hope

Boxes of documents, photos, and items for cataloguing and preservation often appear in a small office of the first floor of the Immaculate Conception Friary in Rensselaer, New York. Most of the time, the contents of the boxes are bureaucratic or liturgical in nature, related to the ongoing work and ministry of the Franciscan Friars Conventual on the East Coast of the United States.

And, according to Mary Doehla, the Our Lady of the Angels Province archivist, even if a paper napkin showed up with notes from an important meeting relevant to the work of the friars, she’d be tasked with preserving it.

“When in doubt, send it to me,” Mary said she tells friars of the Province. “I’d rather get too many things sent to me than records be lost or disposed of.”

Mary joined the Our Lady of the Angels Province in January 2019 and is responsible for preserving the history of the Franciscan Friars Conventual and making that history accessible. A tall order considering the Our Lady of the Angels Province was formed from two merging groups of Franciscan Friars Conventual – the Immaculate Conception and St. Anthony of Padua Provinces in 2014.

But archives do not exist just to merely store information. Mary is so committed to her work because she wants the archive she stewards to be a living resource for friars and lay staff ministering in the Province today.

“As an archivist, my job is to welcome people to come and view records so they can be used and we can learn from them,” she said. “These documents are not just in a holding room because we need to keep them. They are primary resources that capture snapshots of time.”

The St. Anthony Companion recently spoke with Mary about her role as an archivist for a religious Order and how her work benefits friars today. The conversation has been edited for clarity.

The Companion: To ask in the most plain of terms: What does an archivist do?

Mary: My job is to collect, to organize, to preserve, and to provide access to the collection of records the Province has. I help keep records of the history of the governance and activities of the friars and their ministries and make those records available, when needed.

Records run the gamut and it’s everything you would expect would be generated to carry out the friars’ work, from bureaucratic to liturgical. Really, the archives give us a sense of what the Province is, who has been here and what’s been done over the years. I’m proud to be the steward of this collection.

The Companion: Can you describe a ‘day in the life’ of an archivist?

Mary: I have a laundry list of ongoing projects that need to be done and most of my days are spent rehousing and cataloging records obtained from the two provinces that merged in 2014, and really organizing out the extensive joint archive we have now.

If research requests come in, I shift to handling those in a timely manner. Sometimes the requested information may take months to find, so long-term projects are put on hold until those are done. Since this is a private archive, most requests are internal and could be from a friar looking for information about something they did or were a part of in their lifetime. I get most of my requests from Provincial administration seeking information about prior work of friars, Provincial agreements, contracts, or personnel.

The Companion: How do new records come to your custody?

Mary: Before things come to an archive, people working in an office that’s generating papers need to know what they need to keep. So, I’m working to create a formal records retention schedule for every. Information about scheduling appointments or buying supplies is not important for us to save and can be disposed of. But some things need to be maintained and transferred to my office when they are no longer in use. Some things are obvious, but it’s my job to make sure everything that’s needed is coming.

 

The Companion: What is the most memorable project you’ve worked on?

Mary: When I first started and I was creating an inventory of records I came across something that made me stop in my tracks. It was an American flag, folded in the way it’s supposed to if it’s not being used, in a box labeled, among other things, with the word space. It turns out, the flag was gifted to a friar who served as a military chaplain on a naval ship that was tasked with recovering spacecraft as it landed in the ocean. The American flag really sticks out because I was so perplexed.

I’ve also come across some photos that just make you pause. Like photos of friars in Germany before World War II or a photo of a friar with Mother Teresa. Our friars have been everywhere, witnessing history. And I get to see these unique pieces of history and be reminded that our friars are serving all over the world. This archive really is a documentation of people.

 

The Companion: What excites you about coming to work every day?

Mary: What really motivates me is making headway and creating order out of chaos. Really, that’s how I can best describe my job. I’m dealing with hundreds of boxes of materials that haven’t been processed, and I really like that when I open a new box, when I’m finished with it, I will have made those records accessible to anyone who needs them in the future. And there’s information in there that may not have been previously known or remembered.

