A Celebration of Commitment

Transcription

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2 Matthew Janeczko and Zachary Grant Bernard Smith, Andrew Nowak, Richard Therrien, Mario Guerrero and John Koelle Timothy Jones and William Grace A Celebration of Commitment PERPETUAL PROFESSION September 2009 Church of the Sacred Heart Procession [left]: Michael Greco, Carlos Hernandez, Ernest Bedard; Matthew Giles, Timothy Jones, Thomas McNamara, Timothy; Francis Gasparik, Michael Banks, Joseph Yakimovich, Edward Conway, Namdev Dagam; Ramos Frias, Stephen Van Massenhoven, James Peterson, Maurice Moreau; Nathaniel Santos, Roger Deguire, Joseph Yakimovich, Carlos Hernandez, Philip Bohan, and Jack Rathschmidt. Servers [above]: Richard Mattox, Victor Garcia, Michael Connolly [homilist] William Grace and Salvatore Cordaro page two

3 A Celebration of Commitment PERPETUAL PROFESSION September 2009 Church of the Sacred Heart page three

4 Andrew Nowak, the son of John and Melaine [nee] Włostowski-Nowak-Rajca, was born on 20 June 1972 while his parents resided in Buffalo, New York. He was baptized on 09 July 1972 in Saints Peter and Paul Church in Depew, NY. Andrew happily grew up in the Rajca household along with his two younger stepbrothers James and Joshua and one stepsister, Sarah. In 1983, because of a job opportunity for Andrew s step-father James Rajca, the Rajca family moved to Johnstown, PA when Andrew was eleven years old. Following his elementary education, Andrew attended Westmont Hilltop High School also in Johnstown. The Rajca s would eventually resettle in the Buffalo, New York area. From , Andrew attended the Franciscan University of Steubenville in Ohio and later attended Hilbert College [a small Franciscan college] in Hamburg, New York [ ] where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice in the fall of Following graduation he first worked as a part-time aide to Erie county Legislator, Ray Dusza. His duties included addressing constituent requests. In 1996, at the age of twenty-six, he was asked to be Village Clerk of Depew. His position involved the running of the day-to-day operations of the village with a population of 20,000. Andrew assumed a civil service position in 1999, working as a child protection worker for Erie County. His duties included investigating abuse and neglect of children by their caregivers. Andrew shares, My role as a social worker had increased my faith. Seeing the daily tragedies in families had brought me closer to God and the church. I did not think I could have worked in that setting without daily reliance on prayer. Andrew began his postulancy at St. Michael Friary in Brooklyn in He was invested with the Capuchin habit on 28 November 2004 at Saint Conrad Friary in Allison Park, PA and was a member of the first NAPCC interprovincial novitiate class. Andrew pronounced his first vows on Sunday, 20 November 2005 at the Church of Saint John the Baptist in New York City. After his simple profession, Andrew became a member of the fraternity of San Lorenzo in Jamaica Plain, MA. He began his preparation for theological studies by attended Emmanuel College in Boston where he accumulated his philosophy requirements. In 2006, Andrew then attended Weston Jesuit School of Theology and later transferred to the School of Theology and Ministry at Boston College where he received his graduate degree in theology. During his time in postnovitiate Andrew ministered in a variety of locations. In 2006 he ministered at St. Francis House a Boston-based food pantry, soup kitchen and community closet and also participated in the cross-culture Honduras Program that summer. In 2007 Andrew ministered at the Redemptorist Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Mission Hill in Roxbury in the RCIA program, visiting families, led wake services and had the opportunity of preaching at the daily liturgy. The following year he began a ministry at Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta where he worked hard to get to know the Vietnamese population, and to understand the violence that sometimes erupts among Vietnamese youth. Andrew is presently residing with the friar community of St. Francis of Assisi in Jamaica Plain, where, following his diaconate ordination on 03 October 2009, will serve as deacon in a local parish. A Celebration of Commitment Andrew Nowak, O.F.M. Cap. page four

