Information adapted from the Novitiate’s Website.
The 2022-2023 Class of the Novitiate of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual – CFF (Franciscan Friars Conventual – Conventual Franciscan Federation) includes seven men from three of our four of the North American Provinces; The Province of the Our Lady of Consolation, The Province of Saint Bonaventure, and our own province. These novices will live together for a year and day, under the guidance of their formation team, including Our Lady of the Angels Province friars – Friar Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. (Assistant Director) and Friar Raphael Zwolenkiewicz, OFM Conv. (Friar in Residence).
Two of these Novices are friars in formation for our Province:
Left to Right: Fr. Michael Heine, OFM Conv. (Minister Provincial) with our province novices – friar Marvin Paul Fernandez, OFM Conv. and friar Connor J. Ouly, OFM Conv. Photo taken at their July 2022 Investiture.
Friar Marvin Paul Fernandez, OFM Conv. is originally from the Philippines, and is now a citizen of Canada. He worked for several years in healthcare as a nursing assistant, then as a full-time cook, and later as a full-time manager of nursing assistants, at a Senior Living Center. For a time he worked with Ottawa Public Health (OPH) as a Clerk for the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic. He decided to enter the Franciscan Friars Conventual because he was inspired by the work that the Friars do in his home parish. Having Saints Francis and Anthony as his patron saints, has been a big inspiration too.
Friar Connor J. Ouly, OFM Conv. is originally from Steelton, PA, but lived in New York City for his undergraduate studies in Voice/Opera at the Juilliard School. He became interested in the Franciscan Friars Conventual due to a love of Saints Joseph Cupertino and Maximilian Kolbe. He was also greatly attracted to the deeply fraternal and community driven life of the Conventuals, as well as their dedication to serving the poorest of the poor in simple but necessary ways such as parish, school, and hospital work. In addition to music, his interests lie in other art forms such as film, drama, and the visual arts.
Read more about the July 13, 2022 Inauguration of the 2022-2023 Novitiate Class.
Read more about the Novitiate Program!
If you would like more information on life as a Franciscan Friar Conventual, and would like to add a visit with our Vocation Directors to you discernment journey, email them at vocations@olaprovince.org or visit Franciscan Voice.