My work probably seems boring and mind-numbing for some people. But I like it because it means at the end of a project, I will have brought order. I like getting control over chaos.

 

The Companion: How does working with these archival records put into perspective the work of the friars throughout the history of the Order?

Mary: While many of the records I deal with are maybe only a few years or decades old, when I think about the work of the friars we’re really dealing with such a huge expanse of time. St. Francis almost feels mythological because of how long ago he lived, but then I’ll have an experience with a friar that reminds me of that direct connection and suddenly 800 years doesn’t seem that long ago.

As guests enter the double parlor of an 1830’s neoclassical manor house, it’s hard not to marvel at the beauty of the space designed to entertain. From the detailed woodwork to the high ceilings and grand windows, it’s easy to imagine why members of one of the wealthiest families of early America commissioned the building of such an elegant home.

But guests in Carrollton Hall in Ellicott City, Maryland are also reminded as they walk through the halls how the grand house and the impressive retaining wall keeping it on elevated earth were built with slave labor.

“Public history sites should be places where we are caring for people,” said Elisabeth Mallin, Director of Carrollton Hall. “And one group should not be cared for at the expense of another.”

In line with the Franciscan Friars Conventual commitment to honoring the dignity of all people, the historic site stewarded by the friars is interpreted in a way that includes all who lived there. This includes not only the story of Emily Caton McTavish – a granddaughter of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence – for whom the house was built, but also the enslaved people who lived and worked on the property.

“There’s a lot of damage that comes from the complex history of a site like Carrollton Hall,” Elisabeth said. “Hopefully, the job we do here equips everyone to reckon with that history.”

Stewardship of an Historic Building

Carrollton Hall was the epicenter of more than 200 acres of property the Franciscan Friars Conventual purchased in 1928 and thus became a hub of friar activity for many decades. The house served as a novitiate – a place where formation of young friars was taking place. Friars in residence at Carrollton Hall also preached in the surrounding community or prepared for missions further away.

As other infrastructure has been developed on the Ellicott City property, the use of Carrollton Hall has changed. Ellicott City is now also home to the Shrine of St. Anthony, the Companions of St. Anthony, Little Portion Farm, the Franciscan Mission Association, and the Provincialate of the Our Lady of the Angels Province.

The friars, with immense support from the community, were able to renovate Carrollton Hall from 2016 to 2021 and begin preparations to open it as an historic site to the public for tours, meetings, and events. The future of Carrollton Hall allows the building to continue to be the space of education and exploration it has always been under the stewardship of the friars.

“For us, opening Carrollton Hall is about extending a hand in welcome to the surrounding community, especially those interested in history, social justice, and advocacy,” said Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv., Minister Provincial of Our Lady of the Angels Province. “Every time we open the doors, we may be introducing someone new to the powerful, though sometimes painful, history of our region, with an eye towards a hopeful future.”

An Inclusive History

While open to the public, research on the site and its inhabitants is ongoing. We know from the historical record that the house was built on what was once known as Folly Quarter Farm, a 1,000-acre gift from Charles Carroll of Carrollton to his granddaughter, Emily, towards the end of his life.

As Elisabeth seeks to fully uncover and understand how Emily engaged with the property throughout her life, she’s simultaneously seeking to learn about the lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked at Folly Quarter Farm before and after Emily built Carrollton Hall. She collaborates with descendants of inhabitants of the property, including those who were enslaved there. Collecting oral histories is particularly important as they help fill in the gaps of surviving written records, particularly for enslaved communities, Elisabeth said.

“We have to remember that historical tellings have disproportionately told white stories,” she said. “We’re telling an interwoven story that gives equal weight and equal humanity to everyone involved.”

In addition to ongoing research on the site, Carrollton Hall serves as a space where visitors can reckon with difficult pasts and explore ways to build a more just and equitable future.

“This peaceful, tranquil, historically rich site invites others to be rejuvenated to share the peace, healing, and love that Christ gave and Francis and the friars have sought to embody,” said Fr. Tom Lavin, OFM Conv., who resides on the friars’ Ellicott City property.

