Brother Nicolas’ Story

Brother Nicolas Dragone, OFM Conv.

Nicolas Dragone met the Conventual Franciscan friars as a student in St. Francis High School (Athol Springs, New York). A native of nearby Buffalo, the now 22-year-old felt an immediate connection to the Franciscan charism. The friars themselves were always kind and welcoming to Nicolas; they were ready to talk with him about anything. Nicolas also knew spiritually that God was calling him to be a friar; upon graduating from high school he entered the Order’s Postulancy Program.

St. Francis of Assisi

During his time as a postulant, the more Nicolas learned about the Franciscan way of life, the better he understood that God wanted him to serve others as a Franciscan. Nicolas also had the opportunity to share his gift of music – by playing instruments and singing – with fellow friars and the wider community. The Franciscan approach to encourage people to develop their God-given gifts really appealed to Nicolas.

After professing his temporary vows “to live in obedience, without anything of his own, and in chastity for a period of one to three years”, Nicolas moved to the Conventual Franciscans’ St. Bonaventure Friary in Forestville, Maryland. He is currently a student at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. where he is working on a degree in music. Forestville, Maryland is a suburb of Washington.

St. Philip Benizi Parish, Jonesboro, Georgia

The summer of 2010 Friar Nicolas is spending at St. Philip Benizi Parish – a Conventual Franciscan-run church – in Jonesboro, Georgia. During his time at the parish, Nicolas has the opportunity to participate in its many ministries. One of these included a mission experience at St. Philip Benizi’s sister-church, Santa Ana Parish in Honduras.

(Sources of all related photos on webpage and homepage: The St. Philip Be-New-Zi, www.stphilipbenizi.org, www.wikipedia.org, and www.ssfpa.org.)