블로그 아카이브 - ENGLISH SPEAKING CONFERENCEOrder of Friars Minor 
 Thirteen begin their novitiate journey 
 BURLINGTON , WISCONSIN - About 40 friars gathered at the Interprovincial Novitiate here on the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin to celebrate the reception into the novitiate of 13 men from six ESC Provinces . 
 The morning prayer service included readings , recitation of the psalms , a reflection by Novice Master Ralph Parthie , OFM ( SH ) and the washing of the feet of the new novices by the Novitiate Team to symbolize the life of service these young men are embarking upon as Franciscan religious . 
 Received as novices were : 
 Br . Salvador Baca , OFM - Immaculate Conception Province 
 Br . John Boissy , OFM - St . John the Baptist Province 
 Br . Jonathan Douglas , OFM - St . John the Baptist Province 
 Br . Thomas Murphy , OFM - St . John the Baptist Province 
 Br . Carlo Shivel , OFM - St . John the Baptist Province 
 Br . Eufemio Dimas Robaina , OFM - Holy Name Province 
 Br . Angel Vazquez , OFM - Holy Name Province 
 Br . Aaron Richardson , OFM - Holy Name Province 
 Br . Hadijanto Djojo , OFM - St . Barbara Province 
 Br . Shant Ohanees Khokasian , OFM - St . Barbara Province 
 Br . Tony Pensiero , OFM - St . Barbara Province 
 Br . Donald McGeragle , OFM - Christ the King Province 
 Also received today was Br . Tom Robinson , OFM , of the Custody of the Immaculate Conception ( England ) . He was received in the novitiate in Ennis in Ireland and will join the fraternity in Burlington as soon as possible . 
 During the reception service , the new novices made the following pledge : " Moved by divine inspiration , we wish to share your life in the brotherhood of the Order of Friars Minor . We ask to be admitted to your way of life that we may be tested and learn how to take on our shoulders the yoke of the Lord in love and joy . We ask to join following the example of St . Francis of Assisi , the humble servant of the Lord . " 
 The Novice Team was also officially commissioned by the Provincial Ministers and their representatives present . The current team includes : Novice Master Br . Ralph Parthie , OFM ( SH ) , Guardian Br . Joachim Studwell , OFM ( ABVM ) , Br . Dennis Schafer , OFM ( SH ) , and Br . Jeff McNab , OFM ( SB ) . 
 The novices will now engage in a year of prayer and discernment on their vocation , studying the lives of Francis and Clare , the history of the Order and coming to know the vows better that they will profess at the conclusion of their novitiate year .