On Saturday, October 11, 2008, seven friars made their solemn professions in the Order of Friars Minor for the Custody of the Holy Land between the hands of Brother Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Custos.
"Do not be afraid to put your life into God’s hands. The Holy Spirit is the author of your vocation. In the power of the Spirit, you will have the power to leave everything to follow the Lord (Matthew 19:27). It is only in the gratuity of love that ’whoever leaves home, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields for the cause of my name, will receive hundredfold and have eternal life’ (Cf. Mt. 19:29)," Brother Pierbattista told them in his homily.
Leaving their home, they did that: among them are two Italians, one American, one Syrian, one Mexican, one Argentinian, and also an Israeli Arab. Leaving their family, they did that: Nevertheless, their families could, at least some of their members, surround them with their love during the celebration. The others, in heaven and on earth, who could not join them were truly present in the heart of each of the professed friars.
For the hundredfold, the seven young friars were not disappointed: a foretaste of heaven, the church was filled. Filled first of all, with the numerous Franciscan friars of the country who made sure to be united to their prayer; filled also with brothers and sisters from all continents, laypeople and religious, but also with all the realities of the Holy Land in the service of which they have engaged themselves forever. In fact, next to the Palestinian Arab parishioners, prayed a few members of the Hebrew-language community, Israeli Jews and others. That is without counting all of those who were united with the celebration in prayer, in the first rank of whom today were the Poor Clares of Jerusalem, particularly Sister Genevieve who that same morning celebrated 70 years of solemn profession.
“Look, brothers, at the humility of God, and pay it homage in your heart. Be humble, you too, in order to be exalted by him. Keep nothing for yourselves, so that you can receive completely Him who gave himself entirely for you." (Letter to the Order 28-29).
The friars prolonged their joy by receiving all of their guests in a festive buffet in Mary Immaculate Hall at Saint Saviour’s. Songs from Arab and Mexican holidays mixed; laughter and voices too.
MAB
List of the solemnly professed friars
Brother Agustin Guadalupe Pelayo
Brother Alessandro Coniglio
Brother Badie Elias
Brother Carlos Gabriel Molina
Brother Haroutiun Simonian
Brother John Savage
Brother Oscar Mario Marzo
"Do not be afraid to put your life into God’s hands. The Holy Spirit is the author of your vocation. In the power of the Spirit, you will have the power to leave everything to follow the Lord (Matthew 19:27). It is only in the gratuity of love that ’whoever leaves home, or brothers, or sisters, or mother, or wife, or children, or fields for the cause of my name, will receive hundredfold and have eternal life’ (Cf. Mt. 19:29)," Brother Pierbattista told them in his homily.
Leaving their home, they did that: among them are two Italians, one American, one Syrian, one Mexican, one Argentinian, and also an Israeli Arab. Leaving their family, they did that: Nevertheless, their families could, at least some of their members, surround them with their love during the celebration. The others, in heaven and on earth, who could not join them were truly present in the heart of each of the professed friars.
For the hundredfold, the seven young friars were not disappointed: a foretaste of heaven, the church was filled. Filled first of all, with the numerous Franciscan friars of the country who made sure to be united to their prayer; filled also with brothers and sisters from all continents, laypeople and religious, but also with all the realities of the Holy Land in the service of which they have engaged themselves forever. In fact, next to the Palestinian Arab parishioners, prayed a few members of the Hebrew-language community, Israeli Jews and others. That is without counting all of those who were united with the celebration in prayer, in the first rank of whom today were the Poor Clares of Jerusalem, particularly Sister Genevieve who that same morning celebrated 70 years of solemn profession.
“Look, brothers, at the humility of God, and pay it homage in your heart. Be humble, you too, in order to be exalted by him. Keep nothing for yourselves, so that you can receive completely Him who gave himself entirely for you." (Letter to the Order 28-29).
The friars prolonged their joy by receiving all of their guests in a festive buffet in Mary Immaculate Hall at Saint Saviour’s. Songs from Arab and Mexican holidays mixed; laughter and voices too.
MAB
List of the solemnly professed friars
Brother Agustin Guadalupe Pelayo
Brother Alessandro Coniglio
Brother Badie Elias
Brother Carlos Gabriel Molina
Brother Haroutiun Simonian
Brother John Savage
Brother Oscar Mario Marzo