As he’s come to learn more about the history of the house, he’s been continually impressed by the work and community outreach.

“Being present and listening to the stories of the past can be painful, but is so necessary for us to understand how we fit in society today,” Fr. Tom said. “As I think about how my fellow friars are engaged in social justice and teaching in the community, doing this work at Carrollton Hall is especially fitting.”

When Friar James McCurry, OFM Conv., first visited the site where a fellow friar lost his life in the closing months of World War II, there were hundreds of veterans present.

D-Day anniversary celebrations have always drawn large numbers of veterans and survivors, locals and visitors, alike. But, as more years pass, the number of witnesses to that historic day has dropped significantly in the more than a dozen trips Fr. James has made to Normandy.

As an example, Friar Ignatius Maternowski, OFM Conv., the fallen friar Fr. James travels to France to honor, would be over 110 years old today.

As it happens, Fr. Ignatius was the only American chaplain to be killed in action on D Day. He was described by Fr. James as “a Catholic priest from America who gave his life for freedom.”

While the two men were not contemporaries, they share common roots in the Franciscan Friars Conventual tradition. Fr. James previously served as Minister Provincial of Our Lady of Angels Province which has custody over St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York. Fr. Ignatius was a graduate of that high school.

“He brought Franciscan fraternity into comradery with his fellow soldiers,” Fr. James said. “Of course, he was with them on D-Day – from the night before, to the parachute jump, through whatever came next.”

A Fallen Friar

Fr. Ignatius was the son of Polish immigrants to the United States who greatly supported his call to Franciscan ministry. At the same time, his parents’ background would have instilled in him a sense of duty and service.

“He brought to his chaplaincy the whole ethos and mentality, ‘for God and country,’” Fr. James said, referring to the motto of the U.S. Army Chaplain Corps.

On the morning of the infamous assault on German forces that led to the liberation of Western Europe in 1944, thousands of soldiers stormed the beaches of Normandy in the North of France. In addition, on that same morning of June 6, more than 13,000 others parachuted behind enemy lines as part of the 82^nd and 101^st Airborne Divisions.

Fr. Ignatius landed as part of the 82^nd Airborne Division in the occupied territory of the hamlet of Guetteville in the town of Picauville.

With so many wounded paratroopers and gliders, Fr. Ignatius worked quickly after landing to negotiate with the Germans to establish an American medical facility protected by the Geneva Convention. He could speak German and ventured towards the enemy, unarmed, with his chaplain’s insignia to meet with a German medic to make the arrangements.

After meeting with the German, Fr. Ignatius was shot in the back as he made his way back to his unit. He was 32 years old.

The Next Chapter

In 2022, Our Lady of the Angels Province, with the help of the Office of Mission Advancement and countless donors, commissioned a stained-glass window depicting Fr. Ignatius in Cauquigny Chapel near to where he died. Three years later, Fr. James joined many others in a candlelight vigil service in that chapel on the eve of the anniversary.

For Fr. James, who championed the cause for sainthood for St. Maximillian Kolbe – another Franciscan Friar Conventual who died during WWII – Fr. Ignatius represents a friar who lived out St. Francis’s call to be a missionary for the world.

“St. Francis had a global outlook, and we have the same impulse to bring the core teachings of Jesus to others,” Fr. James said. “Fr. Ignatius left the comfort of his Franciscan community life to take on this singular apostolate.”

Once the final remaining survivors of D-Day are no longer able to be present, Fr. James wonders what anniversary celebrations will look like.

“Now that the new page has turned, what will the new narrative be?” he said.

He’s hopeful he will be in Normandy for many more anniversary celebrations to find out.

Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., reflects on months of travel with relics

 

Fr. Jobe Abbass, OFM Conv., describes venerating a relic as an opportunity to see more clearly what God has promised.

“Praying before a relic is like putting glasses on to see heaven better,” Fr. Jobe said. “Through this transformative action, we can have a peek into what’s next.”

