U.S. Scholastic Renews Vows in Mexico City

Mexico City, Mexico

Posted on January 11, 2023

Photos and text from Fr. Juan Gaspar, OMI, Director, Henri Tempier Pre-novitiate

At the formation community in Mexico City, Br. Floriberto is seventh from left between his sister, Leticia González Castañeda, and mother, Rufina Castañeda García. Fr. Gaspar is fifth from left.

Mexico City: (CDMX) Surrounded by the formation community and family, Scholastic Br. Floriberto González Castaneda OMI renewed his vows at the Post-Novitiate Chapel in México City on the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Fr. Juan M. Gaspar OMI, presided, preached and received Br. Floriberto’s vow renewal at the mass. Fr. Gaspar was representing, US Provincial, Lou Studer, who was unable to be present due to his presence in Zambia.

Fr. Gaspar and Fr. Bede listen as Br. Floriberto renews his vows

Br. Floriberto is originally from Guerrero, Mexico. He met the Oblates in NYC. NY and began his discernment with Fr. Daniel Leblanc, OMI. He later joined the Prenovitiate Community in Tijuana, BC, MX. He was supposed to begin novitiate in Guatemala in 2020, but the COVID pandemic delayed his start. While in Mexico City, he began his fall Semester of theology studies in 2020 and started the novitiate year in January 2021. He professed his first vows in Guatemala City, Guatemala in January 2022.

(L-R) Fr. Bede, Superior and Director of the Mexican Scholasticate, Fr, Gaspar, Fr. Justin, Fr. Gilberto Piñon, Associate of the scholasticate

Last summer Br. Floriberto studied English language in CDMX at the Cambridge School of language, while also doing some pastoral support at a local Oblate parish. Br. Floriberto recently returned from his winter mission experience in the state of Oaxaca, in the rural missions for the Mexican Province. Br. Floriberto is proud to belong to the US Province and reminds his classmates often, especially when introductions are made at the beginning of the school year. We wish Br. Floriberto a successful year.