Welcome to More New Postulants!
On July 5, 2017, Our Minister Provincial, the Very Reverend Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv. officially welcomed into the Postulancy program Four new members. After speaking with our Vocation Director and through prayerful discernment, interested candidates were presented to the province admission board, whose friars then gave their own recommendations to Friar James. Those accepted this year, began the Postulancy on July 1st. This year’s class includes the four new postulants and one from last year, who will participate in a second year experience in our Postulancy, in Chicago, IL.
Meet our newest Postulants:
My name is Raad Eshoo and I am 31 years old. I am originally from Iraq but relocated to Canada in 2007. My hobbies are playing and watching soccer, reading religious books and listening to music. I found out about the Conventual Franciscans through the internet. My hope in the future, besides being a Conventual Franciscan and a Priest, is to bring people closer to God and let them know that God is love and peace.
My name is Gustavo García and I am 44 years old. I am a gemologist, jewelry designer and a polyglot. I
was born in Guadalajara, Mexico but have lived in Mexico City, as well as several other countries throughout my life including: France, Italy the U.K., the Czech Republic and the USA. I am very used to traveling worldwide. Feeling a great attraction to the personality of Jesus Christ, I’ve been discerning about religious vocation with my spiritual Father for the last three years. We both engaged in a very deep prayer experience asking the Holy Spirit to show us the will of God and to please open the corresponding doors! The Vision Vocation Network has put me in touch with the Franciscan Conventual Order where I found the strongest compatibility. I am super happy and blessed to belong to the OLA province. I’m very keen on cooking, singing, laughing and itinerant preaching.
My name is Antonio Moualeu. I am 31 years old – born and raised in Douala, Cameroon. My family and I moved to Dallas, Texas in 2004. Prior to joining Our Lady of the Angels Province, I was pursuing graduate studies in Atlanta, GA. I encountered a Conventual Franciscan for the first time at the Eucharistic Congress in Atlanta about two years ago, at a time when I was discerning a call to the priesthood. Through spiritual direction and a friend from the Georgia Tech Catholic Center, I ended up going to the OLA Province Come and See retreat in Maryland that same year. There, I found out for the first time about Franciscan spirituality; a pivotal moment that started giving meaning to prior events in my life. Through meeting with friars in Jonesboro, GA and around the US, I found myself constantly drawn to their way of life, their fellowship and ministry. I am so thankful and excited about the opportunity to be an instrument of God’s will, and to spread the Gospel.
I am Drew Santoro and have come to know the friars through Holy Cross Catholic Church, in Atlanta, GA.
Living the Franciscan way is something that I have been considering for quite some time. Thankfully, I finally took the final step and approached the Conventual Franciscans to pursue Postulancy. The simple life of poverty, chastity and obedience will be a fulfilling change in my life and I am eager to begin. Previously, I taught High School English with a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education. Now that I am entering this life I will be happy to teach for the Order or provide whatever service is needed. I have been very active in the church as a Knight of Columbus, Legion of Mary member and Padre Pio prayer group member. It would be great to participate in the prayer group ministries in the future, as well.
If you now of any men who are in discernment, please encourage them to consider our way of life. Perhaps you will notice a college student who is home for the summer who shows an extra interest in parish or Young Adult events. Maybe someone in your own family has shown interest in looking into the life of a brother or priest Franciscan. Please keep all of our friars in your prayers – that our witness of life will inspire others to follow Jesus in the way of Francis.
