Three years ago, on July 21, 2016, after completing their time in the Novitiate, friar Franck Lino Sokpolie, OFM Conv. and friar Timothy Blanchard, OFM Conv. first professed their Simple {Temporary} Vows; choosing to live as a Franciscan Friar Conventual for a period of three years. Most often, Simple Vows will be renewed at least once during a friar’s Post-Novitiate years of continuing study and formation. Solemn Vows are perpetual and are not professed until after the friar completes all stages of formation. The time between the temporary and perpetual vow profession is also the formation period when friars reflect as to whether they wish to live as a friar priest or friar brother.
As the first three years come to a close, Our Lady of the Angels Province joyfully announces that in the presence of many of their confreres, friar Franck and friar Tim, both chose to profess their Renewal of Vows on Monday, July 1, 2019, during Evening Prayer, in the Portiuncula Friary Chapel (Provincial House).
Witnessed by Fr. Paul Schloemer, OFM Conv., a friar of Our Lady of Consolation Province who serves as Co-Director of the St. Bonaventure Friary Post Novitiate – Silver Springs, Maryland, and Fr. Mark Szanyi, OFM Conv., Prefect of Formation for our Province who serves as pastor of St. Lucie Catholic Church – Port St. Lucie, Florida, the Vow Renewals were received by our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv.
On hand to celebrate with friar Franck and friar Timothy were most of the members of our Province Definitory: Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (Vicar Provincial), Fr. Richard-Jacob Forcier, OFM Conv. (Province Secretary), Fr. Jude Surowiec, OFM Conv. (Definitor & Professor at the College of Our Lady of the Elms – Chicopee, MA), Br. Tom Purcell, OFM Conv. (Definitor & Executive Director of St. Clare Inn – Toronto, ON), Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv. (Definitor & Director of the San Damiano Friary Post Novitiate – San Antonio, TX), and Fr. Eric de la Pena, OFM Conv. (Definitor & Director of the Shrine of St. Anthony – Ellicott City, MD). Also present were Fr. Stephen King, OFM Conv. (Associate at the Shrine of St. Anthony – Ellicott City, MD), Christopher M. Fernández who is on his way to our InterProvincial Novitiate to be Invested in our habit July 17, 2019, as well as two of their friary-mates, friar Bede Thigpen, OFM Conv. (a student friar of St. Bonaventure Province) and Friar Israel Arauz-Rosiles, OFM Conv. (a solemnly professed student friar of St. Joseph Cupertino Province).
Celebratory Fraternity (friar Tim – far right & friar Franck – second to right)
