Reflections - Friars in Novitiate
Their Vocation Journey ...
MATTHEW JANECZKO, O.F.M., Cap.
For as long as I can remember, a search for transparency and authenticity has been an overriding priority in my life. I sought it in my friends, my family, and my work and most especially within my faith. This search ultimately led me to the Capuchins and subsequently into formation. I think I always heard God’s call to religious life with varying clarity. By my third year of college, however, my quest for transparency had risen in importance through events outside my own control. At that time doctors diagnosed my mother with a rare form of cancer and my family faced a fight for her life that could hardly have been expected. It would not to be accurate to say that I discerned a Capuchin vocation because my mother took ill and then recovered; yet it would be true to say that I might not have experienced God’s presence in the profound way I did if not for her illness. Thus, after a year as a youth minister in Maryland, I more fully discovered God’s Call to Capuchin life. While the journey has not always been easy, it has further challenged me to develop authenticity in my own life as well as challenged me to allow God’s love shine through me transparently without counting the cost.
I spent my summer in the small town of Victoria, KS in the pre-investiture program. Along with fourteen other men from around the country – and the world – we worked daily to form a strong community in preparation for the novitiate in Allison Park, PA. By praying in community, sharing meals, working together at a Habitat for Humanity site as well as simply spending time together we formed a cohesive fraternity. All of us managed to step outside of ourselves and focused on what each province and individual friar-to-be brings to Capuchin life. The two months spent in Victoria were a time of increasing fraternity as well as an occasion used to further discern our vocations and come to know Christ in a more intimate way.
For the next year, I will be a novice in Allison Park, PA. While the length of time being away from family, friends and friars from the province is daunting, I am looking forward to the time provided for growth in prayer and contemplation. This time will also allow me to further explore my Capuchin Franciscan vocation through the study of Francis and our Constitutions. Conscious of this wisdom, I look forward to the opportunities which await me in Allison Park while I also greatly anticipate the future plans about which only God knows.
ERIK LENHART, O.F.M., Cap.
In 2003-2004, I was blessed to have worked with Capuchin friars Carlos Hernandez and Fred Nickle as a Cap Corps volunteer at Capuchin Youth and Family Ministries. During that year, I adopted the Franciscan spirit or maybe a latent Franciscan spirit awoke within me. Either way, at some point, I remember entertaining the possibility of joining the Capuchins. I dismissed that idea at the time, but three years later, that little nagging whisper of “Capuchins” became too loud to ignore.
My experience of postulancy has been one of question and transformation. The postulancy program is about asking questions. My primary question entering postulancy was, “Should I be a Capuchin Friar?” So far I’ve found that the ‘Capuchin Question’ orbits around other more fundamental questions. Questions about myself, my motivations, and my limits have all come into focus during postulancy.
Entering a life of prayer, study, and ministry is like learning to ride a bicycle. It requires developing a balance, persistence, and can be painful and bruising, but learning to ride a bike is worth the effort. Bikes allow you to travel to new places and explore new questions.
My hope is that God will continue to guide me in self-knowledge and knowledge of God. God willing, I look forward to taking off my postulant training wheels and taking up the habit of a novice.
NATHANIEL SANTOS, O.F.M., Cap.
Living the life as a religious is something that didn’t happen over night. It was the farthest thing from my life growing up. But, by rediscovering my faith in high school through preconfirmation, and through constant recreational study, I saw a turning point in my life. I saw the Holy Spirit truly at work. A faith that I grew up with my whole life, but never fully understood what I was doing nor why I was there, soon turned out to be something that became an important part of my life. I was a practicing Catholic, and yet “not there.” I touched it, but it didn’t touch me. My faith became something so great, so mysterious; I discovered the truth that was missing in my life.
It has been one long journey since high school. I remember asking God every day what He wanted me to be. I dreamed about being a monk or a priest. But, as I graduated from high school, that dream remained just that – a dream. But it was a dream that never really left me!
One day, after attending Sunday Mass at St. Fidelis Friary, Fr. Eric Forbes approached me and asked, “So when are you going to join us?” Up to this point, I never really gave much thought to the Capuchins, yet they were a part of my whole sacramental life, from baptism to confirmation. They celebrated my parents’ marriage and administered all the sacraments to my siblings. I wanted to become a diocesan priest in the local diocese or a monk in some far off distant land. One thing that attracted me to the Capuchins was that they were the most “down to earth” priests I had ever met. It got me thinking.
In response to Fr. Eric’s question, all I could say was, “I don’t know, I need time to think about that!” I thought to myself, “How could I give up everything that I had?” Life was not that great, but it was good enough. I had a bright future ahead of me, well, so I thought. Yet, there was a desire that was never truly fulfilled. So I gave it some thought and prayer. I had until March to make my decision because of the lengthy paper work, and it was only August.
During this time of discernment, Br. Joe Meno had just returned from the Novitiate. Through conversations with him and frequenting gatherings at the friary I was able to make a decision to enter the Capuchins. I moved into the friary a few months later to experience the life of the friars. I moved in without knowing much about the Capuchins. I only knew that they prayed together and ate together.
After two months I left home for Postulancy in Brooklyn, NY. There were many differences between the life of a friar on Guam and the life of a friar in Brooklyn! Entering Postulancy opened up a lot of key insights for me. I was with men of different ages, different backgrounds/cultures, and somewhat similar interests. It has become a wonderful journey, although there have been a few bumps in the road. The one thing that was comforting was to know that I was not alone on my journey.
The prayer life has been beautiful in Postulancy, especially during the Liturgy of the Hours, at Mass and at other devotions. I’m not praying alone, but in common with others, and my classmates are always willing to participate in prayer.
We had many classes in Postulancy, so it didn't get boring! Catechism, prayer, Franciscan studies, etc. have helped to enhance my life. Trips to other friaries and ministries have helped to round out our experience of living the life of a friar.
The ministry I chose to participate in was at Bishop Mugavero Nursing Home. It opened up my heart to serving the elderly. It’s something I never thought of doing, but I took yet another chance which turned into a great experience! It has been a spiritually enriching ministry for me. Every day I left knowing that I touched someone else’s life, even if only a small way and they, too, have touched my life.
Life as a postulant had its crosses, but the benefits outweigh them. I look forward to the next stage of this journey: Novitiate. I’m not really sure what God has planned for me but I’m confident that He will lead and direct me.