It is with great joy that our friars gathered for the
Diaconate Ordination of our confrere,
Friar Emmanuel Wenke, OFM Conv.
on Saturday, December 10, 2022,
at the Franciscan Church of the Assumption (Syracuse, NY),
at the hands of Most Rev. Douglas J. Lucia, Bishop of Syracuse.
Family, friends and parishioners joined our friars in celebration of Friar Manny’s continued journey as a Franciscan Friar Conventual, of Our Lady of the Angels Province. Br. Manny Solemnly Professed his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, in September of 2018. From 2017 – 2020, he served as a Theology Instructor at our Archbishop Curley High School (Baltimore, MD). Since then, Br. Manny has been living in and serving from our St. Bonaventure Friary (Toronto, ON), while in study for the priesthood. During our 2022 Province Chapter, Br. Manny was newly assigned as a Provincial Delegate to the Order of Franciscan Seculars (OFS). After his Deaconate Ordination, Friar Manny will serve as a Deacon, through the ministries of our friars of our St. Francis Friary, in Syracuse, NY.
Friar Manny’s father, Deacon Matt Wenke (at center of photo above), was able to serve at his son’s Diaconate Mass, including professing the Gospel and vesting his son as a Deacon. The pastor of the Franciscan Church of the Assumption ~ Fr. Jude DeAngelo, OFM Conv. (to his left) and our Province Secretary ~ Br. Nicholas Romeo, OFM Conv. (at far right) served as MCs. Our Minister Provincial ~ Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. offered the greeting and closing remarks. He was joined in the sanctuary space by our Vicar Provincial ~ Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv. and our Province Prefect of Formation ~ Fr. John Koziol, OFM Conv. There were many friar priests on hand to concelebrate the Mass and serve in special capacities, including Br. Tim Blanchard, OFM Conv. (1st Reading) and several of our province student friars: friar Cristofer M. Fernández, OFM Conv. (2nd Reading). In addition to friar Cristofer, several more of the student friars of our Province, also served at the Mass, including friar Joseph Krondon, OFM Conv. and (Apostolic Year – St. Francis Friary, Syracuse, NY), friar Antonio Moualeu, OFM Conv. (Apostolic Year – St. Francis of Assisi Friary, Hamburg, NY), friar Raad Eshoo, OFM Conv., Friar Franck Sokpolie, OFM Conv., and friar Edgar Varela, OFM Conv.
Bishop Lucia’s Homily
Photo Cred: FrancisCorps
Keep him and all of our friars in the varied stages of formation, in your continued prayers.
[Read more about Friar Manny]
For more information on Vocations,
visit FranciscanVoice.org or
email our Province Vocation Directors –
Br. Nick Romeo, OFM Conv. and Fr. Manny Vasconcelos, OFM Conv.,
at vocations@olaprovince.org.
