A Year to Rejoice

Fathers Francis, Titus, and Basil Receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders

On Saturday September 3, 2022, the Feast of Pope Saint Gregory the Great, three members of the Saint Anselm monastic community received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Reverend Father Francis Ryan McCarty, O.S.B. ’10 was ordained to the priesthood and Reverend Fathers Titus Michael Phelan, O.S.B. ’12 and Basil Louis Franciose, O.S.B. ’17 were ordained to the diaconate all by the Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester. Following ordination and according to house custom, Brothers Titus and Basil will now be addressed as Father Titus and Father Basil.

The culmination of years of monastic formation and seminary studies, Father Francis now takes his place in the Holy Priesthood of Jesus Christ. As deacons, Fathers Titus and Basil are now ministers of service for Saint Anselm Abbey and the wider Church, assisting priests with the administration of the Sacraments.

Fathers Francis, Titus, and Basil were presented for ordination by The Right Reverend Mark A. Cooper, O.S.B. ’71, Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey.

During the Rite of Ordination, Bishop Libasci offered words of instruction and encouragement: “As a Priest and as Deacons, joined to the priestly office of Bishops, you will be consecrated for the preaching of the Gospel, the sanctification and nourishment of God’s people, and for divine worship, especially in the Lord’s Sacrifice. With the help of God, you should go about all these duties in such a way that you will be recognized as true disciples of him who came not to be served, but to serve.”

Following the Litany of the Saints, the Laying on of Hands, and the Prayer of Ordination, Fathers Francis, Titus, and Basil were invested with the vestments of their new positions by Abbot Mark A. Cooper, O.S.B. ’71

Father Francis completed his seminary studies by earning S.T.B and M.A. degrees at Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, Mass. Father Titus completed his seminary studies by earning a master’s in theological studies at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry in Brighton, Mass. Father Basil is in his final year of seminary studies at Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, Mass. Fathers Titus and Basil’s ordinations to the priesthood are planned for some time in 2023.

On Sunday September 4, Father Francis celebrated his first Mass of Thanksgiving in the Saint Anselm Abbey Church. He was assisted at the altar by Fathers Titus and Basil. Father Titus served as the homilist.

Father Francis is a native of North Smithfield, R.I. He graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2010 with a degree in history and with a minor in Catholic studies. Before entering the monastery, he served as a theology and computer science teacher at Mount Saint Charles Academy in Woonsocket, R.I. Father Francis currently serves as a campus minister at Saint Anselm College. 

Father Titus is a native of Swampscott, Mass. He graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2012 with a degree in politics and with minors in Catholic studies and Spanish. He completed the ECHO program, receiving a master’s degree in theology from the University of Notre Dame in 2014. Before entering the monastery, he served as a college campus minister and high school theology teacher. Father Titus currently serves as the coordinator for academic support and student programming at Saint Anselm College. 

Father Basil is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah. He graduated from Saint Anselm College in 2017 with a degree in theology and a minor in philosophy. Father Basil is currently in his final year of studies at Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton, Mass.

Father Aloysius Ryan Sarasin, O.S.B. ’17 Ordained to the Priesthood 

The Reverend Father Aloysius Ryan Sarasin, O.S.B. ’17 was ordained to the priesthood by The Most Reverend Peter A. Libasci, Bishop of Manchester, on Saturday, June 18, in the Saint Anselm Abbey Church.

The culmination of years of monastic formation and four years of seminary studies, Father Aloysius’ now takes his place in the Holy Priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Father Aloysius was presented for ordination by The Right Reverend Mark A. Cooper, O.S.B. ’71, Abbot of Saint Anselm Abbey.

During the Rite of Ordination, Bishop Libasci offered words of instruction and encouragement: “My son, you are now to be advanced to the order of the presbyterate. You must apply your energies to the duty of teaching in the name of Christ, the chief Teacher. Share with all mankind the word of God you have received with joy. Meditate on the law of God, believe what you read, teach what you believer, and put into practice what you teach.”

