New York- Having passed the citizenship test, Friar Joachin Mejia to his oath to become a US citizen on September 28, 2017. Friar Joachin, along with his parents and nine brothers, escaped El Salvador and were granted political asylum in the United States. He entered the Friars Minor in 2001, made his Solemn Profession of Vows in 2012 and was ordained to the priesthood in April 2013.
Pictured above from left to right: Friar Victor Treminio Trujillo (simply professed), Friar Joaquin Mejia, and Friar Orlando Ruiz
Having studied in Rome, Friar Joachin, speaks Spanish, English, and Italian and is presently putting his language skills to use in his ministry as Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Peace Church in Brooklyn, NY.