The Lord has given a new priest and nine new deacons to our Seraphicum community, our Conventual Franciscan Order and the Church.
The new priest is Friar Vladislav PASHAYEV of the Provincial Custody of the Holy Cross in Ukraine. The new deacons are: Friars Windpidisda-Alain ZOUNGRANA and Begnakouan Lucien Carl Francine BASSOLE of the Provincial Delegation in Burkina Faso; Friar Anthony Romanus DONKOH of the Provincial Custody of St. Anthony of Padua in Ghana; Friar Fakhridin IBRAGIMOV of the Provincial Delegation in Uzbekistan; Friars Dibin NALLUKUNNELL THOMAS, Arun MANGALY (WILSON) and Alan PARAYIL (THOMAS) of the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in India; Friar Peter PIKULÍK of the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Slovakia; Friar John Baptist TRẦN (Hướng Văn) of the Provincial Custody of St. Francis Anthony Fasani in Vietnam. The ordinations were conducted at the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome on Saturday, May 10, 2025, during a solemn Mass presided over by the Most Reverend Martin KMETEC, OFM Conv., Archbishop of Izmir (Smyrna) Turkey.
Others attending included His Eminence Cardinal Dominique Joseph MATHIEU, OFM Conv., Archbishop of Teheran-Ispahan of the Latins (Iran); the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI; the Vicar General Friar Jan MACIEJOWSKI; the Ministers Provincial, Custodes, formators and confreres of the friars being ordained; as well as many relatives, friends, priests and nuns. The friars of the Seraphicum provided liturgical service.
In his homily, Archbishop KMETEC underlined the profound meaning of the gift of the ministries of the diaconate and the priesthood. He reminded the friars being ordained that they are called to serve and give their lives for their brethren, and asked them to live their vocation in perennial Easter joy.
Best wishes to our friars. May the Lord guide their steps in this new ministry and make it ever fruitful. May our dear patrons, Saints Francis and Anthony, sustain their journey and support their service in the Vineyard of the Lord!
All psalms end in glory, we too praise God for these newly ordained and for this fraternal moment: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of good will!
Friar Adam MĄCZKA, Guardian and Rector of the Seraphicum
