Friday, December 30, 2022, the Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph: Our Lady of the Angels Province Vicar Provincial, Fr. Gary Johnson, OFM Conv. (photo cred) traveled to Liverpool, England to concelebrate the Mass and share in the celebration of the Solemn Profession of Vows of Friar John Paul Banks, OFM Conv., Friar Peter George Flynn, OFM Conv. and Friar Terence Bateman, OFM Conv., at the hands of their Provincial Custos ~ Friar Maximilian Martin, OFM Conv., who also served as the celebrant for the Mass. In the St. Anthony of Padua Church (Mossley Hill, Liverpool) the friars were joined by parishioners, family, and members of other religious communities who serve and learn with or educated our friars at the Oxford House of Studies – Blackfriars Hall.
Friar John Paul, Friar Peter George and Friar Terence (above) professed their Simple Vows in 2019. An ordained priest, formerly from England’s Westminster Diocese, Friar Terence was first admitted into the postulancy in September 2018 and invested in our habit in October 2018. Friar John Paul and Friar Peter George were welcomed into the postulancy program in October 2017 and invested in our habit November 2018.
Fr. Terence serves as the Guardian of the friary of St. Anthony of Padua Church (at left) and as Parish Priest (pastor) there. Friar John Paul and Friar Peter George will continue their studies for the priesthood at Oxford, residing in our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Friary – Formation House. Also included among the friars in attendance were Custodial Vicar ~ Friar Colin Edwards, OFM Conv. [below far left], Fr. Kevin Hanley, OFM Conv. [below center], Friar Giles Zakowicz, OFM Conv. [below 3rd from right] and Friar Gerard Toman, OFM Conv. [bottom 2nd from right]. Fr. Kevin is the former pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church, who currently serves as the Custody Secretary and as a Definitor, while in pastoral ministry at our Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Dublin, Ireland. Fr. Giles is a friar of our province who has always served in formation, including assignments in the USA, Ghana, Kenya, and most recently as the Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody Formator at Oxford. He will remain serving in our Custody, but now in pastoral ministry at St. Anthony of Padua Church, under Fr. Terence. [Fr. Giles was Fr. Terence’s formator]. The new Guardian and Director of the Formation House in Oxford, Friar Gerard M. Toman, OFM Conv. is returning from his continued studies in Rome.
If you live in Great Britain or Ireland and want more information on vocations with our Blessed Agnellus of Pisa Custody, email vocation@thegreyfriars.org.
