history of the o.f.m.i.
January 15, 1984
Formal spiritual communal foundation. Fr. David W. Przedwiecki, O.F.M. (at that time working at St. Hyacinth Parish in Detroit's inner city), and five others began to live communal life at the House of Loreto, Indian Village area of Detroit's East Side not far from St. Hyacinth.
February 1, 1984
First two men invested in the Third Order garb of our confraternity.
February 19, 1984
Fr. David's Provincial and Vice Provincial of Assumption Province in Pulaski, Wisconsin, visited the community at his invitation and he was verbally torn to pieces for assembling this group, training them in Franciscan spirituality and having them live like a religious community (having the same structures as same) with discipline and traditional style. Fr. David's Pastor, Fr. Skalski of St. Hyacinth, agreed with the Provincial and they wanted him to stop this experiment but Fr. David pointed out their right according to Canon Law to form Third Order members. His superiors' "request" was withdrawn and he continued to keep his Provincial, Fr. William Gulas O.F.M., informed and he was resigned to allowing Fr. David to search for God's will in this matter.
April 1, 1984
The Tertiaries departed for their journey out West to meet with and visit Bishop Jerome Hastrich of Gallup, New Mexico. They discussed the possibilities of coming into his diocese. The bishop, however, sensed that the community would grow too fast for his poor mission diocese and suggested that they find another diocese that would be more fit to sustain them.
July 17, 1984
The House of Loreto served an eviction notice so they had to move. Mama Anctil of Taylor, Michigan invited them to stay in her newly remodeled garage.
August, 1984
During the two visits that Fr. David made to Cardinal Szoka, the archbishop of Detroit, the cardinal screamed that he was being disobedient but Fr. David politely asked him in what way was he being disobedient but His Eminence found no words to answer. He asked the Cardinal to put into writing what it was he was doing contrary to Ecclesiastical law but no such letter was sent to Fr. David or the O.F.M.I. He was however forbidden by Bishop Schoener, Auxiliary of Detroit, to say private Mass in Mrs. Anctil's chapel. Fr. David then celebrated Mass in the parking lot with a beautiful bed of flowers as a background, religious statues looking on and the cathedral of God's sky forming the rafters of this chapel. Several dozen people attended the private Mass and for nearly two weeks there was not a drop of rain.
August 15, 1984
The community moved to a convent in New Reigel, Ohio. Fr. David wrote to and received from his Provincial, Fr. Gulas, permission to reside there privately as Director General of the new community with the stipulation that he inform the local Bishop, Bishop James Hoffman of the Toledo, Ohio Diocese of his presence there.
August 20, 1984
Fr. David calls on Bishop James Hoffman and informed him that they are staying at the convent. The first thing the bishop said was "I want you out of my diocese". Furthermore, Fr. David was not to perform any sacraments in the diocese, nor preach, nor say public Mass, nor in any way function as a priest while in his Diocese. In effect he had no faculties and no reasons were given. Fr. David assured the Bishop that he would comply. The friary was named St. Maximilian Kolbe Friary.
November 13, 1984
Bishop Hoffman sent a letter to Fr. Gulas requesting that Fr. David be removed from his diocese. He was told by Bishop Hoffman on August 20, 1984 that he had only one month to leave the diocese and Fr. David appealed to him for an extension. However, the bishop requested that the Provincial remove him as soon as possible. Fr. Gulas assigned him to his mother's house in Milwaukee without assignment to facilitate further contact with his brothers.
December 24, 1984
O.F.M.I.'s first Christmas was celebrated - Polish style. It was during this time that Bishop Hoffman directed that the Blessed Sacrament be removed from St. Maximilian Kolbe Friary. On his visitations, Fr. David would celebrate Mass and would then leave an uncleansed ciborium in the tabernacle - something to which the bishop gave no objection. He did not to command the brothers to leave; instead he assured them of their right to stay since they were private "American" citizens, etc.
March 1, 1985
The O.F.M.I. Constitutions are written.
January, 1986
Fr. David and the brothers visited Magdalen College (then in Bedford, New Hampshire), in order for Fr. David to interview for a possible position as chaplain. His provincial, Fr. Gulas, had asked Fr. David to get some kind of an assignment. When Fr. David returned from his interview he wrote to his provincial and casually mentioned the position being opened. Three days after receiving Father's letter, his provincial strongly suggested that he accept the position.
