Vowed for Life as a Capuchin
On Saturday, August 19, three of our friars made their "perpetual vows" of povery, chastity and obedience in a Mass celebrated at St. Augustine Church in Pittsburgh, PA. Friends and family of the brothers along with many friars from our Capuchin Province and beyond gathered to witness our brothers placing their hands into the hands of our Provincial Minister, Tom Betz, OFM Cap., to declare their resolve to live "all the days of my life . . . in obedience, without anything of my own and in chastity." With their profession, the brothers have acknowledged the Lord's faithfulness and love and the call they have heard to follow the Lord where he leads them through the grace of our brotherhoord.
The three brothers who professed vows were Diogo Escudero, OFM Cap., Saúl Soriano, OFM Cap., and Keon Tu, OFM Cap. (all pictured above to the right), each of whom have spent three years in temporary profession at our house of formation, Capuchin College, in Washington, DC.
Three Brothers Get into the Habit
On July 23, 2017, three of our brothers, Paul Rahn, Mike Herlihey and Collin Kourtz (above) made their transitions from "Postulancy" to their Novitiate year with the Investiture ceremony held in Santa Ynez. After a year at our Padre Pio Friary in Philadelphia where they began their discernment of the Lord's call to our Capuchin brotherhood, the three men headed to Santa Inex, CA, to join the other Provinces of the NAPCC (North American and Pacific Capuchin Conference) for the more intense discernement that takes place as "novices." The year began with their "Investiture," as Brs. Paul, Mike and Collin were dressed in the habit of the Order: our Capuchin brown tunic tied with a cord with three knots and marked by the distinctive, elongated hood ("capuccio").
New Destinations in Brotherhood
As the novices set out on their year of discernment, we celebrate one friar's completion of that year as he makes his first profession of vows, while another six men take their first steps on the journey of brotherhood in Postulancy.
Ordained to serve as Capuchin priests
On Saturday, June 3, our brothers Al Carver, OFM Cap., Jonathan Ulrich, OFM Cap., and James Watson, OFM Cap. (left, with the bishop)were ordained to the priesthood by Bishop David Zubic of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, PA. This step in their lives follow their years of formation in our Capuchin Franciscan way of life, and years of study in theology and ministry in Washington, DC. Ms. Jess Wabler, a friend of Br. Al, served as cantor, along with friar Bob Herrick, OFM Cap., who coordinates the music ministry all of our Provincial liturgies.
ALVERNO: A Thin Place II
Pablo Lopez, a student of the Capuchin Formation Program at Borromeo in Wickliffe, OH, has produced a new video about Alverno, our house for prayer, solitude and fraternity in the hills near Salisbury, PA. Pablo asks the members of the CFP to reflect on their experience of the special place, and our brother Lester Knoll, OFM Cap., who ministers with the students of Borromeo, shares his own special moments there.
See the original video of Alverno's story
with the narration of Fr. Lester.
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