Reflections - Friars in Novitiate

Their Vocation Journey ... 

MATTHEW GILES, O.F.M., Cap. 

It was a difficult journey for me to enter Capuchin life, but every day since entering has been a tremendous blessing. Postulancy was a fantastic year of growth, discovery and discernment. I had the great privilege to live with several great men, both my classmates and my formation directors, and had the great joy to serve the poor.

Pre-novitiate offered many new and interesting challenges and required me to continue to grow as a friar and as a person.  Novitiate, too, will continue to offer new and different challenges than I have experienced before, yet I trust in the consolation of the Spirit, Who will continue to guide me in my journey of faith toward the fullness of life in the Church and in the Capuchin Order.

As I look back, I can't help but smile at all the great blessing that God has bestowed on me in my first year of Capuchin life and as I look ahead, I can't help but wonder at what great wonders God has in store for me. Although the path ahead will be difficult, just as the path to this point was difficult, I have confidence in God and in my Brothers in Christ and know that, despite the difficulties, God will continue to bless and guide me. I very much look forward to continuing my journey to Christ in the footsteps of Francis. 





 
RONALD O'KEEFE, O.F.M., Cap.

I was grateful to hear the positive news of my acceptance into the Capuchins. The opportunity to expand in a religious setting and to focus more on my relationships with myself, with others, and most importantly with God is an opportunity that I have waited for and prayed about for many years.

The Pre-Novitiate Program in Kansas was a nice transition from Postulancy into our Novitiate.  The time away for two months and the engagement in a larger community of guys in formation was refreshing.  The time in Kansas also allowed for more of a slowing down and an easing into our year of Novitiate.  I am looking forward to what this year in Novitiate will bring us.  I am already enjoying praying in a larger community and the sharing of this quiet time together.

I would definitely encourage anyone seeking the Lord in their life through a vocational call to attend one of our weekends. These weekends are spirit-filled and the men that you meet are all great people who are listening and figuring out where in their life they are being called to serve.