Vine and Branches A not too fancy Vocation Newsletter from the Capuchin Franciscan Province of Saint Mary Spring 2016 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? Co.15:12 A Resurrection Story Once upon a time, not so very long ago, there was a game the kids called it, albeit a very dangerous one, which was played in some of the housing projects in New York City. Because of many other options I m sure it wasn t played in the high rises on Park Avenue or on Central Park West in Manhattan. But it was quite the rage in the 14 story city housing projects in East Harlem, the South Bronx and Bed-Sty, Brooklyn. The game was called, Elevator Tag. What happened was a young man squirmed out of the small exit hatch on the top of a housing elevator, shut the latch and walked on top of the roof of one elevator. Another guy did the same on the elevator right next to the first one. They then stood up on the top of the companion elevators. They would reach out to tag the other person as the elevators passed each other going up and down. When the elevator was reaching the ceiling of the building, the riders would lay down on the top of the elevator since there was just about enough room between the ceiling and the top of the elevator for a fairly slim person to lie. There were contests, teams and even trophies awarded toward the end of winter and beginning of spring (then the contestants could go outside and play basketball and baseball again). One year, about the beginning of Lent, a season finale championship game was underway. Tensions were high and the best players on each team took their positions atop their respective elevators. The sign was given and the games commenced. After a short while, one young man, Tommy, grew impatient since the other elevator was slow in coming back up. He cautiously looked over his elevator to see where the other one was so he could better gauge when to have his hand ready to tag his opponent before the opponent tagged him.
The second he stole a quick look, the other elevator appeared and struck him in his jaw which was then jammed up into his eye socket. He fell back on the top of the elevator unconscious. When the other young man saw what happened he scrambled down through the hatch and got off the elevator in a panic. He yelled to the other guys and told them what happened. One of them ran down the flights of stairs and over to the friary of Our Lady Queen of Angels where they told me what happened. I then raced back with him to the 14 th floor of the project where I encountered a scene I ve never forgotten. With the help of some of the young men we gently laid Tommy on a sheet provided by one of the residents of the building and brought him down by the elevator, across the street and into a friary car and down to the Metropolitan Hospital emergency room. The doctors were immediately responsive but after a preliminary examination did not hold out a great deal of hope. By the time I went back to pick up Tommy s mother to bring her to the hospital the diagnosis was even more discouraging. His mother, his friends and I prayed in the waiting room. Since Tommy was in a coma and it was getting late we decided to return home. But first we made a promise to each other that we would gather in the hospital each day after school to continue our prayer vigil. On Easter morning after Mass a number of his friends and I walked down to the hospital. We carried a balloon from church (a number were sent aloft as part of a children s Liturgy), a huge Easter basket filled with candy and a parish bulletin where it noted special prayers were constantly being offered for this young man known to so many in the parish. Upon entering the hospital we proceeded to go to his floor. By now the nurses were used to far too many visitors descending on Tommy s room but had long ago given up trying to keep us away. As a matter of fact, this particular day they allowed us to all go in together which surprised us. As we walked in his room he was awake, flashed his well-known smile and said, I bet you didn t think I d make it back perhaps the same words Jesus might have at least thought of saying when He first saw His apostles after He made it back. Last Easter I attended Mass with Tommy and his son and daughter. As important as this sacred feast of the Resurrection means to me, I have a feeling it means even more to him. Brother Tim Jones, O.F.M., Cap. Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me shall live even though he dies. Do you believe this?
