On Saturday morning, November 26, 2022, Friar Erwin Alexis RAMÍREZ ARAUJO of the Provincial Custody of Our Lady of Coromoto in Venezuela was ordained to the priesthood through the imposition of hands and the consecratory prayer of the Most Reverend Jesús Alfonso GUERRERO CONTRERAS, Bishop of Barinas, Venezuela. The ordination took place at the Cristo Rey Church in Socopó (Barinas).

Those attending included the Provincial Custos, Friar Franklin A. DURÁN ZAMBRANO; friars from various friaries across Venezuela; relatives of the newly ordained priest; various other religious and priests from Barinas; the local faithful; some parishioners from of the Santísima Trinidad Church in Pueblo Llano, Venezuela; and members of the Secular Franciscan Order in Palmira, Venezuela. At the end of the ceremony, a fraternal agape meal was served to all the guests.
On Sunday, November 27, Friar Erwin’s celebrated his first Mass at the “Cochabamba Chapel” in Socopó (Barinas) where our brother comes from. Friar Erwin was born in Socopó on March 17, 1995. On Sept. 14, 2011, he entered the Conventual Franciscan Order at the San José de Cupertino formation house in Palmira. He studied philosophy at the Santo Tomás de Aquino Ecclesiastical University. From February, 2015 to February, 2016, Friar Erwin carried out his novitiate year in Paraguay. On February 7, 2016, he made his simple profession at the formation house in Palmira. He began his theological studies at the Ecclesiastical University in Palmira. In March of 2018, he continued his studies at the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum) in Rome until July of 2020. From July 2020 to August 2021, he underwent a period of spiritual and psychological guidance at the Santi Felice e Fortunato Friary-Hermitage in Cologna Veneta, Italy. On September 4, 2021, he professed his solemn vows at the María Auxiliadora Friary in Barinas and was given a letter of obedience to serve at the Pueblo Llano Friary. On April 22, 2022, he was ordained to the diaconate by Bishop GUERRERO CONTRERAS, at the church in Pueblo Llano, where he carried out ministry for seven months.
We ask God to grant our confrere the grace to perform the ministry entrusted to him with fidelity, humility and commitment.

Friar Juan G. MARTÍNEZ CANELÓN, Custodial Secretary