Throughout the first half of 2025, Fr. Jobe has traveled throughout the Our Lady of the Angels Province with relics of three Polish saints, providing veneration opportunities for their faithful. His final stop, after visiting more than 30 parishes and ministry sites, was at the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Maryland on Sunday, June 22.

“We feel through this tour we’ve been able to promote a devotion to Mary by showcasing the lives of these great saints,” Fr. Jobe said. “Everywhere I went, there was always a long line [for veneration] … There’s a great interest in the lives of these saints of the 20^th century, who by their devotion to Mary lead us to Christ.”

Promoting Marian Devotion of Universal Saints

Fr. Jobe toured with relics of Sts. Pope John Paul II, Maximillian Kolbe, and Maria Faustina Kowalska for veneration up and down the East Coast. Each famous and transformative for the Church in their own ways, all three saints share Polish heritage and a deep devotion to Mary.

• Pope John Paul II’s papal motto was “Totus Tuus,” which means totally yours and reflects his consecration to Christ through Mary.
• Maximillian Kolbe was the founder of the Militia Immaculata (MI), a worldwide evangelization movement that encourages total consecration to the Virgin Mary.
• Maria Faustina Kowalska, known for her devotion to Divine Mercy, saw Mary as the “Mother of Mercy” in her obedience to God’s will and the way she reflected God’s love.

“Through their witness, we can be inspired,” Fr. Jobe said.

“In our Franciscan charism, we are devoted to Mary,” he said. “It behooves us to share that charism, especially in our parishes and ministry sites throughout the Province.”

The Marian Apostolate of the Friars Minor Conventual

Fr. Jobe serves as the Provincial Delegate of our Canadian Province Delegation of St. Francis of Assisi and Province Assistant for the Marian Apostolate of the Friars Minor Conventual. He has also served as a Province representative on the Militia Immaculata, an organization started by St. Maximilian Kolbe, since 2014.

The Our Lady of the Angels Province Marian Apostolate is dedicated to promoting devotion to the Immaculate Conception and Blessed Virgin Mary. The apostolate offers pilgrimages and tours of Marian shrines and promotes pastoral ministry that highlights Mary’s role in the lives of Catholics. Fr. Jobe will assist in leading a pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. on Friday, October 24.

For him, this ministry is deeply personal.

“The Blessed Mother doesn’t let you down and she draws you ever closer to Christ,” Fr. Jobe said. “I’ve become more sensitive to her relationship with Christ and how the two are inseparable as she stood dying a thousand deaths at the foot of the cross.”

Fr. Jobe was ordained in May – a month the Church traditionally celebrates Mary – four decades ago. He said he also experienced his own calling to the priesthood in the month of May.

When it comes to sharing this devotion with others, Fr. Jobe said, “I find enrichment in the faithful who share this devotion – their faith lifts me up.”

 

 

On May 17, 2025, the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine in Fonda, NY, a ministry of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels Province, partnered with Montgomery County History & Archives and County Tourism for a special commemoration. In May 1775, 250 years ago, a conflict took place around the raising of a Liberty Pole on what is now the Shrine grounds, leading to the County’s first bloodshed of what would become the Revolutionary War.

The practice of raising a red “Liberty cap” on the end of a pole or spear as a symbol of freedom began in ancient Rome. Liberty Poles were used as symbols during the Renaissance when there was dissent over who was ruling a nation and were erected during colonial times to express opposition to British rule. The Shrine’s event marked the importance of its grounds during the founding of New York and the United States.

The day-long event at the Shrine also featured educational demonstrations of traditional crafts and a number of booths featuring local history organizations. Approximately 125 people attended, in addition to the various reenactors, volunteers, and staff. The Shrine was excited to hold the inaugural event for the commemoration of the American Revolution in the Mohawk River Valley.

By Friar Carlos A. Trovarelli, OFM Conv., Minister General

Speaking from the depths of my heart, I wish to honor Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who became Pope Francis by means of a conclave and the Holy Spirit.