Spring is God s way of saying, one more time. Robert Orbean CANDIDATE DISCERNMENT WEEKEND On January 15, 16 and 17 we hosted a discernment weekend for 10 candidates (2 for the first time); and over 30 postulants and friars also attended. Presentations were given by our brothers, Senan Taylor, Gerard Mulvey, Matt Janeckzo, Lake Herman and Will Tarraza. The presence of the Holy Spirit was felt throughout our time together and we were so grateful for the sacrifices the candidates made to be with us, the postulants and friars who made the trip to meet and host the candidates, and every friar in the province who prayed each day for us. I believe the presence of candidates always renews hope within our province and the presence and prayers of our postulants and friars show the candidates in thought, word and deed how much we are grateful for their considering our way of life. The 2 candidates who ve attended their first discernment weekend want to express their feelings about it: Rigoberto Gomez My name is Rigoberto Gomez. I come from East New York, Brooklyn (about a block from the St. Michael friary). I went to Catholic school all my life, from nursery up through college, and started getting really involved in church in about the 7 th grade when I was studying for my Confirmation. I was captivated and in awe of the fact that we have a God who loves us just because and will never stop loving us. I joined my local youth Jornada group at the age of 9 and have been a member ever since. Due to my heavy involvement in the church I have a good number of friends that are priests, nuns, and in religious life. I first came in contact with the Capuchin order in high school. I went to Bishop Ford High School in Park Slope, Brooklyn which was founded on Franciscan teachings and I had a religion teacher by the name of Brother Tom Barton, a Franciscan Brother of Brooklyn, who I got along well with and encouraged me to find myself in Christ. I was always interested in his simple, prayerful, and caring lifestyle. He taught me that the Capuchins lived in the way of St. Francis, constantly helping people and praying through their actions. This peeked my interest and led me to further read up on the Capuchins. In late 2015 my home parish switched orders from I.V.E. to Capuchins Franciscans and things in my church did a full 360 and all the parishioners seem to be much happier. The joy seems to originate from our new pastor, Father Michael Sevigny. When I asked why he always smiled he said it was because he found Christ and wanted to spread the Good News, which is what I want to do and which led me to the
discernment weekend. Although I didn t find Christ per say I felt him through the talks and the feeling of brotherhood there. Tresor Rugimbanya Tresor is an 18 year old senior at St. Thomas More School in Oakdale, CT. Fr. Richard Crawley, the Capuchin chaplain there, called and asked that I visit Tresor. The school, campus and chapel are most impressive, as is the ministry of Fr. Richard. The conversation with Tresor and myself went very well and he expressed an interest in attending the January discernment weekend. Tresor (meaning treasure ) is from Rwanda and will graduate this June from St. Thomas More. There are two or three colleges he is considering but his first choice at this time seems to be Sienna College in Loudonville, NY. Upon arriving back on campus from the weekend experience Tresor s comment to Fr. Richard was I wish it had lasted longer. He is hoping to be able to attend the April discernment weekend. Our next Candidate Discernment Weekend will be April 8, 9, and 10 at Miramar Retreat Center in Duxbury, MA all are welcome and we hope to see you there. The beautiful spring comes; and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to also. Harriet Ann Jacobs
Candidates Applying for Postulancy: We are blessed to have 3 men apply for our resident postulancy program beginning in August. The admissions board will meet to discuss their request on May 24th. We've asked them to tell us why they have chosen to apply at this time. Here are their responses... William Foley After so many years of discernment, I have finally taken the first step of many to where I hope God is truly calling me. I have always wanted to become a Catholic priest, however as the years went by, I learned more and more of what it took to be one; such as going through the steps required to even be accepted as a postulant. Though I have yet to pass the starting line, just being able to say that I am currently applying feels like an accomplishment in itself. With the future in sight, there are many things that come to mind when hearing the word postulancy ; one being opportunity that I may have the opportunity to take the next step in social work as a part of the Capuchin Friars, such as helping the poor and destitute. Secondly, being able to continue deepening my spiritual faith with the help of my fellow brothers; it has been the greatest pleasure in joining them on the discernment weekends. I feel as if I knew them all my life. I can only hope that if and when I am accepted that I will work alongside them for the years to come. I pray that I am up for the challenge; God Willing I shall see this through. Alex Hamula My name is Alex Hamula and I am currently in the process of applying for postulancy. Over a year ago, I came to the realization, as many young men do, that I wanted more out of life. I wanted to do work that was important to others as well as to