On December 11, 2021, Friar Ángel Joel NIÑO PACHECO of the Provincial Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto in Venezuela was ordained to the priesthood through the imposition of the hands and consecratory prayer of the Most Reverend Juan Alberto AYALA RAMÍREZ, Auxiliary Bishop of San Cristóbal, Venezuela. The ordination took place at the Church of San Emigdio de Libertad, Capacho, Venezuela.
Those attending included friars from the various friaries in Venezuela, relatives of the newly ordained, some religious and diocesan priests from the Diocese of San Cristóbal and parishioners from the different parishes served by our friars. After the ordination, a fraternal agape meal was served to all the guests. The following day, the new priest celebrated his first Mass at the San José de Cupertino formation house in Palmira, Venezuela. The Provincial Custos, Friar Franklin DURÁN ZAMBRANO, was present for the celebration, as was Friar Carlos R. ORTÍZ ROJAS, the Guardian and Rector of the formation community and other parishioners who regularly attend the Sunday Mass at this Alma Mater of the Custody.
Friar Ángel Joel was born on October 22, 1991, in Capacho, State of Táchira, Venezuela. He entered the San José de Cupertino formation house in Palmira on September 14, 2011. He studied philosophy at the Santo Tomás de Aquino Ecclesiastical University Institute in Palmira. He made his novitiate in Paraguay (2015-2016), and took his first vows on February 7, 2016, at the San José de Cupertino formation house. From August 2016 to August 2019, he studied theology at the Pontifical Faculty of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum) in Rome. The 2019 Ordinary Custodial Chapter assigned him to the San José Obrero Friary in Guanare, Venezuela. He was ordained a deacon on April 9, 2021, through the imposition of the hands and consecratory prayer of the Most Reverend José de la Trinidad VALERA ANGULO, Bishop of Guanare. He is currently a member of the Beata Virgen María Auxiliadora Friary in Barinas, Venezuela, where he serves as the Director of the María Auxiliadora Health Care Center (CASMA).
May God grant our confrere the grace to live the sacred ministry entrusted to him with fidelity, humility and constancy.
Friar Juan Gregorio MARTÍNEZ CANELÓN, Custodial Secretary