June 2009         

We have heard the saying attributed to St. Francis, "Preach the Gospel and if necessary use words."  There have been a number of occasions in the recent past that have born the truth of this phrase.  On Pentecost weekend a number of friars (more than twenty) made the trek to St. Petersburg, FL, for the Mass of Thanksgiving of our newly ordained Fr. Jacob Hausman.  The friars took over the house of a most hospitable family.  Their neighbor, who was without an expressed faith, also opened his home to us.  A young man in his mid-twenties who was renting a room there showed us around the house.  Afterwards, we asked him if he would join us next door for dinner.  He agreed and sat down to a casual dinner with Fr. Bernard, Fr. Glenn, myself, and a host of other hungry friars who were stopping in to say hello.  It turns out that this young man was a son of Protestant missionaries.  After some difficult times in his life he fell away from the practice of the Christian faith.  He had never personally known any Catholics before, let alone bearded friars.  Needless to say we were all together something new for him. Try to imagine that the sight of several bearded, habited, joyful friars is not a common experience in Florida.  I should know because I lived there until I became a friar eleven years ago. 

Although he appeared to be a little startled at being in the midst of so many different looking folks he made an effort to be at home. He had a lot of questions.  For the most part, I took an observer’s point of view watching what was unfolding before me.  What struck me was the manner his questions were answered by our friars.  It was a mere sharing of our life.  It came so naturally, so humanly.  By no means was the style apologetic.  We were sharing who we are and how we live as Catholics and in particular as friars.  The background took care of the rest - meaning the manner in which the friars were treating one another, most especially the fraternal dynamic.  Here at dinner we had the Community Servant, Novice Director and other friars sharing.  By their individual demeanor, one would not be able to tell what positions they held. We were all most brotherly.  It did not take long before he was brought into the life of the friars, coming to know us by being with us.  The truth be told, the Gospel was being proclaimed explicitly.  However, there seemed to be a pre-evangelization occurring.  We friars welcomed him warmly.  We got to know him.  Then, after getting to know him, we shared in such a natural way God's plan for everyone, a plan to share in His very life.  Jesus, true God and true man, makes it possible to know what it means to share in the life of God.  Devotion to Jesus' Sacred Heart has been a powerful bridge to bring greater knowledge, and in a way, greater intimacy with our Lord. This is a reality that makes living out our vocation fully possible.