Vocations
Vocation
Vocation is sometimes difficult to define. We all walk a vocational path. As we walk along this road, we can sometimes hear God calling us to deepen our relationship with the person of Christ. Each person’s call is distinctive – by God’s grace, we are all given the gifts to live out our call to be the unique person that God has created us to be.
“In His goodness God calls all the Christian faithful in the Church to the perfection of love through different states of life, so that the salvation of the world may be advanced by means of personal holiness”
— Capuchin Constitutions
A calling to religious life
The Lord Jesus is always calling us to him by name. You may also hear him speaking to you. It may be in the silence of prayer, from the words of scripture, in the person of your neighbour or in the disguise of the poor. Wherever He calls, He is calling you to a particular way of life.
Although everyone’s calling and vocation are unique, there are some common ways in which we can live out our vocation, for example, through marriage, the priesthood or the single life. Religious life is the name that we give to the calling to live in a community that shares life and prayer under vows.
A calling to the Capuchin way of life
You may feel as though God is calling you to the Capuchin way of life. Each one of us friars is called to this way, although through different ways. The call to become a Capuchin Franciscan is a specific one. You can find more about our way of life here.
The process
As Capuchin Franciscans we are called to live the Gospel life and follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ, just like St Francis of Assisi did. When we feel the calling of God in our life we go through a period of discernment. This means it is a time of spiritual awakening for us in which we acknowledge God’s calling in our life and discern where He calls us to in our vocation.
If you feel you are been called to become a Capuchin you begin by contacting the Vocations Director who will help you to discern your calling through meetings in person and on the phone. You’ll also visit friaries and spend time meeting the friars and experiencing our way of life. This usually takes place over a period of two years. Formation as a Capuchin Franciscan then has a number of stages:
Candidacy or period of discernment
During this time you get to meet the other friars and build friendships. This is done by you coming to visit us on “come and see weekends” and meeting other young men like yourself. Sometimes you come and stay with us for a week, sharing in the life of a friar by joining us in prayer, at the Mass and in our work and ministry.
Postulancy
This is the first stage of formation in becoming a friar. It lasts about a year and you will live at one of our friaries getting to experience what it is like to live in community and sharing our life of prayer and work. You are able to spend a lot of time in prayer reflecting on your calling and listening to the still small voice of God. You will have classes to learn more about St Francis, the Capuchin Order, life of a religious and spending time with your spiritual director. You will be involved with pastoral ministry; working with the poor or maybe helping in a soup kitchen.
Novitiate
This is a structured year of prayer with some ministry in which you will enter more deeply into your discernment. The Novitiate year begins with investiture, a ceremony in which you will receive the habit of a Capuchin Franciscan. You will have more classes on understanding the way of life of a friar and study the rule and testament of St Francis, the constitutions, our history, Franciscan prayer, and the writings of St Francis and St Clare. You will also learn about the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. You will meet regularly with your Novice Master and Spiritual Director who continue to guide you in your discernment process.
Post novitiate
After your Novitiate year as a newly professed friar you will move into one of our communities and begin a two-year post-novitiate formation period. Your first year is about deepening the experiences you have had during your novitiate; this is done in contemplation, study and ministry. In your second year you continue to build on these experiences with more pastoral ministry. Your studies and ministry will then be in preparation for Solemn Vows – your final commitment to God and the Capuchin Order. If you are called to the priesthood you will also begin studies that eventually lead to ordination.
Meet our Friars
Learn more about our friars with this playlist of videos. Each friar shares a little of their life. The whole playlist can be found on youtube here.
Enquire
We are here to support you if you feel that you may have a vocation to being a Capuchin friar. Please fill out this form if you would like to be contacted by one of the brothers. This form is for people who currently live in Great Britain. You can find out more about the friaries in your local area here.
We ask that to begin this journey you are a male baptised Catholic who is not in a marriage, civil partnership or relationship.
Br Krzysztof Przybylski
Vocations Director
07859762388