VOCATIONS - How to join in the life and work of the friars

Visit also our Vocations Website at http://www.friaruk.org

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The Province of the Immaculate Conception in Great Britain has a very clear and structured procedure for those who wish to join the Franciscans, designed to help both them and the Order to discern whether theirs is a true vocation.

We accept men aged between 18 and 40, practising Catholics who have been baptised for at least two years, and who are single. (There can be many reasons why people who are older than this contact us, and we try to be flexible and listen to each individual to assess his suitability. However, our experience has been that older men have difficulty in adapting to our particular form of community life.)

Usually we like to be in contact with a candidate for at least a year before his name is put forward for joining the Postulancy in September. This preliminary time provides an opportunity for the candidate to talk regularly with the Vocations Animator and other Friars. The role of the Vocations Animator is to try and help the candidate discern his calling and discover if the Franciscan life is where God is leading him. We arrange visiting weekends when those interested in our life can visit Friaries and stay overnight. Quite often these visits ("Experiencing our Life") take place in our Friary at Woodford Green. Occasionally we have a "Vocations Workshop" which aspirants are encouraged to attend. This time of contact is not allowed to be a hurried process for the candidate, and this helps the Friars to get to know him and at the same time he for his part can see how we live and work. These times help the aspirant to discover what it means to be a Franciscan today.

If a candidate then wishes to join the Postulancy in September, three references are requested, one from a priest. We ask that a c.v. is also provided with a description of how the idea of a vocation has grown and developed for the candidate. He will then be interviewed by one or more friars who have been appointed to do this, as well as by competent lay people and a psychologist. Their reports coupled with the Vocation Animator's report with their recommendation are passed on to the Provincial at Woodford Green in London, who will then make a decision whether to accept a candidate into the postulancy.

: Solemn Profession of life-long vows of poverty, celibate chastity, and obedience

The Postulancy begins in September and lasts for one year. (The word Postulant comes from the Latin postulare meaning to ask, to beg, and so the postulant is someone who has decided to beg admittance into the Order and the Order is considering the request). The Postulancy is residential and takes place in one of our Friaries: at present at Killarney in Ireland (as part of our joint formation programme with the Irish Province) The candidate spends these twelve months in a Fraternity learning more about St. Francis and the Franciscans and the sort of discipline that marks their life. He is encouraged to pray and learn how to live in a community. There are times of voluntary work and an opportunity to visit and live in other Friaries. The Postulancy programme generally follows the academic term, so during holidays such as Christmas, Easter, and the summer, the postulant returns home.

At the end of this Postulancy programme the candidate is helped to decide whether he wishes to maintain his request to enter the Order and if he is accepted he will enter the Novitiate. This is the beginning of living as a member of the Order and wearing the Franciscan habit. The Novitiate is a "quiet and reflective time". It goes for a full year from September to September. It is a fairly structured time that is designed to make a break with one's previous form of life and to deepen an awareness and understanding of Franciscan living and learn more about St. Francis, prayer and community life. The novice learns something of the history of the Province and the Order in general, the Rule of St Francis and the Constitutions of the Order, and deepens his knowledge of Scripture, particularly the psalms, by study and sharing in liturgical prayer. He will be shown different methods of meditative, personal prayer, and helped to find the particular way most fruitful for himself.

: Garden Fete at the former Chilworth Friary

At the end of the Novitiate year, if he decides to proceed and is accepted, the Novice will make his first temporary Profession of the vows of Poverty, Celibate Chastity and Obedience which he intends to make eventually a life-long commitment. He will then go on to attend the Franciscan International Study Centre at Canterbury. After a prescribed number of years in temporary vows, at present four years, he will make final profession of Solemn Vows which are a commitment for life.

So the process of becoming a Franciscan is a deliberate one and not one that can be undertaken lightly or in a hurry. It involves a great deal of soul searching and seeking advice from people who know and understand you and the Franciscan way of life. But it is a process by means of which it is indeed possible to discover the will of God.

To view a photochronicle of First Profession of Vows click here

If the candidate feels called also to be a Deacon or a Priest, the training and necessary studies will be provided by the Order during and beyond this period of preparation as a Friar.

To view a photochronicle of an Ordination of a friar to the Priesthood click here

If you would like more information about becoming a Franciscan, please contact the Vocations Director who will be pleased to help.

Fr. Antony Jukes, OFM
Cold Ash Centre
The Ridge
Cold Ash
Thatcham
Berkshire
RG18 9HU

Email: vocations@friar.org

A MESSAGE FROM OUR VOCATIONS DIRECTOR

When people approach us to speak about a possible vocation with the Franciscan Order, most of our enquiries actually come through the internet. And so it was felt necessary to start up a new website totally devoted to the promotion of Franciscan vocations within this Province. This website is intended to complement the main Provincial website with various links and cross-references between the two. The Vocations website in particular will share with people something about our Franciscan Spirituality and charism, and the way of life of the Franciscan brothers here in this Province in the hope that it will provide an online resource to help people discern their God-given vocation and path through life."

To go to the new Vocations website click on the following link: http://www.friaruk.org