IRONDALE, Ala. – The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word give glory and praise to God as they celebrate their 30th year anniversary today, May 2, 2017.  “The Community thanks all who have prayed for us and supported our service to the Lord and His Church.  We are grateful for your sacrificial contributions to our way of life.  It’s an honor and pleasure to serve God and his people,” said Fr. Leonard Mary, MFVA.

It is the mission of the MFVA Community to seek out the lost and bring back the strayed to mercy of God and His Church.  These radical Franciscan men model their lives after Jesus, who came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.  “With God’s grace we look forward to many more years of loving and serving Christ,” Father added.

Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Mother Mary Angelica, PCPA, founded the Community in 1987 to assist with the work of evangelization entrusted to her.  This young and zealous Community continually devotes itself to a life of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament and devotion to our Blessed Mother Mary in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi and Mother Angelica, while striving to live in poverty, chastity and obedience.  It has been blessed in bringing the saving message of Jesus Christ through the mass media (EWTN), parish assistance, conferences, retreats and providing for the spiritual needs of the Poor Clare’s of Perpetual Adoration and EWTN employees.

“Taking their inspiration from their spiritually gifted, no-nonsense foundress, Mother Mary Angelica, the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word charitably and boldly continue to spread the truth of the Catholic faith using every medium of communication,” Father added.

“It has been a wonderful privilege for the friars to witness the providence of God these past 30 years of our community’s history,” said Fr. Joseph Mary Wolfe, MFVA.  He was one of the first men to enter the Community in 1987.  “There are still ‘too many’ souls who have not yet heard the Gospel, and too many who are indifferent to their faith. Looking ahead, we must reach them, too.  May our Provident Father continue to help us bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth,” he added.

The Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word is a canonically recognized Public Clerical Association of the Faithful in the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama, and listed in The Official Catholic Directory.  For vocation information go to www.franciscanmissionaries.com.

7 thoughts on “MFVA Community Celebrates 30 Year Anniversary

  1. I congratulate Fr Joseph Mary MFVA on his Silver Anniversary. I had been contributing to EWTN, but quit as I was only able to get Daily Mass from the diocese of Boston for some years. NOW I watch y’all every week day so I will begin again, probably in July.

  2. First of all me and my family want to thank you for your silver anniversary as a priest in EWTN. My mom and I always watch you EWTN either in the daily mass or in specials. Unfortunately, life in my family is not in the last five years. In 2014 my father suffer a stroke that left him paralyzed in the left side of the body. Then in 2015, I was diagnosed with Lekuima a blood cancer that I need treatment for four years. Right now my father is in a nursery home and the cancer cells in my body continue to grow. Just last year I receive stem cells from my mom , although things look good the dreaded cancer cells continue to grow. Right now I need a prayer and hope when it comes toward treating these cells especially now that another booster of mom mom cells in th end of June. Please pray for both me and my family in this desperate time and may be one day we could visit the EWTN studio in Alabama.

    1. Fr. Joseph Mary, congratulations on your silver anniversary. You seem to be a very and happy priest. God has blessed you in a very special way.

      I had a very serious accident 3 years ago. I was in the hospital and nursing home for 77 days. I have nerve damage because of a broken back, I also lost a foot because of a HIT ( blood clot caused by Hyperin ). I began to watch EWTN while I was in intensive care and have continued to watch the Mass every day. We have watched so many Mass that we know the people who come to Mass every day. I was an daily mass Catholic before I got hurt but I really like the EWTN Mass better. I understand that we do not receive the Blessed Sacrament.

      The reason we like EWTN Mass so much is because of the music and the homilies. Some of the homilies are more meaningful than others. Yours are very good because they are down to life, you use pictures and talk about the Saints. Your homilies are relevant to all of us. Some of the other Friars Homilies are not very relevant. EWTN reaches so many people who need to be fed with the Word, there is so little time and so few opportunities to feed the people of God. I hope The Lord inspires the preaching Friars to all be relevant as you are.

  3. Why did father Leonard quit serving mass I never see him anymore

  4. Thank you all for enabling us to take part in the Daily Mass during this time of lockdown.
    I have attended the Holy Mass every day since lockdown started in our country, Wales United Kingdom. I feel part of the congregation and feel as if i know all the fathers who concelebrate the Holy Mass. Love Prayers and thanks to all including the lovely choir. From Margaret. x🙏

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