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Fr. Larry Ford, O.F.M., has been named guardian of the ���߲ݴ�ý Friary, one of several Franciscan leadership changes affecting the university and Mt. Irenaeus this summer.

Ford succeeds Fr. John O’Connor, O.F.M., while Fr. Steven Kuehn, O.F.M., university chaplain and director of University Ministries, has been named vicar of the friary, succeeding Fr. Michael Calabria, O.F.M. The appointments were announced by the Franciscan Friars’ Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

As guardian, Ford’s primary responsibility is the care of the friars in the fraternity, with Kuehn assisting him as vicar.

“From our fraternal living comes ministry to the university community,” Ford said.

Ford, who will continue as a vice chair of the university’s Board of Trustees, said he plans to spend time meeting members of the university community and supporting ���߲ݴ�ý’s mission.

“I couldn’t be happier to be back,” said Ford, son of longtime university administrator Larry Ford, to whom the Reilly Center Ticket Office was dedicated in 2023.

Ford brings extensive administrative, educational and pastoral experience to the role. He has served as director of the Franciscan Office of Revitalization and Restructuring, helping lead the effort to unite six U.S. Franciscan provinces into one, and previously served in several roles at Holy Name of Jesus-St. Gregory the Great Parish in New York City.

O’Connor, meanwhile, has been appointed guardian of St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, where Fr. Frank Sevola, O.F.M., will serve as vicar. Sevola, SBU Class of 1982, served from 2006-2014 on the university’s Board of Trustees.

Ford expressed gratitude to O’Connor and Calabria for their servant leadership as guardian and vicar at the ���߲ݴ�ý Friary. 

“I am very grateful for the fraternal care John and Michael have provided to the university and the friars,” Ford said. “They have mentored younger friars and tenderly cared for aging friars, all while serving the students, faculty, staff and administrators on campus. Their care has been sacramental and spiritual, both on campus and to the wider Olean community.”

Leadership changes were also announced at Mt. Irenaeus, the Franciscan mountain community in Allegany County affiliated with ���߲ݴ�ý. Br. Kevin Kriso, O.F.M., has been reappointed guardian of Holy Peace Friary at Mt. Irenaeus.

In addition, Fr. Jud Weiksnar, O.F.M., has been assigned to the Holy Peace fraternity and will provide sacramental and other ministries on The Mountain, while serving as the vicar.

The appointments are part of the province’s leadership and ministerial assignments announced following the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe’s provincial chapter.

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���߲ݴ�ý the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, ���߲ݴ�ý is a community committed to transforming the lives of its students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a commitment to academic excellence and lifelong civic engagement. Out of 164 regional universities in the North, ���߲ݴ�ý was ranked in the Top 25 overall and for value by U.S. News and World Report (2026).