NEW YORK — The fall issue of the Province of the Immaculate Conception’s newsletter highlights its formation milestones.
On August 24, Provincial Minister Fr. Primo Piscitello, OFM, received the solemn vows of three men — Br. Joaquin Mejia, OFM, Br. Conrad Fernandes, OFM, and Br. Peter Furgiuele, OFM — in the chapel of St. Francis Centre for Religious Studies in Caledon, Ont., Canada. Fr. Primo reminded the new friars that the vowed life is a gift because god chooses whom he wills.
“This is so because we love god, we submit to, we accept, and we even willingly embrace what is asked of us in our religious life, knowing that in this way we please him,” Fr. Primo said.
The following day, the three men were ordained as transitional deacons by Bishop Maurus Muldoon, OFM, bishop emeritus of Juticalpa, Honduras.
One friar, Br. Zachary Wood, OFM, professed his first vows alongside Holy Name Province’s John Aherne, OFM,and Jeffrey Upshaw, OFM, at the ESC Interprovincial Novitiate. Two friars — Br. Walter Vijil Alvarez, OFM, and Br. Roberto Serrano, OFM — entered the novitiate alongside Dennis Bennett, OFM, Casey Cole, OFM, Edgardo Jara Araya, OFM, and Ramoncito Razon, OFM.
On September 17, Immaculate Conception Province welcomed a new postulant at Sacred Heart Church in Waltham, Mass. Robert Torres will join Luis Reinosa, who is finishing his second year of postulancy. Postulant director Fr. Michael MacInnis, OFM, reported that the new men were doing well, having been fully immersed in the postulancy program.
The fall newsletter features many photos of the formation milestones, as well as a reflection written by Fr. Joseph Powell, OFM, who is currently studying theology at the Antonianum in Rome.
Earlier this year, the IC Province launched a new website.
— Compiled by Maria Hayes