Blessed Junipero Serra, ofm (1713-84)

July 1. On this day in the year 1769, Fray Junipero Serra, ofm, arrived at the port of what is now the city of San Diego. Later that month, he established the first of what was eventually to become a veritablel rosary of twenty-one missions extending a distance of 700 miles along the length of the Spanish colony which is now the state of California. By virtue of his passion, leadership, and tenacity, Serra played a seminal role in the establishment of the Catholic faith, as well as European presence and culture in this part of the world.

It is in recognition of this dual role, that Junipero Serra is regarded as a pivotal figure in both religious and secular arenas. As the late Pope John Paul II stated on his visit to Serra’s burial place at Carmel Mission (Mission San Carlos Borromeo) in 1987, “Very often at crucial moments in human affairs God raises up men and women whom he thrusts into roles of decisive importance for the future development of both society and the Church…. So it is with Junipero Serra, who in the providence of God was destined to be the apostle of California and to have a permanent influence over the spiritual patrimony of the land and its people.” The following year, 1988, Serra was beatified, or declared ‘blessed’, a stage in the canonization of saints in the Roman Catholic Church.



It is as a man of faith, ardent missionary, and witness to the Gospel that Junipero Serra is respected among Catholic Christians today as the virtual ‘apostle of California.’ At the same time, his life and work have become a flashpoint in the controversy over the role of missionaries in the context of colonial conquest and oppression.


Blessed Junipero Serra

In terms of a brief biographical sketch, Miguel José Serra was born on the island of Mallorca, Spain, in 1713 and entered the Franicscan order at the age of seventeen, taking the name of ‘Junípero’, in honor of one of the first companions of St. Francis. He studied at the Lullian University in the city of Parma (Mallorca) and subsequently taught philosophy and theology there for some twelve years. In 1749, at the age of 37, Serra was sent to Mexico, and for an additional 15 years, was associated with the College of San Fernando in Mexico City. Consequently, it was late in life (at age 54) and only after a long academic career that Serra actually became an active missionary.



In 1768, upon the expulsion of Jesuit missionaries from New Spain, Serra was given leadership as presidente over the fourteen missions of Baja (Lower) California. In 1769, after founding the mission of Santa Maria de los Angeles, Serra focused his energies on Alta (Upper) California—a region the Spaniards were eager to secure for the Crown in the face of threatened expansion by both Russian and British interests. It is here, we are told, that Serra worked tirelessly for the conversion of indigenous peoples to Christianity. Eventually, he would found a total of nine missions in California. Biographers are quick to point out, not only Serra’s exceptional gifts of organization and administration, but also his extraordinary faith, perseverance, and asceticism: “His Herculean efforts subjected him to near-starvation, afflictions of scurvy, and hundreds of miles of walking and horse riding through dangerous terrain. Moreover, he was notorious for his mortifications of the flesh.” Serra accomplished much of his work on foot; a chronically ulcerated leg provided an additional physical challenge to the intrepid missioner. He died at Mission San Carlos Borromeo (Carmel), California in 1784.

In our own time, Serra, and by extension, missionaries in general have been criticized for their alleged cooperation and complicity in the extension of colonial rule over native peoples. Nevertheless, most historians would concur in the intrinsic danger posed by projecting our twenty-first century values and understanding upon the vastly different social and cultural landscape of 18th century colonial rule in America. That said, the biography of Junipero Serra speaks of a man who was frequently at odds with the political and military" powers that be" in his active defense of the rights of of natives. While the entire system of colonization is rightly challenged, Serra was no mere pawn of that system; he was known to be a frequent and outspoken critic of the abuse of political and military power.


In today’s world, missionary presence and witness have taken on an entirely different aspect from the time of Junipero Serra. While the proclamation of the Gospel remains central and consistent to all missionary endeavors, the voice of the Christian church has in many circumstances become increasingly independent of and even critical of political and economic power when such power deprives people of basic dignity and justice. We are not called to imitate Serra’s way of being a missionary; we are challenged to be inspired as he was to be more deeply committed to living and sharing our Christian faith with our entire being.


