blessings."  

Though proud of their collective efforts, the ministry leaders see it as the beginning of a larger journey.   

"Three thousand is a milestone," Tom said. "Not a finish line." 

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"It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit… remain in my love." (Jn 15:9, 16)

With Jesus' words resonating in their hearts, eight Franciscan friars professed solemn vows on Aug. 22, 2026, before more than 100 friars, family members and friends at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. The friars made lifelong commitments to live the Gospel as Friars Minor, embracing the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience during the Jubilee Year of St. Francis.

"What a joyful day," said Minister Provincial Br. Michael Perry, OFM, as he welcomed the assembly. "We give praise to God for what God is doing in the lives of our brothers, in the lives of all the friars and beyond that, the life of the Church. God is here. God is present. God is working miracles."

Eight men called to one fraternity

Those miracles began with the seeds of faith planted by the Lord and nurtured by family, friends and friars throughout the brothers’ lives.

Br. Tyler Grudi, OFM, 30, of Hershey, Pennsylvania, encountered the friars at St. Bonaventure University and was inspired by their authenticity, their commitment to the poor and the example of St. Francis. He will begin studies for the priesthood in San Antonio.

Br. Kevin Hamzik, OFM, 29, of Cleveland, Ohio, attended Padua Franciscan High School and St. Bonaventure University. Drawn to the Franciscan ability to discover God in creation and in every person, he will serve as a curator at The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts at St. Bonaventure University.

Br. Domingo Martinez, OFM, 47, was born in Long Beach, California, and raised in Aiken, South Carolina. After working on political campaigns with the labor movement, he was drawn to the Franciscan charism through online research and personal encounters. He will continue theological studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Br. Phillip McCarter, OFM, 35, met the friars at a vocations retreat after encountering a friar during a devotion centered on the relics of Padre Pio. Inspired by their joy and brotherhood, he entered the postulancy in 2020 and will continue serving in the province's missions in Negril, Jamaica.

Br. Brian Menezes, OFM, 40, immigrated to Canada from Kuwait and worked in the financial sector before discerning religious life. The Franciscan charism gave him the peace and purpose he had been seeking. He will continue serving at St. Francis Seraph Ministries in Cincinnati.

Br. Joan "JP" Perez-Lombera, OFM, 38, met the friars through YouFra (Youth Franciscan) while growing up in San Jose, California. He was inspired by their simplicity, humility and closeness to those who are often forgotten or suffering. He will continue ministry at St. Anthony Foundation while studying nutrition at San Francisco State University.

Br. Carlos Portillo, OFM, 41, was born in El Salvador and later immigrated to the United States. While serving as director of food services for a senior living residence, he encountered the friars at St. Camillus Parish and was inspired by their fraternity and joyful spirit. He is pursuing studies to become a licensed practical nurse in Durham, North Carolina.

Br. Nathaniel Tran, OFM, 37, encountered the friars at Saints Simon and Jude Parish in Huntington Beach, California. Inspired by the conversion story of St. Francis, he has found fulfillment in missionary discipleship and ministry among people on the margins. He will continue serving at San Xavier del Bac Mission in Tucson, Arizona.

For the newly professed friars, solemn profession is the start of an exciting new chapter in their lives – one that offers a fresh start as they willingly dedicate themselves to a life of prayer, fraternity and service.

“Solemn vows feels like a new beginning,” said Br. Tyler. “I feel like I’m being given the opportunity to begin again with my brothers.” Br. Kevin shared his optimism. “I’m really excited for my future as a friar,” Br. Kevin said.“It feels like a homecoming, being part of this great fraternity and community. I’m excited to live with friars, meet new friars throughout the world and minister to God’s people in a greater way.”

For Br. Phillip, solemn profession brings not only a new beginning, but a deeper sense of freedom rooted in the vows themselves.

“Our three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience really give me the freedom to be my authentic self,” he said. “They free me from my own schemes and desires and allow me to be open to God’s will in my life. They help me become the person God created me to be.”

As he reflected on his formation journey, Br. JP shared that fraternity is one of the greatest gifts he has received.

“What I take away from these years of formation in my Franciscan life is the importance of fraternity, the importance of remaining united, because fraternity helps us grow as human beings in our relationship with ourselves and with others,” he said. “It also helps us grow as Christians and face the challenges that come our way.”

In his homily, Br. Michael reminded the candidates that “the vows you profess today will strengthen what God has already begun in you.”

Drawing on Jesus' invitation to "remain in my love" shared in the Gospel, Br. Michael shared that "It is not that God is in our hearts. The deeper truth is that we are in God's heart. And the only thing asked of us is to remain there — live on in my love — and to let that love flow through you to one another and to all whom God brings into your lives.

“St. Francis understood this,” he continued. “He called his companions brothers, and he washed their feet. He washed and kissed the leper’s wounds; he embraced the way of the poor and showed mercy without measure.”

Franciscan life will come with challenges, he acknowledged, but he encouraged the brothers to trust in God and rely on the people accompanying them. “Only a shared spiritual journey toward the mind and heart of Christ will carry you across a lifetime — one day, one week, one month, one year at a time together with your brothers and with the people of God who will love and support you through it all.”

Click here to read Br. Michael's homily in its entirety.

The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe thanks the family members, friends, fraternities and ministries who supported each of the newly professed throughout their lives and expresses gratitude for the people who organized and took part in the liturgy, including the Liturgy Committee led by Master of Ceremonies Br. Jim Sabak, OFM, Deacon Br. Henry Fulmer, OFM, the music ministry and staff of St. Camillus Church, and the Holy Name College fraternity.

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SILVER SPRING, Md. – As the setting sun streamed through St. Camillus Church’s multi-colored windows, Brothers Maikel Gómez Pérez, OFM, and Joshua Richter, OFM, made a public promise to serve as missionary disciples of God's boundless love.

Nearly 100 friars, family members and friends witnessed their ordination to the priesthood on Aug. 21 during a joyful bilingual Mass celebrated by Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. Concelebrating the Mass were the more than 60 Franciscan priests present, including Minister Provincial Br. Michael Perry, OFM, Vicar Provincial Br. Erick López, OFM, and Provincial Councilor and Secretary of Formation and Studies Br. Colin King, OFM. Also serving as concelebrants were Bishop Emmanuel Kanon Rozario of the Diocese of Barishal, Bangladesh, and Bishop Stephen Parkes of Savannah, Georgia, where Br. Maikel serves at St. Peter Claver Parish in Macon.

"The spirit of the Lord is upon you," Cardinal McElroy told the two friars, adding the spirit "recognizes that we have been placed on this earth with a particular purpose: to proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ and promote the transformation of the world."

The transformation, he said, is threefold: to share God's unlimited mercy and compassion, to build a world that reflects Christ’s virtues and removes the structures of injustice, and to heal suffering by bringing consolation, hope and joy.

