WINTER PARK | Three Capuchin Franciscan friars will soon establish a friary at Holy Redeemer Parish in Kissimmee.

The three Franciscan friars are Father Francisco Arredondo, originally from San Diego, Father Abel Noel from Haiti, and Father Wirmun Tobias Dzedzemoon from Cameroon. The priests will move into a renovated rectory on the Holy Redeemer campus.

Rather than running parishes as in the past, the Capuchin Franciscans from the Sacred Stigmata of St. Francis Province revisited their charisms and are determined to go back to living out their original call to prayer, fraternity, and ministry.

They have been returning their parishes to the respective dioceses and establishing friaries throughout their region from New Jersey to Florida. This allows them to serve the dioceses as part of their ministerial charism.

Father Arredondo clarified they are not priests for Holy Redeemer or the Diocese of Orlando. Instead, they are here to help diocesan needs overall. For example, they have already helped serve at various Masses, and for the Sacrament
of Penance. Ultimately, they will also help lead retreats and days of recollection across Central Florida.

Father Arredondo said he hopes they are able to assist Catholic Charities of Central Florida as well.

The priests speak English, Haitian, Creole, French, Spanish, and Portuguese. Father Dzedzemoon also speaks the Lamnso dialect from Shisong in Cameroon.

Staff report, November 14, 2024