Every three years, we Capuchin Franciscan friars gather to discuss our lives in fraternity and service. During that meeting, called a Chapter, we also elect those who will serve in leadership as Provincial Minister. Four other brothers are elected to serve as his Council.
The Chapter of friars, held from May 23-27, 2022, elected our brother, Robert Marva, OFM Cap., to serve as Minister for this term. Currently serving as Pastor of St. Agnes/Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Cleveland, OH, Br. Bob takes the helm of the Province previously served by our Br. Tom Betz, OFM Cap., who served for the past two terms (2016-2022).
Br. Bob was born on September 26, 1966, in Solon, OH, a member of St. Rita Parish there. An early interest in high school seminary led him to apply to our Capuchin St. Fidelis Seminary in 1980, but the seminary was to close its doors that very year. So, instead, he attended St. Mark Seminary High School in Erie, PA (1980-1984) before studying for the Cleveland Diocese at Borromeo College Seminary of Ohio (1984-1988). After graduating, sensing the call to our Capuchin brotherhood, and after living as a postulant of the community and then receiving the habit of the Order in 1989, Bob professed vows as a Capuchin in 1990.
Bob studied theology at Washington Theological Union in DC and was ordained a priest friar in 1997. His first ministry as a priest was to the Formation staff of our Capuchin Formation Program at his Alma Mater, Borromeo, now a residence for seminarians studying at John Carroll University. In 2000, he pastored the people of St. Paul Shrine and Holy Trinity-St. Edward in Cleveland. Still in Cleveland, he became pastor to St. Agnes/Our Lady of Fatima in 2004 where he has served for the past 18 years.
Bob served our Province on its Council since 2013 for three terms, the final of which (2019-2022) serving as the Vicar Provincial Minister.
For the Chapter of 2022, we had the honor to have our General Minister from Rome, Roberto Genuin, OFM Cap. (left), from the Province of Venice/Milan, as President of the Chapter.
Elected to form the Provincial Council were our brothers Jim Mungovan, OFM Cap., (Vicar Provincial), Brian Stacy, OFM Cap., Emilio Biosca, OFM Cap., and Richard Owens, OFM Cap.
Pictured above (L-R) are our brothers Richard, Jim, Bob, Brian & Emilio
Join us in prayers of gratitude for our new leadership as all of us pray for the Spirit's guidance as Br. Bob and his Council chart the life and work of the brothers for the next three years.
On Tuesday evening, May 24th, we remembered our brothers, affiliates and parents whom we lost in these three years, 2019-2022. We ask for their prayers for us as we continue to pray with and for them.