August 1986 - Spring 1987
Bishop Gendron of Manchester, N.H., although positively disposed to Fr. David still did not want to adopt the group of Franciscans as such, and even at one point, forbade them to wear their garb in public. All the members complied faithfully with the bishop's wishes.
May 7, 1987
Bishop John Michael Sherlock of the London Diocese in Ontario, Canada invited the community officially into his diocese; giving permission to open up a novitiate house of studies, and what would eventually become the official motherhouse.
The bishop gave five acres of land on which there was an old church. It had been abandoned for eleven years, boarded up, partially vandalized, had no plumbing whatsoever, an antiquated and inoperable heating system, and no furnishings except for pews and a few chipped statues.
June 1987 - October 1989
The community advanced and grew at a phenomenal rate. The Novitiate classes of 1987, 1988 and 1989 had six, five and five members, respectively.
The transformation of the dilapidated church was miraculous. New windows were put in, the vandalized St. Peter's window was re-leaded, the foundation repaired, a new roof, new inside walls, plastering, painting, new septic system, plumbing introduced and electrical work. Artifacts thrown out of other churches were gladly received by the friars to beautify their chapel and the inside of the church was divided to allow for the choir loft to be changed in to a dormitory for novices, classroom and bedrooms.
There were many hardships to be endured: heat was not put into the church until November of 1987 which was very, very cold; the toilets were not operable until December of that year; no running water; first kitchen the vestibule; first building, a trailer transformed into more rooms for candidates and professed friars.
January 7, 1988
There was a formal visitation by Bishop Sherlock and his diocesan advisors. The bishop celebrated Holy Hour, had dinner, and announced to entire community that he would begin formal canonical proceedings. He was greatly impressed with the transformation of what at first was just a lonely abandoned church.
March 25, 1988
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new St. Maximilian Kolbe Friary to be built directly in back of the church.
People came from far and wide to attend the Novus Ordo Latin Mass. Our modest chapel was packed each Sunday and Holy day. The popularity amongst the people was the communities' undoing.
July 1 - 30, 1988
The first J.M.I. (Juvenes Mariæ Immaculatæ - Youth for Mary Immaculate ) formation program for youth in Lucan, Ontario.
February 6, 1989
Meeting with Bishop Reilly of Norwich, Connecticut in which he gave his formal approval of establishing a house of studies within Holy Apostles Seminary.
June - July 1989
First J.M.I. camp at Camp Vista, Wisconsin.
Sept. 4, 1989
Draft document composed by canon lawyer of diocese:
- The communities' name was to be changed, they could not wear habits on seminary property and their Constitutions were to be discarded.
- Ordained members of the community would be treated like ordinary parish priests, i.e. not taking into consideration their vows or membership in our association. Fr. David would have no voice in any of their assignments since they would be incarnated in the diocese but assigned to parishes, e.g. not live community life.
Oct. 3, 1989
Dismissal from diocese on the pretext of refusal to sign document. Fr. David did not refuse to sign but only wanted the diocese to reconsider 16 of the 19 articles. Canonically the community could have a member of the association incardinated elsewhere and still remain a member of our association whose foundation was in another diocese - something the diocese denied.
November 22, 1989
Bishop Reilly of Norwich, Connecticut, gave them permission to set up a house of studies in his diocese near Holy Apostles Seminary.
December 15, 1989
The property was put in the name of the 3rd Order member who purchased it for the O.F.M.I. in Cromwell as a House of Studies.
August of 1990
Moved to Hartford at St. Justin's Parish in a former convent.
May 22, 1990
With the strains of Salve Regina and other Marian hymns, the brothers locked the church doors of St. Peter's in Canada for the last time, gave the keys to tearful neighbors and friends and bade everyone farewell.
July 23, 1990
Fr. John Hardon conducted a retreat for the O.F.M.I.
August 14, 1990
Br. Joseph Christensen was invested into the O.F.M.I. at St. Justin's Church, Hartford, Connecticut.
September 8, 1990
Bishop Reilly blessed and dedicated St. Maximilian Kolbe Friary in Cromwell, Connecticut.
November 1, 1990
Archbishop John F. Whealon of Hartford formally blessed St. Joseph's friary.
November 13 & 17
Fr. David met with Cardinal Mayer of Ecclesia Dei and he promised to help establish the community in the Diocese of Norwich, Ct.
November 22, 1990
Audience and concelebrated Mass with John Paul II (Br. Michael and Br. Stephen with Fr. David).
May 6, 1991
Bishop Reilly addressed a letter to the community informing them that the brothers who had spent four years in the seminary will not be ordained for another four years.
