The Franciscan Vocation Ministry of Holy Name Province invites men interested in friar life to visit St. Anthony Shrine in Boston next month for a Come and See weekend.
The March 21 to 23 event will allow visitors to meet friars for conversation, meals and prayer, and to learn about the variety of pastoral activities at this ministry center in downtown Boston.
Interested participants should register by March 14 by contacting Brian Smail,OFM, vocation director, at 800-677-7788 or by visiting the Upcoming Events page of the HNP website.
“When discerning a possible vocation, the event could be helpful by meeting our friars and getting a taste of our way of life,” said Brian in a message distributed to men who have inquired with him about becoming a friar. This informal weekend will provide “an opportunity to reflect on God’s calling for your life, as well as time to explore the great city of Boston.”
A variety of information about both the application process and life as a Franciscan friar is provided in the Join Us section of the Province’s website. This includes brief biographies of the Province’s current student friars, the Be A Franciscan e-newsletter and a link to the Be a Franciscan blog that contains posts with an assortment of themes. They include:
- “A Day in the Life of a Friar: The Blessings and Challenges of Being a Pastor,” by Christopher VanHaight, OFM, of St. Bonaventure Parish, Paterson, N.J.,
- “Faith, Knowledge and Service,” a reflection by campus minister Paul Santoro, OFM, about the value of a Catholic education
- “Another Way to Discern your Vocation: Consider Being a Franciscan Volunteer,” a reflection by Michael Duffy, OFM, about the Province’s service program for young adults he co-supervises
The Vocation Office plans to distribute another edition of its e-newsletter within the next few weeks, said Brian, who has directed the office since 2007. The digital publication was launched last year. News from the Vocation Office can also be found on the Facebook page, Be A Franciscan, where videos of several HNP postulants were recently posted.
— Jocelyn Thomas is director of communications for Holy Name Province.