Easter Week in Costa Rica

Friars James McCurry and Justin Biase celebrate Mass

at St. Francis College in Moravia, Costa Rica

Easter Week is always a busy and exciting time for the Franciscans in Costa Rica. This year several friars from the United States flew down to Costa Rica to celebrate the season and meet with their brothers and their communities. One of these was Friar Michael Sajda. Friar Michael is the president of St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York – just west of Buffalo. Part of his visit Friar Michael spent at the Franciscans’ St. Francis College in Costa Rica’s Moravia. The administrations from both schools are interested in creating an exchange program for students. The first step before the program is established will bring students and teachers from Costa Rica and the United States together through the very popular Internet communication tool Skype.

Friars James McCurry and Justin Biase also visited Costa Rica with Friar Michael. They toured St. Francis College and celebrated the Eucharist with the students. During the rest of their time in Costa Rica, Friars James and Justin spent time with FrancisCorps volunteers and friars in Alajuela. The FrancisCorps volunteers – young laymen and women from the United States who are spending a year working in various ministries as part of the Franciscans’ FrancisCorps program – spoke with great excitement about their work with the vulnerable people of Costa Rica and the experience of living in community.

At the friary in Alajuela, Friars James and Justin shared fraternity with local friars, including several who come from Venezuela. Their faith-life and that of the entire nation is strong and vibrant. On the Sunday of the American friars’ stay Costa Rica, in fact, the friary chapel filled with so many faithful persons that many had to stand outside. That day eight individuals professed their Secular Franciscan vows.

(Source of all related images on webpage and homepage: Conventual Franciscans.)