The Feast of St. Augustine, August 28, was a doubly joyful event as celebrated at St. Augustine Priory in Oxnard, CA, this year, since it was also the occasion for Fr. Ulyses Moyao to profess his Simple Vows. Fr. Ulyses had spent his novitiate year, as is customary in our Province, at the St. Nicholas inter-novitiate house in Monteagudo, Spain, and was present there for the profession of his classmates in early August. Returning to the United States on August 12, he spent some time visiting with his family before beginning final preparations for Profession.
Fr. Domingos Machado, Vicar Provincial, had been delegated by Fr. Charles Huse, Priory Provincial, to receive the vows of Fra. Ulyses. On hand to act as witnesses were Frs. John Gruben, Master of Novices, and Eliseo González, Prefect of Postulants, who were also principal concelebrants at the Mass; they were assisted by Deacons Ulises Feliciano and Ascención Esqueda. Fra. Ulyses’ parents, relatives and friends were present for the event, together with local Recollect friars from a number of our parishes in Southern California, the AR Sisters from Sun Valley, and the SAR chapter from Mary Star of the Sea. The Sister Servants of Mary provided welcome assistance to the Priory choir in leading the music for the bilingual liturgy, and Frs. Robert Huse and Michael Stechmann sang the sequence of St. Augustine in honor of the Founder of our religious community. Fr. Domingos delivered the homily in both English and Spanish, speaking about the importance of St. Augustine in both the Order and the Church. He then touched on the centrality of the vows in religious life, and finally went on to thank all the supporters of the Priory community, asking them to pray and work for more vocations to the priesthood and religious life.
After the Mass all of those present—some 150 people—enjoyed a dinner sponsored by the Ezekiel Moreno Guild of the house. Tables had been set up on the grounds as well as in the main dining room to accommodate the large crowd, who enjoyed a variety of Mexican and Filipino dishes along with flan and a large cake.
Fra. Ulyses returned to Tagaste Monastery in Suffern, NY, at beginning of September in order to join the other professed students for a new academic year. Having received his B.A. degree in philosophy before he entered the novitiate, he would be starting classes in theology. The Augustinian Recollects rejoice with Fra. Ulyses, his family, friends, and classmates as he takes this new step in committing himself to the service of God and the Church.
Fr. John Gruben, OAR