We Franciscans take pride in the faith and witness of Blessed Junipero Serra. Here in the province of St. Barbara, we take special pride in the several restored missions that have been entrusted to our care: Mission Santa Barbara, Old Mission San Luis Rey (Oceanside), and Mission San Miguel (San Miguel). A fourth mission, Santa Inez, is in the care of our Capuchin Franciscan brothers. We join with our Mexican conferes of the Province of Blessed Juipero Serra/ la provincia de Beato Junipero Serra, in Baja California, Mexico, in celebrating their patronal feast. http://www.ofmjuniperoserra.org/modules/news/.
We are also deeply appreciative of the efforts of Serra International, an organization of Catholic women and men who dedicate themselves to the promotion and support of vocations to religious life, the diaconate, and priesthood in the Church: http://www.serra.org/. Together, all of us continue in our commitment to live and share the Gospel, inspired by the words of Serra himself: Siempre adelante! Nunca para atrás! Always forward! Never turn back!//

Happy Summer Vocation!

Dear Friends,
Peace and all good! I will be away on vacation until July 7 and will resume blog entries again after that date. In the meantime, I hope you will find this short reflection piece helpful. It first appeared in The Way of St. Francis magazine, a wonderful little bimonthly published by the Franciscan Friars, Province of St. Barbara. Check it out on our website: www.sbfranciscans.org. Or consider subscribing (only $15/yr for six issues and an excellent resource for information on Franciscan life and spirituality!): ofmcadev@att.net for subscription information. Happy Summer Vocation (and the rest of the year as well)!--Fr. Chuck

Discernment is a Verb

What should I do with my life? What is God asking of me? How can I be sure I’m not making a horrendous mistake?

My office phone will ring. A slight hesitation on the other end of the line, and then a quiet voices asks, “Is this the Franciscans?” “Well, yes, how can I help you?” “Well, I’m thinking of becoming one of you.” “Okaaaaay”. Then, we’re off and running.

I’m a vocations coordinator. My job is to help men (21-45, Roman Catholic, single) to know about the Franciscans and themselves, and whether or not God may be leading them to our religious community. During the course of a calendar year, I will personally speak to about 400 inquirers— just a little more than one a day. They may write or phone, or catch me after Mass. Increasingly these days, they’ll check out our website (www.sbfranciscans.org) or our vocations blog (http://friarsidechats.blogspot.com) and then dash off an email. In reality, though, only about one out of every hundred men who contact us will enter our community. So what about the other 99? Are they just chopped liver?

My work experience confirms my deep conviction that God is calling all of us. That everyone has a vocation—to know, love and serve God in this life and to be with God in the next-- as my childhood catechism put it so succinctly. Only a very few people will come to religious life, but the search is the same for us all. “How can I know what God is asking of me?” I don’t have the answers, but I can suggest a process that might help:

Pray. A lot. And on a regular basis. Make a daily appointment to spend time with God—and then keep it. Our Catholic tradition is a treasure trove of spirituality, so find a prayer style that suits you (lectio divina, centering prayer, etc.). And make Eucharist the center of your prayer week.

Shop around. I tell people. Look, the first thing you need to do is to look around. Pretend that you are planning an exotic vacation. Get as many ‘travel brochures’ as you can. Don’t worry about making a decision yet; just dream for once!

Share your secret. Preferably with someone you trust. The people who know us often know us a whole lot better than we suspect. They can give us very good feedback very fast. They know our personalities as well as many (but not all) of our talents, dreams, strengths and weaknesses. When I announced to my family that I wanted to become a Franciscan and a priest, I was shocked. Nobody even blinked. My sisters said, “Oh we knew that all along about you. But we didn’t say anything because we figured you needed to work that out for yourself.” Gee, thanks.

Get some help. Good help. We call this spiritual direction. Advice and accompaniment from someone (a priest, a religious sister or brother, a layperson) who has received specific training in this ministry. It is not a good idea to approach a busy pastor. Or someone who has no knowledge of ministry. The spiritual director will meet with you on a regular basis to listen deeply—very deeply—to what you have to say about yourself, your prayer life, your images and understanding of God, and so on. They won’t tell you what you should do. But they will tell you what you are saying about yourself. And what you keep saying consistently over time. Journaling is an important adjunct to this activity.

Get your hands dirty. If you’re thinking about working with the poor, for example, stop thinking about it. Get out there and work with them. So connect with an organization, preferably a church-based one, that needs volunteers and go for it.

Join a club. Only make sure you are an active member. Community is not for bystanders. Your parish is the perfect place to start.

Jump in! If you don’t put your body where you think your mind and heart ought to be, you’ll never know what God is asking or inviting you to do. Break down your decision into manageable parts… and then take that first step.

