July 29 and July 30 were days of celebration for the Province of Our Lady of the Angels Province, USA. On the 29th, four friars, Fr. Michael BOES, Fr. Edgar VARELA, Fr. Jonathan GARCIA ZENTENNO and Fr. Sebastian DE BACKER, professed their temporary vows in the chapel of St. Joseph of Cupertino Friary in Ellicott City, Maryland.
They had recently completed their novitiate year at St. Francis Friary in Arroyo Grande, California, under the direction of Br. Joseph WOOD and Fr. Maurice RICHARD. The friars come from different national backgrounds, and the liturgy reflected this diversity (being in English, Spanish and French).
The following day, three friars, Fr. Richard ROME, Fr. Timothy BLANCHARD and Fr. Franck SOKPOLIE professed their perpetual vows in the Church of St. Louis in Clarksville, Maryland. Once again, the liturgy was multi-cultural, with readings in English and French. A choir of musicians originally from Togo, West Africa, led the music for the liturgy.
Both events were followed by a reception at the friary of St. Joseph of Cupertino. Given that the friars were supposed to do their final preparation for solemn vows in Italy, but that proved impossible because of the pandemic, Fr. Richard JACOB made sure that there was a gelato truck at the reception.
Fr. Jude WINKLER Assistant General CFF