myself. I knew that I wanted to do something that utilizes being human and my human abilities rather than something that was mainly mechanical. I was lead to the Capuchin Franciscan Order by Fr. John Tokaz and Br. Tim Jones and was taught about the culture of the Order and the endeavors of past and present friars on the many retreat weekends that I attended. After much time thinking about what it would mean for me to join, I decided that it was very much worth my time, and at the very least, I owe it to God and myself to give the Order a chance. I did not apply last year because I felt it was too soon to commit to something I had just recently learned about from people I had just met. While the fear of the unknown continues to plague me, its strength has greatly diminished due the abundance of information I have received from friars and especially from current postulants that tell me about their ongoing experience. I have a much better picture of what next year will look like thanks to them; that is if I am
accepted, God willing. I now simply have a basic fear that things will not go as planned, but that is one of the many reasons that I need to trust in God. On a positive note, I am very much looking forward to this grand, holy, and unprecedented experience for my life. I anticipate developing great new friendships, living in a vibrant community, and lovingly helping the members of said community. I am quite certain I will love nearly everything about my decision and learn from the unpleasant aspects of it. Adam Shaw Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 Capuchin Franciscans are called to be the ones who go out and help people find what they are searching for; whether it is food, housing, clothing or just someone to talk to. The most important thing that they bring to these people is God himself because they are sometimes lost and need help finding their way back through the darkness of the world. I am applying for postulancy because I feel as though the life of a friar would be a good fit for me; living simply so others may simply live is one of my favorite sayings. As Saint Francis says: preach often, use words only when necessary. Capuchin Franciscans are charged to live out the gospel in their everyday life and people look up to them as an example on how to live. In the postulancy program, I hope to discern further if the Capuchin life is truly for me; some say you don t entirely know if something is for you until you live it. I also hope it will help me to grow in my faith and trust in God, to learn to lean on Him more in all things. In addition to Bill, Alex and Adam; Dan Hamel, who was a non-resident postulant this year, will be entering the resident postulancy program. We ve asked him to share some of his journey thus far: Dan Hamel This past year has been one of bumpy roads, but also tremendous growth. I ve been a non-resident Postulant since August, when I, with help, made the very painful decision to not move to Saint Michael s friary so that I could continue my chemotherapy treatments closer to Boston. Although it was one of the most difficult decisions I ve ever made, and during what has been the most difficult time of my life, I can only see the amazing graces and growth that has come from this experience. It s now been 9 months since I was diagnosed with cancer, and at the writing of this, less
than a week since I ve been confidently in remission. As painful as it has been to go through the illness and in some ways even more painful to be separated from this postulancy class, I can now say looking back that I would NOT change those circumstances at all. One friar likened it to the desert, which is a powerful Biblical image that has stuck with me since then. While in the desert it can be difficult, if not impossible, to see beyond it, it is a test of faith; faith that we will eventually emerge anew. I ve been able to grow in ways I never knew possible, and in ways I probably would not have otherwise. I prayed early on that this would help me to grow in both my knowledge and understanding of my vocation to the Capuchins, as well the Capuchins themselves. I m certainly not an expert, but there are things I understand better now than I did a year ago. I ve learned a bit more about Christ Crucified, and being able to recognize the pain and suffering of others, as well as the importance of keeping a joyful heart and mind even when things are at their toughest. I only hope this will help me to be a better Capuchin in the years to come, and will stay with me through whatever ministries I may be called to down the road. Finally, I ve been absolutely blown away by the support of the community during my non-resident postulancy. I ve been able to spend time with several friars and at the friaries, and take part in some of the postulant formation programs in Brooklyn; I honestly could not be more thrilled to be part of such an incredible and amazing community with such incredible and amazing people. I m looking forward to begin the next stage of my journey at St. Michael s in August. We welcome: Ryan Gebhart, who was a friar with the St. Augustine province for a period of time and will be living at St. Pius X fraternity in Middletown, CT while he gets to know more of the friars and our province. He will be continuing his studies for the priesthood in San Lorenzo Friary, Jamaica Plain, MA in August. Ryan has shared some of his vocation journey with us. Ryan Gebhart My name is Ryan Gebhart. I graduated from the Catholic University of America in 2011 with a Bachelor s Degree in Philosophy. I greatly enjoyed studying philosophy, but I also enjoy architecture, history, theology, literature, and many other things. I spend much of my free time dedicated to either reading or writing. I come from a loving family who has supported me tremendously through my discernment both with the Province of St. Augustine and now presently with the Province of St. Mary. At the January candidate discernment weekend I was given a unique opportunity to spend it with Capuchin candidates and friars from the Province of St. Mary. The weekend started out slow, escalating as I listened to brief vocation stories before telling my own. While my story was particularly my own, there were several others that sounded very similar. As I listened, I
