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Meet Our Student Friars

Read about the backgrounds of our men currently in formation. They are in Holy Name's postulant, novitiate and post-novitiate programs.

Postulants

DENNIS BENNETT Dennis was born in Newport, R.I., and raised in Bristol, R.I. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Rhode Island College in Providence in 2008. After completing his master’s in chemistry from Florida State University in Tallahassee in 2010, Dennis returned to Rhode Island College as an adjunct professor in the Department of Physical Sciences. He first met the friars through the community at St. Mary’s in Providence and was attracted to “the emphasis on fraternity and the wide range of ministries that Franciscans undertake.” In addition to the field of higher education, Dennis is interested in working with the poor and disadvantaged.

CASEY COLE Born in North Wales, Pa., Casey graduated from Furman University in Greenville, S.C., with a degree in theology earlier this year. While a student at Furman, he was active in campus ministry and Club Baseball. Coming to know the friars through a student spirituality group led by Fr. Patrick Tuttle, OFM, pastor of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Greenville, Casey spent the summer of 2010 volunteering at St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, Pa., one of the friars’ ministries. Of the experience at the Inn, Casey said, “Communal life offered a joy and challenge that rejuvenated me after a full day’s work, and fulfilled me more that I could have imagined.”

SERGIO FERRISI A native New Yorker, Sergio earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of South Carolina in 2002. He also holds a master’s degree in philosophy from USC Columbia and completed a master of divinity degree from Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan earlier this year. Sergio came to know the friars through his friendship with a priest in the Archdiocese of New York and has actively ministered at Holy Name of Jesus Church on the Upper West Side, an HNP ministry. Interested in higher education, he is drawn to Franciscan spirituality because it “emphasizes the gospel life, fraternity and solidarity in justice with the poor and marginalized.”

EDGARDO JARA ARAYA A native of Costa Rica, Edgardo graduated from Costa Rica Catholic University with a degree in theology and humanities in 2004. He worked in a bank and as a high school teacher before entering religious life in 2010. Originally a postulant with our Lady of Guadalupe Province, Edgardo came to know the friars of Holy Name Province while attending an interprovincial workshop. He is particularly drawn to educational ministry and working with young adults.

RAMONCITO RAZON Originally from the Philippines, Ramon graduated from the University of Manila with a degree in development in 2001, and completed a master’s degree in teaching of English from Columbia University in Manhattan in 2007. Before joining the friars, he was an instructor at the English Language School for Community Leaders in Brooklyn, N.Y. Ramon came to know the friars through receiving spiritual direction from Fr. Steve Mimnaugh, OFM, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan. Committed to teaching, he is attracted to the Franciscans because, “I need a community of brothers to help me come up with my best response to love Jesus back.”

Novices

JOHN AHERNE John was born in the Bronx and grew up in Maspeth, Queens. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English and anthropology from New York University, he embarked on a career as an editor and has worked at several major publishing companies. A certified Irish Dance teacher, John also ran a small dancing school prior to entering Holy Name Province. He got to know the friars by attending daily Mass and serving as a lector and Eucharistic minister at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan. He looks forward to “using all my gifts and bringing everything to the table to be of as much service to God and to others as possible.”

JEFFREY UPSHAW Born and raised in Somerville, N.J., Jeffrey graduated from Hillsborough High School in Hillsborough, N.J. Prior to joining the friars, he worked for a number of years as a floorlayer and was an active member of his parish, the Knights of Columbus and various community organizations. Jeff first began considering religious life while attending a retreat in 2007 and learned of the Franciscans through the Guide to Religious Ministries website. He felt at home while visiting the friar community in Boston and says, “Their active ministry with the poor – by helping them with their struggles in life – seemed best suited to what I personally wish to do with my life.”

Friars in Post-Novitiate

GEORGE CAMACHO, OFM George was born in Manhattan, N.Y., and earned a bachelor of science degree in communication studies from New York University. He worked as a television producer and writer in New York City prior to joining the friars. As a parish volunteer, George led retreats to help teenagers develop tangible strategies for better communication with their parents. He got to know the friars and became interested in Franciscan life through attending Mass at St. Francis of Assisi Church on West 31st Street in Manhattan. He says, “I have only seen a few of the ministries the friars of Holy Name Province perform, including the Breadline and the residences for schizophrenic homeless people, but I’m impressed and would like to get involved somehow.”

