For the first time, in the history of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, the Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa (Great Britain & Ireland) received a fraternal visit from the Definitory of the Mother Province (Our Lady of the Angels, USA). 

On Sunday 20th November, our three novices made their first religious profession. 

In a joy filled celebration, Fr. Colin Mary Edwards OFM Conv. was Ordained to the Sacred Priesthood...

Fr. Gregory defended his doctoral thesis on Friday, 31st May 2019 in the Senate Hall of the Pontifical Faculty of Theology in Wrocław, Poland.

On Saturday, 27th of April, the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, Friar Benedict Abugu was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priesthood.

Fr. Terence Bateman was clothed with the habit and entered his Novitiate on 31st October, 2018. 

During the last week of September 2018, the friars of the Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody had their annual retreat...

The Conventual Franciscans of Great Britain and Ireland were delighted to welcome Fr. Terence Bateman and to admit him to the postulancy programme...

On the 6th July Fr. Gerard Mary Toman was Ordained to the Sacred Priesthood by the Right Reverend William Kenney CP at the Church of The Precious Blood of Our Lord and All Souls, Coventry...

On the 7th July 2018, the Church of All Saints, Barton celebrated the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of its Consecration.

Many congratulations to our Friars Gerard Mary and Benedict Abugu as they complete their years of philosophy and theology studies at Blackfriars Oxford, and are awarded Certificates for successfully passing the Faculties Examination for the hearing of Confessions.

We give thanks to God for the ordination of Friar Colin Mary Edwards to the diaconate which took place on 24th March 2018, in the Church attached to the Blackfriars, Oxford, where he has been studying for the past five years.

On March 19-20, 2018, Friar Marco TASCA, the Minister General, Friar Jude WINKLER, the Assistant General for the Conventual Franciscan Federation (CFF), Friar Ciprian BUDĂU, the Custos of the Provincial Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa in Great Britain-Ireland and several friars and postulants from the formation community in Oxford made a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Our Lady of Walsingham in East Anglia, England.

Holy Mass was offered after the Definitory meeting on the memorial of St. Francis de Sales in the Chapel of All Saints at Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Formation Friary, Oxford.

On 19th October 2017 we had the great joy of welcoming three men into our postulancy program. 

In Great Britain and Ireland, our friars of Our Lady of the Angels’ Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa are known as the Greyfriars.Our Order’s first presence there began when St. Francis of Assisi sent them to England in 1224. During the English Reformation, our friars loyal to the Holy Father were forced to flee and did not return until the early 20th Century. 

On September 18-21, 2017, the friars of the Provincial Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa in Great Britain and Ireland met at the Hayes Conference Centre at Alfreton, England, for the second part of their Ordinary Custodial Chapter.

From September 4-8, 2017, the friars of the Provincial Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa in Great Britain-Ireland held the first part of their Ordinary Custodial Chapter at the Hayes Conference Centre in Alfreton, England.

Following two long and very hot months of language school in Perugia on the 9th of September we were finally invested in the habit of St. Francis in the basilica which houses his body.

On 2nd August 2017, the feast of Our Lady of the Angels, Friar Joe Fenton, Friar Paul Francis becka, and Friar Colin Mary Edwards made their solemn profession in our fraternity. 

On 30th July 2017, five men were ordained to the Order of Deacons in the beautiful Church attached to the Priory of the Holy Spirit, Oxford – more commonly known as ‘Blackfriars’. 

On the Feast of the Annunciation, 25 March 2017, that day that our Blessed Lady first said YES to her vocation, two Greyfriars of the Provincial Custody of Blessed Agnellus of Pisa, continued the journey of their YES to the Fraternity and the Church embracing the Order of Presbyter. 

On the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, 6 August 2016, Friar Maximilian Mary Martin, OFM Conv. was ordained to the Deaconate in his home Parish of Our Lady, Queen of Peace in Braintree, Essex. The Most Reverend Kevin McDonald, Archbishop Emeritus of Southwick presided.

On the Feast of the Visitation of our Lady, 31 May 2016, the parishioners of the Church of Our Lady of the Visitation in Dublin joined with the Friars, family, and friends of Friary Rory Doyle, OFM Conv. for his Ordination to the Deaconate at the hands of the Most Rev. Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin.

On the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, friars from Oxford, Manchester, Malta, and the United States of America gathered together in London to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of ordination of Fr. Peter Damian Massengill, OFM Conv, Provincial Custos of Great Britain & Ireland.

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After celebrating Mass at the friary church of St. Patick's in Waterloo, the friars gathered for a fraternal meal and were joined by Fr. James McCurry OFM Conv, Minister Provincial of Our Lady of Angels Province in the US and who is also responsible for the Custody of Great Britain & Ireland.

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We would like to thank Fr. Peter Damian for his many years of devoted and caring ministry.

Happy 40th Anniversary!

On the Feast of the Presentation, 2nd February, the Very Reverend Peter Damian Massengill, OFM Conv, Provincial Custos of Great Britain & Ireland presided over a special ceremony for the institution of the Ministry of Acolyte upon Friar Benedict Abugu, and Friar Gerard Mary Toman.

It is often said that no two days are the same in the life of a Franciscan Friar, and our friars have been demonstrating that they are no exception. Over the summer months there has been a variety of activities going on within our custody from Investitures, a Solemn Profession, a youth prayer festival, completeion of priestly studies, street evangelisation, and prison ministry to name but a few.

To find out more about what the Friars have been upto just follow the link below to read more about our extraordinary way of life, and check out our image galleries.

September 2014 saw the arrival of two postulants, Brian (47) and Marco (24), to the Conventual Formation house in Oxford. Their arrival has helped to confirm the belief held by many involved in vocation work – that the Holy Spirit is calling men of all ages to discern a call the Consecrated Life. Brian & Marco have now joined the friars in their new friary in Cowley, Oxford where they will attend daily Mass and pray the Litugy of the Hours in common with the friars, they will also partake in all friary activities (i.e. Lectio Divina, faith sharing, days of retreat etc.) and share house-responsibilities (cooking, shopping, cleaning etc.).