May 21, 1991
Meeting with Bishop Reilly. Fr. David had no problem with the community waiting 10 years for canonical erection but the ordinations were another problem. He wanted them to get them ordained by another bishop who would incardinate and allow them to still remain in association with O.F.M.I. and Bishop Reilly agreed that this is possible.
August 15, 1991
Brother Joseph Christensen made his first vows.
September 1991
The Saint Maximilian Kolbe Seraphicum High School program was started with only three students.
October 1991
The pastor of St. Justin's increased the rent in July of 1991 by $500 so the O.F.M.I. had to leave. Twenty-six people squeezed into the house in Cromwell.
February 7, 1992
Meeting with Archbishop Zayek to approve of the plan for the friars to teach at Our Lady of Lebanon in Flint, Michigan.
July 16, 1992
The papers were signed for Our Lady of Mount Carmel Friary in Mount Morris, Michigan.
August 14, 1992
Brother Daniel Eli entered the Novitiate.
September 9, 1992
St. Maximilian Kolbe Seraphicum opened for its second year at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Friary.
Oct. 5 - Nov. 5, 1993
Seminar and retreat in Africa for the Missionaries of Charity (Order of Mother Teresa of Calcutta). Fr. David instructs 34 junior professed sisters in doctrine and morals of Catholic theology in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
December 13, 1993
Bishop Povish of Lansing, Michigan, visited Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Friary for dinner and holy hour.
July 18 - 20, 1994
Bishop Jerome Hastrich, retired Bishop of Gallup, New Mexico, led the annual O.F.M.I. retreat.
August 15, 1994
Br. Joseph Christensen took his final vows at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Friary and at the same time becoming the Vicar General of the community. Br. Daniel renewed his vows.
December 13, 1994
Bishop Povish visits the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Friary for dinner, Holy Hour and recreation.
March 5, 1995
Daily exposition of The Blessed Sacrament was inaugurated at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Friary, from noon to 9 p.m. daily.
March 21, 1995
The friars appeared before Bishop Povish's Presbytrial Council, to answer questions regarding the community. The council decides not to have the community established.
Fr. Paul Reczek, Provincial Superior for Assumption Province, has Fr. David immediately reassigned to St. Anthony Friary in Ben Avon, Pennsylvania.
February 1996
Fr. David and several members of the community met with Bishop James Sullivan of the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota. The Bishop was enthusiastic about having the community enter the diocese.
March 25, 1996
Bishop Sullivan formally accepted the community into the Diocese of Fargo with the intent of establishing the community, maintaining the operation of the Seraphicum and ordaining the friars who were ready to be priests.
August 14, 1996
St. Francis Friary is opened in Pisek, North Dakota. The Seraphicum moved there from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Friary in Michigan.
August 15, 1996
The Candidature ceremony at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo, North Dakota, was officiated by Bishop Sullivan.
The O.F.M.I. was officially established as a Public Association in the Diocese of Fargo. Lise Lirette and Jessica Wilson were received as aspirants into the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate.
October 31, 1996
Brother Daniel became the first O.F.M.I. member ordained as a lector within the community.
December 7, 1996
he ministries of lector and acolyte were conferred by Bishop Sullivan upon Bro. Joseph Christensen.
April 18, 1997
Bishop Sullivan celebrated Mass at St. Francis Friary in Pisek, North Dakota.
Brother Daniel graduated from Holy Apostles College & Seminary with a Master of Arts in Divinity.
May 31, 1997
Fr. Joseph Christensen was among the first ordained to the priesthood in the O.F.M.I. community.
August 10, 1997
Postulants Lise Lirette and Jessica Wilson became novices and took the religious names Sister Marie Josée and Sister Mary Veronica, respectively.
October 23, 1997
Bishop Sullivan blessed the friary and Seraphicum.
September 8, 1997
St. Joseph the Worker Friary was opened in Aneta, North Dakota. The St. Maximilian Kolbe Seraphicum moved in from Pisek.
November 23, 1997
Bishop Sullivan visits Seraphicum boarding high school in Aneta, North Dakota.
November 25 - December 5, 1997
The O.F.M.I. priests left for Fatima pilgrimage. They said Latin Mass at the Cova da Iria, the spot where Our Lady appeared to the children in 1917. They also concelebrated Mass at Garabandal, Spain, Avila, Lourdes, the Basilica of St. Catherine in Sienna, the catacombs of Saint Calixtus, St. Peter's Tomb and the Vatican.