When we do these things-- gather information, share our secrets, find some help, get our hands dirty, and jump in-- we cannot fail to learn a great deal about who we are and how God may be calling us.

I repeat. Each of us has a vocation. We are all on a spiritual journey. But when we do the footwork, we cannot fail to grow spiritually and become more confident and secure in our decisions. So, if you haven’t done so already, turn your own discernment into a verb and see what unfolds.

Chapter & Verse

First, the Chapter.
The term “chapter”, with regard to religious communities, usually refers to a kind of formal meeting on either a local, regional, or even international level. It also refers to the actual physical space where men and women religious take care of the business of the community. Monasteries, both today as well as in medieval times, typically included a separate room or structure called a “chapter house” for this purpose.

The Rule of the Friars Minor (1209, rev1223) makes mention of and provision for the general Chapter event referred to as the “Chapter of Pentecost”, which was, typically, to be held every three years. Here, the assembled friars traditionally attended to such practicalities as the election of leadership and the commissioning of brothers to various ministries. Historically, there has even been provision for public admonition and correction of errant confreres—hence, the term “chapter of faults”, which in time became incorporated into the weekly practice of local communities (although, thankfully, not at present).

One particularly significant chapter held in Assisi during the lifetime of St. Francis himself was the celebrated “Chapter of Mats” (1219), attended by nearly 5,000 friars housed mostly in makeshift wattle huts (and, most likely mats as well) for the occasion. Today, chapters are held on the level of the local fraternity (“house chapters”), the province (‘provincial chapter’) and internationally for the entire Orsder ("General Chapter"). In addition, even in our own times friars may decide to convene a special “chapter of mats”, which typically will focus on the quality of our spiritual and fraternal life.

We Franciscan friars of the Province of Saint Barbara will be holding our own triennial meeting soon. Chapter 2009, as we call it, will be held at Old Mission San Luis Rey in Oceanside, California (January 4-9). This will be for us a very special event, since it will also mark the 800th anniversary of the Rule of St. Francis, approved by Pope Innocent III. And as part of our celebration, the Minister General of the Franciscan Order (OFM), Friar José Rodríguez Carballo ofm, will be in attendance. So will our own Fr. John Vaughn, former provincial minister and ex-Minister General of the Order himself.

The Chapter is a big deal for us friars, especially as we prepare to elect our provincial leadership. Our present provincial minister, Fr. Mel Jurisich, will be stepping down after his six-year term, so we will be selecting his successor as well as a new vicar (or ‘vice’) provincial and a group of six consulters known as "definitors". Their selection is no small matter for us. The provincial minister and his administration set the tone and leadership style for the province. While it would be unseemly for friars to jockey openly for position, there is a certain amount of discrete buzz about prospective candidates. And we hold a number of straw ballots in advance to get an idea of the leading contenders.

Since the early 1990’s, the friars of our province have held what is known as an ‘open’ chapter. This is an innovation in the wake of the reforms of Vatican II which provides for the presence and participation of all solemnly professed friars, each of whom has both a voice and a vote in the proceedings.

So what’s on the menu for Chapter 2009 besides the elections? For one thing, we will be receiving an important report from our Visitor General—a friar from outside our province approved by our Minister General in Rome. The Visitor has the responsibility of visiting every friar and friary in the province in advance of the chapter to assess the state of our spiritual health and well-being. He gives his evaluation to each fraternity (or house) as he visits throughout the province. At the conclusion of his tour (which typically can take up to six months!), he reports to the Chapter about the state of the province at large. And his report carries a lot of weight—we are bound to consider his conclusions and recommendations. In other words, if we need to get our act together about something, he’ll certainly let us know.

In addition to the report by the Visitor General (this time it will be Friar Peter Williams, from the UK) and elections, we will consider a number of items pertinent to our common life. So far, Chapter 2009 will consider such matters as the care of our senior friars, our Plan for Gospel living (with recommendations for ministry and fraternal life), our commitment to greater collaboration with the laity, the need for long-range financial planning, and the complex issue of US immigration policy and its impact on our community.

It’s a lot of stuff to deal with, and various committees are working now to refine proposals and vet them thoroughly before the Chapter event. Just this week, for example, a number of our Latino friars have been meeting to consider the particular needs for Hispanic friars and ministries at their annual “convocatorio hispano.” (see photo above)

The Chapter, of course, can never be a purely business meeting. Of necessity, it is grounded in the experience our common prayer life and ministry. Liturgies throughout the week—morning and evening prayer, Eucharist, a service for the Commemoration of our deceased brothers, etc.—all serve to remind us that our lives are under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. There is also important time for 'fraternizing', and some special concerts are being prepared as part of the celebrations for our 8th centenary.

