The U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers held its annual Mass of Final Profession on Saturday, 29 August, in the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the campus of the University of Notre Dame. Four Province members made their Final Vows: Br. Jacob Gorman, C.S.C., Mr. Timothy Paul Wymore, C.S.C., Mr. Keenan James Bross, C.S.C., and Mr. Andrew James Copp, C.S.C.
Fr. William M. Lies, C.S.C., Superior of the U.S. Province of Priests and Brothers, presided at the Mass and received the Final Vows of the four religious. Then he presented Br. Jacob with the St. Joseph Medal and Timothy, Keenan, and Andrew with the crucifix that marks our Final Profession in the Congregation.
In his homily, Fr. Lies preached: “Keenan, Andrew, Jacob, and Tim, you are standing before us, and you are going to say ‘yes’… ‘yes’ to God. Not just ‘yes’ to a way of life, or to a career, or a position, or even a community. You’re saying it to a person. You’re saying ‘yes’ to Jesus Christ. And you’re saying it with your whole lives.”
He continued: “What does that ‘yes’ mean? It means poverty: ‘Lord, I trust you enough not to make possessions the measure of my life. Everything I have is a gift. Everything I am is a gift. And I want my life to become a gift to others.’ It means chastity: ‘Lord, I give you my heart, my affection, my capacity to love. Teach me to love without possessing, to love generously, to make my life available for your people.’ It means obedience: ‘Lord, my life is not finally about getting my own way. I surrender my will to yours. I will listen. I will discern. I will allow myself to be led.’ And none of these vows is an end in itself. Instead, they are what we embrace in our journey of ‘yes’ to God.”
Following the Mass, there was a reception in the University’s Main Building for all who attended the Mass. Later, there was a special dinner at Moreau Seminary and Scholasticate for the community, family, and friends of the four newly finally professed.
The following day, Sunday, 30 August, the three seminarians were ordained deacons by the Most Rev. Kevin C. Rhoades, Bishop of the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, in the Sacred Heart Chapel in Moreau Seminary and Scholasticate.
Watch the Final Vows Mass here
Deacon Keenan James Bross, C.S.C., a member of the U.S. Province, is a native of Wentzville, Missouri. He took First Vows on 31 July 2021. In 2020, Keenan graduated with a bachelor’s in physics and philosophy from the University of Notre Dame and has recently earned a Master of Divinity from the same University. Keenan likes to live close to the people and also “learn from them how to be the presence of Christ in the world.” Keenan spent a pastoral year in St. Felista’s Parish in Utegi, Tanzania. He also assisted at St. Adalbert’s Parish and Memorial Hospital, both in South Bend. Keenan is multilingual. He is proficient in English, Spanish, and Swahili. His affection for the poor is deep. Keenan wrote, “I am haunted by the poor and destitute and want to give my life to them through the Church.” As a deacon, he is serving as Rector of Keenan Hall at Notre Dame.
Deacon Andrew Copp, C.S.C., a member of the U.S. Province, comes from La Grange Park, Illinois. He professed First Vows on 30 July 2022. Andrew has many ministry experiences, including serving at St. Ignatius Parish in Texas, St. Joseph Parish in Sreemangal, Bangladesh, and Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana. These opportunities make him see himself as a servant modelling Jesus, the Good Shepherd. For Andrew, ministry “strengthens my patience, compassion, gentleness and joy as I accompany God’s people through the peaks and wastelands of human experience.” Andrew holds a bachelor’s in environmental engineering and a Master of Divinity Degree from the University of Notre Dame. “I desire my religious life in Holy Cross to lead others to say, ‘See what love God has for us!’” he wrote. As a deacon, he is serving as a Hall Director and working in campus ministry at the University of Portland.
Brother Jacob Gorman, C.S.C., a member of the U.S. Province, is from Evansville, Indiana. He made First Vows on 30 July 2022. Br. Jacob finds deep meaning in the Vows. He wrote, “I’ve grown to give myself generously to everyone through my vow of chaste celibacy, to foster a closeness to the poor through my vow of poverty, and to temper my own will in preference for God’s.” Br. Jacob has a bachelor’s degree in theology and philosophy and a Master of Divinity, both from the University of Notre Dame. He worked with the homeless at St. Patrick’s Parish in Soho, London; assisted in campus ministry at the University of Portland; spent a summer in Bangladesh; and has been serving as Rector of Carroll Hall at the University of Notre Dame since 2025. He hopes “to witness God's love to a world plagued by selfishness, insecurity, and a desire for power.” He is continuing as Rector of Carroll Hall following his Final Profession.
Deacon Timothy Wymore, C.S.C., a member of the U.S. Province, hails from Madison, Wisconsin. He pronounced First Vows on 30 July 2022. Timothy’s experience of living monastic life for nearly two years at St. Meinrad Archabbbey enables him to deeply value community life. He studied Spanish and served in Nuestra Madre Santissima de la Luz Parish in Mexico. Timothy holds the view that these experiences have “trained me to cross more geographic, linguistic, and cultural boundaries in the future exercise of my ministry.” In 2007, Timothy earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Notre Dame. He has since studied philosophy, theology and earned a master’s degree in education from the University of Notre Dame. He is working at St. Ignatius Martyr and San José Parishes in Austin, Texas, as a deacon.