After the Gospel was proclaimed, Cardinal McElroy called the ordination candidates forward from the congregation and they responded with a strong "Presente!" and "Present!" During the presentation of the candidates, Br. Michael Perry, OFM, and members of the community testified to their worthiness. Br. Jim McIntosh, OFM, who has lived and ministered with Br. Maikel, described him as "a dynamic man" with "a good sense of humor," adding, "he will make a good priest."

Br. Joshua's brother Robert Richter and sister-in-law Rileah reflected on his support during their marriage preparation and Rileah’s journey through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, saying, "We have experienced Joshua not only as a brother and someone who is preparing to be a priest, but also as a shepherd."

Sons of St. Francis

Br. Maikel, 46, was raised in Holguín, Cuba, where his late grandmother nurtured his faith. His call to serve others came from witnessing the suffering of the Cuban people. After reading about St. Francis of Assisi, he was inspired to join the Order and made his first profession on Dec. 28, 2015. He ministered to migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, where he encountered Christ in those seeking refuge from violence, starvation and climate disasters. Today, he ministers to the Latino and young adult communities at St. Peter Claver Parish in Macon.

"As a priest, I feel happy and fulfilled," Br. Maikel shared after the Mass. "In this new stage of my life, while still being a Friar Minor, God has given me this ministry so that I can be a bridge of unity and reconciliation between my brothers and sisters and God."

When Br. Joshua, 29, was a child, he was unsure about what career to pursue. At age 12, he was inspired to become a Franciscan by witnessing the fraternity shared by the friars in Cincinnati. After college, he entered the Order of Friars Minor and professed his first vows on July 2, 2020. He teaches theology at Roger Bacon High School in Cincinnati and hopes to use his teaching and environmental science skills in various ministries.

"I had the blessing of being ordained eight years to the day that I started with the friars and arrived here at St. Camillus," he reflected after the Mass. "This has been a lifelong goal. I'm still trying to soak it all in, but I have just so much happiness, excitement – and a little nervousness – for everything that's going to come. My life is going to be changed forever."

During his homily, Cardinal McElroy emphasized that their priesthood is intertwined with their Franciscan identity.

"You live in the world, you pray, you serve, and sacrifice as a son and brother of Francis of Assisi," he said, referring to St. Francis as "a magnificent exemplar of the heart of Christ for our age: literally bearing the cross of Christ on his body, giving up all to minister to the people of God, witnessing to all humanity, serving as a peacemaker, a prophet of the call to cherish the created order."

Veni, Sancte Spiritus

Following the homily, the Rite of Priestly Ordination continued with the friars promising to faithfully carry out the ministry of priesthood. Then they prostrated themselves before the altar in a powerful symbol of surrender to God’s will. The assembly called upon the Lord Jesus Christ and joined the communion of saints in praying for their intercession.

As the litany concluded, Brothers Maikel and Joshua knelt before the cardinal for the laying on of hands as he prayed to the Holy Spirit to fill them with wisdom and grace. So too did more than 60 friar-priests in attendance, each imposing hands on the candidates before lining up in rows behind the altar.

Br. Joshua’s parents and Br. Maikel’s close friends brought forward their liturgical garments so that Brothers José Santos Pérez Castillo, OFM, and Bob Hutmacher, OFM, could vest Br. Maikel and Br. Joshua respectively with the stole and chasuble.

Cardinal McElroy also anointed their hands with sacred chrism and presented them with the bread and wine for the Eucharist. In an emotional moment, Brothers Maikel and Joshua gave their loved ones their maniturgium – the white linen cloth used to wipe the chrism from their hands – and a special blessing.

The joy in the air was palpable as the cardinal, bishops, deacon and friar-priests shared a sign of peace with the newly ordained priests, a period that lasted over seven minutes and concluded with resounding applause from the assembly. The new priests then joined the other ordained ministers at the altar to concelebrate the Eucharist for the first time.

A message of gratitude

As the Mass ended, Br. Michael Perry thanked the many people who had accompanied Brothers Maikel and Joshua throughout their journeys and expressed gratitude to Cardinal McElroy for presiding and for the fraternal presence of Bishop Parkes and Bishop Rozario. He also thanked individuals who organized and took part in the liturgy, including the Liturgy Committee led by Master of Ceremonies Br. Jim Sabak, OFM, Deacon Br. Michael Ward, OFM, Fr. Joseph Murphy of the Archdiocese of Washington, the music ministry and staff of St. Camillus Church, and the Holy Name College fraternity.

He asked those gathered to continue praying for the new priests as they begin their ministry.

"We thank God for the gift of these two brothers," he said. "May they enter into the struggles, the heartbreaks, the daily realities of the people of God, sharing also their joys, serving as instruments of God's forgiveness and tenderness, prepared to go to the peripheries sharing the hope, love, and justice that Jesus alone is able to give."

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Roger Bacon High School in St. Bernard (Cincinnati), Ohio, marked a historical milestone on Aug. 11 with the dedication of the Anne Nurre Heidt Atrium and Our Lady of the Angels Chapel. Archbishop of Cincinnati Robert G. Casey presided at the Mass, celebrating the first dedicated chapel in the school’s nearly 100-year history.

During the liturgy, the altar was consecrated, officially marking the sacred space as a place of worship and prayer for the Roger Bacon community. The dedication coincided with the feast of St. Clare, highlighting the Franciscan values of prayer, humility and devotion that inspire the school community. A number of friars, including Provincial Councilor Br. Roger Lopez, OFM, who formerly ministered at the school, and representatives from the local Poor Clare community were present for Mass and the luncheon that followed.

The dedication also served as a milestone in the “We Are the Good Soil” capital campaign, which reached its $10 million goal and supports many of transformational investments in the Roger Bacon campus, including the new atrium and chapel, expanded parking, additional classroom space, campus improvements and scholarships.

“Rooted in faith, guided by humility and inspired by the spirit of St. Francis, we pray that this building and chapel will be a sanctuary of prayer, a home of peace and a beacon of joyful service,” said Roger Bacon President Steve Schad. “As Roger Bacon prepares to celebrate a century of God's faithfulness and dedicated service to our community, may this building and chapel stand as the cornerstone of our future.”

A space built to foster Franciscan values

Beyond the building itself, the new space represents the school’s commitment to providing students with an education rooted in Franciscan values and honors the legacy of St. Francis of Assisi and the friars.

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“The new space is absolutely beautiful, a wonderful addition to the school,” said Br. Jim Bok, OFM, past teacher and principal and current member of Roger Bacon’s board of directors. “I appreciate all the effort that went into making sure it’s very, very Franciscan.”

Br. Jim is especially excited that his great-nephew Charlie Strunc and his fiancé Bella Nye, both 2021 Bacon grads, will be the first Spartans (the school’s mascot) to be married in the chapel in January 2027. He will be the celebrant.

