VOCATIONS
Vocation Corner featuring the vocation story of Friar Russell
CALLED TO FRANCISCAN LIFE!
During the past four years, the Franciscan Friars Conventuals have been blessed to have many men considering joining our Order. Four years ago, two of our Franciscan provinces joined with each other and are now serving on the East coast of the United States from Massachusetts to Florida as well as in the province of Ontario, Canada (in Toronto and Kingston) and in the capital city of Ottawa.
The 18 men who have joined during this period have all been attracted to our life of fraternity and community. We live as brothers who all share a common love of God, prayer and the common life. We are thrilled that on June 22, 2018, four of our brothers will be ordained priests by one of our friars, the Bishop of Savannah, GA, the Most Rev. Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv. To have one of our brothers, a bishop, share the gift of the priesthood with our brothers, is a great honor. It is another sign of God’s blessings to us and a great expression of our fraternal life.
We look forward to journeying with men aged 17 to 40 who are discerning God’s call to Religious Life and Priesthood as Franciscans. The spirit of St. Francis continues to urge men to follow Jesus, by living the vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. Please encourage men to join us in rebuilding the Church, as did St. Francis, over 800 years ago. Our vocation director will respond to your calls at 718-510-5822 or your emails at vocations@olaprovince.org. Our vocation website: www.franciscans.org and our province website: www.olaprovince.org will give you a peak into how our way of life is lived.
May St. Francis’ greeting of “Peace and all good things!” reach the hearts of everyone reading this.
Fr. Russell Governale, OFM Conv.
Vocation Director
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The 2015 visit of Pope Francis to the United States was such a powerful moment in our history. The Pope spoke of so many Gospel values which St. Francis of Assisi espoused and offered to us, his followers, as our inheritance. Service to the poor, striving for peace among all people and the care for creation continue to be the Gospel values which Franciscans today promote. In Philadelphia, Pope Francis spoke of an American Saint, St. Katherine Drexel, who was asked a pointed question by the Pope of her day (Pope Leo XIII). He asked her: “What about you? What are you going to do?” That question is pointedly put to us too: What about you?
God may be calling you to make a difference in our world by following Jesus in the footsteps of St. Francis and Pope Francis. Working with the poor, seeking peace and caring for creation is what we Franciscan Friars do today. What about you? Would you like to join us in this mission of discipleship of Jesus? If so, please contact our vocation director, Fr. Russell Governale, OFM Conv., via email, snail mail or telephone (his contact information is at the bottom of this page!) He can put you in touch with a friar near you and help you discern God’s call in your life. What about you? Listen to God speak to your heart while the friars hold you in their prayer-filled hearts.
Download a new printable (front to back by short side) PDF version of “Life of Francis.”
Vocation Office
Fr. Russell Governale, OFM Conv. – Vocation Director
vocations@olaprovince.org
Franciscan Friars Vocation Office
223 Bedford Avenue #306
Brooklyn, NY 11211
718-510-5822
Vocations Instagram
@conventuals1223
A Friar’s Vocation Prayer
May my life of prayer and service, O Lord, show those I serve the reality of Your Love.
Make me poor, chaste and holy that I may be an example to all who cross my path.
May everything I do tell others I am happy serving them;
may my life be a sign to Your people, especially to those who so carefully observe me, of the joy that should be mine in my vocation.
Use me and my work, O Lord, that I may be the means of bringing dedicated vocations to my Franciscan family.
Amen
ARE THE CONVENTUAL FRANCISCANS FOR YOU?
RELIGIOUS BROTHERS’ DAY REFLECTIONS
Please take a moment to visit our Conventual Franciscans in North America website:
www.franciscans.org
where you will find even more helpful vocation information.
Check out our Novitiate Website to learn more about the daily life of a friar in formation.
