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Br. Brian Henry Newbigging professed final vows with the Franciscan Friars Conventual in 1974 at the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, MD. Br. Brian works and lives at the St. Joseph Cupertino Friary above the Shrine today. In honor of Religious Brother’s Day – recognized on May 1 – he shared some of his reflections on a life of service and ministry with the friars.

Today, Br. Brian hand-pours soy candles in the Shrine of St. Anthony for sale to the public. You can order candles at franciscansoycandles.org.

A Franciscan Catholic education is more than academics; it is a transformative experience that nurtures the mind, body, and soul.

At Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, MD, and St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, NY, this holistic approach shines brightly, shaping students into compassionate, intelligent, and well-rounded individuals prepared for life’s challenges.

The Companions of St. Anthony have long supported the education ministry of the Franciscan Friars Conventual, through the funding of scholarships at both schools, helping the friars spread the teachings and values of their founder, St. Francis of Assisi.

“A Franciscan education forever changes a life,” said Fr. Matt Foley, OFM Conv., President of St. Francis High School. “Any school makes you smarter, but the relationships that are formed between brothers in the class room or on the athletic field at a school like St. Francis, reflect the spirit of the friars.”

The story is similar at Curley.

“Archbishop Curley High School uses the theme ‘Where Brotherhood Begins,’” said Fr. Donald Grzymski, the school’s President as well as a Curley graduate. “Brotherhood has been embraced by the students and alumni, who regularly speak of their ‘brothers.’ In a deeper way, a Franciscan education strives to inform, but also to form young men with Catholic-Christian values, to help them have a personal relationship with God, and a readiness to help others as they move beyond themselves. It is the goal for a real transformation in the high school years, for as a boy becomes a young man, he is assisted in growing emotionally, mentally, morally and spiritually.

Faith and Spiritual Growth

At the heart of a Franciscan education is a deep-rooted commitment to faith and spiritual growth. Both Archbishop Curley and St. Francis emphasize the values of St. Francis of Assisi, fostering a community where students learn to embody humility, service, and love for all creation.

Daily prayers, retreats, and service projects offer students opportunities to deepen their faith and build a moral compass grounded in Catholic tradition. An example of spiritual growth through a Franciscan education can be seen in this experience shared by Patrick Coughlin, a junior student at St. Francis, who is a recipient of a scholarship funded by the Companions.

“Last year, myself and one of my brothers had a dispute over something petty,” said Coughlin. “Unsure of what to make of our disagreement I prayed to God during one of the school Masses. My brother was attending as well. I remember clear as day the realization of how a small disagreement led to us making such a big deal of something so pathetic. Acting as St. Francis would, which is something chiseled into you as you spend your time at St. Francis, I apologized, as did he, which settled our quarrel. You see, it’s not all about the fancy tie and dress shoes you wear to school everyday, but something much deeper. It’s the logo you wear on your chest representing our school and what we mean as a brotherhood. How we should conduct ourselves as St. Francis gentlemen and men of God towards others.”

The rigorous academic programs at these institutions challenge students to excel while encouraging intellectual curiosity. By integrating faith and reason, students learn to approach complex issues with critical thinking and ethical decision-making.

Brotherhood and Community

Both schools foster a strong sense of brotherhood and community, where students build lifelong friendships and learn the value of collaboration. The Franciscan spirit of inclusivity creates an environment where every individual is respected and valued. Events like school Masses, athletic competitions, and performing arts productions bring students, families, and alumni together, strengthening the bonds that define these schools.

“The greatest gift from my Franciscan education at Curley, without a doubt, are the many relationships and close lifelong friends that I continue to enjoy to this day,” said John Nietubicz, a Baltimore area physical therapist and a 1980 graduate of Curley. “I am forever grateful and proud to be a part of the Curley Family!”

Service and Leadership

Inspired by the Franciscan call to serve, students at Archbishop Curley and St. Francis engage in extensive community service. Whether assisting local charities, participating in international mission trips, or mentoring younger students, they learn to lead through service. These experiences instill a sense of responsibility and empathy, preparing graduates to make a positive impact on the world.