The new worship space is the fulfillment of a longtime dream for Br. Fred Link, OFM, who became involved with campus ministry at Roger Bacon during his tenure as pastor at nearby St. Clement Parish.

“It’s a beautiful space and it’s obvious it was designed with great care. It combines a contemporary, yet scared, style while also incorporating many aspects of Franciscan tradition and spirituality,” said Br. Fred, who serves on Roger Bacon’s board and Mission Enhancement Committee and had long promoted the need for a dedicated chapel at the school. “I pray that our students will embrace the opportunity to use the chapel for both group prayer and private visits with the Blessed Sacrament.”

Br. Fred is looking forward to celebrating the First Friday Mass for Roger Bacon alumni and friends in September.

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Once you hear their stories, it’s hard to stay silent. That’s why Mary Grace added a name to the Children’s Shroud, a large white cloth that bears the names of over 18,000 Palestinian children known to have been killed in Gaza since October 2023.

This simple gesture makes a clear statement: all life is precious.

Handwriting names of the deceased children on the shroud echoes a tragic practice in Gaza where parents write their children’s names on their bodies so they can be identified if their home is bombed. As she wrote a name on the Children’s Shroud, Mary was brought to tears.

"I was crying; It touches the heart to know the name, to make that connection," said Mary, who belongs to Immaculate Conception Parish in Durham, North Carolina, a church that is stewarded by the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. "These are the names of real little kids killed in a series of horrific attacks, a genocide."

Friars of the Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe have joined an interfaith effort led by Doctors Against Genocide, Priests Against Genocide and Justice for All to bring the Children’s Shroud to churches and other religious sites to raise awareness for the plight of the Palestinian people and highlight the moral urgency to end the genocide.

At the heart of the Franciscan charism is a recognition of the infinite value of each and every human life. That spiritual and moral conviction informs the Church’s commitment to justice and peace. Recently, Pope Leo XIV appealed again for an end to the "to the repeated acts of violence against the Palestinian population of the West Bank" during his weekly Angelus on Aug. 16.

An act of solidarity and prayer

Mary recently hosted a section of the Children’s Shroud at her home in Durham. At that gathering, Br. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, a recently appointed animator of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, shared with the invited members of her interfaith circle – including some members of the Jewish community – about his recent experience in the West Bank and how it was moving toward a full-fledge ethnic cleansing. The gathering concluded with guests inscribing the names of children to the shroud. The next day, at Sunday morning Mass, many others had an opportunity to take part in this project at Immaculate Conception Parish in Durham.

St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland, and New York’s Siena University have also invited their communities to host the shroud to educate people of goodwill about the atrocities being committed in Gaza. The United Nations described the acts of genocide in a recent report.

People of all ages have seen the shroud, learned about the ongoing genocide and taken the sacred step of inscribing a child’s name as an act of solidarity and prayer.

"Any parish can do it; any community can do it. You don’t have to be Catholic or Christian. Anybody can do this and it just becomes a meaningful move toward a recognition of the humanity of these children and families," Mary said.

"It's been really gratifying to see how much people care about what's going on in Palestine now. The tide is shifting in the United States, and more people are saying, ‘Oh, this is horrible. We have to stop it," she added.

A future of justice and peace for all

Franciscans have been entrusted to care for religious sites and people in the Holy Land for 800 years, and they have decried the systemic violation of basic human rights. The Palestinian people have endured decades of military occupation and gross injustice.

In recent years, some people have hesitated to speak the truth for fear of being labeled as antisemitic. Mark Braverman, a prominent Jewish-American author, activist and psychologist, has challenged Franciscan-hearted people to claim their tradition and a moral courage.

"I understand the reluctance of some to challenge the actions of the State of Israel, but I say this to you. To allow the shutting down of faithful and legitimate protest out of a feeling of love and support for the Jewish people is not an act of love," said Mark.

In a powerful video message, Mark speaks about his work as a Jewish man to promote justice for the oppressed people of the Occupied West Bank and that he understands well the collective trauma and existential fear that grips both sides.

"I pray for a future of dignity and peace for both peoples," said Mark.

How to get involved

The Gaza Children’s Shroud is an interfaith nonviolent movement aimed at ending the genocide and helping to bring a just and lasting peace. It helps to wake up the collective conscience of our nation and empowers us to claim our God-given power to be instruments of his peace. For more information, contact Br. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, at jorzechowski@friars.us.

On Sept. 1, the entire shroud will be displayed at City Hall North in Philadelphia, the first stop in a yearlong traveling exhibition to hold up the truth that our freedom and the freedom of the Palestinian and Israeli people – which includes a freedom from fear and from want – are intimately connected.

On Sept. 16, the shroud will be displayed at the United Nations Church Center in New York City, where various non-governmental organizations and ambassadors will have the opportunity to inscribe some of the remaining names onto the shroud. In October, the shroud will travel to Washington, D.C., before continuing to other cities.

To learn more about the Children's Shroud, visit GazaChildrenShroud.com.

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One year ago, Br. Joshua Richter, OFM, professed solemn vows as a Franciscan friar. On Aug. 21, he will take another step in his vocational journey when he is ordained a priest for the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. His childhood, a close family friend and the sounds of nature helped him to discover his calling and become the person he is today.

(In the photo above, Br. Joshua serves at St. Peter's in the Loop in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Br. Octavio Duran, OFM)

Br. Joshua began to feel the stirrings of a vocation to the priesthood as a 12-year-old. He would observe his pastor during Mass at St. Julie Billiart Parish in Hamilton, Ohio, wondering if perhaps one day he could have a similar impact on others.

"I was trying to figure out what to do with my life," Br. Joshua, now 29, recalled. As he grew older, he embraced the idea that "I wanted to help others find the love of God, to find peace in their daily struggles."

Br. Joshua also felt the pull of contemplation in nature, much like St. Francis of Assisi. His Franciscan-like reflection began as he wandered through a forest near his home.

"I would go into the woods to pray and talk to God," he said. What he found there was not necessarily quiet. The calls of the birds and other animals often filled the air. It was the beginning of a discovery that "I could find God in the sounds of nature."

Growing up as a middle child – one of seven children – Br. Joshua experienced community life at a young age. He was homeschooled, and his devout mother frequently volunteered and worked at the parish. Daily Mass was a part of his school day.

When his family befriended Br. Manuel Viera, OFM, who served in Cincinnati at the time, Br. Joshua felt called to explore Franciscan life, even sharing meals and reflections with local friars.

What he discovered there was a joyful, welcoming community.

"They were a great group of guys who truly loved each other. They knew how to pick on each other; but they also knew how to back each other up," he said.

Br. Joshua spent part of his younger years helping with the family’s pizza business, joining his uncle and cousins, learning how to be part of a working team.

