Just two months after professing their perpetual vows, two of our brothers are taking another joyful step toward the priesthood.
On Saturday, November 21, at 11 a.m. ET, Br. Christopher Puglia, OMV, and Br. Miguel Roque, OMV, will be ordained to the Order of Deacon through the laying on of hands and the invocation of the Holy Spirit. Fittingly, their ordination falls on the Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the day the Church remembers Mary being offered to God in the Temple. It’s a beautiful day for two Oblates of the Virgin Mary to offer their own lives in service to God and His people.
As deacons, Br. Chris and Br. Miggo will proclaim the Gospel, preach, assist at the altar, and serve the faithful as they continue their final stretch of formation. This celebration is open to everyone, and we hope you’ll join us in person or online to pray for them on this special day.
Br. Christopher Puglia, OMV
Br. Christopher was born and raised in Townsend, Massachusetts, alongside his younger brother. He earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Northeastern University in 2017. It was during his college years in Boston that he first met the Oblates at St. Francis Chapel and St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine.
After two years working as an electrical engineer, Br. Chris answered God’s call and began his studies at Our Lady of Grace Seminary in August 2019. He completed his novitiate and professed his first vows in August 2022, then served for a year at St. Peter Chanel Parish in Hawaiian Gardens, California. He’s now back in Boston completing his theological studies, and he professed his perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience in September 2026.
Leading up to his ordination, Br. Chris has shared some thoughts and reflections with the Oblates of the Virgin Mary community and supporters.
On Ven. Bruno Lanteri:
What most attracts me to our founder is his hiddenness. By this, I do not mean that he was in any way inactive. His contemporaries spoke of Lanteri as a man of “a hundred tongues and a hundred arms”, because of his prolific correspondence and spiritual direction. He was undoubtedly a man of action, but he was also quite willing to remain out of the spotlight. He lived and died relatively unknown outside of his native Piedmont.
In many ways, this sets him apart from the stories of many other founders of religious orders. Founders such as St. Bernard and St. John Bosco often carried out highly visible ministries. They used their gifts and the fame that came with them to win souls for Christ and draw others to their communities. Lanteri, however, did much of his work in less visible ways: in the confessional, through spiritual direction, and by giving retreats. This makes his example rather unique.
I see this hiddenness as a strength, not a weakness. In many ways, I believe it reflects a particularly Marian spirit. Mary, the model disciple of Jesus, was present at all the key moments of His life and ministry, yet she never sought to be the center of attention. Instead, she was always ready to point others toward her Son and to tell them, “Do whatever he tells you.”
A Message of Thanks:
As I continue my vocation as an Oblate, into the Diaconate, I have been continually asking myself about how this Marian hiddenness is to be present. Particularly in preaching, a part of the ministry of deacons, one that is undoubtedly a very visible work! I am continually reminded that where I am today is only possible because of those who are supporting me. That foundation is firstly God himself and the many quiet hours of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. However, secondly it is the assistance of so many people who have been praying for me, have been making sacrifices for me, and have been encouraging me. Over the eight years of my formation, I have been so continually overwhelmed with how much people love us Oblates, and want to support our work, even work that is often hidden like Lanteri’s. I am incredibly thankful for all your aid, for without it I can truly say I would not be where I am today.
A Note of Encouragement:
Lastly, I want to offer a word of encouragement to anyone who might be considering a life of hidden service to God and His Church, whether with the Oblates or somewhere else. In a world so focused on celebrity and fame, a life of hiddenness might seem like a “waste.” But if Jesus is inviting you, there can be no greater joy or adventure than living with Him and serving alongside Him.
Perhaps you wonder whether your God-given gifts might go unused if you follow this path. In my experience, when we offer these gifts completely to God, He puts them to use in ways far greater than we could ever imagine. They are never wasted when given to Him. So take that first step. Have that conversation. Begin to ask whether this might be where God is calling you.
Br. Miguel Roque, OMV
Br. Miguel, known to many as Br. Miggo, was born and raised in Parañaque City in the Philippines and is the youngest of three children. In 2011, he and his family moved to the United States and settled in Orange County, California. There, he served as a youth leader with Youth for Christ, an outreach of Couples for Christ.
Br. Miggo first encountered the Oblates at our parish of St. Peter Chanel in Hawaiian Gardens, where he made the Spiritual Exercises. He went on to earn a B.A. in Religious Studies from California State University, Long Beach. When he’s not studying, you might find him logging miles on a long-distance run or out on the basketball court.
He entered the Oblates in August 2019, joined the novitiate in August 2021, and professed his first vows in August 2022. In 2024, he completed a pastoral year at San Pedro Parish in Venice, Florida. Br. Miggo is now in his third year of theology studies, and he professed his perpetual vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience in September 2026.
In preparation for his ordination, Br. Miggo has also shared some thoughts and reflections with our community.
On Ven. Bruno Lanteri:
What resonates most with me in regard to Ven. Bruno Lanteri is his emphasis on mercy. His spirituality of never letting discouragement have the final say to me is such a powerful witness to who God really is. He is a good and loving God who never tires of sharing His mercy with us. This spirituality shapes my image of God, and in receiving that image, it forms me into who God made me to be. Venerable Lanteri has allowed me to receive the fullness of God’s intimate love through the sacred vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. It is amazing how the limitations of the vows and the way of life of the Oblates have led me to find true freedom to be the beloved son of God.
A Message of Thanks:
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me throughout my years of formation! I have been incredibly humbled by your generosity. Your support has allowed me to receive the incredible gift of my own humanity through formation. I am fully alive because of you all, and I am so excited to share what I have received in the quiet walls of the seminary through my future ministry. I am so grateful and blessed for the love and support I have received. Integration is what I’ve received, and you are all an essential part of receiving this holy gift- thank you, thank you, and thank you!
A Note of Encouragement:
For those young men who may be discerning a call, know that whatever you do, if the Lord is authentically calling you to religious life, He will find a way to lead you to it; so, DO NOT BE AFRAID! Many times, before entering seminary and even during formation, I have been afraid and fearful, and have found myself unworthy of this life. What I have realized and come to accept is this: God wants me to be a father who never fails to always begin again. When the Lord invites you, let the doors of His loving intimacy open wide. This way of living is the way of loving. And when I have come to accept that this is the way of love God has for me from all eternity, it has led me, is leading me, and will continue to lead me to the fullness of who I am. So, if you sense that our Lord is calling you to this life, know that this will lead you to the fullness of who you are in God’s perspective.
How to Watch Online
All are welcome to witness the Diaconate Ordinations of Br. Chris and Br. Miggo. If you can’t join us in person, the Mass will be live streamed on the OMV website, Facebook, and YouTube.
- Diaconate Ordination: Saturday, November 21, at 11 a.m. ET
- Location: St. Clement Eucharistic Shrine, 1105 Boylston Street Boston, MA 02215
After the ordination, the recording will be available to watch anytime.
Make a Gift in Honor of Brs. Chris and Miggo
Celebrate the Diaconate Ordinations of Br. Christopher and Br. Miguel by making a gift to the Seminarian Fund! Your gift supports every man answering God’s call to serve through the Oblates of the Virgin Mary. It helps cover the cost of living, learning, and service in our seminaries, so each brother can stay focused on his formation.
