August 14, 2021
Profession of Carl Westover and Marilyn Harmyk
Two Parishioners become members of ancient order at Liturgy by Frank Cryan ofs
The St. Peter Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order welcomed
Carl Westover and Marilyn Harmyk as its newest professed members on August 14.
Carl is a member of Mary Mother of God parish in Hillsborough, NJ.
Marilyn is a member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Old Bridge, NJ.
Msgr. William Benwell, who is himself a Secular Franciscan, served as celebrant of the
Profession Mass assisted by Deacon Sal Bonfiglio, a Secular Franciscan. The Mass was
celebrated at St. Mathias Church in Somerset.
Attending the Mass were the members of St. Peter Fraternity together with family
members and friends of both Marilyn and Carl.
Music was provided by Debra Kubeck on guitar and Mary Frances Chavez, vocalist.
The Secular Franciscan Order, formerly known as the Third Order of St. Francis, is
an official order within the Catholic Church, established by St. Francis of Assisi in
the 13th century.
By profession, members promise to follow a Rule of Life approved and confirmed
by Pope Paul VI in June 1978. Ordinarily, members do not live in community, but
with their families and work in the world, gathering in fraternities on a regular basis.
On the one hand, the fraternity is the whole world; on the other, the local fraternity is
the world where members work out their salvation and the salvation of their sisters
and brothers.
Members strive to promote a life of prayer and simplicity, peace and justice and
respect for all creation. Members pledge themselves “through their baptism and
profession to proclaim the good news by their life and words,” going from
:Gospel to life and life to Gospel.”
The St. Peter Fraternity, Our Lady of the Angels Region, which has thirteen
professed members, meets at St. Mathias Church, Somerset.
Our Lady of the Angels regional fraternity is a union of the Secular Franciscan
fraternities in central and northern New Jersey; Manhattan, N.Y.; Staten Island, N.Y.;
Yonkers, N.Y.; and Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
For more information about the order, contact Mary Frances Reavey, OFS at
sfostpeternj@gmail.com or
Saint Peter Fraternity 