After graduating with a degree in environmental studies from Miami University in Ohio in 2019, he entered the postulancy program in Silver Spring, Maryland. During his years in formation, he learned about the diversity of Franciscan ministries around the country, from Cincinnati to Chicago to Santa Barbara, California. The process shaped his understanding of Franciscan values, and he applied what he learned to his experiences.

"It taught me about the integration of God with my spiritual life, with myself and my human life," he said. "I will not do everything completely perfectly. But there is healing in that."

During his studies, Br. Joshua served with Reading Partners, providing guidance to young students in the Washington D.C. area. He found fulfillment in supporting students who struggled in the classroom, helping them to eventually reach above-average standards. "I was amazed to see how these students developed."

In Santa Barbara, he worked with the elderly at a facility run by the Daughters of Charity, helping residents navigate email and other electronic forms of communication. In Chicago, he worked in religious education at St. Jerome Catholic School and assisted at the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii in Little Italy. In Philadelphia, he served guests at St. Francis Inn’s soup kitchen. Many of the guests contend with poverty yet, through long conversations, he discovered that "they could see how God was working in their lives." In New Orleans he ministered at a largely African American parish.

Through it all, he brought the faith he first encountered back home in Ohio.

"I was set on fire by my faith," he recalled from his younger years.

Br. Joshua currently serves as a religion teacher at Roger Bacon High School in Cincinnati.

On Friday, Aug. 21, Brothers Joshua Richter, OFM, and Maikel Gómez Pérez, OFM, will be ordained priests at St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland.

On Saturday, Aug. 22, eight friars will profess solemn vows at St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland: Brothers Domingo Martinez, OFM; Tyler Grudi, OFM; Kevin Hamzik, OFM; Phillip McCarter, OFM; Brian Menezes, OFM; Joan JP Perez-Lombera, OFM; Carlos Portillo, OFM; and Nathaniel Tran, OFM.

This article was originally published in The Franciscan Way, a publication of Franciscan Friars Charities, the charitable arm of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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On Aug. 21, Br. Maikel Gómez Pérez, OFM, will take another step in his vocational journey when he is ordained a priest for the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. His path began in an unlikely place. Despite anti-Catholic oppression in his home country, he found peace and purpose as a Franciscan friar.

(In the photo above, Br. Maikel is ordained a transitional deacon at Mother of the Americas Catholic Church in Chicago on Oct. 19, 2025. This is a stepping stone to being ordained a priest. Photo by Jesus Martinez)

Br. Maikel Gómez Pérez, OFM, grew up in Cuba, a country where the presence of the Catholic Church and the Franciscan Order have long been oppressed.

Despite the challenge of government restrictions on religion, Br. Maikel discovered St. Francis of Assisi. Reading about St. Francis' life inspired him to learn about the Franciscan Order.

He related to the medieval Italian saint in many ways. He too experienced a longing for God, a search for community and a troubled relationship with a father who had little regard for faith.

"I fell in love with the history of his life, all of his spirituality and his works," said Br. Maikel, 46, speaking through a translator.

Br. Maikel entered the Franciscan Order in Havana more than a decade ago. Even before beginning postulancy, he was living Francis' spirituality on his own, nurturing the faith.

In Franciscan community and ministry, he felt at home.

"I have been attracted to the Franciscan way of life. I choose to live in fraternity,"" said Br. Maikel.

A new family is formed

His Franciscan formation (training) took him around the United States and the Caribbean. He studied in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic and ministered to migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas.

Currently he serves the Latino and young adult communities, as well as the homebound, at St. Peter Claver Parish in Macon, Georgia, a ministry he will continue after ordination. Macon's Catholic community is small, augmented in recent years by a growing Latino presence. Like much of the South, it is a city filled with churches, but only three are Catholic. St.Peter Claver has emerged as a center for Latino ministry.

As his ordination day approaches, he is grateful for a new family that has welcomed him with love and care. He has no siblings his mother is deceased and most of his relatives are still in Cuba. His brother friars and friends have walked with him throughout these years of discernment, study and ministry. Many of them will travel from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Georgia to attend his ordination.

Br. Maikel is inspired by the story of Francis' conversion. Like Francis, he encountered a difficult relationship with his dad.

"There have been moments where I tried to get close, but he didn't respond," he said. As a result, Br. Maikel looked to faith and his brother friars.

A grandmother's legacy of faith

Being ordained a priest and having the opportunity to preach and celebrate Mass will add another dimension to his ministry, said Br. Maikel.

"By making Christ present to everyone in the consecration, it's a way of serving an entire community," he said. He believes that offering the sacrament of healing in confession will also be a blessing.

While his Franciscan connection emerged largely through the study of St. Francis, Br. Maikel said much of his Catholic faith was nurtured through the example of his late grandmother, who lived through times when witnessing faith in Cuba required courage in the face of persecution. Unfortunately, this is still the case.

"Much of my Franciscan formation comes from the testimony of my grandmother. She comes from a place where the Church has been persecuted for so long. The government has many times been against us," he said, noting how as a priest, blessed with the example of Francis and the life of the Franciscan community, he will continue to carry on the faith his grandmother lived.

On Friday, Aug. 21, Brothers Joshua Richter, OFM, and Maikel Gómez Pérez, OFM, will be ordained priests at St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland.

On Saturday, Aug. 22, eight friars will profess solemn vows at St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland. The newly professed friars are Brothers Domingo Martinez, OFM; Tyler Grudi, OFM; Kevin Hamzik, OFM; Phillip McCarter, OFM; Brian Menezes, OFM; Joan JP Perez-Lombera, OFM; Carlos Portillo, OFM; and Nathaniel Tran, OFM.

This article was originally published in The Franciscan Way, a publication of Franciscan Friars Charities, the charitable arm of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

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Discovering Clare through her own words

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Later this month, the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe will gather for a joyful celebration of 10 friars who are celebrating significant milestones in their Franciscan journey.

Two friars will be ordained on Aug. 21 and eight friars will profess solemn vows on Aug. 22 at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. Surrounded by fellow friars, family, friends and their partners-in-ministry, they will commit themselves to serving the people of God and deepening their relationship with Jesus.

Livestreams

The ordination and solemn profession livestreams.

Solemn profession candidates

Br. Tyler Grudi, OFM

Br. Tyler Grudi, OFM, grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania - “The Sweetest Place on Earth,” where his parents provided him with a wonderful Catholic example. When he started at St. Bonaventure University in Western New York, he immediately connected with the friars and students discerning a Franciscan vocation. He was drawn to their authenticity and their commitment to serving Jesus in the poor. He was also inspired by the life of St. Francis and his search for both God and his purpose.