Being his fellow countryman, I met Bishop Bergoglio in Buenos Aires while living in that city between 1996 and 1997. He was then the auxiliary bishop in charge of the deanery where our friary and Provincial Curia is located. Years later, I returned to the same friary in Buenos Aires and lived there in community from 2007 to 2015, this time as Minister Provincial. By then, Bishop Bergoglio had already been made an archbishop and a cardinal. Then came his surprise election as Bishop of Rome in 2013, and, even more surprisingly, he took the name of “Francis.” A few weeks after he was elected, I had to report to Rome, as part of my duty as President of the Federación América Latina Conventuales (FALC). Being from Argentina, I was able to easily gain access to a public audience and take a seat in what is known as the “baciamano,” that is, the front row, where the pope greets people at the end of the audience.

I was looking forward to greeting him. As he was walking to the Chair, he spotted me and gave me a thumbs-up. Then, when the long-awaited moment came for us to greet one another (which was actually a hug), he called me by name!

I had witnessed a transformation in him. When he was governing the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires, this “cardinal from the end of the world” did not like being on the front pages of newspapers or being greeted in public squares. He was afraid of being flattered. He preferred to be “what one is before God” and nothing more. This choice of his to be consistent meant he wasn’t always popular. He was austere and reserved. He was close to the “least” among us and “strict” with the powerful. He was a shepherd of his flock, not a “policeman of the masses.” He never refused a request for a meeting. At the end of the Chrism Masses, he would remain in his chair and dedicate himself to greeting each of the priests residing in the Archdiocese, who numbered several hundred. He was not a prince, he was a father.

It is well known that, even as an archbishop or cardinal, he always used the city’s public transportation system. Right before the conclave, he visited our friary in just that way.

He always asked the priests to deliver homilies and public statements as he did: short and incisive. He did not use many words, but his teachings were radical. He did not speak using flowery language, nor was that his nature; his choice to be consistent did not allow him to deceive others or himself. His deeds were not showy, but they were very significant. He was just another city dweller, though entrusted with a ministry in the Church. In fact, he was never a clergyman “clothed” in honors.

I remember when he built one of the most beautiful modern churches in the city near our friary, in a poor, working class neighborhood. He was a cardinal who acted like a father, ready to give his life for his children, not a paternalistic populist. He preferred to be deep in the details rather than shine as if he were on stage; he preferred being consistent with the Gospel rather than being popular. He was not trying to please; he was a father.

Every time I asked to speak on the phone with “the Cardinal of Buenos Aires”, I only had to ask the receptionist of the archbishop’s residence and in just two or three minutes, I would receive a call from “Bergoglio”. Every time I sent Christmas or Easter greetings to the Archbishop of Buenos Aires, a hand-signed thank you would arrive at our friary. He was not trying to be nice; he was considerate.

In 2010, he accepted my invitation to preside over a Mass during the General Assembly of our Order, held in Pilar, Argentina. He arrived “quietly” and presided “quietly”. He did not join us for lunch at the main table, he ate in the kitchen with the cooks. We were all struck by such simplicity, but today I understand that he did not like being sought out just because he was a cardinal, and he would put that title aside to dedicate himself to the least, or to point out the inconsistency or injustice of the “powerful.” BERGOGLIO always visited prisons, celebrated Mass in public squares to attract people living on the streets or those who worked in the streets at night. His message was strong, not gentle and his decisions were firm.

I am witness to the transformation that took place when he was elected pope. Let’s be clear; it was a transformation in his communicative and pastoral style. As Pope, BERGOGLIO was no longer just someone who kindly responded or opened the door—he came to meet you; not just as a shepherd devoted to the

On June 17, 2019, just after I was elected Minister General, our Chapter Assembly had an audience with the pope in a way that went beyond protocol. As he entered the Clementine Hall, Francis left his path to the Chair, and instead, came toward me and embraced me.

