Read about the backgrounds of our men currently in formation. They are in Holy Name's postulant, novitiate and post-novitiate programs.
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JOHN AHERNE
John was born in the Bronx and grew up in Maspeth, Queens. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English and anthropology from New York University, he embarked on a career as an editor and has worked as several major publishing companies. A certified Irish Dance teacher, John also ran a small dancing school prior to entering Holy Name Province. He got to know the friars by attending daily Mass and serving as lector and Eucharistic minister at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan. John looks forward to “using all my gifts and bringing everything to the table to be of as much service to God and to others as possible.” |
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PEDRO CORCES
A native of Cuba, Fr. Pedro spent part of his childhood in Spain and Miami. After earning a master’s degree in theology from St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boyton Beach, Fla., he was ordained to the priesthood in the Archdiocese of Miami. Fr. Pedro worked in a number of ministries with the sick and poor in the Miami area and has done missionary work in Honduras and Peru. He also served as vocation director for the Archdiocese of Miami and, most recently, pastor of St. Katharine Drexel Church in Weston, Fla. Attracted to the humanity of the Franciscans, Fr. Pedro looks forward to “embracing the Franciscan story within the framework of a Franciscan community.” |
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JEFFREY UPSHAW
Jeffrey was born and raised in Somerville, N.J., and graduated from Hillsborough High School in Hillsborough, N.J. Prior to joining the friars, he worked for a number of years as a floorlayer and was an active member of his parish, the Knights of Columbus and various community organizations. Jeffrey first began considering religious life while attending a retreat in 2007 and learned of the Franciscans through the Guide to Religious Ministries Web site. He felt at home while visiting the friar community in Boston and says, “Their active ministry with the poor – by helping them with their struggles in life – seemed best suited to what I personally wish to do with my life.” |
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FRANK CRITCH, OFM
Frank Critch was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. He earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and philosophy from Memorial University in St. John’s, and went on to attend St. Paul’s Seminary in Ottawa, Ontario, for four years for the Archdiocese of St. John’s. Before joining the Franciscans, Frank worked with youth as a community outreach and family support worker. He also studied at the culinary school of Camosun College, Victoria, British Columbia, and owned a restaurant in St. John’s.
Frank joined the Order of Friars Minor for Christ the King Province in Western Canada in 2006. He transferred to Holy Name Province after meeting the friars during his novitiate in Wilmington, Del. Frank says, “I was taken by the friars’ commitment to ministry and to the fraternal life lived in the present, building on the past, and communicating their hope for the future. The scope of the vision communicated and lived inspired me, and I felt that to truly live the Franciscan life, this Province was calling me to deepen my commitment to live fully in the footsteps of Francis.” |
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STEPHEN DEWITT, OFM
Stephen DeWitt was born and raised in Buffalo, N.Y. He earned an honors bachelor of arts degree in history and theology from St. Bonaventure University. Prior to entering the initial formation program, Steve was a graduate theology student at the University of Dayton in Dayton, Ohio.
Steve met the friars as a parishioner of Sts. Rita and Patrick Church in Buffalo and came to know them during his student days at St. Bonaventure University. Steve says, "What attracted me to the friars is my experience of community, both in my interactions with the friars at St. Bonaventure as part of the vocation group there, and my experience as an intern at Mt. Irenaeus during the summer of 2003.” |
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DWAYNE FERNANDES, OFM
Dwayne Fernandes was born and raised in Mumbai, India. He studied theory and pianoforte at The Royal School of Music and Trinity College of Music, both in London, England. After completing a bachelor of arts degree in commerce from the University of Bombay, India, in 1989, Dwayne worked in the areas of hospitality and marketing. He then spent four years as a seminarian in the Diocese of Bombay.
Dwayne joined the Franciscans of Christ the King Province in western Canada in 2005. After spending his novitiate year at St. Paul's Church in Wilmington, Del., he transferred to Holy Name Province because it afforded him “the freedom to be, create and serve.” Dwayne's interests include music ministry, combining food and theology, and working with people who are oppressed. |
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MARIO GÓMEZ TEJERINA, OFM
Mario Gomez is originally from Lima, Peru. He attended law school at the Catholic University of Peru. For six years he was a member of a personal prelature where he received religious formation, ministered to college students and discerned his vocation to religious life.
Mario met the Franciscans for the first time in 2004 while visiting his sister in New Jersey. He says, "The open-mindedness and accepting frame of mind of the friars struck me from day one. I found a group of men that I perceived as a community in which the values of fraternity among its members and service to and solidarity with the poor were cherished." |
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GERALD HOPECK, OFM
Gerald Hopeck was born and raised in Bridgeport, Conn. He graduated from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, with a bachelor’s degree in theology and history and earned his master of arts degree in theology from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, PA. Before entering the initial formation program, Gerald was a pastoral associate at several parishes where he worked with youth and the African American community, and acted as director of religious education.
