September 14, 2006

The Friars of the Renewal are happy to present a few photos of this year’s reception of postulants ceremony held on September 8th at Saint Adalbert Church, located next door to Saint Crispin Friary in the South Bronx.

The reception of postulants is a very simple ceremony which takes place on the Feast of the Birth of Our Lady. While the ceremony is far from secret, it is unannounced and unadorned. The congregation gathered in the church is usually made of friars, sisters, and an assortment of friends and visitors who happen to be in town. Father Bernard Murphy, Community Servant, presided at the reception ceremony accompanied by Fr. Richard Roemer, Community Vicar and Novice Master, Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, Vocation Director, and Fr. Leo Fisher, Postulant Director.

Once again, this year’s class is large and culturally diverse. The first three rows of the former parish church were filled with 15 young men wearing white shirts and gray pants. We are happy yet another fine candidate from France has taken a large step across the ocean. We are also happy to have a second candidate join us from Australia, the twin brother of Brother Felice, who is presently in the novitiate located in Newark, New Jersey. We have also received our first candidates from Spain, Italy, and Mexico.

Of course, the United States was represented by candidates from the following states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, Tennessee, and finally, closer to home, New Jersey! Father Luke Mary, who handles vocational inquiries, reports that “calls keep comin’ in” from the States and abroad. The friars living at Saint Joseph Friary, located in Harlem, now have to breathe in a bit to accommodate the new postulants. In six months, they can breathe easier when the postulants move to Newark to begin their year-long novitiate.

The purpose of the postulancy is two-fold: further discernment and initial religious formation. The Church requires candidates entering religious life to enter a probationary period of testing. The length of time varies according to the discretion and decision of the institute—some are three months while others a year. It is during this time that candidates to the CFR’s receive both a close hand look and a good taste of the friar’s life.

While they are not in vows and still wearing secular attire, the postulant takes on much of the day to day life of the professed, namely, communal and private prayer, manual work, fraternal meetings, spiritual instruction, and apostolic work. Their day begins before 6AM and ends at about 10PM. As a friar once told me, as a CFR you might die of exhaustion or excitement, but boredom—NEVER!

While some may think that fifteen is a large number, Father Luke reminds us that it is a fraction of those who visit or call to inquire. “Discernment, not recruitment” has been the vocation director’s motto from day one—and will continue to be. Many young men who are interested in joining the friars are carefully interviewed by Fr.Luke, whose primary goal is to see if the friar’s way of life is not just an attraction, but a Divine call. This often takes a sufficient amount of time for frequent visits, interaction with the professed members of the community, and personal interviews. In time, certain candidates are invited for an extended two week visit which includes psychological testing and interviews with friars responsible for formation. In short, “Try it, you’ll like it” is not Fr. Luke’s motto!

We are happy to post these photos on our website not only so the parents of the candidates can “take a peek” and see their son many miles from home, but so that they and other family members and friends can support them in prayer. Together with them, we believe that God has called them to us so they can better discern His will. So please pray for these fine men—and we poor friars who are so humbled to have them join our ranks.

Fr.Glenn Sudano, CFR

CFR Postulant Class 2006:

(rear, l-r) Br. Sebastian Kajko, assistant to Postulant Director, Timothy Hanley (New Jersey), Robert Madrigal (California), Richard Gagne (Connecticut), Massimo Aiello (Italy), Felix Gonzalez (Spain), Patrick Fix (Minnesota), Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, Vocations Director.

(front, l-r) Jonathan Sharpe (Tennessee), Andrew Barrie (Illinois), Christopher Fallon (Florida), Jeffrey Mazzone (Maryland), Tristan Gavazzi (Australia), Fr. Leo Fisher, Postulant Director, Jason Grandell (Minnesota), Jerome Dernoncourt (France), Matthew Hawkins (Florida), Alejandro Theriot (Mexico)