Discernment Weekend Held with Conventual Friars

at Fonda, New York's Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine

The Discernment Weekend participants at Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine in Fonda, New York;

Friar Eric de la Pena is second from the left

As vocation director for the Conventual Franciscans’ Immaculate Conception Province in North America, Friar Eric de la Pena spends a lot of his time helping men discern their vocations to the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. He does this in part by helping them learn about Francis of Assisi and his spirituality.

Towards the end of October, Friar Eric helped Franciscan spirituality spread when he hosted a Discernment Weekend at the Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine in Fonda, New York. Six men attended the weekend, which focused on St. Francis of Assisi’s prayer in front of the San Damiano Cross. The Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine itself is run by Conventual Franciscans. Friar Mark Steed is one of the friars who work at the shrine and ensure that the story of Kateri - a 17^th century Aboriginal woman who converted to Roman Catholicism - is not forgotten.

Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha Shrine is located in a park-like setting where Friar Eric’s weekend participants had the opportunity to walk and pray or think about Francis of Assisi and their vocations. They also discussed Franciscan spirituality with Friar Eric and looked at how Franciscan beliefs can be applied to life in the 21^st century. At the end of the weekend, the men had a greater sense of what Franciscan life is really like.

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