8 friars to profess solemn vows, 2 to be ordained this August

Later this month, the Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe will gather for a joyful celebration of 10 friars who are celebrating significant milestones in their Franciscan journey.

Two friars will be ordained on Aug. 21 and eight friars will profess solemn vows on Aug. 22 at St. Camillus Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. Surrounded by fellow friars, family, friends and their partners-in-ministry, they will commit themselves to serving the people of God and deepening their relationship with Jesus.

Solemn profession candidates

Br. Tyler Grudi, OFM

Br. Tyler Grudi, OFM, grew up in Hershey, Pennsylvania - “The Sweetest Place on Earth,” where his parents provided him with a wonderful Catholic example. When he started at St. Bonaventure University in Western New York, he immediately connected with the friars and students discerning a Franciscan vocation. He was drawn to their authenticity and their commitment to serving Jesus in the poor. He was also inspired by the life of St. Francis and his search for both God and his purpose.

In 2019, Br. Tyler graduated from St. Bonaventure with a bachelor’s in journalism and he joined the postulancy the same year. He professed simple vows in 2021, and in 2025, he earned a master’s in missiology and Intercultural theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

His formation included one year in Jamaica with Brothers Walking Together. He also ministered to people in need at St. Francis Residences in New York City and St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, as well as with Pueblo Native Americans in Laguna, New Mexico.

After solemn profession, Br. Tyler will move to San Antonio to begin studies and formation for the priesthood. He is grateful to his parents for all their support, as well as his brother friars and mentors in formation.

Br. Kevin Hamzik, OFM

Br. Kevin Hamzik, OFM, was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and says he grew up with the Franciscans having attended Padua Franciscan High School in Parma, Ohio and St. Bonaventure University in Western New York. He especially came to appreciate the friars’ ability to find God in the beauty around us and within us.

Br. Kevin entered the postulancy in 2019 and professed simple vows in 2021. Past ministry experiences include farming with sustainable agriculture at Levo International and teaching art classes to immigrants at Jubilee House, both in Hartford, Connecticut. He also volunteered at the Migrant Resource Center in Agua Prieta, Mexico, and has helped lead pilgrimages to Assisi with the Franciscan Pilgrimage Program.

He completed the Padua Program for Franciscan Leadership at the Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University in 2026, earned a Master of Fine Arts from Columbia College Chicago in 2025, and a Certificate of Interreligious Studies from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 2023. Br. Kevin is grateful to family, friends, educators, formators and all his fellow pilgrims.

Br. Domingo Martinez, OFM

Br. Domingo Martinez, OFM, was born in Long Beach, California, and raised in Aiken, South Carolina. He worked with the labor movement on political campaigns before deciding to discern a religious vocation. He learned about the Franciscans online and many facets of friar life appealed to him, including the diversity of the brothers and their incarnational spirituality.

He joined the postulancy in 2020 and professed simple vows in 2022. During his time in formation, he focused on social justice advocacy with the local labor movement and parish ministries at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire, and a Master of Theological Studies from Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville, Tennessee. He enjoys spending quiet time in nature, watercolor and sci-fi/fantasy. He is grateful for his family’s support, especially his parents, who have always supported him and his siblings in their decisions.

Br. Phillip McCarter, OFM

Br. Phillip McCarter, OFM, is from Cincinnati. As a young adult, he attended a special event to venerate the relics of Padre Pio, where he met a friar who invited him to a vocations retreat. Drawn to the community’s joy and brotherhood, he entered the postulancy in 2020 and professed simple vows in 2021.

His ministry experiences include tutoring students in D.C., distributing meals to migrants at Langley Park in Silver Spring, Maryland, teaching Confirmation classes at St. Benedict the African Parish in Chicago and providing support to migrants in Agua Prieta, Mexico. He also served as administrator of St. Anthony’s Kitchen and St. Mary’s Clinic, both in Jamaica.

He says he encounters Christ every day in the people he serves and his biggest blessing is journeying through life together with his brothers. He received a certificate in Addiction Studies from The City Colleges of Chicago – Kennedy King College, completed theology and philosophy courses at the Mexican American Catholic College in San Antonio and completed the Franciscan Journey Institute. He is grateful for his formators and mentors.

Br. Brian Menezes, OFM

Br. Brian Menezes, OFM, was born in Kuwait and later immigrated to Mississauga, Canada, which he still calls home. After researching religious orders on vocationnetwork.org, he discovered the Franciscan charism perfectly aligned with his heart’s desire, especially the ability to serve God and all of creation as a religious brother.

He entered the postulancy in 2019 and professed simple vows in 2021. He has enjoyed serving at St. Francis Seraph Ministries in Cincinnati, where the people he encounters bring him great joy. His past ministry experiences include serving the elderly as well as young immigrants and university students.