September 1998 - February 2001
The community had been heavily persecuted by the various committees in the Diocese of Fargo. Among the many demands made they wanted the communities' seminarians withdrawn from the seminary run by the Fraternity of St. Peter, they didn't like the O.F.M.I. Sisters, that the Seraphicum (high school) be closed, and that "excess funds" be handed over to the diocese.
August 11, 1999
Sister Josée Lirette and Sister Veronica Wilson took their first vows at St. John's parish in Pisek, North Dakota.
May 3, 1999
Bishop Sullivan visited the school, celebrated the baccalaureate Mass and officiated at the graduation exercises.
January 3, 2001
The friars attended Fr. John Hardon's funeral in Detroit. He was a dear friend, theological advisor and the spiritual director of the order.
January 19, 2001
Fr. Luczak, the Provincial Superior for the Assumption Province, states that since Fr. David's vision of the Franciscan ideal no longer exists in the Franciscan Order, it would be a more desirable arrangement if Fr. David were to be incardinated by the diocese and then be able to become a member of the OFMI.
March 2001
The property in Mount Morris, Michigan as well as all assetts were put under the guardianship of City of Mary, Mount Morris inc., a non-profit tax exempt corporation.
March 13, 2001
Fr. David was told by Fr. Reiske (the bishop's secretary, chairman if the committee and Vice-Chancellor), in the presence of the bishop, that he is to have nothing to do with the O.F.M.I. but he is welcomed to remain in the diocese.
March 16, 2001
Fr. David was removed as General Moderator of the community - effective June 1 - and Fr. Reiske put in his place (despite all his other roles in the diocese).
May 1, 2001
Bishop Sullivan presided over the seventh annual baccalaureate Mass and commencement exercises of the SMKS.
May 10, 2001
Because Fr. David appealed to Rome, the Diocese of Fargo requested that he be removed from the Diocese of Fargo. Fr. Luczak Sent an Obedience forbidding Fr. David to have anything to do with the O.F.M.I. - commanding him to report to Pulaski, Wisconsin, by June 2nd.
May 2001
Saint Joseph the Worker Friary and St. Maximilian Kolbe Seraphicum in Aneta was closed.
June 2001
Bishop Samuel Aquila was appointed coadjutor to the Diocese of Fargo with the right to succession.
June 2, 2001
Fr. David returned to the motherhouse of the Assumption Province and given the choice either to leave the OFM's or stay and comform to their ways. He was told that nowhere in the whole of the First Order, including the Capuchins and Conventuals, was the "semi-monastic" life, which he had envisioned, in existence.
June 29, 2001
Fr. David completed the formal petition to depart from the OFM's.
September 2001
Bishop Samuel Aquila appointed as the Bishop of Fargo.
October 10, 2001
Fr. David received his rescript from Rome at 11:00am. He made his first private vows in the O.F.M.I. at 11:30am.
October 12, 2001
Fr. David and the remaining friars meet with Bishop Doran of Rockford, Illinois. He showed great interest in having our whole community transfer to his diocese. After contacting Bishop Aquila we received a letter from one of his committees informing us that we were not accepted into the Diocese of Rockford.
November 1, 2001
Fr. Joseph and Br. Daniel Eli transfer their vows to the Private Association of the O.F.M.I.
November 23 - 30, 2001
Fr. David was given temporary faculties by Bishop John Western and gave a retreat to the Missionaries of Charity in San Francisco.
December 10, 2001
Fr. David and Fr. Joseph meet with Bishop Mengeling and were not welcomed to be established in the Diocese of Lansing - However they are not told to leave.
January 2002
Fr. Joseph closed St. Maximilian Kolbe Friary in Cromwell, Connecticut.
April 3-15, 2002
Fr. David went to Rome with the remaining friars for advice from the various Congregations.
May 22, 2002
Bishop Aquila commanded that Fr. Joseph return to Fargo or face suspension of faculties but Fr. Joseph appealed the decision.
June 6, 2003
Bishop Aquila verbally lifted the command he issued to Fr. Joseph and stated that he was going to Rome to sort everything out.
June 7, 2002
Fr. David had his first meeting with Bishop Aquila.
July 1, 2002
Groundbreaking ceremony for the new chapel at the City of Mary.
Someone sent a flier to Bishop Mengeling, Bishop of the Diocese of Lansing. He sent a scathing and threatening letter to Fr. Joseph and Fr. David, giving them until August 30th, 2002 to respond.
