Opening of the first Capuchin Friary in Iceland

Reydarfjörđur  (Iceland) – The bishop of the Diocese of Reykjavik, Msgr. Johanes Gijsen, presided at the solemn blessing of the Chapel and of the first Capuchin Friary at Reydarfjörđur on July 28, 2007. Among the Capuchins present for the occasion were: Br. Fidel Marco Pagač, Minister Provincial of the Province of Slovakia; Br. Vladimír Krišpín Nociar, Guardian of the  fraternity of Reydarfjörđur;  Br. Peter Kováčik, a new friar in the fraternity; Br. Jure Šarčević, General Definitor for the region and Br. Andrzej Konopka from the Custody of Sweden. Along with more than 100 parishioners of the new parish assigned to the Capuchins were other Catholic pastors, Protestant ministers, some religious sisters as well as the Mayor of the city of Reydarfjörđur. In his homily, the bishop thanked the Capuchin Order and the Province of Slovakia, which has provided the friars for this mission. Msgr. Gijsen stated that he hoped that this Capuchin friary will become a true spiritual center of prayer in this Eastern region of Iceland.

 

Br. David Tencer was the first Capuchin who arrived in Iceland on November 15, 2004. Brothers Peter Kováčik, Anton Majerčak and Vladimír Polák joined him on June 8, 2005. Up to this time, they had been living in the parish house of Reykjavik with the young Irish pastor, Denis O’Leary. Presently, there are three Capuchins in the fraternity: Brothers Vladimír Krišpín Nociar, Guardian, David Tencer, Pastor and Peter Kováčik.

 

The island is a large island of 103.000 km² with 300.000 inhabitants of which 6,500 are registered Catholics but in reality there are around 10,000 Catholics in the region. The entire island is one diocese with four parishes and 16 priests. There are also six congregations of religious women. The people of the island are multiethnic and very hospitable. The language is Icelandic. English is also used on the island. However, the liturgical languages are Italian and Polish, since most of the parishioners are from Poland and Italy.

 

In addition to the ministerial satisfaction, one other joy of the Capuchins on the island is that there is already a Postulant, who is presently in Aquila, Italy to learn Italian and to do his initial formation.

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