Gerald got to know the friars at St. Joseph’s Friary in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and then at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish in Hartford, CT. According to Gerald, “Working in the inner city and with the poor/marginalized is something that I always dreamed about doing, and something I have grown to love and appreciate.” |
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DANIEL HORAN, OFM
Daniel Horan was born in Pensacola, Fla., and raised in Utica, N.Y. He earned an honors B.A. in theology from St. Bonaventure University in May 2005. Before entering the initial formation program, Dan was a professional photographer specializing in editorial and sports photography.
Dan came to know the friars as a member of the vocation exploration group at St. Bonaventure University. He says, “There was something about the spirit of the Franciscan community and way of living in the world that initially attracted me to the Franciscans. While studying at St. Bonaventure University, I came to know the Franciscans and realized that God was calling me to that form of life and ministry.” |
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JEFFERY JORDAN, OFM
Jeffery Jordan was born and raised in Royston, Ga., and lived in Tampa, Fla. before discerning his call to religious life. He is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia where he majored in both linguistics and romance languages. Originally a member of the Pentecostal Holiness Church, he was welcomed into the Roman Catholic faith in 2003. Jeffery worked in international shipping prior to joining the friars.
Jeffery met the Franciscans through their ministry at Sacred Heart Parish in Tampa. He is attracted to the Franciscans because of “the unique Franciscan spirituality and understanding of God’s presence in all things, and the particular ministries of the Franciscans.” |
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MICHAEL REYES, OFM
Michael Reyes was born in San Pablo, Laguna, in the Philippines. After moving to the United States, he earned an associate’s degree in information systems management from Berkeley College in New York City and worked as a programmer/analyst. Michael recently completed his bachelor of business administration degree, also from Berkeley College.
Working a block away from St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan, Michael got to know the friars by participating in early morning Eucharistic celebration and prayer. According to Michael, “When I physically witnessed the works of the friars on 31st Street in New York City, I had a much deeper understanding and pure attraction towards St. Francis’ life, work and Order.” He also felt “blessed to personally experience the realness and welcoming spirits of the Franciscan Friars.” |
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PERCY OSORIO PALPAN, OFM (Peru)
Percy Osorio Palpan was born in the city of Oxapampa, Peru in 1979. He entered the Franciscan Order in the Province of St. Francis Solano of Peru, where he spent five years in formation. After leaving the order on his own initiative, Percy studied to become a nurse and actively participated in Our Lady of the Assumption Parish as a catechist. He entered the formation program of the Peruvian Foundation of Holy Name Province in 2005.
Percy nació en la ciudad de Oxapampa el año 1979 es el sexto hijo de Pedro Osorio y Yolanda Palpán. Estudió en colegio religioso. A los dieciocho años ingresó a la Orden Franciscana en la Provincia de San Francisco Solano del Peru. Vivió cinco años en esa comunidad pasando por las etapas, dos años de postulantado, un año de noviciado y dos años de votos simples. Decidió salir de esa provincia por iniciativa propia. Seguidamente estudió enfermería técnica en el Instituto de Oxapampa y paticipó activamente en su parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción como un catequista.
En Marzo del 2005 ingresó al programa de formación en la Fundación Peruana de la Provincia del Santísimo Nombre. |
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EDGARDO ZEA LAURA, OFM (Peru)
Edgardo Zea Laura was born in the city of Arequipa in southern Peru. After studying to be a laboratory technician, he worked in the labratories of MINSA (the Peruvian health ministry) and in private labs.
Edgardo wishes to be a friar because he wants to serve, to see Christ in the faces of others, to be brother to others, to learn to share, and to provide what others lack. He would also like to help spread the good news to the Church in following the mission that God entrusted to St. Francis of Assisi to rebuild the church.
Edgardo Zea nació en la ciudad de arequipa ubicado en el sur del país de Perú. Realizó los estudios de laboratorio clínico y cursos de contabilidad y ahora en la universidad con la carrera de tecnología médica. En su vida antes de ingresar a la comunidad trabajaba en el MINSA (ministerio de salud) en el área de laboratorio clínico y a la vez también en laboratorios particulares.
Ahora desea ser frailes porque desea servir, ver a cristo en el rostro de los demás y lograr ser hermano de los demás aprender a compartir y dar lo que le falta, ayudar a trasmitir la buena nueva a la iglesia seguir con la misión que Dios encomendó a Francisco de Asís en reconstruir la iglesia. |
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