Before becoming a friar, Br. Brian primarily worked in the financial sector, as well as hospitality, security and logistics. His career did not offer him fulfilment nor peace; so, he determined that the best way forward was to “let go and let God.” He earned a bachelor’s in criminology from the University of Western Ontario in 2010, and a master’s in intercultural ministry from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in 2024. He is grateful to God for his family, his brothers and sisters from Franciscan communities and for all those who have supported his growth and faith all these years.

Br. Joan (JP) Perez-Lombera, OFM

An immigrant from Mexico at 13, Br. Joan (JP) Perez-Lombera, OFM, grew up in San Jose, California, where he met friars as a member of YouFra (Franciscan Youth). He admired their simplicity, humility and closeness to the people, especially the forgotten and the suffering.

He entered the postulancy in 2019 and professed simple vows in 2021. Before becoming a friar, he worked as a logistics coordinator and furniture installer. Ministry experiences that have helped him grow in compassion and service include St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, St. Francis Center in Los Angeles and St. Anthony Shrine in Boston.

He enjoys listening to people’s stories and accompanying them in practical and meaningful ways. He attended Mesa College in San Diego in 2024, and the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2025. He is currently studying nutrition at San Francisco State University, and cooking is one of his hobbies. Br. Joan is grateful to family, friends, friars and all who have encouraged and prayed for him throughout the years.

Br. Carlos Portillo, OFM

While working as director of food services for a senior living residence, Br. Carlos Portillo, OFM, wanted to find a Spanish Mass he could attend on weekdays and discovered St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland. Seeing the spirit of the friars as they serve in fraternity and joy inspired him to join the postulancy in 2018, and he professed simple vows in 2019.

During his time in formation, he has helped with youth ministry, ministry to the sick, music ministry and catechesis. He enjoys serving the people of God with joy and sharing fraternity with his brothers.

Br. Carlos was born in El Salvador and attended university there. He also attended DePaul University in Chicago and CareOne Nursing School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is grateful to God for His infinite goodness, as well as his family and brother friars for all their support and love.

Br. Nathaniel Tran, OFM

Br. Nathaniel Tran, OFM, is from Orange County, California. After encountering the friars at Saints Simon and Jude Parish in Huntington Beach and being deeply inspired by the conversion story of St. Francis, he entered postulancy in 2018 and professed first vows in 2020.

Before entering religious life, Br. Nathaniel earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), and worked in business marketing and product management for the medical technology industry. As a Franciscan friar, he has found great joy and fulfillment in responding to the call of missionary discipleship, serving among people on the margins, including the elderly, adults with intellectual disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness and Native American communities.

He earned a Master of Divinity and a Certificate of Priestly Formation from the Franciscan School of Theology in San Diego in 2024 and completed a Clinical Pastoral Education internship at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He expresses his deepest gratitude to his mother, siblings, friends and formators for their enduring support, encouragement and accompaniment throughout his vocational journey.

Ordination candidates

The Franciscan Friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe joyfully celebrate the ordination of our brothers:

Br. Joshua Richter, OFM

Br. Joshua, from Hamilton, Ohio, considers Chicago and Cincinnati home. At age 12, he was inspired to become a Franciscan by the legacy St. John the Baptist Province friars, particularly Br. Manuel Vierra, OFM, who assisted Spanish-speaking newcomers at his parish. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Earth Science and Sustainability from Miami University (Ohio) in 2018, then entered the postulancy program and made his first profession in 2020. He was solemnly professed on Aug. 23, 2025 and ordained to the diaconate on Oct. 19, 2025. He earned a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in theology from the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago in May.

Br. Joshua teaches theology at Roger Bacon High School in Cincinnati. He has diverse experience in tutoring, assisting after-school programs, teaching religious education, and feeding the hungry. He hopes to use his teaching and environmental science skills in various ministries. He is grateful to his formators, mentors, spiritual directors, family and friends for their support.

Br. Maikel Gómez Pérez, OFM

Br. Maikel Gómez Pérez, OFM, grew up in Holguín, Cuba, where his faith was nurtured by his late grandmother. After discovering St. Francis of Assisi and reading about his life, he was inspired to join the Franciscan Order. He entered the Order in Havana, made his first profession in Dec. 28, 2015, and completed initial formation in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. He was solemnly professed in Dec. 11, 2021 and ordained to the diaconate in Oct. 19, 2025.

Br. Maikel has ministered to migrants on the U.S.-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, and currently serves the Latino, young adult and homebound communities at St. Peter Claver Parish in Macon, Georgia, where he will continue to minister after ordination. He is grateful to his brother friars and friends who have supported him throughout his vocational journey.