By Michael Motes

Gerald McEvoy has made his Profession of Vows in the Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales (MSFS) religious order. He thus became the first non-American to profess in the order in this country.

The ceremony took place at the Visitation Monastery in Snellville.

MSFS Provincial Kevin O’Neill came from Cheltenham, England, for the ceremony and to attend the opening of the new St. Lawrence Church in Lawrenceville, which is staffed by the missionaries.

While here, Father O’Neill conducted a week-long mission at St. Lawrence.

McEvoy was introduced to the MSFS order while working as a salesman for an ecclesiastical supply company in his native England. After joining the order, he returned to school prior to coming to the MSFS Novitiate in Lawrenceville last October.

While in the archdiocese, he worked with the Metropolitan Tribunal and with the Dominican Sisters at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Free Cancer Home. Following his profession, he left for Beda College in Rome to complete his theological education.

The Missionaries of St. Francis de Sales is a religious order founded in Annecy, France, in 1838. Priests of the order work primarily on the diocesan level through parish missions and retreats. There are approximately 600 MSFS priests throughout the world and missions have been established in Brazil and India.

Five MSFS priests are currently serving in the Archdiocese of Atlanta. They are Father Sean Fleuary, pastor, and Father Kenneth W. Bayer, at St. Patrick’s in Norcross; Father Gerard F. Gill, pastor, and Father John Rodrigues at St. Lawrence, and Father Terry McGrath, who is assigned to the Metropolitan Tribunal.