Now for the verse.
The theme for Chapter 2009 – “Siempre adelante (nunca para atras)/ “Always go forward, never turn back”—is inspired directly by Beato / Blessed Juniper Serra, ofm (1713-1784), founder of the first Franciscan missions in California. It certainly reflects our attitude and spirit. Even after 800 years of ministry, we can’t afford to sit on our laurels. Siempre adelante!

June 13: Feast of St. Anthony of Padua, ofm

After Francis and Clare of Assisi themselves, there is probably no Franciscan saint who is more loved and revered than Anthony of Padua. As Robert Ellsberg writes in his wonderful collection of meditations, All Saints, Anthony’s abiding popularity—since the 13th century—has had “less to do with the memory of his spellbinding preaching than with his posthumous career as a miracle worker.” Most especially, Anthony seems to have excelled in the lost and found department: “Tony, Tony, look around! Something’s lost and can’t be found!” I, for one, have had to turn to him more than once, let me tell you.

But the real story of Anthony of Padua (actually, Anthony of Lisbon) is much richer than the popular legends associated with him. Most biographers agree on the essential outline of his life and career: Anthony was born to a wealthy family in Portugal in 1195, and entered into the Augustinian order at Coimbra. He became interested in the, then still-novel, Franciscan movement, and actually ecountered the first group of friar-missionaries on their way to preach the Gospel in Morocco (circa 1219). These five men, the so-called protomartyrs of the Order, will killed shortly after their arrival in North Africa. Shortly afterwards, Anthony witnessed the return of their remains to Europe, an event which left a lasting impression on him.

Deeply moved and inspired by the example of these first Franciscan missionaries, Anthony himself received the friars’ habit and set off to Morocco, only to fall sick soon after his arrival. Upon his attempted return trip to Portugal, his storm-tossed ship landed, instead, on the coast of Sicily. From Messina, Anthony made his way to Assisi, and was eventuallyput to work in the kitchen of a rural hospice run by the friars.



History and tradition tell us that one day, on the occasion of an ordination, Anthony was called, at the last minute, to preach the homily. He astonished the congregation with his eloquence and with the depth of his understanding of Scripture. As his reputation spread, Anthony was asked to take on the role of itinerant preacher. His commission (or “obedience”) was from St. Francis himself: “Brother Francis sends greetings to Brother Anthony, my Bishop. I am pleased that you teach sacred theology to the brothers providing that, as is contained in the Rule, you ‘do not extinguish the Spirit of prayer and devotion’ during study of this kind.”

For ourselves as friars, this brief admonition of Francis to Anthony is of no small importance. It states, or rather nearly understates, the proper role of intellectual development in our lives: that the ‘head’ should not totally eclipse the ‘heart’ in our pursuit of the truth. It has put the friars in good stead over the centuries. Our intellectual tradition has blossomed, and even today, the friars promote scholarly endeavors—but, again, not at the expense of our essential, spiritual commitment.

Anthony died young—he was only 36 years old. He may well have been exhausted by his travel and labors. His remains were buried in Padua (hence, the purloined title), which to this day continues as an important pilgrimage site.



People continue to revere the memory of St. Anthony of Padua and his statue is a common site in Catholic churches around the world. And he still has many friends and admirers. I know, I am one of them. Even as a kid I liked St. Anthony. He never seemed stuffy, remote, or inaccessible, but rather seemed to mirror (at least in my imagination) something of the warmth and gentleness of Jesus himself. Ellsberg quotes from the writings of Anthony himself in this regard:

“O Sweet Jesus, what is there sweeter than Thee? Sweet is Thy memory, sweeter than that of honey or any other object. Thy very name is a Name of sweetness, a Name of Salvation. For what does the name Jesus signify, if not Savior? Therefore good Jesus, for Thy own sake be to us a Jesus.”

It’s kind of amazing, isn’t it, that a seemingly obscure figure from the thirteenth century should still have such a hold on people’s spiritual imagination. But, there you go.

