On September 21, 2025, the Provincial Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto in Venezuela celebrated the 35ᵗʰ anniversary of the founding of the San José de Cupertino Franciscan Missionary Seminary in Palmira, Táchira State, Venezuela. Friars from various Conventual Franciscan communities in the Custody participated in the commemoration, including the Provincial Custos, Friar Franklin DURÁN ZAMBRANO; one of the founders of the seminary, Friar Pietro A. BUONAMASSA; the post-novices; and other confreres who contributed to the fraternal atmosphere of the event.
The celebration was organized by the current Custodial formation team, namely, the Guardian, Pedro BRICEÑO CUEVAS; the Rector, Friar Manuel Edgardo NÚÑEZ GALLARDO; a formator, Friar Williams G. SUÁREZ PAREDES; and members of the Secular Franciscan fraternity “St. Joseph of Cupertino and Friends in Francis.” The celebration began at 9:30 a.m. with Mass presided over by the Most Reverend Juan Alberto AYALA RAMÍREZ, Auxiliary Bishop of San Cristóbal, Venezuela. During his homily, Bishop AYALA shared his experience regarding the beginnings of the Franciscan seminary in the 1990s. He invited the friars and the faithful to continue to support this work. At the end of the Mass, everyone commemorated the institutional anniversary of the friary by singing the traditional happy birthday song, not to a person, but symbolically to the friary as it “celebrates” another year of existence. The festivities continued with a fraternal lunch, with guests from Palmira, El Palotal, San Cristóbal, Capacho, and other places, who were with the friars during the celebration.
The friars of Venezuela give thanks to God Almighty for this day of celebration. They acknowledge the support of the entire Order of Friars Minor Conventual, in particular the Minister General, Friar Carlos A. TROVARELLI, who has always supported the formation house and obtained funding for its maintenance and operation. The friars thanked the Custody for its collaboration and the Italian Province of St. Joseph of Cupertino (Adriatic) for supporting the ecclesial and Franciscan teaching offered in the Custodial formation programs and for arranging the resources necessary to continue forming young men interested in a vocation to the consecrated and priestly life.
We entrust this work of the Lord to His care, so that it may continue to grow and so that the formation house may remain a safe place to prepare an ever-increasing number of friars ready to serve God, the Church, and the entire Order.
Friar Carlos R. ORTÍZ ROJAS, Custodial Secretary
