Bishop Martin presides over Mass at Conventual Franciscans’ Shrine of St. Anthony
ELLLICOTT CITY, Maryland — In a Mass offered May 2 in Dutch, Spanish, Latin and English, two men made solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience to become fully professed members of the same Franciscan order as Bishop Michael Martin.
Bishop Martin presided at the Mass at the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Md., home of the Conventual Franciscans’ Our Lady of the Angels Province.
Friar Edgar Varela, OFM Conv., and Friar Sebastian DeBacker, OFM Conv., made their vows before their provincial leader, Friar Michael Heine, OFM Conv.
Friar Gary Johnson, OFM Conv., and Friar John Koziol, OFM Conv., were concelebrants.
During his homily, Friar Michael said, “We come together to witness and celebrate our two friars, who will give their lives totally to the Lord in the way of St. Francis. I am unsure if we ever had a solemn profession during the sede vacante – the empty chair of St. Peter.
“The attention given to Pope Francis and your solemn profession tells the world that St. Francis and his way of following the Lord are still relevant. As our minister general (Friar Carlos Alberto Trovarelli OFM Conv.) wrote: ‘To us Franciscans, his choice has always told us that our charism was alive, deeply relevant, and could still offer something to the world. For us, it marked the beginning of a renewed purification of our charism – a reflection on the depth of our way of life – so that we, too, might be witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ in today’s world.’”
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— Kevin A. Keenan
Pictured at top are (from left) Bishop Michael Martin, Minister Provincial Friar Michael Heine, OFM Conv., Friar Sebastian DeBacker OFM Conv., Friar Edgar Varelo OFM Conv., and Vicar Provincial Friar Gary Johnson, OFM Conv. The photo was taken in the courtyard of The Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Md. (Photo provided)