December 9, 2009

Capuchin Franciscan brother professes solemn vows

Brother Christopher Gama, a Capuchin Franciscan Friar of San Damiano Friary in Denver, made profession of solemn vows during an afternoon Mass at Annunciation Church on Nov. 22.

Father Charles Polifka, O.F.M. Cap., provincial minister of the Capuchin friars of Mid-America received Brother Gama’s vows on behalf of the Church.

The son of Philip and Lalla Gama of Pueblo, and Sally and James Pagano of Monument, Brother Gama entered the Capuchin postulancy program in St. Louis in 2003 at the age of 23. He  made his novitiate  at St. Conrad’s Friary in Allison Park, Pa., receiving the Capuchin habit on Nov. 28, 2004, and making profession of temporary vows the following Nov. 22. Since then he has been stationed at Padre Pio Friary in Colorado Springs, 2005-06; St. Francis Friary in Denver, 2006-08; and now at San Damiano’s where he is presently a student for the priesthood in the first-year theology program at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary.

Brother Gama studied at Sunset Park and Pitts public schools in Pueblo and graduated from South High School there in 1998.  In high school, he was active in athletics and played on his school’s state championship baseball team.

On the college level, Brother Gama has studied engineering at Colorado State University in Pueblo and Fort Collins; Spanish at various schools in Colorado Springs, Denver and Puebla, Mexico; and philosophy at Regis University and St. John Vianney Theological Seminary, graduating with bachelor’s degrees in philosophy from both Regis in 2008 and St. John Vianney in 2009.

As part of his ministry formation program in Colorado, Brother Gama has served in the food kitchen at Marian House in Colorado Springs, as extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at St. Francis Nursing Center in Colorado Springs, and youth minister at Annunciation Parish in Denver.

He attended World Youth Day in Australia in 2008.