On the evening of October 4, 2019, two post-novices from the Province of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe in India professed their solemn vows into the hands of the Minister General, Friar Carlos TROVARELLI. The newly professed are Friars Jijo BHARANIKULANGARA and Naveen KANDATHIL THOMAS, both third year theology students at the Seraphicum College in Rome. The ceremony took place at Rome’s Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles.
The solemn celebration was a crowning event during the Solemnity of the Seraphic Father St. Francis. Those participating included the Guardians and friars of the General Houses of Rome. The solemn profession ceremony for Friars Jijo and Naveen also attracted many confreres from the Province of India, including the Vicar Provincial, Friar Antony NALLUKUNNEL.
It was an extraordinary event for our Conventual and parish community at Twelve Holy Apostles, as clerical students at the Seraphicum normally make their solemn professions in their home Provinces. For Friar Carlos, it was the first time that he presided as Minister General over a solemn profession in the Basilica.
The Community of the Twelve Holy Apostles hailed the newly professed with a celebratory feast in the Hall of the Immaculate Conception. We wish them all the best as they journey within our religious family and we pray they may fully conform themselves to Christ following the example of St. Francis.
Friar Agnello STOIA, Pastor of the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles