The Custody of the Holy has two new friars: Fr. Tony Choucry and Fr. David Grenier, who made the temporary profession of religious vows on Thursday 16th September during the celebration in Bethlehem in the church of St. Catherine at the Basilica of the Nativity. The rite was officiated by the Custody of the Holy Land, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, accompanied by about forty brothers and in the presence of religious and faithful, including a large group of sisters from different congregations. With this ceremony, the two novices, having completed their period of discernment and training, publicly express the evangelical recommendations of obedience, poverty and chastity and are received into the fraternity of the Friars Minor of the Custody of the Holy Land. This commitment will have to be renewed for a few years before being expressed definitively and solemnly. During his sermon, Father Pierbattista said that “leaving everything for Christ means rediscovering everything in a new and deeper way. Despite the many difficulties and hardships, it is a beautiful thing to spend your life for Our Lord Jesus Christ, poor and crucified, in the footsteps of St. Francis. Because for us, Christians, the cross is not first and foremost suffering, but the supreme sign of the love of God for humanity. You,” Father Pizzaballa continued, addressing the two candidates, “want to embrace Christ, but it was Christ who embraced you first and he will continue to do so, not ideally, but concretely through this fraternity that receives you.”
Tony Choucry was born on 13th March 1966 in Beirut, Lebanon, and was baptized in the Maronite Church. He has been a director of an infirmary, tax inspector for the Ministry of Finance and director of an office furniture company. He holds a diploma as a certified expert and a degree in Accounting. He became acquainted with Franciscanism through the Secular Franciscan Order of Lebanon, in which he also held an executive role from 2001 to 2007. After meeting Father Toufic Bou Merhi, vocational promoter in Lebanon, Tony decided to enter the religious life with the Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land.
David Grenier was born on 18th March 1977 in Sherbrooke, Canada. His family is originally from French-speaking Quebec. He took a diploma in Science of the Word (theatre and communication) and holds a degree in Philosophy. David has worked in various fields, as an actor, guide, secretary, corrector of French and also performed a competent service at the sanctuary of St. Joseph in Montreal. In the Christian community, he has also organized spiritual retreats and has had charity work experience with prisoners; he has also been editor of a Christian paper, hosted radio programmes and has been responsible for the liturgical training of lay people. David became acquainted with the Franciscan life in Washington with the Commission of the Holy Land, then deciding to embark on his path in Franciscan religious life which led him to the stages of aspirandate (in Montefalco in Italy in 2008), the postulate (in Ain Karem in 2009) and the novitiate in Bethlehem. Fr. Tony and Fr. David will now leave Bethlehem for the priesthood in St. Saviour in Jerusalem. where they will start their theological studies. Here they will meet their teacher, Father Noel Muscat, again, who continues his experience as formator, going from the novitiate of Bethlehem to the priesthood in Jerusalem, where more than thirty friar students of different nationalities are waiting for him. With Fr. Tony Choucry and Fr. David Grenier, the number of friars operating in the Custody of the Holy Land is now almost 300 (296).
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Tony Choucry was born on 13th March 1966 in Beirut, Lebanon, and was baptized in the Maronite Church. He has been a director of an infirmary, tax inspector for the Ministry of Finance and director of an office furniture company. He holds a diploma as a certified expert and a degree in Accounting. He became acquainted with Franciscanism through the Secular Franciscan Order of Lebanon, in which he also held an executive role from 2001 to 2007. After meeting Father Toufic Bou Merhi, vocational promoter in Lebanon, Tony decided to enter the religious life with the Franciscans of the Custody of the Holy Land.
David Grenier was born on 18th March 1977 in Sherbrooke, Canada. His family is originally from French-speaking Quebec. He took a diploma in Science of the Word (theatre and communication) and holds a degree in Philosophy. David has worked in various fields, as an actor, guide, secretary, corrector of French and also performed a competent service at the sanctuary of St. Joseph in Montreal. In the Christian community, he has also organized spiritual retreats and has had charity work experience with prisoners; he has also been editor of a Christian paper, hosted radio programmes and has been responsible for the liturgical training of lay people. David became acquainted with the Franciscan life in Washington with the Commission of the Holy Land, then deciding to embark on his path in Franciscan religious life which led him to the stages of aspirandate (in Montefalco in Italy in 2008), the postulate (in Ain Karem in 2009) and the novitiate in Bethlehem. Fr. Tony and Fr. David will now leave Bethlehem for the priesthood in St. Saviour in Jerusalem. where they will start their theological studies. Here they will meet their teacher, Father Noel Muscat, again, who continues his experience as formator, going from the novitiate of Bethlehem to the priesthood in Jerusalem, where more than thirty friar students of different nationalities are waiting for him. With Fr. Tony Choucry and Fr. David Grenier, the number of friars operating in the Custody of the Holy Land is now almost 300 (296).
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