Keep in prayer, friar Christopher (Cristofer) M. Fernández, OFM Conv. as he prepares for his Profession of Simple (First/Temporary) Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, to be held in our Chapel at The Shrine of St. Anthony (Ellicott City, MD), July 16, 2020. This will be a private celebration, limited to a portion of friar Cristofer’s family members and friars who serve in the local area ministries.
On July 13, 2020, he and the other friar students who have been living their “year and a day” as Novices at our Inter Provincial Novitiate (Arroyo Grande, CA) celebrated their Sending Forth; the end of their time as Novices of our Order. They each will return to their own provinces to have a celebration of their individual professions of Simple Vows. In years past, this day would have also been the time to celebrate the Investiture of the new Novitiate Class, as they are clothed in the habit of our Order. (friar Cristofer’s 2019 Investiture) Due to COVID-19 precautions, our new Novices for the 2020/2021 Class celebrated their Investiture in closed events, within each individual province. The four new 2020/2021 Novitiate Class friars of our province were invested earlier this month on July 5, 2020. (Read more about friars Michael, Edgar, Jonathan & Bram).
For the 2019/2020 Novitiate Class, Our Lady of the Angels Province has one Novice moving from the Novitiate stage of formation, onto the Post-Novitiate stage of formation – friar Cristofer. This begins with today’s Sending Forth, followed by our celebration of friar Cristofer’s profession on Thursday. In years past, our province has also enjoyed a joint celebration for our Ordination & Profession Jubilarians, during a special Mass including those Professing Simple Vows. Due to COVID-19 precautions, these events have been separated, with our Jubilarian Celebration moved to mid-November 2020.
After his profession, friar Cristofer will move into the community of student friars at our St. Bonaventure Friary, in Silver Spring, MD. Student friars of several provinces living there, along with their Directors and Advisors, are in further study at The Catholic University of America, in Washington DC.
If you feel life as a Franciscan Friar Conventual may be a part of your vocation discernment journey, contact Our Lady of the Angels Province Vocation Director, Br. Nicholas Romeo, OFM Conv. at vocations@olaprovince.org.
