On Friday, July 31, 2020, four young men made Good Purposes as they concluded the Internal Seminary (Novitiate) in the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians). The Mass and making of Good Purposes were held virtually in compliance with pandemic restrictions. While contained to a small audience, Noe Garcia, Milton Lara, Wilber Mejia, and Jose Alexander Palacios (pictured) “declared their intention of faithfully dedicating themselves in the Congregation of the Mission, for the whole time of their lives (Stability), to the evangelization of the poor, after the example of Christ evangelizing” (taken from the Formula for Good Purposes. They committed themselves, with the help of God’s grace, to continue to live chastity, poverty, and obedience and grow in the Vincentian charism. They will take the vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience in the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) during the time of their Theological studies (becoming incorporated members of the Congregation of the Mission), making their commitment permanent.
All four men are May 2019 graduates of St. John’s University with degrees in Philosophy. They served in Vincentian ministries in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Alabama.
In August, they began a four-year program of theological studies at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Philadelphia, while residing at De Andreis House of Studies in Manayunk, Pennsylvania.
During the Mass, the Congregation admitted and received Vy Tuan Nguyen, Juan Carlos Perez, and Peter Dai Tran into the Internal Seminary (Novitiate) and the community as they begin the Internal Seminary.
The Vincentians of the Eastern Province are fortunate to have these young men, who are committed to following Jesus Christ in the way of St. Vincent de Paul.