On Saturday, July 14, 2018, Friars Romarius Ireneo TARIGAN; Florianus Joni SAMAN; Yohanes KEFI; Richardus NATUN; Lodovikus Suban HAYONG; and Samuel SIMANGUSONG professed their solemn vows into the hands of Friar Maximilianus SEMBIRING, the Custos of the Provincial Custody of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M. in Indonesia. The ceremony was held in the church of St. Francis of Assisi in Padang Bulan, Medan-North Sumatra.
The Mass, and the feast that followed, were attended by many friars of the Custody along with the families of those professing and parishioners from “our” five area parishes.
This event also included the celebration of the 25th anniversary of religious life of two priests, Friars Marselinus Salem DAMANIK and Andreas Elpian GURUSINGA.
Two of the recently professed, Friars Lodovicus and Samuel, still have one more year of theological studies in order to complete their priestly formation and will remain in the formation house, while the other four have completed their studies and expect to be ordained to the diaconate in the coming months.
On Sunday evening of July 15, 2018, twelve young postulants were vested in the habit of the Conventual Franciscan family. The vesting ceremony was inserted in the celebration of Evening Prayer. The Provincial Custos presided over the ceremony which was held in the St. Anthony of Padua novitiate chapel in Tiga Dolok.
In addition, on Monday afternoon, July 16, 2018, there was a Mass for the temporary profession of seven novices. The profession ceremony took place in the parish church of St. Anthony of Padua in Tiga Dolok-North Sumatra. The novices have now finished their year of novitiate. There were nine novices at the beginning of the year, but two chose other paths for their vocation. The seven temporarily professed young men are: Friars Frederikus Siuk Tefnaif; Servasius Nonon USTAKU; Ignasius Jonathan SITUMORANG; Jeremiah USSANAK; Robertus Crisanto SENA; J. Agung BATHARA; and Maurice Dicky NOBATONIS. The Mass, and the feast that followed, were attended by many friars of the Custody along with the families of those professing and many faithful from the parish.
Friar Maximilianus SEMBIRING, Custos