On Saturday, March 25, 2023, Fr. Christian Javier Santiago Torres, Sch.P., was ordained priest by the Piarist Bishop Emeritus of Ponce, Monsignor Felix Lazaro, Sch.P., in the parish church of St. Helena, in the Bronx, NY. The Eucharist was an intimate celebration, full of multicultural color and Piarist spiritual richness, since a large number of members of our large USA-PR Province gathered there.<\/p>\n
Bishop auxiliary of New York, Msgr. James Massa, who is Rector of St. Joseph’s Major Seminary in Yonkers, NY, where our confreres study theology, was present in the celebration. Also, some seminary professors, along with members of different male and female religious congregations, seminarians, students from the elementary school and of Devon Prep, PA, as well as a large number of faithful from our parishes of the Annunciation in Manhattan, NY, and St. Helena, Bronx, NY. Of course, his parents: Mrs. Juana Torres and Mr. Victor Santiago, whom we congratulate and thank for their Piarist son.<\/p>\n
It was an endearing event, of celebration and deep spiritual meaning, as a finishing touch before the celebration of the IV Provincial Chapter during Easter week, from April 9 to 15, 2023. We celebrate the first 12 years of the history of this USA-PR Province, and next May 13, another brother, Fr. Abner Gonzalez Bonilla, Sch.P., will be ordained priest by the same Piarist bishop, in the parish church of the Annunciation, Manhattan, NY.<\/p>\n
From 2010 to date, with the ordination of Deacon Abner Gonzalez, 17 young men have been ordained, and others are following. So, we are full of joy for the vocational fertility that we live and we hope to continue working on it, aware that the Piarist religious vocation is above all a fruit of grace. Grace is everywhere!<\/p>\n
On Sunday, March 26, Fr. Christian Javier celebrated his first Eucharist at St. Helena, surrounded by a handful of Piarists, almost all of his age, representing four continents, as our USA-PR Province stands out for its interculturality. Fr. Christian celebrated a second Eucharist, in French, at St. Mark’s Parish, Manhattan, NY, in the midst of an inter-African community, as he is working for some time, together with Fr. Andrew Berinyuy, Sch.P., with the French-speaking African community of the Archdiocese of NY.<\/p>\n
We pray in thanksgiving for him and his priesthood. May he be the good Piarist who passes through the world leaving the traces of Christ’s merciful love. May this priestly ordination, and the upcoming of deacon Abner Gonzalez, Sch.P., which we will celebrate on May 13, 2023, feast of Our Lady of Fatima, be a vocational incentive that awakens in many young people the desire to be Piarists in the service of children and youth, in the spirit of Piety and Letters.<\/p>\n
We are sure that the grace you have received, Father Christian Javier, will be an ocean of divine strength in so many people who need it. Remember that you have given everything to the Lord to become a free messenger of the Good News. Congratulations!<\/p>\n
(Fr. Fernando Negro Marco, Sch.P.)<\/p>\n
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