Thank God I was able to embrace him and call him “you” informally, as he wished. Pope Francis’ pontificate has been consistent with the evangelical principles and values that always defined him. Yet, he knew how to reinvent and transform himself. I believe he deeply internalized the meaning of Mercy, to the point that his gestures became not only fatherly, but also motherly and brotherly. He no longer spared a smile, much less a strong and significant “sign.” He spoke through signs and decisions with the ability to orient and anticipate the future. Not only did he want to remain consistent with his life choices and evangelical proclamation, he wanted to propose them to the Church and the world. He became a symbol of his own vision of the world and of faith

I will never forget the times I was able to meet with him—his phone calls to respond to me, his handwritten messages, his willingness to see me and listen to me, and the care he took in addressing whatever he could take on.

He was like a father, a mother, and a brother to me. That’s what I felt.

For many, the word pilgrimage brings up images of European cathedrals or holy sites abroad.

But Melissa Miscevic Bramble, director at the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha National Shrine and Historic Site in Fonda, New York, challenges Pilgrims of Hope this 2025 Jubilee Year to envision something different. Maybe, even, a walk in the woods.

“When we spend time in God’s creation, it reminds us that the tribulations we experience are temporary,” Melissa said, noting there are 130 acres of wooded walking trails on the site. “Spending time reconnecting to your place in creation helps remind you of the larger eternal creation you are a part of.”

And what can that reminder lead to? Hope.

Pope Francis designated this liturgical year, beginning December 2024, the Jubilee Year of Hope. Jubilee years occur every 25 years within the Catholic Church and provide a significant opportunity for spiritual renewal.

Pilgrims of Hope, as we are all called to be, are encouraged this year to visit designated pilgrimage sites, as determined by each (arch)diocese.

All Are Welcome

There are several identified pilgrimage sites in The Our Lady of the Angels Province, including the Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine. Bramble said several events are planned throughout their summer season to encourage the renewal of hope for visitors, including book discussions, volunteer activities, and prayer services.

The Kateri Shrine has also planned events to celebrate the 800^th Anniversary of the Canticle of Creation and the 10-year anniversary of the publishing of Pope Francis’s encyclical, Laudato Si.

Elsewhere in the Province, friars and lay staff are busy planning and hosting events in honor of the Jubilee, including monthly pilgrimage Masses like at Our Lady of Hope Church in Coal Township, PA. The Basilica of St. Stanislaus in Chicopee, MA has created a special Jubilee programming planning committee for the year.

In Ellicott City, MD, The Shrine of St. Anthony is hosting several “Franciscan Pilgrimages of Hope,” complete with extended tours of the shrine and grounds with a particular focus on Franciscan saints and ministries. These pilgrimage experiences include time for Mass, Adoration, Confession, and quiet reflection.

Additionally, The Shrine of St. Anthony has created a 360 Virtual Tour experience for pilgrims to see the beauty and learn the history of this holy site from wherever they are.

Planning a Pilgrimage

Fr. Jude Winkler, OFM Conv., encourages Pilgrims of Hope to change one’s disposition when traveling to a pilgrimage site, even if it’s only down the road from home. He says pilgrims should seek to leave behind everyday concerns and anxieties and open their hearts to listen to the whispering voice of the Spirit.

“When one returns form a pilgrimage during which one visited ‘holy ground,’ one realizes that everywhere is holy, for our entire life is ultimately a pilgrimage journey of faith,” Fr. Jude wrote.

During their visit, pilgrims are encouraged to seek the grace of plenary indulgences for deceased Catholics. This can be done by:

• Sacramental Confession within 20 days of the indulgent act.
• Eucharistic Communion on the day of indulgenced act (if possible).
• Offer prayers for Holy Father’s Intentions.
• Have a sincere and complete detachment from all sin.

“It is not that God is more present in these holy sites for God can be found everywhere, but rather that the pilgrimage helps one to go outside of what is familiar and comfortable so that one can be more open to the presence of God,” Fr. Jude wrote.

More information about Jubilee sites and events in the Our Lady of the Angels Province can be found at https://www.olaprovince.org/locations/2025-jubilee/.