In July of 2020, the Province of Mary Immaculate in Indonesia saw some important events occur in the formation journey of its student friars.
On July 14, 2020, thirty-seven young friars renewed their religious vows. Three of the confreres professed their vows into the hands of their Minister Provincial, Friar Cornelius Tri Chandra FAJARIYANTO. The ceremony took place at the St. Anthony of Padua Friary in Tiga Dolok. Ten more friars professed their vows into the hands of the Minister Provincial’s Delegate, Friar Longinus JUDUNG. The ceremony took place at the St. Bonaventure Friary in Sinaksak – Pematangsiantar. The remaining twenty-four professed their vows into the hands of their Vicar Provincial, Friar Robert Tarcisius Zonpiter SIHOTANG. The ceremony was held at the Friary of St. Catherine of Siena in Tiga Juhar.
On the same day, five friars began their canonical year of probation at the novitiate chapel in Tiga Dolok. They are Friars Boy Sergius TUMANGGOR, Ferdi Ferdinan SITEPU, Mariano Oracio DOUTER, Fernando Ius MANIK and Krisostomus BANGGUL. The Minister Provincial presented each of them with the Franciscan habit and entrusted them to the guidance of their Novice Master, Friar Gilberto Albino Dos Reis DA COSTA, who will be aided by the Assistant Novice Master, Friar Norbertus Nana MANEK.
On July 15, 2020, the feast of St Bonaventure, four friars professed their solemn vows at the St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M. Church in Delitua, North Sumatra. They are Friars Robertus Hermanto BOBY, Baptista PAUF, Sevan Nicolas SEMBIRING and Eriksend Okripo SITEPU. The Minister Provincial presided over the ceremony which was attended by the friars of the Province and the relatives of the newly professed. Attendance by the faithful was limited due to Covid-19. The celebration was animated by the post-novices of Sinaksak – Pematangsiantar, together with the postulants.
During the celebration, the Minister Provincial focused his homily on the meaning of consecrated life and the vows. He stressed that we must each try to recognize our identity as Franciscans who must always proclaim the presence of God through the witness of our lives. Finally he mentioned that his guide in this was Mary, who listened and meditated on the Word of God by putting it into practice.
Friar Fictorium Natanael GINTING.