NEW YORK — Seven weekends have been scheduled by the Province’s vocation ministry for the 2007 – 2008 academic year. The first is the weekend after Labor Day on Long Beach Island, N.J.
These vocation weekends, open to men under the age of 39 who are considering a vocation to the Franciscans, include prayer, hospitality and fraternity, according to Gregory Jakubowicz, vocation director.
“By participating in one of our weekends, a man can catch a glimpse of our Franciscan Way of life as we pray, share meals and reflect on the Gospel life of joy, compassion, and service inspired by St. Francis of Assisi,” Greg said, adding that “with an informal schedule, from Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, participants will have the opportunity to meet with the friars and those people with whom we minister.”
The schedule of weekends is:
Sept. 7 – 9, 2007
Hospitality Weekend
St. Francis Friary, Beach Haven, N.J.
Oct. 19 – 21, 2007
Discernment Retreat (Contemplative Experience)
Holy Peace Friary at Mt. Irenaeus, West Clarksville, N.Y.
Nov. 16 – 18, 2007
Hospitality Weekend
Siena College Friary in Loudonville, N.Y.
Dec. 7 – 9, 2007
Hospitality Weekend
St. Anthony Shrine, Boston, Mass.
Feb. 8 – 10, 2008
Hospitality Weekend
Holy Name College, Silver Spring, Md.
March 20 – 23, 2008
Holy Triduum & Easter with the Franciscan Friars
Holy Name College, Silver Spring, Md.
April 25 – 27, 2008
Discernment Retreat (Contemplative Experience)
Holy Peace Friary at Mt. Irenaeus, West Clarksville, N.Y.
More information about the weekends is available by calling the Franciscan Vocation Ministry at 800-677-7788, or visiting the vocation page on the Province’s Web site at www.vocation.org.
According to the VisionMatch.com Report on Trends in Religious Life, sponsored by the Vision Vocation Guide, religious communities that responded to their poll indicate a 71 percent increase in the number of people inquiring about religious life. The increase is found primarily among younger Catholics with 50 percent of those considering a religious vocation under the age of 30.
The recent increased interest in religious life has been featured on Natonial Public Radio. In one of the first segments of its series, NPR described a “boomlet in young ministers.” See article on NPR’s Web site called The Younger Generation Finds Religion.