Postscript: Personally, I find most film biographies of the saints to be rather unappealing—sentimental, pious, and lacking in credibility. Nevetheless, I can recommend a dvd/video about St. Anthony which really tells a believable tale and does it well. Anthony: The Miracle Worker of Padua (2005, 95 minutes, color), directed by Umberto Marino, is a recent Italian production (with English/Spanish subtitles) which provides a realistic portrayal of Anthony as a human being who struggled throughout his life with questions of faith and commitment. It is available through a number of sources, including Ignatius Press (www.ignatius.com). Enjoy!

Felicidades, Padre Raul! Keep Going, Brother!

Congratulations to our brother, Raul Alejos Montelongo, on his priestly ordination Thursday, June 5, at Old Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside, California. Retired auxiliary Bishop Gilberto E. Chaves, D.D., of the Diocese of San Diego, presided over the evening liturgy attended by scores of Franciscan friars and more than 1,000 parish members. Following the ordination Mass, members of the parish gave a wonderful fiesta, with great Mexican food and music.

It’s been a long road for our brother, Raul, and so this celebration is especially sweet for him, his family, and for the friars, and for myself personally. Raul and I are classmates—I was ordained a priest in 1999, and the third remaining member of our class, Father Alberto Villafan, was ordained in 2005. But all three of us entered the Franciscan postulancy program together in Portland, Oregon, in September, 1993. Prior to that, Raul and Alberto had spent time studying English at what was then our ESL house, Casa San Felipe de Jesus, in Los Angeles. The rest is history—and proof of God’s grace and Raul’s own persistent and intrepid spirit.

Our brother Raul was born in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and emigrated to the United States with his family as a child. As a youth and young man, he labored in the fields near Santa Paula, California, and was quite active in his local parish for several years before entering the Franciscans. A talented singer/ musician and an excellent public speaker possessed of natural charisma, Raul has retained a love of both music and youth ministry throughout his life as a friar. Now that he is ordained as a priest, he will be putting some of those talents to work at the parish at Old Mission San Luis Rey, where he has been assigned as parochial vicar (i.e., associate pastor.


We Franciscans like to point out that every man who comes to us has not one, but two vocations. His first vocation—one that all of the friars share—is to be a brother to his brothers and to all of God’s People following the example of our Brother Jesus and inspired in a special way by Saint Francis and Saint Clare of Assisi. The second calling is particular to each individual: some men are called to ordained ministry; others, are called to be lay brothers. In the past, rigid distinction (and sometimes very real and painful discrimination) was made between the ‘status’ of lay brother and that of the ‘cleric’ or ordained friar, both within the community and in the context of public ministry. Basically, the clerics/ ordained friars got a lot of perks; the lay brother got a lot of work, but not always a lot of credit or affirmation. Things have changed greatly both within the community and within our ministries, but some distinctions still remain.

Friar Raul’s path to priesthood, in the Franciscan context, then, has never been separate from his formation as a ‘brother for others’ within the tradition of our Order. In fact, the first three years of his formation (along with Alberto, myself, and our confreres at the time) were entirely dedicated formation in fraternal life—in other words, learning to live with each other in community. The first year, or postulancy, consisted of nine months of residential discernment in a kind of halfway house environment in Portland, Oregon. We took outside, part-time jobs, but ‘inside’ we worked on community building skills: common prayer and Eucharist, faith sharing, classes in Catholic teachings and Franciscan ideals, and even a communications course to show us how to negotiate the tensions of daily living.

The second year, or novitiate, was dedicated to cultivating the interior life—to growing in our relationship with Jesus through prayer, study, and contemplation. Throw in some manual labor, classes in Franciscan spirituality and life, and voila!—friars in the making. The start of the novitiate, with the reception of the habit, is a very special and unforgettable moment in every friar’s life.

In the case of our class, the third year of fraternal formation involved our living and working together in Mesquital-- a struggling barrio in the center of Guatemala City, Guatemala. I learned to speak Spanish, while—ironically—Raul and our other Hispanic classmates continued to take classes in English! Together, we learned to minister and to be ministered to by the Christ in our presence—in and through the wonderful example and hospitality of our friends, neighbors, and parishioners in Mesquital.

After the third year of formation, our class broke up and we parted ways. Alberto and Raul began studies—first at a junior college in Oakland, California, and then at Holy Names University in the same city. Since I had already received a bachelor’s degree, I moved into theological studies immediately. Once my brothers had completed their own undergraduate work (Raul majored in psychology), they, too, began studies for their M.Div., or Masters of Divinity degree at our Franciscan School of Theology in Berkeley, California.