could not help but feel a strong sense of welcome and belonging spread through my being. The concerns and doubts that accompanied me to New York quickly passed away. The weekend was a mixture of formal and informal gatherings, and I wish I could say one was better than another, but the balanced combination made the weekend precisely what the doctor ordered. Impassioned stories and reflections consumed the weekend and as I listened to the friars give their accounts, and as wonderful as they were, an internal awareness within myself urged me to listen even deeper; not only to what the friars were saying, but what God was saying. Fortunately, the weekend provided ample space, with periods of meditation built into the program. With my ears and heart opened to that quiet stirring, I could not help but be aware of my own smallness, with all my sins standing shakily before the Almighty. Clasped within my hands, holding onto that smallness and sinfulness, I grew aware of God calling all of who I am to Himself; all of what I hold back He wants. Never yet was a springtime, when the buds forgot to bloom Margaret Elizabeth Sangster In addition to the above candidates who are applying, there are a number of other candidates discerning with us who hopefully will be attending the April candidate discernment weekend. Three of them share the following. Michael Conard I was born and raised in a very loving Catholic family, with one older sister. I love knowledge and enjoy learning, and have consistently received high grades in school. Both my grammar and high schools were Catholic. From an early age, classical music took a central place in my life. The Catholic faith began to hold equally high importance soon after, due to encountering Catholic apologetics. My love for music dominated most of my pursuits and led me to attend a music conservatory, The Hartt School of Music. God powerfully intervened at the end of my sophomore year and told me to discern diocesan priesthood, leading me to (amicably) end a long term romantic relationship that was pointed towards eventual marriage.
A year later, my discernment shifted towards religious life. I currently feel confident that I am not called to marriage or priesthood (or at least not diocesan) so I suspect that my vocation is either as a religious or a celibate layman. I am quite sure that the Lord wants me to first discern religious life. Jonathan DeWeese My name is Jonathan DeWeese; most people call me Dewey. I am a 29 year-old Roman Catholic man. I was raised in suburban Michigan to two Protestant physicians, the middle of three sons. I went to Catholic schools and converted to Catholicism in my early teenage years. My parents and one of my brothers also converted around the same time. After high school I spent a year studying and volunteering in Nepal, and then split my undergraduate years between Deep Springs College in California s Eastern Sierra and the University of Chicago. After graduating with a degree in the humanities, I worked for two years as the chef and kitchen manager at Deep Springs College. I then moved to Boston to get a master s degree in nursing to become a nurse practitioner, with the goal of working with the terminally ill. I currently work as a nurse at a large academic hospital in Boston, where I am doing a year of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) with our chaplaincy department. I also do some hospice work. Vowed religious life has been on my mind for over a decade. While participating in CPE this year, I am also working with a spiritual director, visiting religious communities, and making time to discern my vocation. I pray to surrender my life to God, to be aligned with His will. I recently read a biography of Francis of Assisi by Augustine Thompson and was inspired by Francis dedication to the Eucharist and his focus on living a life of penance. I am interested in the Capuchins because of their focus on fraternity, contemplative prayer, and service to the poor. I have visited the Capuchin friary in Boston, and I hope to go on the retreat in Duxbury, MA this April. Jonny Lashyn I am a junior at Merrimack College blessed to be playing on the Merrimack hockey team and I am majoring in "Exercise Science". I helped out with a Catholic boys club back home in Saskatoon SK, Canada for a number of years. Currently I help out from time to time with Merrimack's Campus Ministries. I am trying to discern God's will and see if he is calling me to the religious life, married life or to live as a single person. I am trying to attend Mass as often as possible as well as visit our Lord when time permits throughout the day to help discern His will.