ROSS CHAMBERLAND, OFM Born in Nashua, N.H., Ross graduated from Emmanuel College in Boston with a bachelor’s degree in social justice in urban life with a minor in philosophy. He has served in a number of ministries including liturgical coordinator, teacher and group facilitator for AIDS/HIV patients. Ross spent several years in formation as a Capuchin friar in the Province of St. Mary - New York/New England before joining Holy Name Province. Ross resides at Holy Name College in Silver Spring, Md., where he is working toward his master of divinity degree at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. As a Franciscan, Ross sees himself as “a peacemaker, and one who makes all people feel welcome in our Church.”

FRANK CRITCH, OFM Frank was born and raised in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. He earned a bachelor’s degree in religious studies and philosophy from Memorial University in St. John’s, and went on to attend St. Paul’s Seminary in Ottawa, Ontario, for four years for the Archdiocese of St. John’s. Before joining the Franciscans, Frank worked with youth as a community outreach and family support worker. He also studied at the culinary school of Camosun College, Victoria, British Columbia, and owned a restaurant in St. John’s. Frank joined the Order of Friars Minor for Christ the King Province in Western Canada in 2006. He transferred to Holy Name Province after meeting the friars during his novitiate in Wilmington, Del. Frank says, “I was taken by the friars’ commitment to ministry and to the fraternal life lived in the present, building on the past, and communicating their hope for the future. The scope of the vision communicated and lived inspired me, and I felt that to truly live the Franciscan life, this Province was calling me to deepen my commitment to live fully in the footsteps of Francis.”

MARIO GÓMEZ-TEJERINA, OFM Originally from Lima, Peru, Mario attended law school at the Catholic University of Peru. For six years he was a member of a personal prelature where he received religious formation, ministered to college students and discerned his vocation to religious life. Mario met the Franciscans for the first time in 2004 while visiting his sister in New Jersey. He says, "The open-mindedness and accepting frame of mind of the friars struck me from day one. I found a group of men that I perceived as a community in which the values of fraternity among its members and service to and solidarity with the poor were cherished."

GERALD HOPECK, OFM A native of Bridgeport, Conn., Gerald graduated from Kings College in Wilkes-Barre, PA, with a bachelor’s degree in theology and history. He went on to earn a master of arts degree in theology from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, PA. Before entering the initial formation program, Gerald was a pastoral associate at several parishes where he worked with youth and the African American community, and acted as director of religious education. Gerald got to know the friars at St. Joseph’s Friary in Wilkes-Barre, PA, and then at St. Patrick-St. Anthony Parish in Hartford, CT. According to Gerald, “Working in the inner city and with the poor/marginalized is something that I always dreamed about doing, and something I have grown to love and appreciate.”

JEFFERY JORDAN, OFM Born and raised in Royston, Ga., Jeffery lived in Tampa, Fla. before discerning his call to religious life. He is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Georgia where he majored in both linguistics and romance languages. Originally a member of the Pentecostal Holiness Church, he was welcomed into the Roman Catholic faith in 2003. Jeffery worked in international shipping prior to joining the friars. Jeffery met the Franciscans through their ministry at Sacred Heart Parish in Tampa. He is attracted to the Franciscans because of “the unique Franciscan spirituality and understanding of God’s presence in all things, and the particular ministries of the Franciscans.”

PERCY OSORIO PALPAN, OFM Born in the city of Oxapampa, Peru, Percy entered the Franciscan Order in the Province of St. Francis Solano in Peru. After spending five years in formation, he left to study to become a nurse and actively participated in Our Lady of the Assumption Parish as a catechist. Percy entered the formation program of the Peruvian Foundation of Holy Name Province in 2005.

MICHAEL REYES, OFM Michael was born in San Pablo, Laguna, in the Philippines. After moving to the United States, he earned an associate’s degree in information systems management from Berkeley College in New York City and worked as a programmer/analyst. Michael recently completed his bachelor of business administration degree, also from Berkeley College. Working a block away from St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan, Michael got to know the friars by participating in early morning Eucharistic celebration and prayer. According to Michael, “When I physically witnessed the works of the friars on 31st Street in New York City, I had a much deeper understanding and pure attraction towards St. Francis’ life, work and Order.” He also felt “blessed to personally experience the realness and welcoming spirits of the Franciscan Friars.”

EDGARDO ZEA LAURA, OFM Edgardo was born in the city of Arequipa in southern Peru. After studying to be a laboratory technician, he worked in the laboratories of MINSA (the Peruvian health ministry) and in private labs. Edgardo wishes to be a friar because he wants to serve, see Christ in the faces of others, be brother to others, learn to share, and provide what others lack. He would also like to spread the good news of the Gospels and follow the mission that God entrusted to St. Francis of Assisi to rebuild the Church.