Perpetual profession of Br José Manuel Burmes Rangel

Brother José Manuel Burmes Rangel celebrated his perpetual profession on Dec. 16 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Carmen in Machiques de Perijá (Venezuela).

“It was a very exciting event because he is the first Venezuelan brother of that population, Machiques de Perijá, to make his perpetual profession,” said Brother César Augusto Rojas Carvajal, the provincial of Norandina.

“He met the brothers and was linked to a youth group which allowed him to know more about the Marist charism and start his vocational process,” he added.

The Mass was celebrated by the bishop of Machiques, Bishop Jesús Alfonso Guerrero Contreras, and Brother César received his vows on behalf of the superior general.

During the ceremony, Brother Henry Araujo, a young brother who is doing his year of community experience as a scholastic brother in the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela, renewed his annual vows.

During the ceremony, the importance of the vocation of the Marists of Champagnat was discussed and participants were invited to look with hope at the difficult situation that the Venezuelan nation is going through.

Brothers from different communities of Venezuela participated, but especially the brothers from the community of Machiques and Maracaibo. The family members of Br José Manuel, teachers and collaborators of the Marist works, residents of the neighborhood where he grew up, a group of students from the San Pablo school and members of the REMAR youth group also attended.

Also present were Brothers Hugo Tapia and Juan Pablo Marín, who were his companions in the formation stages and who travelled from Colombia.

Brother José Manuel is currently the pastoral coordinator of the Escuela Técnica Hermano Ildefonso Gutiérrez based in Maracaibo.

In his words he thanked the Brothers, family and friends, who have encouraged and supported him in his life and mission as a Brother.