It's all thanks to our brothers Luke Kim, OFM Cap., and Paul Dressler, OFM Cap.!

  St. John the Evangelist in Philadelphia attracts a remarkably diverse group of young adults, and young professionals and students gather there carrying their ambitions, dreams, concerns, and hopes for the future. Among the members of Jack's YAKS are medical students, physicians, nurses, and healthcare professionals from Jefferson University and its affiliated hospitals -- not to mention lawyers, teachers, and professionals from many other fields. The reason they come is not very different from young adults elsewhere. While they are actively pursuing careers and goals, they are also searching for genuine friendship and authentic community. A group of young adults who desire to grow together in faith is gradually taking root there.

 

 

   Thanks go out to Luke for sending along this update on their activities . . .

Read Br. Luke's Update . . . .

  Our brother Mike Herlihey, OFM Cap.  has sent photos of some moments of the men who joined him in recent months at the invitation to "Come and See . . . "

There was a Come and See weekend at our College Formation Program in Wickliffe, OH . . .

VOC Borromeo1a

Vocation Borromeo0  Vocation Borromeo StPaulShrine

And . . .

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.

If the video does not appear above in your browser,
you can go directly to YouTube.

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 . . . .

 2026 02 CAPERONE

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

  1. Capuchin Postulants Gather in Detroit
  2. Our Brothers Join the SEEKERS: Vocation News
  3. Two Brothers Profess Their Solemn Vows
  4. Meet the Men at Borromeo

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