Learn 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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SCOTT CAREY
Scott Carey was born in Encino, CA, and lived in various parts of the United States. He graduated summa cum laude from Merrimack College in Andover, Mass., with a bachelor's degree in religious studies, and earned a master's degree in divinity from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. Scott converted to the Catholic faith in 1999. He worked in the field of social services, particularly with the homeless and those living with AIDS, before entering the initial formation program.
Scott got to know the friars as a member of the “20's and 30's Group” at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, Mass. According to Scott, "It was there that I first encountered the friars and felt the invitation of the Spirit towards religious life. In addition to receiving the sacraments and providing a setting for meditative prayer, what most appealed to me about the Shrine was the Franciscan charism of service to those who are in need." |
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GERALD HOPECK
Gerald Hopeck was born and raised in Bridgeport, CT. 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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MICHAEL REYES
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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LARRY ANDERSON, OFM
Larry Anderson was born in Geneva, NY, and raised in a number of small towns throughout upstate New York. He earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy from Wadhams Hall Seminary and College in Ogdensburg, NY, and a master of arts degree in pastoral ministry from Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora, NY. More recently, Larry completed a master's degree in social work from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Prior to joining the friars, Larry worked as a high school campus minister at the Aquinas Institute in Rochester, NY.
Larry came to know the friars while a student at Christ the King Seminary where the friars serve. He was attracted to the Franciscans because he found the friars to be “down to earth and happy.” Larry said when he entered the friars that, “I am looking forward to being part of something bigger than myself, a way of life which is challenging yet rewarding. I am looking for a community who will pick me up when I fall and share in my joy when I succeed. I desire a group who will show me the face of God in their actions.” |
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ANTONIO CORNIER, OFM
Antonio was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and moved to the U.S. mainland at the age of 11. He has lived in various cities but considers Miami, Fla. his "hometown." Antonio earned a bachelor of science degree in biology/zoology and a medical degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. He practiced medicine as a pediatrician and worked in an emergency department in Miami before considering religious life.
Antonio first joined the Order of Friars Minor and was associated with the Commissariat of the Holy Land while pursuing undergraduate studies in Washington, D.C. During this time, he became familiar with and eventuially joined the friars of Holy Name Province who lived next door. ”The life of St. Francis of Assisi has been my main attraction to the friars,” explains Antonio. He is particularly drawn to the Franciscans by a desire “to live the Gospel with greater awareness of God's love for all creation, especially the poor and those forgotten by society.” |
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STEPHEN DEWITT, OFM
Stephen DeWitt was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. He earned an honors bachelor of arts degree in both 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 came to know the friars from his days as a student at St. Bonaventure, although his exposure to the Franciscans started much earlier. Both of his parents are Secular Franciscans who introduced Steve to St. Francis and the Franciscans from a very early age. He was also a parishioner at the friars’ parish of Saints Rita and Patrick in Buffalo. Steve says he was attracted to the friars for two reasons: “The first is the life of Francis himself. He was and is an inspirational figure whose story has greatly inspired me, in particular, his absolute and unwavering commitment to Jesus and the Gospel. Second, 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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FRED DILGER, OFM
Fred Dilger was born in Jacksonville, Fla and grew up in Raleigh, NC. He holds a degree from the Art Institute of Atlanta in Atlanta, Georgia, and owned an architectural and interior design company before considering religious life. Fred's vocational journey took him to explore the Trappist and other communities before discerning a call to Franciscan life.
Fred was attracted to the friars by their love of the Gospel and the many different ways they living the Gospel out. Fred says, “The friars' good humor and ‘love of life’ provided a great example of how one could know God more intimately through the celebration of humanity.” He felt called to “a way of life that allows one to live in prayer and community without forgetting the direct connection between Christ and the active world.” |
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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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LINH NGOC HOANG, OFM
Hoang Linh was born in Saigon, Vietnam. In 1975, he fled with his parents and siblings to the United States where they settled in Lebo, Kansas. Linh earned a B.A. in philosophy from the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium. He also earned both an M.A. in theology and a master's of divinity from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, Illinois. More recently, Linh completed a Ph.D. in theology from Fordham University in the Bronx, NY.
Linh came to know the friars through their ministry at Holy Name of Jesus Parish in New York City. He says, “I was attracted to the spirit of St. Francis and the theologies of the early Franciscan scholars. I felt that the contemporary Franciscans were seriously trying to live out that tradition.” |
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DANIEL HORAN, OFM
Daniel Horan was born in Pensacola, Fla, and raised in Utica, NY. 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 the Franciscans. I have, for as long as I can recall, always felt some call to ordained ministry. When I was in high school I thought seriously about diocesan priesthood. 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. I understood then that I was being called to the sacramental ministry of priesthood within the context of the fraternal relationship of community embodied in the Order of Friars Minor.” |
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CIDOUANE JOSEPH, OFM
Cidouane Joseph was born in Carrefour des Peres, Milot, Haiti and raised in Cap Haitien, Haiti. He graduated from the Grand Seminaire Notre Dame in Turgeau, Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Cid had been in the formation program of the Holy Cross Fathers in Haiti and was also a seminarian for the Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince in Haiti. In 2002 Cid came to the United States and settled with his aunt and uncle in New York City.