In 2019, Br. Tyler graduated from St. Bonaventure with a bachelor’s in journalism and he joined the postulancy the same year. He professed simple vows in 2021, and in 2025, he earned a master’s in missiology and Intercultural theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

His formation included one year in Jamaica with Brothers Walking Together. He also ministered to people in need at St. Francis Residences in New York City and St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, as well as with Pueblo Native Americans in Laguna, New Mexico.

After solemn profession, Br. Tyler will move to San Antonio to begin studies and formation for the priesthood. He is grateful to his parents for all their support, as well as his brother friars and mentors in formation.

Br. Kevin Hamzik, OFM

Br. Kevin Hamzik, OFM, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and says he grew up with the Franciscans having attended Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, Ohio and St. Bonaventure University in Western New York. He especially came to appreciate the friars’ ability to find God in the beauty around us and within us.

Br. Kevin entered the postulancy in 2019 and professed simple vows in 2021. Past ministry experiences include farming with sustainable agriculture at Levo International and teaching art classes to immigrants at Jubilee House, both in Hartford, Connecticut. He also volunteered at the Migrant Resource Center in Agua Prieta, Mexico, and has helped lead pilgrimages to Assisi with the Franciscan Pilgrimage Program.

He completed the Padua Program for Franciscan Leadership at the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University in 2026, earned a Master of Fine Arts from Columbia College Chicago in 2025, and a Certificate of Interreligious Studies from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 2023. Br. Kevin is grateful to family, friends, educators, formators and all his fellow pilgrims.

Br. Domingo Martinez, OFM

Br. Domingo Martinez, OFM, was born in Long Beach, California, and raised in Aiken, South Carolina. He worked with the labor movement on political campaigns before deciding to discern a religious vocation. He learned about the Franciscans online and many facets of friar life appealed to him, including the diversity of the brothers and their incarnational spirituality.

He joined the postulancy in 2020 and professed simple vows in 2022. During his time in formation, he focused on social justice advocacy with the local labor movement and parish ministries at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and a Master of Theological Studies from Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee. He enjoys spending quiet time in nature, watercolor and sci-fi/fantasy. He is grateful for his family’s support, especially his parents, who have always supported him and his siblings in their decisions.

Br. Phillip McCarter, OFM

Br. Phillip McCarter, OFM, is from Cincinnati. As a young adult, he attended a special event to venerate the relics of Padre Pio, where he met a friar who invited him to a vocations retreat. Drawn to the community’s joy and brotherhood, he entered the postulancy in 2020 and professed simple vows in 2021.

His ministry experiences include tutoring students in D.C., distributing meals to migrants at Langley Park in Silver Spring, Maryland, teaching Confirmation classes at St. Benedict the African Parish in Chicago and providing support to migrants in Agua Prieta, Mexico. He also served as administrator of St. Anthony’s Kitchen and St. Mary’s Clinic, both in Jamaica.

He says he encounters Christ every day in the people he serves and his biggest blessing is journeying through life together with his brothers. He received a certificate in Addiction Studies from The City Colleges of Chicago – Kennedy King College, completed theology and philosophy courses at the Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio and completed the Franciscan Journey Institute. He is grateful for his formators and mentors.

Br. Brian Menezes, OFM

Br. Brian Menezes, OFM, was born in Kuwait and later immigrated to Mississauga, Canada, which he still calls home. After researching religious orders on vocationnetwork.org, he discovered the Franciscan charism perfectly aligned with his heart’s desire, especially the ability to serve God and all of creation as a religious brother.

He entered the postulancy in 2019 and professed simple vows in 2021. He has enjoyed serving at St. Francis Seraph Ministries in Cincinnati, where the people he encounters bring him great joy. His past ministry experiences include serving the elderly as well as young immigrants and university students.

Before becoming a friar, Br. Brian primarily worked in the financial sector, as well as hospitality, security and logistics. His career did not offer him fulfilment nor peace; so, he determined that the best way forward was to “let go and let God.” He earned a bachelor’s in criminology from the University of Western Ontario in 2010, and a master’s in intercultural ministry from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 2024. He is grateful to God for his family, his brothers and sisters from Franciscan communities and for all those who have supported his growth and faith all these years.

Br. Joan (JP) Perez-Lombera, OFM

An immigrant from Mexico at 13, Br. Joan (JP) Perez-Lombera, OFM, grew up in San Jose, California, where he met friars as a member of YouFra (Franciscan Youth). He admired their simplicity, humility and closeness to the people, especially the forgotten and the suffering.

He entered the postulancy in 2019 and professed simple vows in 2021. Before becoming a friar, he worked as a logistics coordinator and furniture installer. Ministry experiences that have helped him grow in compassion and service include St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, St. Francis Center in Los Angeles and St. Anthony Shrine in Boston.

He enjoys listening to people’s stories and accompanying them in practical and meaningful ways. He attended Mesa College in San Diego in 2024, and the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2025. He is currently studying nutrition at San Francisco State University, and cooking is one of his hobbies. Br. Joan is grateful to family, friends, friars and all who have encouraged and prayed for him throughout the years.

Br. Carlos Portillo, OFM

While working as director of food services for a senior living residence, Br. Carlos Portillo, OFM, wanted to find a Spanish Mass he could attend on weekdays and discovered St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland. Seeing the spirit of the friars as they serve in fraternity and joy inspired him to join the postulancy in 2018, and he professed simple vows in 2019.

During his time in formation, he has helped with youth ministry, ministry to the sick, music ministry and catechesis. He enjoys serving the people of God with joy and sharing fraternity with his brothers.

Br. Carlos was born in El Salvador and attended university there. He also attended DePaul University in Chicago and CareOne Nursing School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is grateful to God for His infinite goodness, as well as his family and brother friars for all their support and love.

Br. Nathaniel Tran, OFM

Br. Nathaniel Tran, OFM, is from Orange County, California. After encountering the friars at Saints Simon and Jude Parish in Huntington Beach and being deeply inspired by the conversion story of St. Francis, he entered postulancy in 2018 and professed first vows in 2020.

Before entering religious life, Br. Nathaniel earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and worked in business marketing and product management for the medical technology industry. As a Franciscan friar, he has found great joy and fulfillment in responding to the call of missionary discipleship, serving among people on the margins, including the elderly, adults with intellectual disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness and Native American communities.

He earned a Master of Divinity and a Certificate of Priestly Formation from the Franciscan School of Theology in San Diego in 2024 and completed a Clinical Pastoral Education internship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He expresses his deepest gratitude to his mother, siblings, friends and formators for their enduring support, encouragement and accompaniment throughout his vocational journey.

