News Post Archive

For the first time in almost two years, the Friars of the Province were able to gather in person for our Community Week. This year’s Community Week was held from July 19th – 23rd at Serra Retreat Center in Malibu, Read More ...Read More »

Friar Wayne Mulei professed his First Vows on July 22nd into the hands of our Minister Provincial, Father Victor Abegg, and in the presence of the assembled Friars during our recent Community Week. Friar Wayne will be reporting to our Read More ...Read More »

In the presence of the Friars and their families, Friar Angel Garcia and Friar Christopher Garcia professed their Solemn Vows for life on August 2, 2021. The Mass of Religious Profession was held at our parish of Our Lady of Read More ...Read More »

Fr. Peter Mallin, Chaplain at Little Company Hospital in Torrance, is the first Friar of the Province to receive the Covid vaccine, on December 20th.Read More »

Two celebrations on two different continents, a diaconal ordination and a graduation. Friar Dominic Hoang Thanh Nghia was ordained a transitional deacon by Archbishop Marco Tasca at the Sanctuary of the Vision – Camposampiero (Padua). Friar Dominic was not able Read More ...Read More »

On July 12, 2020, the new novitiate class of novices began their canonical year. Because of the pandemic, the novices were invested in their home provinces prior to arriving in Arroyo Grande. The St. Joseph of Cupertino novice, Friar Wayne Read More ...Read More »

Friar Angel Garcia, OFM Conv, one of our students studying in San Antonio, TX, renewed his temporary vows for a period of 15 months in the hands of our Minister Provincial, Father Victor Abegg, OFM Conv. Friar Angel is completing Read More ...Read More »

The Franciscan Friars Conventual raise our voices in solidarity with all people of good will in grieving the death of George Floyd.  In the wake of his killing, we echo humanity’s plea for justice, reconciliation, unity, and peace.  May God Read More ...Read More »

Click here to view PDF of  Easter Reflections Easter 2020 Dear Friars, Benefactors and Friends of the Franciscans, Greetings and prayers for an abundance of blessings at this solemn and sacred time.  May He Who offered Himself to incredible suffering Read More ...Read More »

Saint Paul Church at San Pablo, CA Daily mass in English at 2:00PM and 3:00PM in Spanish through our Facebook Page. On Wenesday right after mass in Spanish we have Adoration and on Fridays we are having the Way of Read More ...Read More »

Our Friars in the Vietnam Delegation were blessed with the visitation of Father Victor Abegg, OFM.Conv. Our Minister Provincial had the opportunity to spend most of the month with ours Friars and students. He was able to participate in their Read More ...Read More »

I love being with the Franciscans. All is still going well here in postulancy. My whole class recently returned to Chicago after going back home for Christmas. Though it was nice being visiting my Dad and little brother, I am Read More ...Read More »

After many months of anticipation, on July 20, 2019, a happy festival is celebrated, many parishioners were present to celebrate Mass at the new church in Lo 6. Everyone welcomed Bishop Joseph Nguyen Tan Tuoc, the Bishop of Phu Cuong Read More ...Read More »

On Oct. 4, 2019. Annunciation Friary, Vietnam celebrated the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi with 50 present — 20 Postulants & 30 Professed.Read More »

The St. Joseph of Cupertino Friary and Provincialate hosted the leadership of the Conventual Franciscan Federation of the United States, Great Britain/Ireland, Canada and Australia for one of their biannual meetings, October 7th through the 11th. After the meetings concluded, Read More ...Read More »

Reverend Jacob Carazo, OFM Conv. installed as Pastor of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Pismo Beach, California on Sunday, September 30th, 2019.Read More »

Fr. Luke Vu,, OFM Conv, Delegate to the Vietnam Delegation continues cultivating his mission and ministry during the St. Joseph of Cupertino Feast Day celebrations.  The Vietnam Delegation  currently have twenty-four solemnly professed friars. During the feast celebrations, eleven postulants Read More ...Read More »

Vietnam Mission receives the donation of a van to transport Friars and the good people they minister to Read More ...Read More »

+Brother George Cherrie, O.F.M.Conv. (1936-2019) Brother George Edmond Cherrie, Jr., O.F.M.Conv., passed into the loving embrace of God on Easter, April 21st after a long, eventful and complete life.  He was born February 27, 1936 in Ross, CA, to George, Read More ...Read More »

Our New Postulant House has been dedicated and completed! Thanks be to God, and your help!  Here is a summary of the house: House Description  23 bedrooms with toilets and showers  1 common room  2 reading rooms Read More ...Read More »

Fr. Luke Vu, Provincial Delegate to Vietnam, reports that although there have been heavy rains as of late, great progress has been made on the construction of our new Postulancy Friary in Cu Chi, Vietnam!  The dedication of this new Read More ...Read More »

Vietnam Mission Delegate Friar Luke Vu sent in some photos of the progress of the construction of the new Postulancy Friary in Cu Chi.  Our Friars are doing much of the construction themselves.        Read More »

