August 27 and 28 was a weekend of joyful celebration at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart on the campus of the University of Notre Dame as on Saturday the United States Province of Priests and Brothers and the Moreau Province witnessed four men profess their Final Vows to the Congregation of Holy Cross, two of which were then ordained to the diaconate on Sunday.
The four religious to profess Final Vows were Br. James Walters, C.S.C., Br. James Henke, C.S.C., and Mr. Andrew Fritz, C.S.C., from the United States Provinces, and Mr. John Sebastian Gutierrez, C.S.C., from the Moreau Province.
Fr. William Lies, C.S.C., Superior of the United States Province, presided and preached at the Mass of Final Vows on Saturday afternoon. He also received the vows of the three members of his province, while Br. Thomas Dziekan, C.S.C., Superior of the Moreau Province, received the vows of Mr. Gutierrez.
After a brief reception for all of those in attendance at the Mass, the community and invited guests later enjoyed a banquet in honor of the newly professed at Moreau Seminary.
On Sunday morning, in the chapel of Moreau Seminary, Mr. Gutierrez, and Mr. Fritz were ordained deacons by the Most Rev. William A. Wack, C.S.C., Bishop of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. A festive brunch followed at the seminary.
Rev. Mr. Andrew Fritz, C.S.C., hails from Columbia, Maryland. He attributes his vocation to the religious he met at Notre Dame and in Le Mans, France. Having served the poor, he also led marriage preparation classes and did a pastoral year at St. John Vianny Parish in Goodyear, Arizona. Fully committed to pastoral activities, Deacon Andrew will continue to serve at St. John Vianny Parish during his diaconate year.
Rev. Mr. John Sebastian Gutierrez, C.S.C., is a native of San Antonio, Texas., where he was introduced to the Holy Cross Brothers at Holy Cross School. After completing his postulancy at Pulte Hall, he later professed his First Vows in 2017. His ministries include work with Hispanic students, campus ministry, and Assistant Hall Director at Holy Cross College. Deacon John Sebastian will fulfill his diaconate year at St. Ignatius the Martyr Parish in Austin, Texas.
Learn more about a vocation to the Congregation of Holy Cross
Br. James Henke, C.S.C., came to Holy Cross from Greenwood, Indiana. He professed his First Vows in 2018. Self-taught in Bangla, he spent a year of ministry in Bangladesh, which he found to be transformative. His other ministries include chaplain to the basketball team, catechist, and tutor. Although Br. James hopes to return to Bangladesh in the future, he is now a campus minister at King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
Br. James Walters, C.S.C., was born in DeGraff, Michigan. A product of the Old College Program at Notre Dame, he professed his First Vows in 2018. Fortified with diverse ministerial experiences, such as catechist, sacristan, hospital chaplain, and Catholic Peace Fellowship intern, Br. James will continue his ministry at Stonehill College in Easton, Massachusetts, as a member of the campus ministry team.