by: Friars Martin Day and Gary Johnson |

First year postulants, L to R: Andrew Hennessy, Tony Martinez, Frank Manganiello

On  Sunday August 12, The Province of Our Lady of Consolation welcomed our three first year postulants, Frank Manganiello, Tony Martinez, and Andrew Hennessy, to San Damiano Friary, in San Antonio.

Their first week was filled with many activities, helping orient them to the formation community. The week began with the necessary step-by-step trip through our house directory and an introduction to using a breviary for the Liturgy of the Hours. We toured the local Basilica and Shrine of the Little Flower (St. Therese of Lisieux), took a river cruise to the downtown area and the River-walk, and visited the Alamo.

At the Alamo (left to right) Tony Martinez, Andrew Hennessy, and Frank Manganiello

Thursday we welcomed Friar Berard Marthaler, who recently celebrated his 60th anniversary of ordination. He had come to town for a family wedding in nearby Austin. We were happy to introduce our fledgling members to a true province wisdom figure.

On Saturday the 18th we welcomed second year postulant Trent Hale back from his summer break. Sunday the 19th found us (together with Friar Berard and student Friar Nader Ata from the St. Anthony Province) going to mass at San Fernando Cathedral downtown. Joined later by Friar Tim Unser, we capped orientation week off with a nice supper at a local restaurant.

Throughout the upcoming months we will be heading down to historic Panna Maria, Texas to visit the first Conventual Franciscan Foundation in the USA, the grave of Friar Leopold Moczygemba (Franciscan missionary who founded Panna Maria in the early 1850s), and the local McNay Art Museum to view the 16th century image of St. Bonaventure.