Ordination candidates

The Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe joyfully celebrate the ordination of our brothers:

Br. Joshua Richter, OFM

Br. Joshua, from Hamilton, Ohio, considers Chicago and Cincinnati home. At age 12, he was inspired to become a Franciscan by the legacy St. John the Baptist Province friars, particularly Br. Manuel Viera, OFM, who assisted Spanish-speaking newcomers at his parish. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Earth Science and Sustainability from Miami University (Ohio) in 2018, then entered the postulancy program and made his first profession in 2020. He was solemnly professed on Aug. 23, 2025 and ordained to the diaconate on Oct. 19, 2025. He earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in May.

Br. Joshua teaches theology at Roger Bacon High School in Cincinnati. He has diverse experience in tutoring, assisting after-school programs, teaching religious education, and feeding the hungry. He hopes to use his teaching and environmental science skills in various ministries. He is grateful to his formators, mentors, spiritual directors, family and friends for their support.

Br. Maikel Gómez Pérez, OFM

Br. Maikel Gómez Pérez, OFM, grew up in Holguín, Cuba, where his faith was nurtured by his late grandmother. After discovering St. Francis of Assisi and reading about his life, he was inspired to join the Franciscan Order. He entered the Order in Havana, made his first profession in Dec. 28, 2015, and completed initial formation in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He was solemnly professed in Dec. 11, 2021 and ordained to the diaconate in Oct. 19, 2025.

Br. Maikel has ministered to migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, and currently serves the Latino, young adult and homebound communities at St. Peter Claver Parish in Macon, Georgia, where he will continue to minister after ordination. He is grateful to his brother friars and friends who have supported him throughout his vocational journey.

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The Georgia Martyrs are five Franciscan friars who gave their lives for the sake of the Gospel. In honor of their upcoming beatification on Oct. 31, the Franciscan friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe are hosting a Virtual Youth Event that will feature young people who are boldly living their faith.

This event will not only shine a light on heroes of the past; it will celebrate young people today who are fearlessly following Christ with the same faith and passion as the saints who came before them.

That’s why we’re inviting youth ministries, young adult ministries, campus ministries, Catholic schools, parishes and other Catholic communities from across the country to submit a video of courageous discipleship that will be featured during this historic event.

Submit your video by Sunday, August 30!

We will be showcasing young people (ages 13-39) from across the country who are courageous disciples – just like the Georgia Martyrs. They surrender their lives to God daily through prayer, service, evangelization and faithful action. Like the Franciscan friars who left everything behind to share the Gospel with the Guale people of the past, we invite you to submit a video that provides an inspiring example of how young people are living courageously for Christ today in their schools, campuses, workplaces, parishes, families and communities.

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Video content suggestions:

• A praise and worship song
• A testimony of faith and conversion
• A reflection on discipleship
• A story of mission, service, or evangelization
• A witness to how God is moving within your ministry
• A message encouraging other young people to follow Christ

Video submission guidelines:

• Length: 3–5 minutes
• Format: Landscape (16:9)
• Resolution: 1080p preferred
• Include your ministry name and location
• Include a parent/guardian image consent form for minors that appear in videos
• Content should be rooted in Catholic faith and discipleship

How to submit your video:

Send videos and questions to Chris Rivera, Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe | crivera@friars.us

Join modern-day friars for this historic moment

A select group of young people will be chosen to receive tickets to join the Franciscan friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe for a pilgrimage to the Beatification Mass and other celebrations in Savannah, Georgia, surrounding the Beatification.

As the Church honors Franciscan missionaries who helped establish some of the earliest Catholic missions in what is now the United States, we want young people to be a part of these important celebrations so they can carry on their legacies to a new generation.

Plan a watch party on Oct. 31 at 4 p.m.

Make plans now for your community to join youth and young adults from across the country for the Georgia Martyrs Virtual Youth Event on Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. on the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s YouTube channel.

Plan a viewing event/watch party to help young people engage more deeply in their mission to encounter Christ, grow as disciples and become courageous witnesses to the Gospel. The virtual event will include keynote presentations from Franciscan friars who will:

• Share the story and significance of the Georgia Martyrs
• Challenge young people to embrace courageous discipleship
• Introduce the Franciscan charism and missionary spirit
• Invite participants into fraternity, formation and mission
• Present opportunities for leadership development and vocational discernment

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Our Provincial Chapter was a moment of renewal, fraternity and hope that brought together 300 friars to pray, discern, dream and make decisions about the future God is calling us to embrace.

With the spirit of the Chapter still strong in our hearts and minds, the Provincial Council reflects on its experiences of the Chapter and shares its hopes for the years ahead. Their words reveal a common vision: a province united as one brotherhood, strengthened by the Gospel, rooted in fraternity and committed to serving God’s people with peace, compassion and joy.

Get to know the Provincial Administration

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Br. Michael Perry, OFM, Minister Provincial

Before the Chapter, Br. Michael served as director of the Laudato Si' Center for Integral Ecology at Siena University in Loudonville, New York.

He professed simple vows on Aug.11, 1978, followed by solemn profession on Oct 10, 1981. He was ordained a priest on June 2, 1984.

He served the Order of Friars Minor as Minister General, the 120th successor of St. Francis of Assisi, from 2013 to 2021, as well as Provincial Councilor and Provincial Minister for the legacy Sacred Heart Province.

Br. Michael worked at the International Office of Justice and Peace at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as Catholic Relief Services and Franciscans International, which works on human rights, poverty, peace, and integral ecology at the United Nations. He also served as a missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly known as Zaire).

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Quincy University, a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in in Missiology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, and a Ph.D. in religious anthropology from the University of Birmingham, U.K.

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Br. Erick López, OFM, Vicar Provincial

Br. Erick served on the first Provincial Council of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

Born in Cuba, he migrated to Colombia as a young adult and in 1999, he moved to the United States. He professed simple vows on June 3, 2006, followed by solemn profession on Aug. 21, 2010 and ordination on May 21, 2011.

Br. Erick ministered for nearly nine years at St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland. He also served on the novitiate formation team at Old Mission Santa Barbara, California. He has served as regional vocation director, guardian, Provincial Councilor of the legacy Holy Name Province, and board member of Siena College (now Siena University).

Br. Erick holds an undergraduate degree in chemistry and a Master of Divinity from Washington Theological Union.

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Br. John Aherne, OFM, Provincial Councilor

Before the Chapter, Br. John served as pastor of St. Mary's Parish in Pompton Lakes, New Jersey, a suburban church of about 2,800 families.

He was born in the Bronx and was raised in Queens, New York. He first encountered Franciscan spirituality as a teenager attending St. Francis Prep, a ministry of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn. While attending New York University and working as an editor, he became reacquainted with the friars at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Manhattan.

He professed simple vows on Aug 5, 2012, followed by solemn profession on Aug. 27, 2016. He was ordained a priest on June 23, 2018.

He holds a Master of Divinity from Catholic Theological University and a Master of Science in Church Management from Villanova University. He has worked as an editor and taught Irish dancing.