The value of a Franciscan Catholic education lies in its ability to shape not only successful professionals but also compassionate leaders and faithful stewards of the community.

“As an alumnus, and in my cumulative 27th year on staff, it’s been a real blessing to see these values develop and become part of the fabric of a Curley education,” said Fr. Donald.

“My experience with the Franciscan spirit at Curley High School was not only about receiving an excellent education, but a strong formation of the man I would become,” said Nietubicz. “The dedicated faculty and nearly two dozen Franciscan Friars provided the educational foundation that set the trajectory for the rest of my life. I received the skills and knowledge I needed to be successful in college and ultimately led to my certification as a physical therapist. I have enjoyed my vocation for nearly 40 years. The strong faith in God I enjoy today was grounded in the spiritual guidance I received during my Franciscan education.”

Making a Difference

“Patrick Coughlin is the youngest of 10 children and all five of his brothers attended St. Francis,” said Fr. Matt. “He probably could not attend St. Francis without his scholarship from the Companions and other benefactors of our school and Franciscan education. We don’t want to get to the point where young men cannot receive a Catholic education because of financial reasons.”

The rewards are obvious.

If you ever want to express your gratitude for what you received from your Franciscan education, there is no better way than to give that opportunity to the next generation. Today’s private Catholic education tuition costs are out of reach for many families. Every small financial gift, given by many donors can do great things for those in need.

There are few foods more pleasing than chocolate. It’s smooth, sweet taste and luxurious melt-in-your-mouth richness makes chocolate a treat that delights the senses and evokes feelings of comfort and joy.

Unfortunately, the production of chocolate is under attack. Specifically, the farms in West Africa, where 70% of the cocoa pod, the primary ingredient in chocolate, is grown, face threats from the impact of illegal mining, often referred to as “galamsey.”

One of the warriors fighting to protect cocoa farmers and educate local leaders is a Franciscan Friar from Ghana, Fr. Joseph Blay, OFM Conv.

In Ghana, particularly in the Jema community of the Aowin in the Western North Region, Fr. Joe has been instrumental in combating illegal mining activities. Through education and advocacy, he has mobilized local residents to resist the environmental degradation caused by illegal mining practices. His efforts have led the community to reject substantial bribes aimed at permitting illegal mining operations.

“Galamsey or mining is not like building the Akosombo Dam,” said Fr. Joe, who is a native of Jema. “The dam was something of national interest, going to serve the whole nation. But here, all those who are mining are just (pursuing) individual selfish needs.”

Fr. Joe emphasizes the importance of community involvement in environmental protection, advocating for zoning systems to regulate mining activities and preserve natural resources.

“The community has the power,” he said. “The irony is that the mining companies say they are bringing work to the youth and the youth say we have work. But our work is cocoa and the mining work is serving somebody’s selfish interest.”

Mining activities often involve clearing large swathes of land, leading to deforestation. The removal of tree cover affects local microclimates, which are crucial for growing cocoa. The crop requires shade and consistent rainfall. Furthermore, mining pollutes water sources with mercury and other harmful chemicals, making it unsuitable for irrigation and harming biodiversity.

The social and economic implications are equally troubling. Farmers whose land is seized or rendered infertile, lose their primary source of income, pushing them into poverty. Additionally, the lucrative allure of illegal mining draws labor away from cocoa farming.

“The threat of illegal mining is beyond Ghana because it is against sustainable development goals,” concluded Fr Joe. In addition to this work, Fr. Joe has served in Rome as Delegate General for Justice, Peace and Integrity for Creation. He has also worked with the Companions to secure funding for critical medical equipment donated to a clinic he started in Jema. Currently, he is working with the Companions to educate six young women for careers in professions like nursing, medicine, and engineering.

Not too long ago, the land that is now Little Portion Farm was riddled with rocks and patches of dry, unhealthy soil. In fact, one of the first volunteers for Little Portion Farm was given the task of walking the three-acre plot with a wheelbarrow to remove any large stones from the area. Today, volunteers are still using wheelbarrows, but not to pick up rocks. These wheelbarrows are likely carrying compost to lay on more than 100 beds that have been planted with more than 40 varieties of fruits and vegetables over the last five years.