July 3, 2002
Bishop Mengeling sent a letter to the priests in the Diocese of Lansing in which he stated:
- That Fr. David and Fr. Joseph had no faculties to minister publicly.
- He aired Fr. David's personal business to the public.
- He said that Fr. Joseph "... has refused this mandate of his bishop, Samuel Aquila".
- He said that Fr. Joseph had been suspended.
August 7, 2002
he friars met with Bishop Aquila. The results of the meeting were as follows:
- The O.F.M.I Public Association was to be dissolved by Bishop Aquila and the friars who wished to depart could do so (as has been already established by Rome the previous May). Those who wished to stay with the Diocese could form a totally new association under the bishop, become diocesan priests and seminarians or join another religious community.
- The O.F.M.I. members could leave in order to look for another bishop to adopt them while retaining their statutes, insignia, habit, logo, customs and traditions.
- Fr. Joseph was given a year-long leave of absence from the diocese with faculties in order to find a bishop.
August 15th, 2002
Before they responded to Bishop Mengeling's letter, he sent a letter to all of the parishes of the Diocese of Lansing that in turn reproduced them and published them in all of their bulletins. The letter claimed that both of priests were "not in good standing", that they were violating his prohibition of celebrating public Mass and sacraments at the City of Mary, and that they were not reconciled with the Church.
August 21, 2002
Bishop Aquila issued a decree stating the following:
- Serious difficulties arose in the relationship between the O.F.M.I. and the Diocese of Fargo.
- "In view of these difficulties and yet other tensions that developed involving individual members of the Association, the Apostolate of the Franciscan Friars of Mary Immaculate has not flourished within the Diocese of Fargo in the six years since its establishment."
- "...substantive issues which have disrupted the good order of the Association."
- "...I hereby dispense the members of the Franciscan Friars of Mary Immaculate from their private vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience."
- "...no longer authorized to wear the religious habit…"
Bishop Aquila dissolved the O.F.M.I. as a Public Association of the Diocese of Fargo. Four of the brothers took off their habits and dropped their religions names. Fr. David and Br. Daniel Eli continued on as normal under the "de facto" community of the Private association of the Franciscan Friars of Mary Immaculate (private vows cannot be forcibly dispensed because they are made between God and the individual). They still wore the garb particular to the association albeit not technically a religious habit as it is not registered as such canonically in Rome as belonging to a canonically erected order. The bishop informed them: "The community therefore no longer exists. I will send public notification of the suppression to all of the Bishops of the United States".
September 3, 2002
Bishop Mengeling sent another letter to the parishes entitled Updated Pastoral Message to the Faithful of the Greater Flint Area.
- He corrected his statement that Fr. Joseph was, in fact, not suspended but was on leave of absence. However, he incorrectly gave the date of Fr. Joseph's leave of absence as being August 21, when Bishop Aquila verbally informed him on August 7 - the same day as Bishop Mengeling's letter. He avoided any apology for this very grave mistake in his letter of August 15. He also avoided, by using the August 21 date for Fr. Joseph's leave of absence, any semblance of error in his letter to both Fr. Joseph and Fr. David on August 7.
- He continued to deny Fr. Joseph residency in the area of the Diocese of Lansing, as well as priestly faculties.
- He discussed the business of Fr. David's rescript in the public forum, denying him residency in the diocese.
- He accused them of wearing the religious habit.
- He insisted that they had been dispensed forcibly from private vows.
- He says the O.F.M.I. have never been established as a private association by any bishop [According to Canon Law (CC 299) by virtue of natural law, the Christian faithful have a right to form (private) associations without the approval of a bishop]. He contradicted himself in the same paragraph saying: "...they can make a private agreement to associate with one another..."
September 6, 2002
Bishop Mengeling sent another letter to Fr. David saying: "reliable information has come to me that you have not been observing the conditions mandated in the indult of departure." He warns that this constitutes "grave disobedience", and a "grave offense against ecclesiastical unity and discipline". However he gives no specifics, refers to no incidents in particular, nor gives any proof.
December 8, 2002
Sister Josée Lirette and Sister Veronica Wilson make their solemn vows and become the first Brides of Christ in the O.F.M.I. community.
January 2, 2003
Bishop Aquila orded Fr. Joseph to return to the Diocese of Fargo. He was made assistant pastor at St. Joseph's in Devil's Lake, ND.
August 14, 2003
Br. Athanasius Pelletier was invested with the garb of the O.F.M.I. at the City of Mary.
August 15, 2007
Br. Athanasius Pelletier made his private final vows.