{"id":2483,"date":"2012-08-15T16:47:16","date_gmt":"2012-08-15T14:47:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/padrimariani.org\/en\/2018\/03\/13\/antonio-dos-reis-fernandes-mic-passed-awayheartbreak-leads-to-heavenly-calling-copy-copy-117\/"},"modified":"2019-12-03T16:31:51","modified_gmt":"2019-12-03T15:31:51","slug":"five-profess-first-vows-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/padrimariani.org\/en\/2012\/08\/15\/five-profess-first-vows-2\/","title":{"rendered":"USA: Five Profess First Vows"},"content":{"rendered":"

USA, Stockbridge<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

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Aug.\u00a015, 2012<\/p>\n<\/div>

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USA: Five Profess First Vows<\/h1><\/div>
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Family, Well Wishers Pack National Shrine to Welcome New Brothers<\/strong><\/p>\n

By Dan Valenti<\/strong><\/p>\n

Five young men professed their first vows as members of the Marian Fathers during Holy Mass on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother into heaven, Wednesday, Aug.\u00a015, at the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy, Eden Hill, Stockbridge,\u00a0Mass.<\/p>\n

Marian Vicar\u00a0Gen.\u00a0Fr.\u00a0Joe Roesch,\u00a0MIC, served as chief celebrant, with concelebrants Provincial Superior the Very\u00a0Rev.\u00a0Fr.\u00a0Kazimierz Chwalek,\u00a0MIC; Fr.\u00a0Donald Calloway,\u00a0MIC; Fr.\u00a0Mark Baron,\u00a0MIC; and Fr.\u00a0Matt Lamoureux,\u00a0MIC. On behalf of the Congregation, Fr.\u00a0Kaz accepted the one-year vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience before a standing-room-only crowd of family, friends, and, of course, their Marian brothers. Alexander Chung, Scott Fanders, Kevin Gregorek, David Keyes, and Joel Poliskey pledged that:<\/p>\n

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… for the glory of God and the honor of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints, in the presence of the entire community, through your hands, most reverend father, vow to almighty God … the three vows … So help my God and this holy Gospel.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

With the vows, they became Br.\u00a0Alexander, Br.\u00a0Scott, Br.\u00a0Kevin, Br.\u00a0David, and Br.\u00a0Joel, with the suffix “MIC” indicating their membership in the community.<\/p>\n

A Tough Question Asked and Answered, in the Affirmative<\/b>
\n“To see something like this is extraordinary,” said Fr.\u00a0Kaz in his homily. “God has chosen these five young men you see here for these vows.” Father Kaz then presented a related reflection on the meaning of the solemnity of Mary’s Assumption into heaven, which he called “a singular participation in her Son’s resurrection” as well as a precursor to the anticipated participation of all of us \u2014 body, soul, and spirit \u2014 in that resurrection as well.<\/p>\n

“These five men have just spent one whole year in the novitiate,” Fr.\u00a0Kaz said. It was a year “of soul searching, of discernment, of letting go of everything. Each one looked into his heart and asked a question: ‘Do I need to be here today?’ Each one of them here today answered, ‘yes.'” Father Kaz said they heard and answered the call of God, and he gave thanks and praise to God, for “The Lord has brought them this far. They are here, asking God: ‘Help me to fulfill your mission for my life.'”<\/p>\n

Father Kaz told the five that he identified with them in a deep and profound way: “I share your journey [in the religious life], so it is a great joy for my heart [to see you choose] a life of faith.” Just as Jesus sent His disciples to preach the Good Word, Fr.\u00a0Kaz says, “These are the words that Jesus has for us today.”<\/p>\n

We invite you to watch his homily:<\/p>\n<\/div>