Why the Capuchins? In talking with Brother Tim, one of the areas where he has ministered has been with the youth as well as those imprisoned. These are areas in which I am interested in serving, and I look forward to getting involved in volunteer opportunities which help serve these people, once I am out of school. Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer. Geoffrey B. Charlesworth Our Postulants: We are blessed in our Province to have 4 postulants living in St Michael's Friary in Brooklyn, our resident postulancy house. They began their residency in August of last year. We asked them how it's going so far... David Birkdale I entered postulancy in August several months after finishing my BA and moving out of college and the last seven months have been a great blessing. During that time, we ve been living in fraternity, praying the Liturgy of the Hours and Mass together, and serving in ministry. In these ways, I ve been able to experience with the other postulants what living in a Capuchin community looks and feels like. We ve also been taking classes on the Faith, spirituality, and the life of St. Francis. My main ministry is working with Francisco at the regional Catholic school next door, staffing an after-school program where students get help with schoolwork. I also work with several of the other postulants in the catechism program at St Michael-St. Malachy parish. In both ministries, I work with children in early grammar school. This wasn t really my area of expertise coming into postulancy, so the work has been an exciting learning experience. Though I had a regular prayer schedule before starting postulancy, I never spent as much time in daily prayer before or experiencing liturgy and meditation with the friars. This, too, has been a learning experience for me, and it s really been a pleasant surprise to see how quickly I took to meditation. I can see the way that daily prayer has affected all parts of my life, and especially my relationships with other people and with God. This has been a real highlight of the program for me, and it s been a huge consolation to be able to live under the same roof as the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.
Scott Leet down. There is a book entitled, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, about the trials and travails of a young girl living impoverished in Brooklyn in the earliest two decades of the 20 th Century. Living on the top floor of a tenement, Francie (the main character) has grown attached to a tree in the courtyard of her building. Whether the joy she finds is due to the song of the birds who reside therein, the smell of the bark after a rainfall, the cool of the shade provided by its leaves in the summer or the burst of color in the fall, it is only important to know that Francie has taken a liking to the tree. (SPOILER ALERT) Her world is rent asunder when the tree is cut Great start for a reflection on the postulancy, huh? But to a certain degree it is a good analogy for the postulancy. I have been invited to disassemble my perspective on, understanding of and interaction with myself, the Church and the other, rending asunder a world in which I had become quite comfortable. The disassembly, however, is not done simply for the exercise of doing so, but rather to examine each component under the microscope of love and service. This examination is at times difficult, even occasionally painful, and sometimes simply tiring. But, it seems to me, much of any self-examination that is worthwhile is taxing. While difficult in practice I have been supported by a community of brothers: directors who care and assist and aide in the journey, brothers who freely share the difficulties and joys of their journey, and a community that supports and encourages the endeavor. I have been provided a place where the truths uncovered can be faced freely and openly because that is what this place is about, answering the question: how do I live my life authentically proclaiming the Love of God, flavored by the unique aroma of Capuchin fraternity? What a blessing I have been given. So, while the disassembly and examination has only just begun, and the re-assembly process is in an even more nascent state, the practice has been fruitful. As I sit writing these words, I cannot recall if Francie saw the growth of a new tree from the remnants of the tree taken down, but I choose to believe she did. Why? Because I have seen, in my life in the postulancy, the gentle stirrings of a new and wonderful tree with all the promise of the old, and better still. How can it be otherwise when the whole process is steeped in, imbued with and surrounded by the Love of God and the support of bothers? Science has never drummed up quite as affective a tranquilizing agent as a sunny spring day. W. Earl Hall