In August of 2018 Friar Paul Gawlowski, as a member of our Province Definitory (or leadership council),  traveled to Vietnam to receive the first professions and Solemn professions of vows of some of our Friars in Formation, and also to Read More ...Read More »

The Friars at our St. Anthony Center and Orphanage were able to purchase the materials for an after school program with the assistance of a generous grant from the Anthonian Association and many of our friends and benefactors.  The program Read More ...Read More »

In order to better serve the needs of the parish of Our Lady of Grace in Castro Valley, the St. Joseph of Cupertino Province canonically established a new Friary there under the patronage of St. Maximilian Mary Kolbe, O.F.M., Conv.  Read More ...Read More »

Last year, the Franciscan Friars of the Vietnam Mission had a bit of a vocation crisis.  They favorably received 26 applications of qualified young Catholic men who wanted to become Conventual Franciscan Friars for the service to the People of Read More ...Read More »

The St. Maximilian Kolbe Council of the Knights of Columbus from Our Lady of Grace parish in Castro Valley, joined the Friars of our St. Joseph of Cupertino Friary in order to meet our student Friars, and our new Minister Read More ...Read More »

On Tuesday, August 7th the Friars, family and friends of the St. Joseph of Cupertino Province gathered at Our Lady of Grace parish in Castro Valley to celebrate the Solemn Profession of Vows of their brother Friar Israel Sebastian Arauz-Rosiles, Read More ...Read More »

On July 28th and 29th, Friars Tammylee Ngo and Joseph Martin Hoang made an Appeal on behalf of the Vietnam Mission at Our Lady of La Vang parish.  They were joined by the Pastor, Fr. Joseph Luan Nguyen, the Rector Read More ...Read More »

With both sadness, and celebration, the friars gathered with the faithful of St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral in Reno, NV to say goodbye and to remember and celebrate the more than 30 years of ministry to the Diocese at the Cathedral Read More ...Read More »

Sixty-six Young Men and women are confirmed into the Catholic faith at our parish in Hermosa Beach CA, Our Lady of Guadalupe. Fr Joe Kim OFM Conv on left is the proud pastor, with Fr. Carlos Morales OFM Conv on Read More ...Read More »

We were recently blessed by a visit from Fr. Luke Vu OFM Conv., Fr. Tammylee Ngo OFM Conv., Fr. Peter Phuoc OFM Conv., and Fr. Anthony Duong OFM Conv. from our Franciscan Vietnam Mission. (Now a Delegation officially, that is Read More ...Read More »

On Thursday April 12, 2018 our Province Chapter elected our new provincial, vicar and definitory. Congratulations to Friar Victor Abegg OFM Conv., our New Minister Provincial, to Friar Jacob Carazo OFM Conv., our New Vicar Provincial, to Friar James Reiter Read More ...Read More »

The Dominican novices from the West Coast Province, along with their Novice Director, Fr. Anthony (serving for 18 years in the position!), passed through our three Franciscan Novitiate houses (Observants, Capuchins and Conventuals) this week to share in the fraternity. Read More ...Read More »

Fr. Ronald Olson was ordained to the Presbyterate by Archbishop William O. Brady at the Cathedral of St. Paul, MN on February 23, 1958. He celebrated his 60th anniversary of ordination at St. Mary of the Assumption parish in Superior, Read More ...Read More »

On Christmas eve, the Friars of the St. Anthony Friary participated in the Christmas vigil Mass at the Ben San Leprosy village.  The Friars provided the choir for the event, and distributed cookies and milk to all in attendance.  The Sisters Read More ...Read More »

The Friars from our Ho Chi Minh city Friary celebrated a Christmas day Mass together at our St. Anthony Friary.  Afterwards they had the now traditional Bar B Que (thank you Fr. John Heinz!)  and exchange of gifts.Read More »

The Knights of Columbus at Our Lady of Grace, hosted a fundraiser for the Conventual  Franciscans of California, celebrating 35 years of ministry as the Saint Joseph of Cupertino Province!  We were joined by our Friars of Our Lady of Grace, Read More ...Read More »

Click on the above image to watch a small portion (2-1/2 minutes) of the Solemn Vow Ceremony of Joseph Martin at Our Lady of Guadalupe Chruch in Hermosa Beach, CA. Listen to the Homily at: https://youtu.be/TG0-d1HZv-c  CONGRATULATIONS TO FRIAR JOSEPH MARTIN, Read More ...Read More »

Congratulations to Friar Roberson Maria Lubin from the Saint Joseph of Cupertiono Province of the Conventual Franciscans who was recently honored by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of San Antonio as St. Peter and Paul’s 2017 Volunteer of the Year!  Read More ...Read More »

On August 25, the Most Reverend Giuse Nguyễn Tấn Tước, Bishop of the Phú Cường Diocese, presided over a Mass of Ordination to the Priesthood and the Deaconate. Friars Peter Vũ Bình Quốc and Paul Rafael Lê Đức Chánh to Read More ...Read More »

