Crosier brother commits his life to serving the Church and people of God
18-JULY-24 (Phoenix, Ariz.) – On this July 18 feast day of the Crosiers’ patroness, St. Odilia, Br. Gabriel Mario “Rio” Lefaan, osc, professed solemn vows in the presence of his Crosier confreres, friends, Crosier Companions and Crosier Apostolate members. The ceremony took place at the Priory Church of the Holy Cross in Phoenix. Br. Rio’s family and friends in Indonesia were able to view the ceremony via live stream.
Br. Rio said, “I am very joyful because I believe God wanted me to make my vows as a Crosier. On this special day, I have been given the opportunity to express and deepen my love for God through Crosier Religious Life.”
Living Crosier Religious Life in the United States has been enriching for Br. Rio. He said the sense of fraternity has made him feel welcome, included and part of a larger community. “My confreres encourage me to share my thoughts, opinions and culture. I feel the caring from my them even from a simple greeting such as ‘Good morning, Rio, how are you?’”
“Filled with grace, goodness and love, Br. Rio is a wonderful sacrament of our fraternal life. The mystery within him is of God’s love at work calling Br. Rio to this moment in his journey,” said Conventual Prior Tom Enneking, osc. “Our living with Br. Rio this past year has brought life to our Crosier community and to all who here who stand with him. We congratulate and thank Br. Rio for answering God’s call.”
In June, Br. Rio’s request to make solemn vows to the Order of the Holy Cross was approved by Prior Provincial Agung Rianto, osc, of the Provinsi Sang Kristus. Master General Laurentius Tarpin, osc, with the consent of his council, confirmed the prior provincial’s decision.
Rio was born in Surabaya, East Java Province in Indonesia, in 1998. He attributes his grandparents to encouraging his vocation journey 11 years ago when became an altar server. He was first introduced to the Crosiers when Fr. Christophorus Harimanto Suryanugraha, osc, visited his parish to give a seminar on liturgy. Rio was curious about what the “osc” stood for, so he researched it online and learned about the Order. And the rest is history! He entered the Crosier novitiate July 9, 2017, and professed his first vows Aug. 28, 2019.
During his post-novitiate formation, he will join two other Crosiers in formation at our filial priory in Onamia, Minn. In August, he will begin studies at St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minn.