“It’s a place I feel inspired,” Paula Cirincione, a regular volunteer, said of Little Portion Farm. “I step on that soil, and something happens – I feel hope.”

Little Portion Farm is a ministry of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of the Our Lady of the Angels Province in Ellicott City, Md. The mission of the farm is to provide fresh food to those in need while using sustainable farming methods to restore and promote the future health of the land.

Since 2019, Little Portion Farm has grown, harvested, and donated more than 100,000 pounds of fresh, organic produce to those living with food insecurity in the region.

“Going to the farm, everything comes together for me,” Paula, who has volunteered since 2020 said. “It’s about growth and new beginnings.”

Five Years of Expansion

The first seeds were planted on Little Portion Farm in the summer of 2019. Just over 1,000 pounds of food were harvested that year and given to the Franciscan Center of Baltimore. As food production has grown (now averaging more than 20,000 pounds of food per year), so has the Franciscan Center’s ability to serve more individuals meals made from fresh ingredients. The Franciscan Center of Baltimore has a hot lunch program that serves hundreds of people daily. With the help of produce from Little Portion Farm, most of those meals are made from scratch. Additionally, produce from Little Portion Farm is shared with the culinary training program run by the Franciscan Center.

Much of the expanded production on Little Portion Farm can be attributed to the improved health of the land. Prior to the start of Little Portion Farm, the farmland was leased out and farmed using conventional agricultural methods that proved harmful to the soil and surrounding ecosystems for many decades. Because of the sustainable methods used on the land now, the soil and surrounding environment have made tremendous strides in returning to a healthy, thriving ecosystem. This has been done by planting a wide variety of fruits, vegetables, herbs, and flowers to promote ecological diversity (as well as a diverse range of food for the community). The operations on the farm limit the use of machinery and no herbicides, pesticides, or artificial fertilizers are used on the farm. A no-till system of farming helps keep more carbon in the soil and reduce erosion. Finally, two-thirds of the farm is dedicated to perennial plants such as trees and native wildflowers to support soil life with their extensive root systems.

Additionally, two new high tunnels installed last year have increased farm production, both midseason and throughout the winter. In the last year, for example, in January, February, March, and April, volunteers and staff harvested 500 pounds or more in each of those months. Much of this production is due to the high tunnels. Finally, the farm also installed a greenhouse in 2024 and grew thousands of plants that were then transplanted to the farm or shared with the community.

A Volunteer-Driven Ministry

Farm Manager, Matt Jones, first welcomed volunteers on Little Portion farm in 2019. As one of the primary missions of the farm is protecting and supporting the health of the soil and surrounding ecosystems, Matt helps teach volunteers how to use sustainable farming methods to produce a variety of food.

All farm work is done by hand using simple tools, and a ton of volunteer labor.

“Every action taken on the farm is done with an awareness of the potential impact on the land and surrounding ecosystem,” Matt said. “We believe that our care of the earth allows us to better serve the people who receive our food, because food is most nutritious when it comes from healthy soil.”

Volunteers like Paula are introduced to the work in a variety of ways – some hear about the ministry from friends, some attend Mass at the Shrine of St. Anthony (in view of Little Portion Farm), while others are introduced as part of a church, corporate, or school group. Paula is a lifelong gardener, but she’s learned a lot from her time volunteering, she said, including many techniques she’s brought to her home garden.

“I’ve always asked a million questions about the different plants and insects,” Paula said. “Volunteering has been the jewel on top of my love for gardening.”

Paula is one of more than 1,200 volunteers who’ve worked on Little Portion Farm over the last year. She’s contributed to the planting, caring, and harvesting of thousands of pounds of food this year that were all donated to partners, including the Franciscan Center, serving individuals living with food insecurity in the region.