On Tuesday, August 22nd, Br. Dominic NGUYỄN VĂN TIẾN, Friar Joseph TRẦN VĂN CƯƠNG and Friar Micheal NGUYỄN KHẢI HOÀNG (shown above) made Solemn Profession of Vows as Conventual Franciscan Friars Minor, and Friars Jerom VŨ THÁI HỌC, John Baptist TRẦN VĂN HƯỚNG, Joseph LÊ PHẠM VIẾT HOÀNG, Read More ...Read More »

Come to the Solemn Profession of Vows for Friar Joseph Martin Gia Hoang, on August 2, 7PM,  in Hermosa Beach, CA (Near Los Angeles)! At the same ceremony, Chris Garcia and Angel Garcia will be making their first profession of Read More ...Read More »

Welcome to our 12 Newest Conventual Francsicans!  On July 19, 2017 in our chapel at St. Francis Friary in Arroyo Grande, CA, our current 6 Novices were sent back to their respective provinces, and our 12 postulants, after completing their Read More ...Read More »

Eight men from the United States, one from Canada, and on friar returning for a second year of postulancy make up this year’s class of Postulants at our friary in Chicago, IL. They will live this year in community being Read More ...Read More »

Welcome Mr. Wayne Mulei and Mr. James O’Donvon to our St. Joseph of Cupertino Province!  Wayne and James were welcomed to our province at our annual Community Week celebration on June 29, 2017 on the Feast of Saints Peter and Read More ...Read More »

Friars John Farao OFM Conv., and Alfonso Borgen OFM Conv., renewed their vows during a Mass at our annual Community Week at St. Joseph of Cupertino Friary in Castro Valley, CA.  Friar John is celebrating 30 years of solemn profession Read More ...Read More »

With Great Joy for God's Church we are Blessed to Announce the Profession of Vows for our Friars in the St. Joseph of Cupertino Province: Professing Solemn Vows:Friar Jospeh Martin Gia Hoang OFM Conv.  Making First Profession of Vows:Friar Angel Garcia OFM Read More ...Read More »

Announcing the candidates and dates for the upcoming ordinations to the diaconate and the priesthood in our Franciscan Vietnam Mission! Ordination to the Sacred Order of Deacons Cadidates:  Fra Joseph Pio Trần Văn Dương Fra Joseph Maria Trần Văn Long Read More ...Read More »

This is the Statue of Our Lady surrounded by Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco Marto, in our Conventual Franciscan Parish, St. Paul the Apostle in Pismo Beach, CA. I was blessed to visit and hear Fr. Allen Ramirez OFM Conv. preach Read More ...Read More »

Most of our Friars receive advanced degrees in Theology to either minister as a Priest or a Brother. But many of our friars are still receiving their undergraduate degrees!  Congratulations to both Friar Joseph Cupertino Nhuong (pictured on the left) Read More ...Read More »

You are invited to share an evening with us, get to know some of our Friars, and re-connect to some you may already know! Please consider this opportunity to join us, at our Friary in the Central Coast of California. Read More ...Read More »

The Friars gather at the rally before the “Walk for Life” in San Francisco, Jan 21, 2017 and listen to several talks, including Tim Tebow’s Mother, Pam. Pam shared that the pregnancy with Tim was a “problem pregnancy”. The family Read More ...Read More »

The friars began the new year, reconnecting with each other, and praying together while on retreat at St. Francis Retreat Center in San Juan Bautista, CA on the week of Jan 2 – 6, 2017.  The time of year allowed Read More ...Read More »

After ten years of work by the Friars of the Our Lady Help of Christians Delegation in Australia, and the Friars of the St. Joseph of Cupertino Province of California, and many Friars worldwide, the Delegation of Vietnam reached a milestone in their progress.  Read More ...Read More »

On August 9, 2016, four of our postulants were invested in the habit of probation as novices. This ceremony took place at the Order’s international novitiate in Tagatay, Philippines. The international novitiate services several of the Order’s missions in Asia. Read More ...Read More »

On Thursday, July 21, 2016, seven novices professed their Simple or First Vows into the hands of their respective Provincials during the Mass of Religious Profession in St. Paul the Apostle Church, Pismo Beach, CA. The newly professed represent the Read More ...Read More »

On Wednesday, July 20, 2016, seven young men representing the Provinces of Our Lady of Consolation, St. Joseph of Cupertino, and Our Lady of the Angels were invested with the habit of probation beginning their canonical year of Novitiate. This Read More ...Read More »

The Conventual Franciscans of NORTH AMERICA are pleased to be celebrating our First Profession of Vows, and Investiture, for all the 4 provinces of the United States, including friars from Canada and Australia, this coming July 20 and 21st, 2016!  The Read More ...Read More »

Brother Bob spent his early days in the Conventual Franciscan community working in the print/mediaministry. He taught English and Religion at Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, CA from 1975 to1988. Bob moved to San Pablo, CA, and was much Read More ...Read More »

Friar Francis Bao Nguyen professed his First Vows into the hands of our Minister, Fr. John Heinz, on January 13, 2016. The ceremony took place in our parish of St. Paul in Pismo Beach. Many friars, both Conventual and Capuchin, Read More ...Read More »