Continuing their Franciscan journey with Our Lady of the Angels Province (OLA), two friars made their first profession on Monday, July 27, 2026, at the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Md. OLA Minister Provincial Friar Michael Heine, OFM Conv., presided at the Mass, with Vicar Provincial Friar Gary Johson, OFM Conv., and Friar John Koziol, OFM Conv., serving as principal concelebrants.
Before their brother friars, families, and friends, Tristen Daniel Paraiso (left) and Kole Resler (right) professed their religious vows to Friar Michael. After signing the Book of Profession, they exchanged their cords for the three-knotted cord, a symbol of their vows of obedience, poverty, and chastity. They were each then given a copy of the Rule of St. Francis and the Constitutions of the Order, which direct Conventual Franciscans in their way of life.
Tristen has taken the religious name of Friar Joseph Mary while Kole is now known as Friar Kolbe Resler.
In his homily, Friar Michael (above) said, “The voice of God calling someone by name establishes a deep relationship. And each time God speaks a name, He invites that person into a deeper communion with Himself and entrusts that person with a mission.
“Today, the Church once again calls each of you by name. And that’s more than just a formality. It’s a reminder that long before either of you considered becoming a Franciscan Friar, God had already chosen you and called you to Himself.”
A native of San Diego, Calif., Friar Joseph Mary received an undergraduate degree in Marine Biology from the University of California San Diego in 2022. While a student there, the university Newman Center rekindled his faith, and he decided to do a year of service with FrancisCorps in Syracuse, N.Y., after graduation.
“In FrancisCorps, I fell in love with the Franciscan charism and upon completing that year, I felt called to join the Friars,” Friar Joseph Mary said. “It has been a beautiful and fruitful journey so far and it is a great blessing to make simple vows especially during the eighth centenary of the Transitus of St. Francis. I pray that the Lord may show me what is mine to do” as I profess vows so that I may be able to follow in the footprints of Christ through the example of our Seraphic Father Francis.”
Friar Kolbe Mary was born and grew up in New Port Richey, Fla., where he was raised with his older sister, Kayla. “I was given the faith through my upbringing in the United Methodist church. After high school, enrolled at Florida State University (FSU) where he studied economics. Through Catholic friends and the Catholic Student Union faith community at FSU, he said he was slowly drawn into the Catholic Church. Throughout college he recalls feeling a deeper calling of the Lord in his life. Reading St. Bonaventure’s spiritual writings, he developed a love of the Franciscan way.
“In professing the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience I am joyfully entering into closer union with our Lord Jesus, who has walked this path before me. These vows are a gift of my whole self to Christ’s body, His church, in response to the overwhelming love of He who is Love. Through the intercession of our Immaculate Mother, St Francis, and St. Maximilian Kolbe, I know that our Lord’s grace will carry to completion what He has begun in my heart.”
Friar Michael concluded: “My brothers, remember this: Before you are Franciscans, before you are religious, before you are ministers, you are beloved sons of God, and you are precious in God’s eyes. Everything else flows from that truth.
“And now, beginning today, all of us friars, we can rejoice in a new way because we also call you fully our brothers. Know that we, your Franciscan family, promise to love you, support you, pray for you, challenge you when necessary, and walk beside you as together we strive to live the Gospel in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi.”
The two friars will begin their post-novitiate by studying at the Oblate School of Theology in Austin, Texas.
