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Thanksgiving..

Well, I just finished celebrating my first Thanksgiving in the US. It was a fantastic meal with 30 other friars from the area. I am just stuffed though; so much different from thanksgiving in Canada. We just returned from a retreat at St Meinrad's; a Benedictine Archabbey. It was a great week, we got to meet the friars from the Assumption Province. We had a good week of getting to know each other and good discussions in our group sessions. I am very hopeful on the future of the province and my journey with the friars. The other friars were quite excited to see the Order growing and the enthusiasm we bring. It is certain that our novitiate will be moving next year, because of the lack of space at the present location.

God Bless

5 Months....

Well it's already been 5 months since i've started started formation, and things are going quite well. I am completing an assignment for my spanish class tomorrow, and heading down for night prayer in about 10 minutes. My brothers in formation are fantastic, I could'nt ask for 5 better guys to be with, we are building a fraternity that will carry on for many years and hopefully the rest of our lives.

God is Great

Well, I know it's been a while since my last post; but it's been quite busy...First of all, the formation is going well, and I'm quite content being here.. On Sunday, we celebrated the Transitus ( passing of St Francis), it was a beautiful liturgy; Sr Madonna, led the reflection, and she really touched us. The following day, we had dinner at the Motherhouse with our guests the Dominican Novices. It was a great night of fellowship and a chance for us to meet the other friars. Next week, we are invited to the Dominican's, as it will be the feast of St |Martin de Pores, and we will be having a prayer service followed by dinner. It such a joy to be able to meet all these different people from all over.

This week will be having a week long workshop on profiling. I am looking forward to it because we will be also hosting the postulants from 3 other provinces here. It will give us a chance to get to know one another, as next year we will be in novitiate together.

The Lord continues to bless me every day, and I look forward to continue my journey in the Franciscan spirituality.

Pax et Bonum

2 Months. Yeah!

Well Everyone,

It's already been 2 months since I've started the Postulant formation program and I am certain that I am being called to the Franciscan way of life. I began my apostulate on Thursday, and it was an incdreble experience. I am voluteering at Bishope Leiblod nursing home with is run by the Little Sisters of the Poor. Joe , who is another of the postulants and I are both there. Mandy, the activities coordinator had us help with bringing residents down for their physical therapy. This was quite demanding as we had to go get the residents one by one and bring them to the therapy room and assist the therapist with their exercises and other tasks that they have the residents work on. Next we brought residents for the mass in the chapel. After lunch we spent some time with Fr. Cyprian, one of the friars that resides at the home, and completed our day by helping out Teresa with the games . I am looking forward to next Thursday to get to know the residents more and spend some time with the others that may not get any visitor.

This weekend the friary are welocming 8 new prospective applicants for a Come and See weekend. It was exactly a year from this day that I did mine, and I see myself in alot of these guys. The Lord is blessing us with many vocations to our way of life. My decision to move to the U.S. was difficult, but now I am certain that the God is calling me to be a franciscan. My spiritual director and I met this week, and he really grounded me by telling me that my journey has only begun, to contiue, I need to spend a little more time working on my spiritual life.... I now spend time in the morning in the chapel when I can. The Lord is definetely shinning on me and guiding me through this journey..

Peace and Good

Trip around the Province

Well guys!,

I'm sorry for not posting too often, but it's been a crazy week. We got back last Friday from a 14 day, 3000 miles trip around the franciscan province; beginning in Bloomington Ill., going to Peoria, then to Ava Missourri, Shreveport, La; then off to Houston and Galveston Tx,next stop was Lafayette, La and Homa and our next journey brought us to New Orleans, and finally Franklin TN, just outside of Nashville. It was a incredible experience; to see so much of the country and the beautiful landscape in each state was breathtaking. I will be adding photos that I took of our journey together as soon as I can find my SD card...... I got to know my fellow postulants on a different level. We had alot of great moments together, and some moments where we needed some time to reflect and just be alone. Now that we have returned and been back for over a wee, i reflect on the trip, and I am glad that these five guys are my BROTHERS...
It's taking some time to get to know each other but I think it's going well. We began music liturgy classes last week, and you know what? I liked it and I am thinking of joining our choir next Sunday... I am starting a class on sexuality and celibacy tomorrow and I haven't finished reading the book yet.. It's a difficult subject, and I think alot of the guys have a difficulty with it as well, so we'll have to see in the morning how things go..... I am signing off for tonight and wish you a peaceful night.

God Bless

Pax

I've Arrived

Well I have finally settled in to my room, and it has finally hit me; I ve arrived ! This is a great place with a fantastic bunch of guys. This is going to be a wonderful year. I am attaching a video of our reception into the postulancy program with the Provincial of our province. We're we are presented with our Tau crosses. It has already been a week since my arrival and it's been a incredible journey so far. The five other postulants and I have been getting to know each other, and building a community with our program director. In one week we will be leaving for a trip around the province, not too far just 3000 miles over 10 days.......

I will be posting again before I leave for our trip.


God Bless


Pax




Father Don's Vocation Blog - Vocations - Franciscan Friars - Province of St. John the Baptist in Cincinnati, Ohio: "Video of Postulants' Reception



Wednesday, July, 7, 2010 4:55:54 PM Comments (0)"