Vocations

It is with great joy that our St. Peter Parish community celebrates Br. Cassian Mary (Dante Iozzo) acceptance into the novitiate of the Order of Preachers, commonly known as the Dominicans! Moving to Lewiston with his family at age 11, Dante attended Lewiston-Porter Middle and High School, the University at Buffalo, and Cornell University where he obtained his PhD in Physics. After an intense application process, Br. Cassian Mary (Dante) received the Dominican Habit at the Dominican Novitiate located in Cincinnati on August 8, 2021. The novitiate period is for one year, and, Br. Cassian Mary (Dante) has professed simple vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. After receiving the habit of St. Dominic, Br. Cassian made his profession of vows to the Order of Preachers (commonly called the Dominicans) on August 15, 2022. He is now continuing his formation at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington D.C., where he will be undertaking formal studies in preparation for ordination to the priesthood in 2028. 

Let us continue to keep Br. Cassian Mary (Dante) in our prayers as he begins this journey.

Luca LaNasa, son of Dan and Raphaelle (Rae) LaNasa of Lewiston, is the youngest of 4 sons.  He attended St Peter’s School from Kindergarten through 8th grade and is a long time parishioner of Immaculate Conception Church in Ransomville, where he served as an altar server as a boy, and then as an usher and lector after Confirmation.  He enjoyed working at DiMino’s Lewiston Tops as a cashier and office clerk, and after attending his 1st year of business at NCCC, he felt the call to the priesthood. 

After a year of discernment and meetings with Fr David Baker, he started the application process, and in June 2024, he was accepted into the Diocese of Buffalo Seminary. On August 1st, he started his first year at St Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore Maryland.  He will continue his studies at St Mark’s Seminary in Erie Pennsylvania and will be home for Christmas and summer breaks, when we will see him as we welcome Immaculate Conception into our family of Parishes.

Please pray for Luca and for all of our Buffalo Diocese Seminarians.  You can find them on the Diocese of Buffalo Vocations website, under “Meet our Seminarians”.

Thank you, Lord for calling Luca to the priesthood.  Please call many more young men and give them what they need to hear and answer the call.  

Amen.