Conventual Friar Spreads the Word About Francis and Clare on the Radio

Friar John Bamman

Friar John Bamman is the Associate Pastor at St. Joseph University Parish in Terre Haute, Indiana. He recently commemorated the feast of St. Clare of Assisi – August 11 – by speaking about Clare and Francis on WHOJ – the local Catholic radio station. He touched on Francis and Clare’s lives and their teachings, pointing out their importance today. Francis and Clare were both countercultural in their way of life. They lived simply and placed no emphasis on material belongings. Having come from wealthy merchant (for Francis) and aristocratic (for Clare) families, moving to a life of poverty was a very big step for them. It allowed Francis and Clare to focus on God and service to others. Community and care for creation also took on importance in the lives of Francis and Clare after they realized their calling from God.

Hearing Friar John Bamman speak about anything Franciscan one immediately recognizes the joy he feels about being a friar. Friar John first met the Conventual Franciscans as a teenager. In 2009, he was ordained a priest at the Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation in Carey, Ohio.

(Source of all related images on webpage and homepage: Conventual Franciscans and wikipedia.org.)