In 2019, the farm hosted 62 unique volunteers, including friars and friars in formation. The volunteer base has grown steadily over the last five years. In the last year, the farm hosted more than 1,200 unique volunteers serving more than 7,500 hours on and off the farm. In that same time period, the farm has seen the number of unique volunteer groups grow tenfold – from three in 2019 to 30 groups last year.

While great strides have been made in the last five years, Matt said the work on the farm is only just beginning.

“I know the community sees the beauty of our work,” Matt said. “And we work with a faith that God is able to multiply the fruits that we harvest in the lives of those who labor and in those who enjoy these fruits.”

A group of close to 60 educators, health care professionals, civil servants, and those working in careers both inside and outside social and spiritual services recently gathered in Syracuse, New York to celebrate an exciting milestone.

FrancisCorps – of which they were all alum – was marking 25 years of providing a unique service opportunity for young adults.

“This experience really stays with you,” A.J. LaPoint, the current FrancisCorps director, said. “We want this experience to be unique to what God’s calling every volunteer to do.”

Founded in 1998, FrancisCorps welcomed its first group of volunteers in 1999. The program offers the opportunity for youth to live in community during a year of service for those in need. More than 200 volunteers have answered the call to this year of service, experiencing firsthand what it means to live as a Franciscan.

An official ministry of the Conventual Franciscan Friars, FrancisCorps continues to invite young men and women to this experience of Gospel life in Syracuse, New York. The goal is helping volunteers turn their year of service into a lifetime committed to living the Gospel in their families, careers, parishes, and communities.

A.J. himself served as a volunteer for FrancisCorps and has been director of the program for 10 years. The last decade has brought a series of challenges for bringing on and helping volunteers – primarily the COVID-19 pandemic – but he said volunteer numbers have remained steady year after year.

“The landscape of what volunteer service has looked like has changed so much,” A.J. said. “We give the Holy Spirit space to work.”

The current volunteer cohort includes six college graduates hailing from Washington, Nevada, Louisiana, and New York. The group lives in community in a volunteer house in central New York, a short drive from Assumption Church in Syracuse. A.J. said while the program has changed over the last 26 years, the core mission remains the same: sharing the passion and vision of St. Francis of Assisi and empowering young adults to make a difference.

This year, the 25th anniversary of the passing of Fr. Martin de Porres Maria Ward, OFM Conv., the first African American Conventual Franciscan, provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on his candidacy for beatification.

The “Cause” for Fr. Martin officially got underway in 2020 when local friars in the Diocese of São João del Rei in Brazil, where Fr. Martin served for many years as a missionary, received official permission from Bishop José Eudes Campos do Nascimento to put forth his name.

To generate support, the friars placed portraits of Fr. Martin in local parishes and proposed a prayer for his canonization to be recited at all of their Masses. A website to tell Fr. Martin’s story and support his cause was also established.

Born in Boston in 1918 as Matthias DeWitte Ward, Martin was the son of an interracial couple and was raised as Methodist, along with his 12 siblings. As a teen he and his family lived in Washington, D.C. and he began to attend St. Augustine Catholic Church, the center of the city’s Black Catholic Community.

At the age of 17, Ward converted to Catholicism and later he answered a religious calling and entered the seminary of the Salvation Fathers in 1942. Unfortunately, a pulmonary condition forced him to withdraw from the seminary. Eventually he moved to Brooklyn, New York where he later applied to the Conventual Friars Minor.

Although most seminaries in the U.S. at that time were closed to black candidates, Ward was admitted to the Conventuals in June of 1945, becoming the first African American in the order’s history. Soon thereafter, he took his religious name Martin Maria de Porres in honor of black Peruvian Dominican friar Martin de Porres, as well as Mary, the mother of Jesus, as he entered the novitiate.

Not only did he face discrimination because of his skin color, some members of his own family shunned him because of his conversion to Catholicism. Nonetheless, he was ordained a priest in 1955, with two of his sisters in attendance. He later baptized his father on his deathbed.

