After three years of effort and perseverance in the face of many obstacles, our South American Novitiate in Lima, Peru, is finally open. Six new novices are the first group in hopefully a long succession of men coming into our order. We already have two more expected to join soon!
The new novitiate is located at the St. Francis Solano Retreat Center. The OFM Missionary Province of St. Francis Solano has kindly granted us use of the center for our novices.
The novices come from many different professional and educational backgrounds, yet all were drawn to our mission of At-One-Ment. Our new novitiates include:
Br. Mario Peña, NSA
Br. Mario comes from Bucaramanga, Colombia. His diverse background includes systems engineering, international business management, theology, computer security and public management and government. In his free time, he enjoys reading about spirituality, history, archeology, ecumenism and religious issues.
Br. Mario says, “My dream is to be able to serve God and give my life as a religious priest in the community of Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and in the experience of fraternity, the rules of the community and the evangelical vows.”
Br. Teodoro Zamora, NSA
Br. Alexander Espinosa, NSA
Br. Leoncio Tamay, NSA
Br. Leoncio is from Peru. He grew up in a large Catholic family and later pursued studies in education and philosophy. Inspired by the famous passage in St. Augustine’s “Confessions” that states, “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You,” he hopes to help people better appreciate the miracle of life and the great Trinitarian mystery that accompanies and guides the history of human salvation and personal destiny.
Br. Yasser Zamora, NSA
Br. Yasser is both Peruvian and Nicaraguan. He joined the Atonement Friars to help build the Kingdom of God by living out the Franciscan spirituality of the order. He is excited to be living in a community where he can serve God and his brothers with his unique gifts.
Br. Marco Morales, NSA
We ask you to please keep these new novices in your prayers. May Our Lady of the Atonement give them the grace to persevere.