So, let’s do the math: 2 years of ESL training + 3 years of initial formation + 4 years of college + 4 years of theology + 1 year of diaconate equals one heck of a lot of years. In the case of a number of brothers, including Raul, you can throw in a couple of extra years for additional ministerial training (CPE—Clinical Pastoral Training, etc. ) prior to diaconate ordination.


Daunting? You betcha! Especially, if one looks at solemn profession and/or priestly ordination as the brass ring, the Grand Prize. And it’s difficult not to do so. But Franciscan life, and religious life in general, is about the long run—the marathon over the sprint. So each step of the way is part of a lifelong process of ‘being’ and ‘becoming’ a friar. I was ordained nine years before my brother Raul, but I don’t consider myself ahead of him in any way whatsoever. Regardless of the difference in years and formation, we are both on the same road, traveling together as brothers, led by our Brother Jesus.

So, again, “Felicidades!” to Father Raul! And “Sigamos adelante/ Keep going!”, Brother!

Meet the NEW Postulants!

The word is out. We have four (count ‘em) new postulants! And we’re pleased as punch. Meet (left to right) Phillip, Ryan, José, and Mike—the latest members of the formation program of the Province of St. Barbara. After a period of individual discernment varying from six to twelve months, this quartet of candidates was approved for admission to our postulancy program following an intensive screening and rigorous (but hopefully, not totally intimidating) application process. Our Admissions Retreat took place at San Damiano Retreat Center in Danville, California (May 7-8-9), and shortly afterwards, final approval was given by our Provincial Minister, Father Mel Jurisich. So here’s the lineup:

Phillip Polk, 26, is a member of the San Carlos Apache Nation in San Carlos, Arizona. He has known the Franciscan all his life and has been most recently encouraged in his discernment by his pastor, Father Gino Piccoli, ofm. Phillip is presently a fulltime caregiver for his elderly grandparents. He has been in discernment with our province since last September.

Ryan Thornton, 25, hails from Monrovia, California. He comes to the friars after having spent a year as a diocesan seminarian for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Ryan is a recent graduate of Harvard and has a special interest in the work of Franciscan philosopher Dun Scotus.

José Rios Merida, 43, of Oakland, California, is presently working as Clerk of Court for the Superior Court of California in San Francisco. Born in Mexico’s Yucatan, he has spent most of his life in southern California and the Bay Area. In addition to his work, José has been an active participant in our vocations prayer and discernment groups in the Bay Area over the past year.

Michael (Mike) Minton, 44, also of Oakland, is a social worker for an Alameda County agency which inspects and evaluates board and care facilities for disabled adults. A native of Indiana, Mike moved to the Bay Area some five years ago, and is an active member, along with Jose, at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Oakland.

All four candidates will soon enter our postulancy house (aka the Transfiguration Community) in Portland, Oregon, for a nine-month residential program starting the first week of September and ending in early June, 2009. Brother Robert Rodrigues is director of the live-in formation experience, which provides candidates with hands on experience in Franciscan life. Father John dePaemelaere, who lives close by, will assist in the program as well.

The entering postulants will plunge into community living from their very first day, following an intense daily horarium (schedule) which includes morning prayer a/o Eucharist, part-time work outside the community, meal preparation, and various household chores. Evenings are dedicated to classes in a variety of areas which will introduce men to Franciscan life and spirituality. In addition, the men will attend a weekly class in developing communications skills facilitated by a professional counselor, Sister Noreen Orazio, SSMO. Work experience and in-house classes will be supplemented by short-term volunteer ministries in the community at large as well as participation in events organized by the local Franciscan community. The schedule also provides time for personal and group recreation, spiritual direction, and, yes, even a good ol’ Sunday afternoon nap. Contact with family and friends is encouraged within the bounds of the program and the men will have vacation time during the Christmas holiday.

Each candidate will plug into a common template of group experiences aimed at exposing him to a deeper experience of Franciscan community living. In addition, he will also follow a personalized program aimed at facilitating his development as a human, Christian, and Franciscan. This personalized program, tailored to the needs of each individual candidate, is based upon our assessment of each man’s interests, talents, and needs. This assessment grows out of our experience of the man during his time of discernment with us, complemented by the comprehensive psychological testing which is part of the application process. For example, one man may need to work on his language skills, or start a personal plan for improved diet and exercise. Another candidate may be encouraged to attend meetings of (AA) Alcoholics Anonymous or ACA (Adult Children of Alcoholics). A third candidate may be encouraged to experiment with volunteer ministry in a new or unfamiliar area for him. And so on. In every case, regular periodic meetings with the program director provide for feedback and evaluation. No one gets lost or falls through the cracks.