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Br. Peter Boegel, OFM, Provincial Councilor

Before the Chapter, Br. Peter served at San Solano Missions in Topawa, Arizona, 20 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border on the Tohono O’odham Nation. He previously served as the province's Secretary of Missions and Evangelization and director of the province’s Mission and Evangelization Office.

He answered God's call to become a Franciscan, professing simple vows on Aug. 23, 1987, and solemn vows on Dec. 1, 1990.

His ministry experience includes church restoration, facility maintenance and repair, serving eighteen years on the Mescalero Apache reservation and ten years on the Tohono O'odham reservation. He has served the fraternity as a guardian, syndic/bursar, Provincial Councilor for the Province of St. Barbara (2003-2009) and Secretary of the Province of St. Barbara (2009-2016).

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Br. George Camacho, OFM, Provincial Councilor

Before the Chapter, Br. George served as a member of the novitiate formation team for the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Based at Old Mission Santa Barbara, California, he mentored novices as they deepened their relationship with God and their Franciscan identity.

He is originally from Rosedale, New York. Before his current role, he served as director of the Damietta Cross-Cultural Center at Siena University in Loudonville, New York.

He professed simple vows on June 11, 2011 and was solemnly professed on Aug. 27, 2016.

Br. Henry Fulmer, OFM, Provincial Councilor

Before the Chapter, Br. Henry served as guardian for Holy Name College Fraternity in Silver Spring, Maryland. He has experience with African American ministry, parish ministry, multicultural ministry, retreat/preaching and vocations/formation.

He professed simple vows on May 28, 1988, and solemn vows on June 19,1993. He was ordained as a permanent deacon on April 20, 1996

He has served as board chair of Franciscan Bread for the Poor, parochial vicar of Sacred Heart Parish in Tampa, Florida, and pastoral associate and administrator of St. Joseph Parish in Wilmington, Delaware.

Br. Colin King, OFM, Provincial Councilor

Before the Chapter, Br. Colin was assigned to the missions of Western Jamaica, serving as pastor of Mary, Gate of Heaven Catholic Church in Western Westmoreland, St Mary Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Revival and St Luke Catholic Church in Little London. He has served in Jamaica since his ordination on June 10, 2017.

Br. Colin was born and raised in Central Ohio and worked as a special education teacher before entering the Order of Friars Minor, which he says felt like a homecoming. He professed simple vows on June 11, 2011, followed by solemn profession on Aug. 23, 2014. He has a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union and an Executive Masters of Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame. He has served as a dean and Vicar of Education for the Diocese of Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Br. Roger Lopez, OFM, Provincial Councilor

Br. Roger served on the first Provincial Council for the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Born and raised in Pensacola, Florida, he attended the University of West Florida and became a firefighter before entering the Order of Friars Minor.

Br. Roger professed simple vows on June 15, 2009, and solemn vows on Aug. 25, 2012. He was ordained a priest on June 11, 2016. He earned a Master of Divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago and an Executive Master of Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

Br. Roger served as theology teacher and director of community outreach at Roger Bacon High School in Cincinnati. He also has experience with youth and young adult ministry, service to the poor, campus ministry and hospital chaplaincy.

He has served in various roles with the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, Padua Franciscan High School, Academy of American Franciscan History and the Secular Franciscans (Northwest Region).

Br. Rommel Perez Flores, OFM, Provincial Councilor

Br. Rommel served on the first Provincial Council for the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Raised in a large Mexican family, he first learned about the Franciscans when he met a friar from Puerto Rico who taught him about St. Francis. He was drawn to community life and the joyful, faithful witness of the friars he met.

He professed simple vows on June 15, 2007, and solemn vows on Aug. 28, 2010. He was ordained a priest on May 7, 2011.

He finds great fulfillment in fraternal life, parish ministry and by accompanying people as they journey through spiritual life.

His ministry experience includes co-director of formation, pastor, vicar of three different friaries and served on the last provincial council of legacy Sacred Heart.

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All are invited to host the Children’s Shroud, a global movement of remembrance, solidarity and action in response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza. This initiative responds to a recent call from the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor who, in light of the war in the Middle East, urged all Franciscans to “be builders of peace, workers of justice, capable of denouncing evil wherever it comes from.” 

Get involved today by contacting Br. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, at jorzechowski@friars.us.  

(Photo caption: Br. Jay Woods, OFM, signs the Shroud of Remembrance in St. Louis, MO, on July 14, 2026. Photo by Teresa Peterson) 

What is the Children's Shroud?   

The Children’s Shroud is a large white cloth that will display the names of more than 18,000 children who are known to have been killed in Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. Over the past several months, Christians, Muslims, Jews and other people of goodwill have invited their communities to inscribe the names of the children as a way of affirming their lives and dignity. Inspired by a similar project organized by Priests Against Genocide, the Franciscan Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe began this interfaith project in May. Franciscan parishes in Maryland and North Carolina, and a local fraternity at a Franciscan university are among the groups that have participated. 

Why is this important?  

A recent, dire report from the United Nations depicts the horrific reality faced by the Palestinians, especially children.  Br. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM, who is organizing the province’s involvement with the project, says the report highlights the moral urgency to end this tragedy. He adds: “I hope that as we celebrate the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Transitus, we can continue his prophetic legacy and help end the United States’ complicity in the horrible suffering of the Palestinian people in the Holy Land. The goal of this initiative is to wake up the moral conscience of our nation and do our part as people of faith to help end the ongoing genocide. We cannot remain on the sidelines.”   

How does the Shroud make a difference?  

As thousands of people across the country write a child’s name on the cloth, they participate in an act of prayer, remembrance and moral witness. The Shroud is a way of lifting up the dignity of the oppressed Palestinian people and responding to the prophetic call of the Christian churches in the Holy Land. It invites a diverse group of people in the United States to come together, appealing to the conscience of our nation and encouraging us to respond to the cries of the oppressed with charity and restorative justice.    

What happens to the shroud after all the names are added?   

On Wednesday, September 16, the shroud will be displayed at the UN Church Center in New York City, where various non-governmental organizations and ambassadors will have an opportunity to inscribe some of the remaining names onto the shroud. In October, the Shroud will travel to Washington, D.C., before continuing to other cities.   

How can I get involved?  

To bring a section of the Shroud to your community, contact Br. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM (jorzechowski@friars.us). 

What other ways are Franciscans promoting peace and reconciliation in Gaza?  

From the time of St. Francis of Assisi and the early friars, with their simple greeting of “Pace e Bene” (“Peace and All Good”), Franciscans have been heralds of peace. 800 years ago, the Church entrusted the guardianship of the Christian religion in the Holy Land to the Order of St. Francis. Franciscan friars continue to care for Christians and all peoples in the land of Jesus today. 

