On Saturday, September 8, 2018, the celebration Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, at our Shrine of St. Anthony included the Celebration of Mass for the Solemn Profession of Vows of  Our Lady of the Angels Province friar, Brother Emmanuel Wenke, OFM Conv.
During the Rite of Religious Profession, the Director of Formation for our province, Fr. Mark Szanyi, OFM Conv. called the name of the candidate (Br. Manny) for profession, who stood and responded, “Present.” Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. then asked of Br. Manny, “My dear brother, What do you ask of the Lord and of his Holy Church?” By standing and responding, Br. Manny indicated his desire to profess. Friar James served as the Main Celebrant and Homilist for the Mass and when he had completed the homily, he again addressed Br. Manny; questioning his readiness to consecrate himself to God and to seek perfect charity according to the Rule and Constitutions of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual.
The Litany of the Saints was then sung, as Br. Manny lay prostrate before the altar; a symbol of petition, submission and adoration.
Br. Manny rose and joyfully knelt before Friar James with his hands between our Minister Provincial’s palms, resting on the Book of the Gospels, as he recited the formula of profession. “To the praise and the glory of the Most Holy Trinity, I, Friar Emmanuel Wenke, inspired by Divine Grace to follow the Gospel more closely, in the footsteps of Our Lord Jesus Christ, with firm faith and will, in the presence of my brothers, into your hands, Friar James, vow to God, the Holy and Omnipotent Father, to live for the entire time of my life, in obedience, without anything of my own, and in chastity, and I also promise to observe faithfully the Life and Rule of the Friars Minor, confirmed by Pope Honorius, according to the constitutions of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. Therefore, I commit myself to this fraternity with my whole heart, so that by the working of the Holy Spirit, the example of Mary Immaculate, the intercession of our father Francis and all the saints, with the help of my brothers, in the service of God, the Church and humanity, I may attain perfect charity.”
Friar James then accepted the reception of the Solemn Vows of Br. Emmanuel Wenke, OFM Conv. and they proceed to sign the Book of Profession, as witnessed by Fr. Joseph Dorniak, OFM Conv. and Fr. Dennis Mason, OFM Conv. Friar James confered a Solemn Consecration of the Professed and all of the friars present joined in the traditional Franciscan antiphon,  “O Patriarcha Paperum.” The friars ended the Rite with a Fraternal Embrace, as all of the Solemnly Professed friars came forward to welcome Br. Manny as newly professed into the Order.
Also serving at the Mass were Friar Christopher Dudek, OFM Conv. (Deacon), Br. Nicholas Romeo, OFM Conv. (Master of Ceremonies), brother Timothy Blanchard, OFM Conv. (Server), friar Franck Sokpolie, OFM Conv.(Server), friar Bede Thigpen, OFM Conv. (Server), friar Christopher Garcia, OFM Conv. (Server), Br. Manny’s brother – Jude Wenke (Lector), Trisha Dorgan (Pianist/Organist), Christine McComas (Cantor) and Gene Jancuk (Vocal/Guitar). The gifts were presented by the father and mother of the professed, Matthew & Mary Wenke, & Sr. Eleanor Beret, OSF.

The Mass was presented via LIVEFEED on our Province Facebook page.