The Very Reverend Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. was installed as the new Minister Provincial of the Our Lady of the Angels Province during the province’s 2022 Ordinary Provincial Chapter.
Fr. Michael, who had been serving on the Province Definitory as Vicar Provincial since 2018, succeeds The Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. Fr. James was the Province’s very first Minister Provincial, having overseen the merger of two former provinces – Immaculate Conception Province and St. Anthony of Padua Province in 2014.
Prior to joining the Definitory, Fr. Michael spent eight years as the Director of the Shrine of St. Anthony and oversaw the restoration of historic Carrollton Hall on the grounds of the Shrine in Ellicott City, Maryland.
Fr. Michael entered the Franciscan Friars Conventual in 1981 and professed his Simple Vows in 1982, followed by his Solemn Vows in 1986. Recently, he celebrated the 32nd anniversary of his ordination as a friar priest, which occurred in 1990.
From 1990 to 1994 Fr. Michael taught Religion at Fort Pierce High School in Florida and was the Director of School Counseling at Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, MD from 1994 to 2007.
After leaving Curley he spent four years as a missionary at Above Rocks in Jamaica, before beginning his tenure at the Shrine of St. Anthony in 2011.
Fr. Michael sees his role as Minister Provincial as one of service to the Friars.
“I see myself as the servant of the friars,” said Fr. Michael. “It is not a position of power as the world sees power but one of service to the friars. I see my four year term as one of listening to the friars and supporting them as they live out their Franciscan vocation and ministry. Pope Francis is calling the Church to practice synodality. I hope to do the same. Listening to all friars and working together.”
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