Cid came to know the Franciscans through his work with the Haitian community at Holy Name of Jesus parish on the upper west side of Manhattan. According to Cid, “I was able to see firsthand what the friars were, the way they ministered to the people, and how they were brothers to one another.” |
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ERICK LÒPEZ, OFM
Erick Lòpez was born and raised in the municipality of Placetas, Villa Clara Province, Cuba. Erick earned a bachelor's degree in radiochemistry at the Instituto de Ciencias Nucleares de Ciudad de la Habana. After moving to Columbia, he also earned a degree in chemistry from La Universidad del Valle in Santiago de Cali. Prior to entering the initial formation program, Erick worked in the computer science industry in Miami, Fla.
Erick first met the friars while living in Colombia. He gained a greater sense of Franciscan life while actively participating in parish life at Immaculate Conception Church in Hialeah, Fla. Erick says, “God loves everyone. God would not do anything to hurt anyone. On the contrary, God shows compassion and mercy to all that exist. That is what I saw in the Franciscans of Holy Name Province - love, gentleness, compassion, and care toward the people and with each other. That was what attracted me to the friars.” |
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JOSEPH MACALUSO, OFM
Joseph Macaluso was born in White Plains, NY, and raised in Yonkers, NY. He graduated from Siena College where he earned a bachelor's degree in English.
It was at Siena College that Joe met and was attracted to the Franciscans. He entered the initial formation program after graduation but decided to leave in 2001. Joe went on to be a residence director at Siena College and, prior to rejoining the friars, was a fifth-grade teacher at St. Mary’s Academy in Hoosick Falls, NY. Joe is attracted to the friars because of his desire to be a brother, to learn from his brothers, and to serve the people of God with love. |
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HUGH MACSHERRY, OFM
Hugh MacSherry was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. He attended the University of Maryland, earning bachelor's degrees in philosophy and classical languages and literature in 1997 and secondary education and foreign languages in 2001. He went on to teach middle school Spanish in the Montgomery County School System in Wheaton, MD.
Hugh came to know the Franciscans through the “Guide to Religious Ministries” book and attending daily Mass at Holy Name College in Silver Spring, MD. Hugh says, “At first I was attracted by the popular image of St Francis. Most Catholics have heard of St Francis. Most Catholics also associate Francis with ecology and creation and with the poor. I was drawn to the Franciscans because of this image of Francis. I have found personal relationships have been a very important element in developing my attraction to the Franciscans since I have begun my serious discernment of this life.” |
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STEPHEN MIMNAUGH OFM
Stephen Mimnaugh was born and raised in Simsbury, CT. He earned a B.A. in political science from the University of Vermont and went on to work as an account manager in the financial services industry in Philadelphia. More recently, Steve completed a master's degree in liberal arts with a concentration in urban studies at the University of Pennsylvania.
Steve came to know the friars in the early 1990’s when he was a seminarian studying in New York. He says, “I liked the friars’ approach to ministry. The friars gravitate toward ministry to persons who have experienced some form of marginalization. The message of the Gospels is one of inclusion. This message is one that people who have suffered marginalization need to hear preached. The friars do this, not only in word but, perhaps more importantly, in deed.” |
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HARRY MONACO, OFM
Harry Monaco was born and raised in Ballston Spa, NY. He earned a B.A. in history from St. Bonaventure University and a master's degree in social work from Boston College in Boston, Mass.
Harry first met the friars when he was a student at St. Bonaventure University and subsequently entered the initial formation program. Leaving the program in 1992, he worked in a variety of social outreach positions before entering a Cistercian monastery. Harry came back to the friars after discerning his call to Franciscan spirituality. He says, “I was attracted to the Franciscans by the friars whom I met and by their witness to the Gospel. I was also attracted by the person and story of Francis of Assisi and manner in which he chose to live the Gospel.” |
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PAUL O'KEEFFE, OFM
Paul O'Keeffe was born and raised in Burlington, Mass. He earned an associate's degree in culinary arts from Newbury College in Brookline, Mass, and a bachelor's degree in social work from Salem State College in Salem, Mass. Prior to entering the initial formation program, Paul taught English and theology at Matignon High School in Cambridge, Mass.
Paul came to know the friars while he was a lay missioner with the Franciscan Mission Service in east Africa. Paul says, “What attracted me most to the friars were their dedication to working for peace and justice issues, and their commitment to simple living. I was also attracted to community life since my time in Africa and felt that Holy Name Province had a healthy, natural, and happy outlook on community life that I wished to be a part of.” |
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JUAN DE LA CRUZ TURCIOS, OFM
Juan de la Cruz Turcios was born and raised in La Union, El Salvador, until he moved to the United States and settled in Maryland. Prior to entering the initial formation program, he was employed by a telecommunications company in long distance telephone sales.
Juan came to know the Franciscan Friars while a member of the youth group, Esperanza Latina, at Langley Park Catholic Community, a ministry of St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, MD. He is attracted to the friars' commitment and work with the Hispanic community. He is also attracted to their fraternal life. |
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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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