5 A Celebration of Commitment Mario Guerrero, O.F.M. Cap. Mario Abdalá Guerrero Rueda was born in Ibarra, Ecuador to Guillermo and Nara Rueda Guerrero on 08 November Mario, along with his seven siblings Elsa, Diana, Magdalena, Pilar, Dora, Guillermo and Lorena, grew up within a Catholic environment in their hometown of Ibarra. He was baptized in the Basilica of La Dolorosa in Ibarra on 19 March From , Mario attended Sanchez and Cifuentes High School in Ibarra. Following graduation he began his undergraduate studies at the Catholic University of Ecuador [ ]. Mario came to the United States in his mid-twenties and began the process of learning to speak English and acclimation into American culture. During his early years in the United States he had a strong desire to return to school and later embark on a more meaningful career. In 1993, his dream was realized as he began his studies as a Credentialed Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Counselor. After working for several years as a counselor in a rehabilitation unit for alcoholics and substance abusers at St. Vincent Hospital in Harrison New York, he began to look forward to continuing his studies in the field of nursing. In 1998, he enrolled in the Cochran School of Nursing in Yonkers, New York and received his Associate s Degree in nursing in He practiced psychiatric nursing at Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla until 2002 and later at New York Presbyterian Hospital in White Plains, NY. In 2004, Mario entered our postulancy program at St. Michael in Brooklyn and was invested as a novice at St. Conrad Friary in Allison Park, PA on 27 November He pronounced simple vows at the Church of the Sacred Heart in Yonkers, New York on 02 December Following profession, Mario joined the friar community of San Lorenzo in Jamaica Plain, MA. In addition to lending his gifts and talents in the development of fraternal life, Mario worked each day at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital in Jamaica Plain. He enrolled at Emmanuel College in Boston and obtained his nursing credentials with recognition in May, On the occasion of his pinning, Mario writes: I would like to thank my family, my Capuchin brothers, my classmates, and my friends for their support during my school years; most importantly, to God who has always been with me during this journey. page five

6 John Edward Koelle, the oldest of three siblings, was born on 10 October 1966 to Gerald Watts and Lois [nee] Long-Watts-Koelle in Astoria Queen, New York. John, along with his brother Francis and sister Kerrianne, were raised in Astoria and members of the Church of St. Joseph where he received the sacraments of initiation. A hard-working student, John attended Public School 70 in Astoria [ ]; Public School 151 Astoria/Woodside [ ]; Public School 194 in Bayside [ ]; and Public School 10 in Astoria where he graduated from elementary school in June, John attended William Cullen Bryant High School from John continued his studies at Queensboro Community College [ ] pursuing a degree in Accounting and Liberal Arts as well as LaGuardia Community College [ ] also majoring in accounting. John embarked on a career in the areas of finance and banking in New York City at the age of nineteen. He began employment with Emigrant Savings Banks [ ]; Norstar Bank of Commerce [ ]; Atlantic Bank [ ]; Finance Bankers Federal [ ] Blue Hue-Vital Elements as a credit manager [ ]; and finally Thomas Publishing where he was employed until his entrance into postulancy in A Celebration of Commitment John Koelle, O.F.M. Cap. John entered the novitiate program at the Friary of St. Conrad in Allison Park, PA in 2005 and pronounced first vows at Sacred Heart in Yonkers on 02 December Following his profession, John joined the friar community of San Lorenzo in Jamaica Plain, MA. During his postnovitiate program, John has continued his education, taking several courses in theology, religious studies, as well as Spanish. John continues to enjoy his ministry at St. Francis House, a soup kitchen, shelter and multi-service center in downtown Boston. He also had the opportunity of ministering with the parish team of St. Mary of the Angels in Roxbury, MA where he has taught in the religious education program, assisted with liturgical preparation and a faithful member of the St. Mary of the Angels parish council. Our brother John is presently residing with the friar community of St. Francis of Assisi in Jamaica Plain. He will continue his local ministry and anticipates completing his degree in accounting in page six

7 A Celebration of Commitment PERPETUAL PROFESSION September 2009 Church of the Sacred Heart [Top bottom]: John Gallagher, Namdev Dagam; James Peterson, Matthew Janeczko, Celestino Arias; Salvatore Patricola; John Conway; Maurice Moreau, Barnabas Keck; Carlos Hernandez; Gerard O Dempsey, Bernard Smith; Nathaniel Santos, Gordon Combs; [left] William Grace, Michael Loerch, Erik Lenhart; New Capuchin Youth & Family Ministries Volunteers:[seated] Cara Annese, Anthony Iraola, Kathleen Scullin,[standing] Lake Herman, Brian Niemiec and Frederick Nickle. [Not pictured] Mary Kathleen Lowe. page seven