WILMINGTON, Del. — A small but joyful gathering of friars witnessed the reception last Friday of three men into the Province’s novitiate at St. Paul’s Friary in Wilmington, Del. The new novices are Scott Carey, Gerald Hopek and Michael Reyes.
Provincial Vicar Dominic Monti, OFM, who also serves as the Province’s secretary of formation, presided at the brief service.
The June 12 ceremony was a 30-minute simple but dignified service, according to Ronald Pecci, OFM, director of novices. Its major feature was the investiture of the new novices with the Franciscan habit. Since the novitiate year is marked by study of the Franciscan way of life, the novices were also presented with copies of the Rule and Testament of St. Francis and the General Constitutions of the Order, which spell out the way that Franciscans live out the Rule today.
The novices also signed the official Book of Reception, containing the names of all the friars who have joined the Province since 1951.
Background on the 13th century papal text that established the novitiate was provided in the ceremony program.
After the ceremony, the friars gathered in St. Paul’s Friary for dinner.
Next week, the novices will leave for the traditional summer program at the Franciscan Institute of St. Bonaventure University in Western New York.
Shown in the photo above are Scott, Gerald and Michael. A collage of photos taken at the June 12 reception is “behind” this photo.