Dear Companions of St. Anthony and Friends,
May the Lord grant you His Peace!
A century ago a small group of friars received Church permission and approval from the Conventual Franciscan Order to establish the St. Anthony of Padua Province in the United States.
From that small band of brothers would spring hundreds of Franciscan vocations and a vast array of ministries, serving the Church and the People of God. Through these last one hundred years, the impact of our friars' presence has been felt not only in our country but in countries like Canada, Honduras, Brazil, England, Poland, Italy, Ghana, Kenya, Japan, the Phillipines and Jamaica.
We make note and pause to give thanks to God for this century of multiple blessings! We acknowledge with deep gratitude the sacrifices of our confreres and many benefactors who accompanied us during these last one hundred years. We thank God for you, our companion and friend, as we mark this occasion and continue into the future.
As Minister Provincial, I invite you to join with us as we celebrate and give thanks to God for what was, what is, and what will be!
| Peace and all good, |
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| Fr. Michael Kolodziej, OFM Conv. |
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| Minister Provincial |
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