The word "
Postulants" may not exactly be used much for most people, but the word is a joy to our ears as these new candidates for our Capuchin community arrive to begin their journeys of discerment.
The Candidate year ("Postulancy") takes place at our Padre Pio Friary in the Frankford area of Philadelphia, under the directions of our Brs. Kip Ledger, OFM Cap., and Jim Mungovan, OFM Cap.
Our 2018-19 postulants arrived on July 15, and soon thereafter were welcomed by Provincials Tom Betz, OFM Cap. and Bob Williams, OFM Cap. (from NJ's Stigmata Province) in the offical PAC (Postulancy Acceptance Ceremonty).
The postulants had a week in Philly to settle in before heading to the hills for a week's retreat at Alverno, a house of retreat in the hills of Central PA. Things are reported as going well, and they certainly hit the ground running, joining in and pitching in for a number of friary ministries -- like those of the Padre Pio Center.
The signing ceremony took place in St. Joachim Church,
adjacent to the friary.
At the retreat at Alverno, we were able to get this photo of
our newest members with Br. Kip (left) and Br. Jim.
Top row (L-R)Matthew Lontz, Mehari Worku,
Drew Morken, Michael Sharpe (NJ)
Second Row (L-R) Alexander Santana (NJ), Sebastian Rojas,
Tony Rivera, Simon Falk, Stephen Cantwell
The Postulant Tour of Philadelphia included a stop at Macy's (across from our St. John Friary) and a required photo-op at "the Eagle" at Macy's ground floor. Welcome, guys!
