Fr. Cidouane Joseph, OFM (Fr. Cid) is the new National Spiritual Assistant and Provincial Animator for Our Lady of Guadalupe Province, OFM. He succeeds Fr. Jerome Wolbert, OFM, in this ministry and begins his service with a spirit of humility and fraternity.
In May, Fr. Jerome will move to Rome to study Italian and begin a new ministry there with the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches. We are very grateful for Fr. Jerome’s service to the OFS, and wish him the best in his new assignment.
Fr. Cid was born and raised in Haiti and arrived in the United States in 2002. He entered the Order of Friars Minor shortly thereafter, making his first profession of vows in Wilmington, Delaware, in 2006, and his solemn profession at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York in 2009.
He was ordained a deacon at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., in 2010, and to the priesthood at Holy Name of Jesus Church in New York in 2011.
His relationship with the Secular Franciscan Order began prior to his ordination at Holy Name of Jesus Church, where he first encountered Secular Franciscans and developed an appreciation for their vocation.
He has since served as a Spiritual Assistant at multiple levels, including local, regional, and provincial fraternities. Notably, he served as Regional Spiritual Assistant to the Solanus Casey Region. Through these experiences, he has cultivated a deep respect for the Secular Franciscan vocation and the shared charism that unites the Franciscan family.
In accepting this appointment, Fr. Cid has expressed both gratitude and a strong commitment to supporting the fraternities entrusted to his care. He recognizes the breadth of the responsibility of accompanying Secular Franciscans across the United States and emphasizes the importance of collaboration, fraternity, and mutual support in fulfilling this mission effectively.
Fr. Cid has affirmed his readiness to assist Regional Ministers and local fraternities, particularly those within Our Lady of Guadalupe Province, while also serving the broader national fraternity. He encourages ongoing cooperation between the First Order and the Secular Franciscan Order, underscoring the importance of maintaining and strengthening this vital relationship.
Reflecting on his experience, Fr. Cid notes that working with Secular Franciscans has enriched his own vocation as a friar and has deepened his appreciation for the vitality and witness of the Secular Franciscan life.
Members are invited to read his full introductory letter and to welcome him in the spirit of Franciscan fraternity.
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