Following the Footsteps: Our brother David Domansky

We're commemorating the 800th anniversary of the death of our founder and inspiration, St. Francis of Assisi. Our brother David Domanski, OFM Cap., serving in the Cleveland Diocese as Pastor to Holy Spirit Parish, Garfield Heights, and in ministry to the incarcerated at Cuyahoga County Jail (Cleveland Diocese), was interviewed for the Cleveland podcast, Catholic Pore Over. The hosts asked our brother to share his thoughts on our call as Capuchin Franciscans and on our ministry within the Church.

Br. Ryan Shares His Vocation with his Home Parish

On Sunday, February 1, 2026, our brother Ryan Schmeltzer, OFM Cap., now serving his diaconate internship in Cumberland, MD at Our Lady of the Mountains Parish, was interviewed for the bulletin of his home church of St. Ferdinand in Cranberry, PA (now part of Divine Grace Parish). Noting the upcoming celebration of the World Day of Consecrated Life on the following day, the bulletin article shared Ryan's reflections on Religious Life and the call of our vocation. You can read it in his reflection here.

 A quotable quote:

Deacon Ryan Schmeltzer, OFM Cap loved going to Mass as a youngster and grew up curious about the priesthood. Then he attended a Parish Mission with his parents at Saint Ferdinand given by Father Scott Seethaler, OFM Cap. “Father Scott is responsible for my priestly vocation,” Deacon Ryan said.

Thanks go out to both our brothers Scott and Ryan!

Come and See where your call from the Lord can lead you . . . .

From our Novitiate: The Caperone, February-March 2026

Check out the February-March edition
of our Caperone
from our Capuchin Novices
at San Lorenzo Friary
in Santa Ynez, CA.

Capuchin Postulants Gather in Detroit

Kevin Thompson, OFM Cap., co-director of our Postulancy program in Colorado Springs, CO, joined postulant Nate Sisack as the traveled to Detroit, MI, where as all the USA postulants participated in a retreat from February 1-6, 2026, at the Capuchin Retreat Center in nearby Washington, MI. The most important goal of the retreat days provided the opportunity for all the postulants to come to know one another before their novitiate begins in San Lorenzo, California. One of the days was spent at the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit where our own Alex Hostoffer, OFM Cap., "did a great job," they say, reflecting how our Capuchin Constitutions  treat our vows of poverty, chastity and obedience - vows which the young men will profess after their novitiate year which begins in July. That afternoon, our brother Dan Crosby, OFM Cap., spoke about how Blessed Solanus Casey, OFM Cap., lived out those vows in fraternity and service.

See photos of the visit to the Solanus Center