On Sunday, February 8, 2026, two young men—Gabriel RODRÍGUEZ and Alejandro OLIVAR—entered the postulancy program at the Nuestra Señora del Rosario Friary and Formation House in Madrid, Spain. After regularly attending the monthly meetings of the San Damiano Vocational Path and completing a period of aspirancy in the same formation house, they are taking this next step, motivated by the desire to continue discerning their vocation in our Franciscan fraternity. Both are twenty-six years old and join Alfredo RODRÍGUEZ, 21, who has already entered the postulancy program.
The formation house in Madrid, which belongs to the Province of Our Lady of Montserrat in Spain, currently houses thirteen friars: seven are solemnly professed (one is from the Provincial Custody of St. Bonaventure in France-Belgium), three are temporarily professed, and three are postulants. It is both a joy and a duty for our Provincial fraternity—and for the entire Order—to welcome these two young men who, “desiring by divine inspiration…” (Earlier Rule 2:1), wish to continue discerning, under the guidance of the formator, Friar Joaquín AGESTA CUEVAS, and supported by the friars of the fraternity, whether the Lord is calling them to embrace life according to the holy Gospel in our Order of Conventual Franciscan Friars.
The simple ceremony marking the beginning of their postulancy was presided over by the Minister Provincial, Friar Juan Antonio ADÁNEZ SILVÁN. During the ceremony, both young men received a Tau cross and were presented with the writings of St. Francis and St. Clare. Friars from both of the friaries in Madrid (San Buenaventura and Nuestra Señora del Rosario) participated in this beautiful family moment.
Let us guide these young men with our prayers and ask the Most High and Good Lord to continue blessing our Order with new friars.
Friar Jesús Abel GARCÍA-CEZÓN ROLDÁN
