On October 4, 2019, the Solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi, the friars of the Province of St. Joseph, Spouse of the B.V.M. in Romania, together with some Capuchin friars, celebrated the diaconal ordination of a number of Franciscans, at the Friary of St. Francis in Roman, Romania.
The presider during the Mass was the Most Reverend Iosif PĂULEȚ, Bishop of Iași, Romania. The bishop ordained four Franciscan friars as deacons. Three were Conventual friars and one was a Capuchin. The ceremony took place in the chapel of the Franciscan Theological Institute in Roman, Romania.
Concelebrating with the bishop were Friars Teofil PETRIȘOR, OFM Conv, the Minister Provincial of Romania, and Lucian-Iosif DUMEA, OFM Cap., Custos of Romania, and about a hundred priests, including other Superiors, professors and formators from the seminary in Roman. They were joined by seminarians, other consecrated persons, the families of the candidates and a large number of the faithful.
The new Conventual Franciscan deacons are: Friars Mihai CHERECHEȘ, Emanuel-Petrică BLAJ and Cristian-Petru PAL.
During his homily, Bishop Iosif, inspired by the readings of the solemnity of our founder, spoke about three aspects of the life and spirituality of the Poverello—the cross, service and communion.
During the Mass, the bishop inaugurated the new 2019-20 academic and formational year. Prior to the inauguration, there was an international conference, held on October 2, on the theme of “Ideological Challenges and Christian Faith”. On October 3, the friars celebrated the Transitus of the Seraphic Father.
We are grateful to the Lord for the gift of these new deacons. We ask the blessing of God and of St. Francis for them and for all the friars involved in academic and formational service.
Friar Virgil BLAJ, Provincial Secretary