This year, the entering postulants will enjoy wonderful new digs at the former convent of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in southeast Portland. The crosstown move will put them in closer contact with local friars at our Ascension fraternity and our House of Welcome. They will also experience the warm welcome and gracious hospitality of the OLS parishioners and their pastor, Fr. Ron Millican, who have gone all out to make the friars feel at home. We haven’t even started our program and already we’ve been completely spoiled. Parish staff and volunteers have already spruced up the seven bedroom facility and provided for repairs and yardwork in anticipation of our move. Many thanks to our new church family at Our Lady of Sorrow!

We welcome our new brothers and wish them all the best in their postulancy experience.
We are grateful for their open and generous hearts and their willingness to trust and follow the Spirit. Let’s all of us keep them in our prayers as they embark on this important new step in their spiritual journey.

North x Northwest: A Retreat for Inquirers

Meet a few of our inquirers: Juan, Patrick, Scott, Zeno, and Joshua. They, along with Corey (not shown) were the participants in our Northwest Vocations Weekend, held just this past Memorial Day weekend (May 23-26) in the Portland/Salem area of Oregon.

Ranging in age from 22 to 37 and coming from a variety of backgrounds (construction worker, student, parish youth minister, public health worker, etc.), these men represent a fairly good cross-section of the kind of men inquiring into Franciscan life at this moment. What this particular group of also have in common is that most of them live in the Pacific Northwest. Others have a special interest in the ESL (English as a Second Language) program at our House of Welcome and Discernment in Portland. The photo above was taken in its small basement chapel, by the way.

The particular focus of this past weekend’s activities was to introduce inquirers to the friars of the Northwest-- their ministries, community life, and prayer. The province of Saint Barbara, by the way, encompasses an enormous geographical area—the entire west coast of the United States, as well as Arizona, Nevada, and a portion of the state of New Mexico. Consequently, each region has a very particular climate—social as well as geographical—that gives both color and nuance to Franciscan life.

With its great physical beauty, mild climate (rain notwithstanding), and unique history, the Pacific Northwest provides a special soil for the cultivation of Franciscan life and ministry. Local folks claim with some pride that it takes a particular kind of gumption and down to earth, independent spirit to thrive in this region. After all, the ancestors of many of the area’s inhabitants were pioneers who crossed the continent to reach the Northwest via the celebrated Lewis & Clark trail. That independent, self- starting instinct is surely reflected in the way the friars live and work up here.

Originally, the friars established parishes in both urban as well as rural areas settled by groups of Catholic immigrants (Irish, German, Dutch, Belgian) that incongruously dot an area otherwise known as the most unchurched part of the United States. Today, our physical presence has shrunk to a major concentration of more than a dozen friars in the Portland/ Salem area, as well as parish in Spokane, Washington.

Fewer in numbers, the friars, are no less brave of heart, as we learned on our three-day road trip through the area. Portland is home to our postulancy house (the Transfiguration Community), our House of Welcome and Discernment (HOWD) for aspirants who are studying English, and our parish, Ascension Catholic Church in the Mount Tabor area of the city’s southeast side.

DAY ONE. We were warmly greeted by our hosts at the House of Welcome—Brother Freddy Rodriguez, Father Larry Gosselin, and our student aspirant, Juan José. Their house in a residential cul de sac near the parish is lovingly referred to as the House of Commons, while up the hill about a mile away is the upper house of the community, aka the House of Lords. The ‘lords’ (Friars Jeff Macnab, Loren Kerkof, Didacus Clavel, Brian Flynn and Armando Lopez) put on a wonderful feast for our visitors as we moved easily into introductions and faith sharing.

DAY TWO. The second day of our Oregon odyssey, we jumped into the house van and drove to Francis Center to meet with friar/director Pat Evard. Father Pat showed us around the facility which provides emergency food and clothing for up to 400 clients each month. The House subsists entirely on volunteer labor and donations; no frills, but lots of Franciscan hospitality and joy. After lunch, we continued on to Salem, the state capital, about an hour from Portland. There we were met by Friar John Luat Nguyen, who lives and works at St. Joseph’s, a downtown parish and the largest faith community in the Portland archdiocese. John Luat helps with both Vietnamese and Anglo communities and does considerable outreach to residents of hospitals and nursing homes in the area. He greeted us with green tea and a plate of his own homemade egg rolls. “You have to pray and pray hard, all the time… no matter what you do,” he urged us.