In response to the ongoing war, the Provincial Council of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe has called for an immediate ceasefire, the immediate delivery of humanitarian assistance, a limitation on the U.S. Government’s arms sales to Israel, and steps of reconciliation to transform the current trajectory of death into a long-term and sustainable peace. Recently, 12 Franciscan Provincial Ministers in the United States sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging him to help stop increased attacks against Christians by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. 

Through our partnerships with organizations like Churches for Middle East Peace, the province supports educational series about the history of the conflict in the Holy Land and ongoing joint advocacy efforts for peace in the United States. The soon-to-be released book titled “Palestine, Israel, and Catholic Social Teaching” provides a great opportunity for Franciscan-hearted people to learn and be empowered as instruments of God’s peace in the Holy Land.  

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From the Earlier Rule (1209/10) and the Later Rule (1223)  

When the brothers go through the world, let them takenothing for the journey, neither knapsack, nor purse, nor bread, nor money, nor walking stick. Whatever house they enter, let them first say: Peace to this house.  

From the Testament of Saint Francis (1226)  

The Lord revealed a greeting to me that we should say: “May the Lord give you peace.”  

From Chapter 15 on Peace from The Admonitions (date unknown)  

[XV: Peace]  

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 
Those people are truly peacemakers who, regardless of what they suffer in this world, preserve peace of spirit and body out of love of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

From the First Book of the Life of St. Francis of Assisi by Thomas of Celano  

In all of his preaching, before he presented the word of God to the assembly, he prayed for peace saying, “May the Lord give you peace.” ... To those he met and to those who met him. Accordingly, many who hated peace along with salvation, with the Lord’s help wholeheartedly embraced peace. They became themselves children of peace...  

The word “peace” echoes over 80 times in St. Francis of Assisi’s early writings and his early biographies. It has become an attitude so characteristic of St. Francis that it goes without criticism to call him a “Man/Saint of Peace.” 

But what did Francis mean when he used the expression “peace be with you” so frequently in his interactions with others? Today peace seems to be held as an absolute – an existence free from worry, anxiety or harm. Yet this is not how Francis understood peace, nor how our Christian tradition embraces it.  

For St. Francis (and for St. Clare), peace is better understood as a yearning and hope bestowed upon all creation. This is why Francis expresses it as a statement in the subjective tense, the tense of possibility and potential, which is introduced in the words, may or might. It is a way of speaking that expresses possibility and openness to God’s work in us if we dare open ourselves to him. 

Francis viewed peace as a surrender to the belief that God knows what God is doing. Peace exists even when things do not go as planned, in times of crisis or anxiety, and if we find ourselves marginalized or forgotten.  

Peace is a trust, which dares and challenges us to believe that when we experience the greatest conflict, God is there leading us through it, knowing we belong always to God. Peace is a spiritual experience, not other-worldly or supernatural, but knowledge which fortifies and sustains us, as it did St. Francis, in all we experience. Despair and hopelessness never succeed; a confidence that God is ultimately with and for us always prevails. 

This understanding of peace has its challenges. We never hear of a reconciliation between Francis and his parents, especially with his mother, in any of the sources. We hope that there may have been a peaceful reconciliation. Perhaps the reason it is not recorded is that it was so personal that it need be known only to God, St. Francis and his family. An experience of peace like this brings us to the height of personal transformation that furthers the peace found only in God. 

Reflect

How have you experienced a profound sense of peace in your life? What was the situation or context where this peace was found? How have you carried it with you?  

What stands in the way of accepting the type of peace Francis lived, in your life? To what must you surrender to experience this peace?  

How do we move beyond the desire to experience peace as an absolute – where everything is right, without anxiety or worry – in a complex world? How can we learn to trust, like St. Francis did, that God knows what God is doing?  

Image: The oldest portrait of St. Francis, a mural painting in the sacred grotto “St. Benedict's Cave” in Subiaco. 

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Fr. Joseph Ricchini, OFM, 94, passed away on July 30, 2026, in Cincinnati, after a brief illness. After 70 years of Franciscan life marked by compassionate accompaniment and a gift for meeting people where they were, Fr. Joe is remembered as a counselor, formator, spiritual director and friend. He dedicated his ministry to helping others recognize God's presence amid the joys and challenges of everyday life.  

Visitation for Fr. Joe will begin at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at St. Clement Catholic Church, 4536 Vine St., Cincinnati, OH 45217, followed by the Funeral Mass at 10 a.m.  

Born on Jan. 12, 1932, in Philadelphia to Joseph and Mary (née Russo) Ricchini, Fr. Joe attended Southeast Catholic High School in Philadelphia. He then entered the U.S. Air Force and worked as a radar mechanic from 1951 to 1954. He served at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Mississippi, and on Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and received the National Defense Service Medal. 

He entered the Order of Friars Minor on Aug. 15, 1955, and professed first vows on Aug. 16, 1956, and solemn vows on Aug. 15, 1959. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Duns Scotus College in Southfield, Michigan, the following year and, after completing his theological studies at St. Leonard College in Centerville, Ohio, he was ordained to the priesthood on June 5, 1964. 

Fr. Joe’s first assignments were at St. Bonafice Church in Louisville, Kentucky (1964 to 1969) and St. Bonaventure Church in Cincinnati (1969 to 1971). After seven years in parish ministry, he earned a master’s degree in pastoral counseling from the University of Detroit and became a counselor and instructor at St. Leonard College, the theological school of the legacy St. John the Baptist Province. In 1981, he earned a master’s degree in spiritual studies from Loyola University Chicago.  

Fr. Joe then served as St. John the Baptist’s director of post-novitiate formation at Our Lady of the Americas Friary in Cincinnati and St. Mary Magdelene Friary in Chicago. After six years as a formator, he began 20 years of conducting retreats, offering spiritual direction and counseling, and accompanying countless people as they sought to deepen their relationship with God, while living in Chicago and Cincinnati.  

After his retirement in 2008, he moved to St. Anthony Friary in Cincinnati, where he remained active, offering Mass and spiritual direction. 

Fr. Joe was known as a person-to-person teacher whose style was better suited to interactive learning than lecture halls. Easy to befriend, he took a pastoral approach to ministry, moving with compassion and concern for everyone he encountered. Throughout his years of retreat ministry and spiritual direction, he encouraged people to trust in God’s unconditional love and to recognize God’s presence in their lives even amid struggle and uncertainty. 

The ministry that would shape much of Fr. Joe’s life began unexpectedly. While serving on the faculty at St. Leonard College, he reluctantly agreed to lead a day of recollection, convinced he was unsuited for retreat work. The experience led to additional invitations and ultimately to decades of retreat ministry, spiritual direction and preaching.  

Fr. Joe enjoyed watching movies and sports and was an avid walker. Beloved for his gentle humor and wit, he loved to cook and was especially proud of his gnocchi, a reflection of his pride in his Italian heritage. 

Please keep Fr. Joe’s family and his brother friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe in your prayers.