AJ Lezcano As with everything under the sun, postulancy has both its wonderful aspects as well as its challenges. The biggest blessing that I have received throughout this journey thus far has been living with several friars day in and day out it has also been the biggest challenge. These older and spiritually advanced men have been fantastic mentors for growth in all aspects of my life. They have been a wonderful example of living a contemplative and active gospel life. Their passion and joy continuously impress me and it has kept me here in a state of longing for that which they have. Just observing them has been an instructive exercise in itself. I am extremely blessed to see the beauty of this life lived out every single day. I have gained treasures beyond of which I can formulate into words just through gazing. On the flip side, the reality is that living with the friars has also challenged me. The formation staff has made me take an active role within my discernment and have pushed me towards a more intense inner search of my true essence and also to acknowledge all that which has been blocking me. Although I have been pushed hard, the friars have held my hand as I delved deep down within my being and faced dragons that I was too scared to look at before. The emotional and spiritual maturity gained throughout this relatively short period has been tremendous. I could have not gone through it all alone. I can only speak for my personal experience when I say that joining the postulancy program has been the best decision I have ever made. Although it has not been easy, it has been a blessed filled year imbedded with God s abundant love. Francisco Serrano the water. I would like to share how these past six months have been for me here at St. Michael Friary. In the beginning I was very nervous to come because I did not really know the people with whom I was going to be living with enough to feel comfortable. But I knew deep in me that it was another challenge which would help me to grow and find out if this is what the Lord is calling me to. I kind of knew what the postulancy program was going to be like because I had spoken with the previous postulants and with Father Michael Greco; so I trusted in the Lord and threw myself into It has been a great time in my life with many challenges and opportunities to grow in different areas. The program gives me time to pray and to attend Mass daily which helps me with my spiritual growth. Prayer is very important always, especially when discerning a vocation. Meditation is a great time to have an intimate dialogue with God each day as it is part of the Capuchin spirituality. I ve been challenged to grow on a personal level, which can be hard at
times. Change is not always easy. I ve also learned what it means to be a Capuchin Franciscan; however, I have been told that Capuchin spirituality is something that is caught and not so much taught. I have been learning about the history, the charisms and the life of the Capuchins as a whole; and of course I have learned about the founder of the Order, St. Francis of Assisi. Another thing that I really enjoy is meeting the new friars and postulants from different provinces who inspire me to continue. I also like going to visit the senior friars at St. Clare Friary in Yonkers who are always welcoming and inspiring with their vocation stories. It feels good to know that I am not alone in this and that there are many people praying for me. These six months of my life have been a big blessing to me, and I look forward to continuing to grow with the help of God and the prayers of all who support me. Our Novices: Our 9 month postulancy program is followed by a 9 week pre-novitiate experience in St. Louis, MO, where all the postulants from the other provinces in the United States, Canada and Australia have an opportunity to bond in fraternity, ministry and prayer. They then go together to San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Ynez, CA where they will receive their Capuchin habit, cord, sandals and rosaries. They will then enter into an intense year of deepening their spirituality and knowledge of the Capuchin way of life; this is called novitiate. This will culminate with them taking temporary vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and moving to continue their studies in Jamaica Plain, MA. Our two present novices would like to share their experience of religious life in general and their novitiate experience in particular. Joe Anderson As I reflect on the last seven months, it is clear to me that the Holy Spirit has been at work within and around me. Opportunities have been presented to me to draw me even deeper into the Franciscan way of being a lover of all of God s creation, but especially a greater love of our brothers and sisters. Being away from the New England/New York area has been challenging at times. Because of the distance, I knew it was unlikely for any family to visit this year. I was proved wrong. I realized this when Fr. Jack Rathschmidt was here to teach a class. When he walked into the chapel for prayer, one of my first thoughts was It is so good to see someone from back home. I realized that my home is now with the brothers. Since then, Fathers Michael Banks, Michael Marigliano and Gerard Mulvey have visited. For each brother, I had the same feeling of seeing someone from back home. When Fr. Gerard was here, I was reminded of one of the greatest gifts that I have learned about fraternity. He was able to preside and preach on one of the days he was here. I was deeply moved by his homily. Within a few hours after that, Br. Vic and I were in Santa Barbara with