After our stop in Salem, we paid a brief visit to the Benedictine abbey and seminary at Mount Angel, where our ESL students have participated in the school’s ESL program over the past seven years. Aspirants may spend up to three years developing their language skills and fluency before entering our postulancy program.

The final stop of the day was at St. Mary’s Parish in the little town of Shaw at the edge of the wonderful (“awesome”) Silver Falls State Park. “The Catholics settled here in Shaw,” friar/pastor Ben Innes explained, “while the Baptists set up shop in nearby Aumsville. Shaw was ‘wet’; Aumsville was ‘dry’. Consequently, Aumsville prospered while Shaw nearly went under!” Father Ben, long active in youth ministry in California, returned to Oregon to take care of his elderly mother, who later passed on. Ben has stayed to serve the people of the area and St. Mary’s—contrary to his story—has actually thrived. The 5:30 pm Saturday Mass we attended was packed to the gills. No matter that Father Ben had just been released from the hospital the day before, or that the music director didn’t show—the liturgy went on!—and both Ben and the community gave their blessing (literally) to us visitors.



DAY THREE. Blessings from the people of God were a feature of our Sunday liturgy as well at the newly remodeled sanctuary of Ascension parish back in Portland. Father Larry and I presided at the liturgy, and for me personally, it was a wonderful moment. Nine years ago, I arrived at Ascension as one very green deacon, was ordained in Portland, and ended up spending a total of four years in the parish. It was a graced time and great to see the parish family again. In the church basement after Mass, we lunched on the world’s largest (and spiciest) burritos prepared by members of the parish’s thriving Hispanic community. After a brief rest, we went to The Grotto—a Portland landmark staffed by members of the Servite community as an outdoor sanctuary cum garden open to the general public. Home again a few hours later, we sat with two additional friars—Frs. John de Paemelaere and Tom Frost. “John De” is the energizer bunny of the province—at 89 he is still going strong after a long career as a counselor for Oregon’s Department of Corrections in addition to teaching and parochial responsibilities. Fr. Tom, of Covered Wells, Arizona, was in town to help out with a retreat for lay (secular) Franciscans. Tom has spent nearly twenty-five years on the Tohono O’odham reservation near Tucson.

Our three postulants—Victor, Javier, and Eric—along with Brother Jeff Macnab completed the group. We sat, yakked, dove into several varieties of pizza (veggie, cheese, and everything on it). The discussion was free-flowing and broad. But Brother Jeff really nailed it with his very succinct reflection on the discernment process: “You know, “ he said, “it’s not about being a Franciscan or a Jesuit, or becoming a lay leader, or whatever. It is about searching for Christ. Where and how is God showing me that I must search for and encounter Christ in my life?” A long, thoughtful silence followed.

THE WRAP-UP. At our Monday morning wrap-up session, our inquirers had quite a bit to say. Here are a few representative comments:

--“ Even though I live in the area and have visited a lot of the friars, I was surprised at the amount of activity you Franciscans are involved in here in the Portland area.”

--“I didn’t realize how many friars up here are living on their own in parishes and in independent ministry. And they still have a connection to community, but it’s a different way of being community. It’s not always about living together in one house all the time.”

--“I used to think that if priests or brothers lived by themselves, it was because nobody could stand living with them. But now I see that the work has a lot to do with it, too, and that there are a variety of ways to live out the Franciscan lifestyle.”

--“I get the feeling there’s no pressure to conform or fit into a mold of some kind. It’s like you get to be yourself.”

--“I didn’t know how much work Franciscans can do outside of a parish. For myself, I want to be of use to the great society yet also feel connected to community.”

Rich observations and rich fruit for further discernment. The Franciscan experience in the Northwest is different. No big friaries—just small, homey communities with 3-6 men each. Or several men living independently but checking in with the greater fraternity. A certain independent outlook. And a love and closeness to nature that is part of the Franciscan spirit everywhere.

So. This is just one experience. One weekend retreat. One taste of our life. Stay tuned. There is more coming. And if you want to find out for yourself, well, heck, get in touch with me: cstalleyho@yahoo.com