Listening to the voice of the Lord

The invitation of Jesus to his friends was very simple: "Come and see!" This same invitation is made today. The exploration of a vocation is done step by step. It is a gradual response to the call of God. The Capuchin-Franciscans offer various opportunities to men between 18 and 40 years old to explore their vocation. The process is experiential and mutual: If you are interested and fulfill the initial pre-requisites, then you can 'come and see' if the life and ministry of the Capuchin-Franciscan friars is for you and answers the desires of your heart. On our part, we friars will help you in your discernment. In any case, the goal is the same: the peace of knowing the will of God for you and the inner strength to take another step to make it real. In these pages you can explore the main steps in this process.

 

Discernment
  
Is God calling ME?

As a young man, Saint Francis prayed, "Lord what do you want me to do?" In the ruins of the little church of San Damiano the Lord responded, "Francis, rebuild my Church." And so began the adventure of Saint Francis that continues today.
Finding your place in the world is so very important because when you do you also find happiness, fulfillment and peace.
We can help you to prayerfully consider (discern) where God may be calling you. But you can even now begin by praying with Saint Francis, "Lord, what do you want me to do?"

Requirements

1. Single Catholic men between the ages eighteen and forty may be considered.
2. We ask the candidates have completed high school and be free of personal debt.
3. Recent converts to the Catholic faith must be active in the Catholic church for a long enough period of time so that they are familiar with Catholic practice, doctrine and spirituality.
4. Candidates should have the desire to live a life of self-giving service within a fraternal context.

 

The Next Step

After surfing around these pages, if you have any questions or just want to talk to someone about how God might be calling you to make a difference in the world, just contact Fr. Tom or Fr. Moy who will be glad to answer your questions. Click here for more information.

 

Casa Padre Pio

The Capuchin Multi-Cultural
Aspirancy Program

The Casa Padre Pio is a program designed for recent immigrants (Latinos & others) who may need remedial work in English and High School Equivalency before entering into the College or Postulancy Program of the Capuchins. The program is located in Washington, DC.
La Casa Padre Pio es un programa de preparación para inmigrantes recientes (Latinos y otros) para ayudarles a mejorar sus habilidades en el inglés y a sacar la equivalencia de la escuela secundaria antes de entrar al seminario o al postulantado. La Casa Padre Pio está ubicada en Washington, D.C.

 

College Formation

With Borromeo Seminary &
John Carroll University

For young men of college age, our province has joined with the Diocese of Cleveland to provide an excellent educational and community experience at Borromeo Seminary in Wickliffe, Ohio. Here students get a first-hand experience of Capuchin fraternity by living with Capuchin Franciscan friars and other students interested in religious life and/or priesthood. At the same time they work at completing their undergraduate studies at John Carroll University or Lakeland Community College. Capuchin students are offered a reduction in their room and board as well as a substantial reduction in tuition.

 

Postulancy

First Experience of Living
in Capuchin Fraternity

The first step of entrance into Capuchin life is called postulancy. Postulancy usually lasts about fourteen months. After their acceptance, postulants live in a Capuchin friary sharing the life of the friars in an initial way. They join the friars for prayer, meals and recreation, but also maintain a certain amount of independence.

The Postulants live in Padre Pio Friary, Philadelphia, PA, where they learn about community by living, serving the poor, and praying together with the friars -- the best way to learn about Capuchin life is by living it. Postulants do just that, but in a beginning and gradual way.

 

Novitiate

Receiving the Capuchin Habit &
the habits of the Capuchin heart.

At the beginning of the novitiate year, the novice is invested with the Capuchin habit. However, even more importantly, through prayer and meditation, study of the Capuchin and Franciscan sources, spiritual direction, the experience of serving the poor and intense fraternal living the novice begins to acquire the habits of the heart necessary to live joyfully and generously the Capuchin-Franciscan ideal.

 

Post-Novitiate

"Learning by Doing" to Live
the Consecrated Life

After the novitiate, the newly professed friars go to Saint Francis Friary in Washington, DC for a nine month period of initial formation to assist them in integrating the Capuchin ideals which were learned in the novitiate. After this experience the friars then proceed to graduate studies in theology if preparing for ordained ministry or, to other studies in theology and religious life in preparation for other ministries in the church. The period of initial formation lasts for at least three years. After that time, the friar may request to be permanently united to the fraternity through perpetual profession.