On July 4, 2026, six new novices from the Conventual Franciscan Federation were invested and officially began their novitiate in Arroyo Grande, Calif.
Acting on behalf of Friar Michael Heiner, Minister Provincial of the Province of Our Lady of the Angels, Vicar Provincial, Friar Gary Johnson vested three men in the habit: Friar Andrew Bjorn-Jaxa Chamierc (Provincial Custody of Bl. Agnellus of Pisa in Great Britain-Ireland); Friars Lourenz John Salvador and Adan Orellana.. Province of St. Bonaventure Minister Provincial Friar Paul Joseph Langevin vested Friars Craig Chircop, Jacob Polinski, and Joshua Monreal Callado.
Friar James Reiter, Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Joseph of Cupertino, presided over the ceremony, which took place during Midday Prayer and was followed by a festive barbecue and later in the evening attendance at famous Pismo Beach Fireworks as the United States celebrated 250 years of independence.
The son of immigrants from El Salvador, Adan Orellana is from Burlington, N.C.
He is a son of immigrants from El Salvador. He has one younger sister. Adanhad known the Conventual Franciscan Friars all his life as they had staffed his home parish, Blessed Sacrament in Burlington N.C.
After many years of serving in the children’s choir, altar serving, and as sacristan there, he discerned to enter the community. He did his postulancy in Chicago, Ill. Adan enjoys watching soccer where his favorite team is FC Barcelona. He also spends time cooking, baking, and helping with anything liturgical.
“Investiture is a confirmation of my ongoing religious discernment as a Conventual Franciscan. This means that this is what the Lord is calling me to be.”
Lourenz John Salvador is from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, although he spent most of his adult life in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada.
He attended Ryerson University (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and finished with a Bachelor of Commerce in Business/Marketing Management. After graduating, He worked in campus ministry for a number of years before leaving to focus on discerning his vocation.
In his spare time, he likes making rosaries, leather crafting, cooking, and going on hikes. He also likes to read, especially books on the lives of the saints.
“I want to be a Conventual Franciscan because I want to follow Jesus in the footsteps of St. Francis and his brothers. I look forward to learning the Franciscan way of life and praying and serving with brothers,” he said. “Being invested in the habit of St. Francis is a reminder of the call to be poor and simple, to daily conversion, and to continually choose to give of oneself to God. It is a sign to the world that I am no longer my own, but freely belonging to Jesus and His Church, in the footsteps of St. Francis.”
