| A Dual Ordination |
On May 16, the friars shared the joy of an ordination of a priest,
Robert Williams and the Ordination of a Deacon, Francisco
Arredondo. This dual rite in the Church is not common or familiar to
most people but it is an option within the Church. Bros. Robert and
Francisco have been classmates through the Novitiate and
requested to share this opportunity. The Ordination took place at
the Immaculate Conception Church in the Bronx. Bishop John
Corriveau O.F.M. Cap., Bishop of Nelson British Columbia, Canada
presided. Bishop Corriveau is a Capuchin and the former General
of the Capuchin Order.
For Fr. Robert it is a culmination of a journey that began when he
was admitted into the Catholic Church when he was 19 years old.
The moment during the ordination, when the bishop anointed his
hands and Robert received the chalice and paten, he knew that
this was “the moment that everything came together.” That journey
to “the moment” was one that he would think of priesthood
periodically, but instead turned to other interests in his life. He
went to College and then worked as a chef. His life was filled with
the normal things that the average young adult was about. It was
another typical day on the job when his boss asked him an
unexpected question. “Have you ever thought of a vocation?” This
simple question began the discernment that had become dormant
in his heart. But this time he pursued it with the Capuchins. He saw
the fraternal life of the friars as a support and a challenge and he
knew that this was the way he wanted to express his call to the
priesthood.
As a priest, Fr. Robert sees a hunger and fire in people. As a
priest he can feed those who are hungry for God and stoke the
flames of those who are already on fire with the Lord. His desire is
to bring those who are on fire to help those who hunger for God.
His “moment” has begun.
Bro. Francisco begins his deaconate this summer in
Hendersonville, NC. He will continue his Theological studies next
year at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University.
He will be ordained a priest in May 2010.
Robert Williams and the Ordination of a Deacon, Francisco
Arredondo. This dual rite in the Church is not common or familiar to
most people but it is an option within the Church. Bros. Robert and
Francisco have been classmates through the Novitiate and
requested to share this opportunity. The Ordination took place at
the Immaculate Conception Church in the Bronx. Bishop John
Corriveau O.F.M. Cap., Bishop of Nelson British Columbia, Canada
presided. Bishop Corriveau is a Capuchin and the former General
of the Capuchin Order.
For Fr. Robert it is a culmination of a journey that began when he
was admitted into the Catholic Church when he was 19 years old.
The moment during the ordination, when the bishop anointed his
hands and Robert received the chalice and paten, he knew that
this was “the moment that everything came together.” That journey
to “the moment” was one that he would think of priesthood
periodically, but instead turned to other interests in his life. He
went to College and then worked as a chef. His life was filled with
the normal things that the average young adult was about. It was
another typical day on the job when his boss asked him an
unexpected question. “Have you ever thought of a vocation?” This
simple question began the discernment that had become dormant
in his heart. But this time he pursued it with the Capuchins. He saw
the fraternal life of the friars as a support and a challenge and he
knew that this was the way he wanted to express his call to the
priesthood.
As a priest, Fr. Robert sees a hunger and fire in people. As a
priest he can feed those who are hungry for God and stoke the
flames of those who are already on fire with the Lord. His desire is
to bring those who are on fire to help those who hunger for God.
His “moment” has begun.
Bro. Francisco begins his deaconate this summer in
Hendersonville, NC. He will continue his Theological studies next
year at Immaculate Conception Seminary at Seton Hall University.
He will be ordained a priest in May 2010.
