Marist Brothers USA Welcomes Two New Novices
The Marist United States Province celebrated on March 25 the entry of two new novices to the Marist Brothers USA Novitiate located in St. Barnabas Parish, Bronx, New York. Br. David Freiler and Br. Miguel Garcia were received during a prayer service held at the chapel on the campus of Mount Saint Michael Academy in the Bronx.
Numerous Marist Brothers participated in this reception of the Marist Brothers’ habit including the Provincial, Br. Dan O’Riordan, and many other Brothers and Lay Marists from the NYC Area; family members of the new novices and brothers from around the globe watched the Zoom stream. Members of the Novitiate Community presided over the ceremony which was marked by a strong fraternal ambiance.
During the ceremony, the Master of Novices Br. Don Bisson stated “today’s ceremony here at Mount St. Michael’s chapel has significant symbolic meaning. It says very powerfully the American experience of Marists of Champagnat is open for new life. This moment also reminds us that the Holy Spirit continues to call men to a life in the charism of Champagnat. The ever-powerful Voice of God continues to pursue us into a response to divine initiative.”
About the Novices
Br. Miguel is from San Antonio, TX. He is a new convert to the Catholic faith, which has helped him find his calling in discerning and his true vocation as a Marist Brother. He has worked in a business career for 20 years, worked with Catholic Charities as a case manager, and studied business management. He currently volunteers at Catholic Charities working with immigrants to obtain their work licenses to work in New York. Br. Miguel is studying immigration law at Villanova University to prepare him to work in the migrant community and help them with legal matters essential to attain legal status in the United States.
Br. David was born in Brewster, NY and earned an undergraduate degree in philosophy at UNC Chapel Hill. He earned a master’s degree in Business Administration from SUNY-Albany. Before discerning his call to be a Marist Brother, Br. David worked in finance for many years.