Following the Litany of the Saints, the Laying on of Hands, and the Prayer of Ordination, Father Aloysius was invested with the priestly stole and chasuble by Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. ’71.
Reflecting on his ordination, Father Aloysius noted, “After discerning priesthood for over half of my life, it is surreal and overwhelming to finally reach this day. I am eternally grateful to Almighty God for choosing me to serve Him and His Church as a monk and priest. I am also grateful for the years of continued support from my family, confreres, and friends.”

Father Aloysius completed his seminary studies by earning a Masters of Divinity at Saint Meinrad Seminary in Saint Meinrad, Ind. The Rector of Saint Meinrad Seminary, The Very Reverend Denis Robinson, O.S.B., represented the seminary at the ordination. Brother Benjamin Brown, O.S.B., represented the monastic community of Saint Meinrad Archabbey. The Reverend Monsignor Richard Collette represented the Diocese of Worcester. Msgr. Collette baptized Father Aloysius on December 4, 1994. 

On Sunday June 19, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, Father Aloysius celebrated his first Mass of Thanksgiving in the Saint Anselm Abbey Church. The Reverend Father Zachary Samples, a newly ordained priest of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois and Father Aloysius’ seminary classmate, served as the homilist.

Father Aloysius is a native of Leominster, Mass. He is the son of Robert and Dianne Sarasin and was a parishioner of Saint Anthony de Padua Parish in Fitchburg, Mass. He graduated from Saint John’s High School in Shrewsbury, Mass., in 2013 and attended Saint Anselm College, graduating in 2017 with a degree in theology, and a minor in philosophy. He joined the monastic community at Saint Anselm in 2017. He professed Solemn Vows and was ordained a deacon in 2021. In August he began work in the Saint Anselm College Office of Student Engagement and Leadership as program and club sports coordinator.

Brother Thomas Professes Simple Vows 

Brother Thomas Kevin Lacourse, O.S.B. ’15 professed temporary vows as a monk of Saint Anselm Abbey on July 9, 2022. Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. ’71 presented Brother Thomas with the full monastic habit and a copy of the Rule of Saint Benedict.

Through his temporary profession of vows, Brother Thomas embraces the vows of the Order of St. Benedict: obedience, stability, and conversatio morum (fidelity to monastic life) as cited in Chapter 58 of the Rule of Saint Benedict. Upon completing three years as a junior monk, and after careful prayer and deliberation, he may petition the monastic community to profess solemn vows and become a permanent member of the monastic community.

Brother Thomas is a native of Chester, N.H. He is a member of the Saint Anselm College Class of 2015. Following his graduation from Saint Anselm, he earned an M.A. in political theory from the University of Sheffield in 2016 and a Ph.D. in political science from Trinity College Dublin.

“Professing first vows brought all of the seemingly disparate pieces of my life up to this point together into one,” said Brother Thomas. “It makes the monastery truly home and the monastic community truly family. For those gifts I am immensely grateful.”

Brother Basil Professes Solemn Vows 

On July 11, 2021, the Feast of Saint Benedict of Nursia, Brother Basil Louis Franciose, O.S.B. ’17, professed solemn vows as a monk of Saint Anselm Abbey, Manchester, N.H. Abbot Mark Cooper, O.S.B. ’71, clothed Brother Basil with the monastic cuculla, a pleated monastic choir robe, and a symbol of solemn profession. The day co-incidentally was Br. Basil’s 28th birthday.

Standing before the altar and before his brothers in the monastery, Brother Basil pronounced vows of stability, obedience and conversatio morum, making a permanent commitment of himself to the Lord and to his monastic community. 

Brother Basil is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the son of Larry and Lori Franciose and was a parishioner of Saint Vincent de Paul Parish in Holladay, Utah. He graduated from Judge Memorial High School in Salt Lake City, Utah in 2013 and attended Saint Anselm College, graduating in 2017 with a degree in theology, and a minor in philosophy.

Reflecting upon his profession of solemn vows, Brother Basil commented, “It is a joy to profess solemn vows as a monk of Saint Anselm Abbey. I wish I had something profound to say, but it just fits. At a certain point you realize that everyone is called to live a life of sacrifice in imitation of Christ, it just depends on how. I am blessed enough to realize that this is the ‘fit’ that God has for me.”