Brother Joseph Krondon of Baltimore was one of three men who made their solemn vows of poverty, chastity and obedience as Conventual Franciscans Aug. 2 at St. Louis in Clarksville.
Joining Brother Joseph in professing vows were Conventual Franciscan Brother Raad Eshoo of Saskatoon, Canada, and Conventual Franciscan Brother Cristofer Fernández of Arlington, Va.
Each brother’s request to make solemn vows was granted by Our Lady of the Angels Province Minister Provincial Father Michael Heine, OFM Conv., and the definitory. Before Father Heine, the three proclaimed their vows, “for the entire time of my life.”
“Our Lady of the Angels Province is so blessed to have Raad, Joe and Cristofer as full members of our order,” said Father Heine, who celebrated the Mass. “All three come from different backgrounds and experiences, yet they are able to live together as brothers in fraternity. In a world that is so divided, the Franciscan Friars, and these three in particular, try to be a witness that living together, even with many differences, is possible. The love of Jesus Christ, and the example of St. Francis unites us in a bond of fraternal love and charity.”
More than 60 friars joined the celebration, including Bishop Michael T. Martin, a Baltimore native who was named bishop of Charlotte, N.C., earlier this year.
“Solemn profession is my saying, ‘yes’ to being further conformed to Christ crucified in the footsteps of Holy Father Francis,” Brother Joseph said, “And that ‘yes’ is being received by the brothers who have helped form me into the man I am today. Solemn vows for me is an outpouring of gratitude to a community I can only hope to give back a portion of what I have received.”
Several members of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi from Holyoke, Mass., also attended. The three brothers completed their solemn vows retreat in Holyoke. They decided that since Brother Raad, a native of Mosul, Iraq, was not allowed to travel due to visa issues, they would forgo their retreat in Assisi to prepare for vows together in Massachusetts.
Brother Radd said solemn vows “represent promises made with unwavering sincerity and conviction, binding me to a path of integrity and purpose.”
The son of Honduran and Salvadoran immigrants, Brother Cristofer said making solemn profession “reaffirms and binds the commitment I made at first profession of vows as a Franciscan friar.”
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