The Next Stage: Eight Men Begin Their Novitiate

The novices from left to right: Kory, Nick, Bryan, Vincent, Paul, John, David, and Jeffrey

The Conventual Franciscans’ postulancy program lasts one year. The postulants going through it live life as Franciscans while learning about the Order’s founder (St. Francis of Assisi) and what living as a friar actually entails. After their one year as postulants, the men have to come to an understanding about their vocations; meaning, they must feel in their hearts that God is calling them to be Conventual Franciscan friars.

This year eight men who had spent the last 12 months as postulants decided to continue their vocation as Conventual Franciscans. On July 17th at the St. Francis of Assisi Novitiate in Mishawaka, Indiana, they attended their investiture during which they were given their habit. From now on the men will be known as novices. The next 12 months will see the men further their understanding of the Rule of St. Francis, the Constitutions of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, and Franciscan life in general.

If all goes well for the eight men, they will profess their temporary vows after their novitiate year. For this to actually happen the Franciscan community around them, their directors as well as they themselves will all have to agree that professing the vows is truly the commitment that they want to make.