Shortly after his ordination, Fr. Ward volunteered to serve the friars’ missions in Brazil. His first assignment was at São Boaventura School where he learned Portuguese and became a teacher. He also served as a pastor, chaplain, and vocations director. He also worked in Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul and Goiás in Brazil and, all the while, caught the attention of his fellow black priests in the U.S., as his work was featured in a book by Fr. George Clements about African-American clergy, Black Catholic Men of God.

In 1985, while serving at Andrelândia as a spiritual director and teacher at a local seminary, Fr. Ward was known to entertain his fellow friars and students with his sharp sense of humor and storytelling. He often shared his vocation story and health issues as well as his struggle against anti-Black racism.

In 1995, Ward was awarded the honorary title “Citizen of Andrelândia” for his service in the region. Fr. Ward remained in service to the people of Brazil until his death in 1999. Despite suffering what appeared be a heart attack while celebrating Mass, Fr. Ward completed the liturgy. He suffered a second episode one day later while en route to the hospital and died on June 22nd. His gravesite is at the former São Francisco de Assis Seminary in Andrelândia, which has become a place a pilgrimage and the site of two reputed miracles as of 2022.

The cause for the canonization for Fr. Martin de Porres Maria Ward, OFM Conv. has been promoted by the Order’s Curia in Rome since the summer of 2022. At the 2022 Provincical Chapter of the Our Lady of the Angels Province, in 2022, Fr Julian Zambanini, OFM Conv. was appointed vice-postulator of the cause. In addition, a Historical Commission (HC), composed of two U.S. friars, Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. and Br. Douglas McMillan, OFM Conv., along with friars of the Brazilian Custody of the Immaculate Conception, Fr. Ronaldo Gomes, Fr. Marcelos dos Santos, Fr. Robson Malafaia and Fr. Carlos Charles, was formed.

This group is preparing a report on the life of Fr. Ward. Once the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints approves the cause presented by the Bishops of Brazil, the report of the Historical Commission will be sent to Rome where the final Positio, which is an extended analysis of the documentation presented in the HC report, will be written.

The Positio will be presented to the Dicastery of Causes of Saints by the Bishops of Brazil and to Franciscan Postulator General, Fr. Zdzislaw Kijas, OFM Conv. The Dicastery for the Causes of Saints (previously named the Congregation for the Causes of Saints), is the Dicastery of the Roman Curia that oversees the process that leads to the canonization of saints, passing through the steps of a declaration of “heroic virtues” and beatification. After preparing a case, including the approval of miracles, several of which have been presented in Brazil, the case is presented to the pope, who decides whether to proceed with beatification or canonization.

Prayer for the Canonization of Fr. Martin de Porres Ward

O Glorious Most High God, who deign to glorify in Heave the souls of those who served and glorified you on Earth, hear our prayers (petitions in silence), and according to the design of Your Divine Providence, deign to glorify your Servant Friar Martin Maria, who by his love desired to offer his life for the education and service of the youth, the poor and the sick, and like our “compadre” we too may progress in the service of the most needy. Amen! 

Our Lady of the Angels Province Friar, Fr. Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., was ordained as the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Charlotte on May 29, 2024 at Saint Mark Catholic Church in Huntersville, North Carolina.

A native of Baltimore where he attended Archbishop Curley High School and began to receive his call to religious life, Bishop Martin’s priestly ministry has been rooted in service, Catholic education and leadership. Inspired by the Conventual Friars who taught him at Curley, Bishop Martin informed his family of his intentions to join the Franciscan novitiate in Ellicott City, Maryland, shortly after his graduation from high school in 1979 and, nearly 10 years later, was ordained to the priesthood.

During his formation, one of his first ministries was as a teaching friar and coach at St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York. He later served as a transitional deacon at St. Albert Parish in Elmhurst, New York, and returned to St. Francis, after his priestly ordination, to serve as the school’s admissions director, while completing his masters degree in education at Boston College.

In 1994, he was assigned to Archbishop Curley, his alma mater, where he served in numerous roles over the next 16 years, including teacher, coach, admissions director, principal and school president. Archbishop Curley High School always has been, and probably always will be at the center of Bishop Martin’s story. One of his teachers there was the current Archbishop of Atlanta, Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv. Bishop Martin and Archbishop Hartmayer first met when Bishop Martin toured Curley as an eighth grader and the two have now known each other for more than 50 years. Curley and their Franciscan vocations are bonds they share.

