ALLEGANY, N.Y. — To prepare for the next year of their formation, postulants who will be participating in the 2011-2012 interprovincial novitiate in Burlington, Wis., gathered late last month on the campus of St. Bonaventure University for the summer session of the Franciscan Institute.
“Unique to this summer is the fact that postulants from four other Provinces are with us,” said Ronald Pecci, OFM, HNP’s director of postulants. Men from Our Lady of Guadalupe, Sacred Heart, St. John the Baptist and Immaculate Conception provinces joined Holy Name’s soon-to-be novices John Aherne, Pedro Corces and Jeffrey Upshaw. Sisters from the Neumann Bachmann communities are also participating in the summer session, which runs from June 25 to July 30.
The men participating in the session, along with those from Christ the King Province in western Canada, will be received into the novitiate on Aug. 15.
Ron said they share a townhouse, on-campus housing used by students during the school year, “having most lunches and breakfasts together and some dinners. We also set up an oratory in one apartment where we pray Compline most days and Mass on Saturday.” For other liturgies, they attend services provided by the institute in the University Chapel.
“The academic experience, competence and interest of these men is so varied,” said Ron, “that they enrolled in at least 10 different introductory courses offered by the institute.”
While staying in the Allegany community — near the Province’s St. Bonaventure Church — Ron, John, Pedro, Jeffrey and newly-professed George Camacho, OFM, participated in the BonaFest 5K Run on July 9, part of the parish’s summer festival.
This was the first year for a collaborative summer study experience. “We hope it will continue,” Ron said, adding that each province will evaluate the program later in the year to decide on future participation.
“At this point, I feel confident to say that the experience has been excellent and will probably repeat next summer,” he said.
Pictured in the photo above left to right are John, George, Jeffrey, Ron and Pedro.
— Rebecca Doel is communications coordinator for Holy Name Province.