On July 13, 2024, Fray Martín Carbajo Núñez celebrated his 50th anniversary of religious profession at the monastery of Guadalupe in Cáceres. When he was just 15 years old, he did his novitiate there during the year 1973-1974 and professed in the OFM Province of Santiago (Aug. 28, 1974).
Days later, in Santiago de Compostela, he thanked the apostle Santiago for starting his philosophical-theological studies in that city (
video)
On 28.07.2024, at the Sunday Mass celebrated in
Figueruela de Arriba, Fray Martín thanked the people of his village for their support during these 50 years of being a friar. He also recalled the many other religious born in that place. At the end of the mass, people gave him a loud applause.
The fourth celebration was held at the monastery of the Clares, in Tuy, at the feast of Santa Clara. Fray Martin was surrounded by the ex-alumni of the
Minor Seminary of Herbon, where he passed 16 years as student, Professor and Rector. The celebration was presided by the archbishop of Mérida-Badajoz, Msgr. José Rodríguez Carballo, former provincial of Santiago Province of Friars Minor, where fray Martín is incardinated. Another ex-provincial, Fr. José González was also present. Celebrating his 50 years on that day and place, fr. Martin wanted to thank Saint Clare for the perseverance and the Clare Sisters of so many monasteries for their prayers. He also intended to thank God for the grace of having been a student, teacher and Rector of the Herbon Seminary. He requested ereyone's prayer for the years ahead.
The fifth celebration was in San Diego, California, just on the anniversary day. I am very grateful to my fraternity for this wonderful fraternal gesture.
The sixth celebration was a pleasant surprise given to me by the friars of the Junípero Serra Province, after the 5th week of training I have given them in the last 9 years
Of these six celebrations, the most solemn and significant took place in the basilica of the Guadalupe monastery (
full video). The choir of rocieros from Cáceres performed the hymns, adding to the ceremony's solemnity. The Superior of the convent, Rev. P. Guillermo Cerrato, on behalf of the Provincial Minister of Santiago, presided over the event during which Fray Martín thanked God for his 50 years of religious life.
For the past 30 years, he has been based in Rome, where he currently teaches at two pontifical universities. Additionally, he spends one semester each year teaching in San Diego, California, USA.