him laughing most of the day and having a great time. The brothers I can laugh with hysterically, go out to dinner with, watch movies etc., are the same brothers God works through, and at times works through them to speak to me when they don t even know it. I m grateful for the time to become even more aware of God s love in the brothers and for being able to recognize my home is with the brothers. Victor Russak When asked what novitiate has been like so far, my first response was, exactly what I expected and not at all. As a postulant, daydreaming about the novitiate, I envisioned novitiate as a group of holy novices being contemplative and working together to grow in spirituality under the guidance of St. Francis of Assisi and achieving perfect holiness. Ha! Talk about dreaming That s not to say I haven t grown. In fact, as I reflect back to the beginning of novitiate, it amazes me how different a person I am, how much I have changed, and how I have really grown into Capuchin life. What amazes me is that all of this growth and change was happening within me without me even knowing it, until seven months later and I realize how much I have changed. When did this happen all of a sudden? I think many of the novices have had a similar experience. That is how novitiate works. Once you enter into the daily rhythm of the novitiate schedule the prayer, work, and classes it starts to become part of the natural rhythm of things, and on certain days it can be really difficult. Actually, a lot of days can be really difficult. I ll start to ask myself, Aren t I supposed to be getting better at this? Why is it still so difficult? And then I realize that s the point. It isn t going to get easier, but in keeping faithful to the schedule, to my prayer, to my formators and spiritual director; in being faithful to these, that is where the holiness lies. It isn t in the warm and fuzzy feelings of holiness that get romanticized in the books we read, but in staying faithful to our responsibilities, to the daily grind. That is really what novitiate is like. It is a daily grind. Each week repeats over and over the same schedule: wake up, pray, go to class, pray, work, pray, relax, pray, fraternize, pray, go to bed, repeat. It gets tedious, it gets boring, it gets frustrating, it gets tiring, and it is totally worth it. That daily grind is the stripping away of all our rough edges, our bad habits, our incorrect attitudes, and it teaches us how to live in community. Living in community is an incredibly beautiful charism, and has some wonderful moments, but let s be honest living with 19 other novices who have just as many rough edges as me, makes me wonder at times how on Earth we manage to live together. But that, the struggle of community life, is where I would say most of the growing happens. Learning to live in community is essential for this life, and the novitiate really focuses on that. Over all it s been an excellent seven months, even with all the daily struggles. In fact, I think it is the daily struggles that make it so worthwhile.
Spring shows what God can do with a drab and dirty world. Vigil A. Kraft Upcoming events: April 8, 9 and 10: Candidate Discernment Weekend: Miramar Retreat Center in Duxbury, MA May 11: Conclusion of the postulancy program for the present class May 21: Perpetual Profession ceremony for Brothers Scott Surrency and Will Tarraza to be held in St. Pius X Church in Middletown, CT May 24: Admissions Board Meeting for Bill Foley, Alex Hamula, and Adam Shaw who are applying to our resident postulancy program June 4: Celebration of the 50th anniversary of the new Capuchin church of St. Joseph, New Paltz, NY June 10: Summer issue of "Vine and Branches" sent out July 16: Temporary Profession of Vows of Brothers Joe Anderson and Vic Russak at Sacred Heart Church, Yonkers, NY July 24: Investiture of our novices; David Birkdale, Scott Leet, AJ Lezcano, and Francisco Serrano at San Lorenzo Friary, Santa Ynez, CA August 12, 13, 14: Candidate Discernment Weekend: St Alphonso Retreat Center in Long Branch, NJ September 3: Deaconate Ordination of Brothers Scott Surrency and Will Tarraza in St Ignatius Church, Boston, MA September 5: Postulant reception at St. Michael Friary, Brooklyn, NY September 9: Fall issue of Vine and Branches sent out September 25: 125th Anniversary of the Capuchin church of the Sacred Heart, Yonkers, NY October 28, 29, 30: Candidate Discernment Weekend: St Lawrence Friary in Beacon, NY December 9: Winter issue of Vine and Branches sent out
AN EASTER GREETING: A special word of thanks to those who contributed articles for this issue; to Alex Fagan, one of our candidates who is responsible for the art work and to Ann Grindley who put it all together. On behalf of each of us who serve in vocation ministry, I d like to wish each of you who are reading this a most glorious Easter season; one filled with every grace and blessing. May the Love Jesus showed for us during his Passion and Death, the Hope at His Resurrection and the Peace He promised us, be with each of us, now and always. God s Love and mine, Brother Tim