During this year of celebrating the 800th anniversary of the stigmata of our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi, the Provincial Custody of St. Bonaventure in Brazil joyfully celebrated the priestly ordinations of Friars Henrique SANTOS DE LIMA and Lucas DOS SANTOS SILVA.
Friar Henrique was ordained on August 10, 2024, at the Santo Antônio de Pádua Conventual Franciscan Parish Church in São Luis (Archdiocese of São Luís do Maranhão), Maranhão State, Brazil. Friar Lucas was ordained on August 24, 2024, at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida Parish Church in Dom Eliseu (Diocese of Bragança), Pará State, Brazil. Priestly ordination is a beautiful and significant time of fraternal joy. The community rejoices over the important step these friars have taken in their vocations. Ordination calls friars to serve God and His people. It makes them participants in the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. It calls them to remain with Him in privileged intimacy. It asks them to be perfect, as the heavenly Father is perfect and it confirms them in their call to holiness.
In the days leading up to the ordinations, the Provincial Custody prayed for these young men, so that, they may configure themselves to Christ in the footsteps of Francis and give their lives in service to the people of God. May the Lord continue to call other young men from our presences around the world to the Franciscan religious vocation.
May the life witness of these new priests carry forth the truth and fraternal charity that gives meaning and leads to salvation, because the Gospel responds to the deepest needs of people and because we were all created for what the Gospel proposes: friendship with Jesus and fraternal love.
Friar Henrique SANTOS DE LIMA, Custodial Communications Team