Is someone you know considering joining the Franciscan friars? Men interested in learning more about life as a friar will have three opportunities to do so this fall. Holy Name Province’s Franciscan Vocation Ministry is offering several Come and See Weekends, as well as an opportunity to experience the Transitus with a friar community.
The Come and See Weekends will be held at St. Anthony Shrine, Boston, and Holy Name College, Silver Spring, Md. Participants will get a taste of friar life by sharing in meals, conversation and prayer, and will learn about the varied ministries the Province offers. The Boston event will take place from Sept. 20 to 22 and the Silver Spring event, from Dec. 6 to 8.
Interested men will also have the opportunity to “Experience the Transitus” of St. Francis at St. Francis of Assisi Church, New York City, on Oct. 3. Participants will be able to meet Brian and other men discerning a call to Franciscan life, as well as attend the Transitus, a moving service commemorating the last hours of the saint’s life.
Registration is required for each event, as space is limited. Interested attendees can access a sign-up form on the Upcoming Events page of the HNP website.
If men are unable to attend a vocation event, Brian invites them to create their own Franciscan experience. “If someone cannot devote an entire weekend or is unable to travel to a certain location, he is more than welcome to visit any of our ministries,” Brian said. “Our ‘Make Your Own Weekend’ option is designed to be flexible for those with busy schedules.”
Several other ministries that the vocation ministry team suggests visiting include:
• St. Francis Inn, a soup kitchen in Philadelphia that provides food, clothing and hospitality to the poor and homeless
• St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Raleigh, N.C., that offers outreach, educational and recreational programs through its community center
Men interested in creating their own vocation event can request a visit by contacting Brian at 1-800-677-7788 or vocation@hnp.org. Frequently, he recommends that men talk with a friar in their area. The Province has six regional vocation teams.
Details about fall 2013 vocation events can be found on a flyer that can be displayed at parishes and other ministry sites.
— Maria Hayes is communications coordinator for Holy Name Province.