Two Sabahans to make solemn profession as OFMs

PENAMPANG – Two Sabahans will make their solemn profession of religious vows as members of the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscan) on Saturday, 9 Sept 2017, at the Sacred Heart Cathedral Kota Kinabalu.

Archbishop John Wong will officiate the ceremony within the Eucharistic celebration at 10 am.

The two friars are Aiden Peter Jr of Tawau and Cruzender Alex of Kota Kinabalu.

The Order of Friars Minor (OFM) is a mendicant religious order founded in 1209 by St Francis of Assisi.  It is considered to be the successor of the original Franciscan Order within the Church and is the largest of the three contemporary  First Orders within the Franciscan movement, the others being the Capuchins and Conventuals.  In its current form, it is the result of an amalgamation of several smaller orders completed in 1897 by Pope Leo XIII.

The OFMs came to Singapore in 1957.   Currently, there are four houses under the Custody in Malaysia-Singapore-Brunei.  The houses are found in Singapore: St Anthony Friary and Greccio Friary; in Sarawak: St Francis Friary; and in Johor: St James of the Marches Friary.

The Friars are animated by the Franciscan spirit and strive to live out the call to fraternity and Gospel witness in work, study, prayer, and hospitality.

Aside from Aiden and Cruzender, there are two other Sabahan postulants – Lawrence Ajoh and Nelson Evarinus – in initial formation at the St Anthony Friary Singpapore.