Conventual Franciscans Keep Busy in Costa Rica

Friars, postulants, and visitors at the July 4th barbecue in Alajuela, Costa Rica  

The Conventual Franciscans in Costa Rica have been undertaking a lot of activities in the last while. After Friar Marco Umana’s Ordination to the Priesthood, they celebrated the 4th of July with a barbecue at the friary in Alajuela. Besides friars from various countries and the Order’s postulants, the 2009-2010 FrancisCorps volunteers also attended the barbecue. After having spent the year ministering to their fellows in Costa Rica, they were soon heading back home to the United States.

While the FrancisCorps volunteers’ time in Costa Rica was nearly finished, for Friar Nader Ata and Friar Peter Tremblay it was just beginning. Friar Nader had arrived in Costa Rica for his fraternal-apostolic year. He will be living at St. Francis Friary and working at the Order’s Colegio St. Francis as a religion teacher. Currently – since the school is closed for vacation – Friar Nader is taking Spanish lessons and picking the language up with relative ease.

Friar Peter Tremblay will only be staying in Costa Rica for six weeks. Much like Friar Nader he is taking Spanish language classes in the country. By August 15th he has to be back in the United States for his Solemn Profession of Vows. In this ceremony a friar devotes himself to being a Conventual Franciscan for the rest of his life. Friar Peter’s profession will take place in Athol Springs, New York.

(Source of all related photos on webpage and homepage: Conventual Franciscan Friars Immaculate Conception Province Provincialgram.)