Our Minister General

Br. Seraphim Mary, OSF was born to a military family from Ontario, Canada. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Law as well as a Master of Arts in Law and Jurisprudence from Carleton University. He also completed a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa and teaches in Eastern Ontario. Seraphim Mary was awarded a Doctor of Laws for his doctoral-level studies at Carleton University and his work in Canon Law from Saint Stephen Harding Theological College and Seminary. Having been ordained to the diaconate on October 3, 2002, he has served within the Anglican, Orthodox and Roman Catholic communions respectively. He completed post-ordinational studies at the University of Notre Dame.


As a professed Oblate-member and Minister General of the Franciscan Order of Divine Compassion (FODC), Seraphim Mary seeks to surrender his life to Christ through his service to the community. He does this through modelling the footsteps and spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, observing a 'regula vita' and living a life in conformity with FODC Credenda.


He describes himself as an evangelical Catholic who is committed to The Anglican Way and believes that Saint Francis was right when he said that “all the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle”.

Epiphanytide Pastoral Message

My dear sons and daughters,

Peace and all-Goodness.

At the beginning of a new year, we surely benefit from recalling the words of Saint Francis of Assisi: “Start by doing what is necessary, then what is possible and suddenly you will do the impossible.” To begin anew is a struggle that requires our own effort, but above all divine grace. Let us consider the parable of the sower, with the desire to be 'good soil' (Matthew 13:8) for receiving God’s gift, the seed that yields abundant fruit. The Lord Jesus Christ offers us this gift in the Eucharist.

In the synagogue at Capernaum, our Jesus said: “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you” (John 6:53). A good way to begin this year can be to renew, with greater depth and gratitude, our faith in God’s love for us (cf. 1 John 4:16), made sacramentally visible in the Eucharist. Thus our struggle to be the 'good soil' that receives the seed will be made effective, both personally and within our shared Franciscan charism.

In closing, let us be mindful to turn our eyes to Christ who, despite our own little worth, wants to fill us with renewed effectiveness, peace and perfect joy.

With my most affectionate blessing, Your Father,

+Seraphim Mary, OSF

Epiphanytide

Navigation

Contact us

© 2022, Franciscan Order of the Divine Compassion All Rights Reserved.| Powerd By Logo Design Valley.