“There was a spirit in that school of the Franciscans of love and community that I found attractive,” Bishop Martin said of Curley to the Catholic News Herald. “I recognized how my own education made such a difference in my life.”

“Father Martin is a faithful son of St. Francis,” said Archbishop Hartmayer, who officiated at Bishop Martin’s ordination in Charlotte. “We worked closely together for five years at that school, and we’ve come to know each other very well.”

When his time at Curley came to an end in 2010, Bishop Martin became the Director of the Duke Catholic Center at Duke University, where he served for the next 10 years. In 2022, Bishop Martin became the pastor of St. Phillip Benizi Parish in Jonesboro, Georgia, a parish under the leadership of Archbishop Hartmayer.

When a search was announced for the new Bishop of Charlotte, after it was announced that longtime Bishop Peter Jugis was retiring due to health concerns, Archbishop Hartmayer recommended Bishop Martin for the position to the Pope. The rest, as they say, is history.

“Michael is a great leader, he’s charismatic,” said Archbishop Hartmayer. “I find him to be a great homilist, a great teacher and great administrator, and so I think he brings to Charlotte a lot of talent and a lot of experience – and he’s very excited about coming to Charlotte.”

Like Archbishop Hartmayer, who made a similar transition when he was first appointed the Bishop of Savannah by the Pope, Bishop Martin will leave the communal Franciscan life he has lived since he first entered the novitiate.

According to Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv., Bishop Martin’s close friend and the Provincial of the Our Lady of the Angels Province, Bishop Martin will thrive in his new role.

“The Holy Father has recognized our brother as an excellent spiritual leader and administrator,” said Fr. Heine. “Friar Michael has the God-given gifts to be a successor of the Apostles.”

Bishop Martin’s Franciscan roots are an integral part of his coat of arms. The top features a green galero, a symbol of the clergy. Six green tassels flank each side, reflecting the rank of a bishop. The right side of the shield features the Franciscan Tau cross with two crossing arms. One arm belongs to Christ and the other belongs to St. Francis of Assisi, with both hands bearing the stigmata.

Above and below this symbol are six vertical stripes, alternately black and gold, referencing George Calvert and his son Cecil, the first and second barons of Baltimore. The left side showcases two symbols – the Celtic cross honoring St. Patrick, patron of the diocese’s cathedral, and a crown symbolizing Queen Charlotte of England, for whom the city of Charlotte was named. The coat of arms also includes the San Damiano cross, which is symbolic of the bishop’s office. It is also significant to Franciscans because St. Francis was inspired to form his order when Jesus told him, from the cross in the chapel of San Damiano in Italy, “Francis, go rebuild my Church for it is falling to ruins.”

One final element of Bishop Martin’s coat of arms is his personal motto, “Duc In Altum,” which means, “put out into the deep,” words Jesus spoke to Peter in the Gospel of Luke. The coat of arms was designed by Brian Taberski, a former student of Bishop Martin’s at St. Francis High School, more than 30 years ago.

Other important symbols of Bishop Martin’s new office – his crosier and ring – are also being crafted by individuals close to him. Two of Bishop Martin’s Franciscan brothers are combining their talents on the crosier. Father Joseph Dorniak, OFM Conv. developed the design while Father Peter Tremblay is crafting it. The crosier will be a wooden staff with a circle of woven cord with three tied knots placed in an open space in its crook. The knots symbolize the Franciscan vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The ring is being designed by longtime friend Paul Winicki, also an Archbishop Curley graduate, and his team at Radcliffe Jewelers in Baltimore. The gold ring will feature the bow of a fishing boat similar to one used by the apostles with the Franciscan Tau Crossed formed as the boat’s keel. It also includes his motto “Duc In Altum.” The gold in the ring comes from a gold high school ring worn by Bishop Martin’s late father. Bishops wear rings as a symbol of his fidelity to and spiritual bond with the Church.