From the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal:
We are so grateful for the sixteen young men who have joined us as Postulants this year. Twelve years ago I was one of seventeen (our largest class so far). Working with these men has been like a trip down memory lane – “Did I ask that many questions when I was a Postulant?!”
Three days after they arrived we found ourselves in New Jersey for the funeral of the father of one of our priests. After the Mass, we all made our way to the adoration chapel to make our daily Holy Hour. We arrived just as a prayer group was starting. This small group of older people has been praying every week for years, praying especially for vocations. The effect of our arrival was like a miracle. They were weeping as they prayed. One woman thanked us again and again. Another woman said through her tears – “All these years and now we see who we have been praying for!” The Holy Spirit was encouraging them and humbling us.
Please pray for vocations. Pray for all those men and women who are joining various religious orders and seminaries. God is answering those prayers.
Pray that the Lord of the harvest will send more workers into His vineyard,
Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR
Postulant Director
St. Joseph Friary, Harlem, New York
CFR Postulant Class - 2008 (l-r) Aaron Ocello (NJ); Oisin Martin (Ireland); T.R. Hoffman (CA); Bob Monahan (IL); Alan Fimister (England); Joe Fino (OH); Larry Napier (GA); Declan Gibson (Ireland); Stephen Dufrene (Louisiana); Alain Guiteau (NY); Emmanuel Pena (NY); Matthew Bourgeois (LA); Mike LeFever (VA); Matthew Manders (IA); Eric Forrest (GA); Kris Meiergerd (KS); Fr. Luke Fletcher, CFR, Postulant Director; Fr. Gabriel Bakkar, CFR, Vocation Director.
Photo at left: Fr. Bernard Murphy, CFR Community Servant (Superior), blesses the postulant crosses. The private ceremony was held on September 8th in the South Bronx.
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Photo at left: Aaron Ocello, from New Jersey, receives the postulant cross from Fr. Luke Fletcher, CFR Postulant Director.
H/t to Black Cordelias
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4 comments:
Praise the Lord, our prayers are working! We will continue to keep these young men in our daily prayers.
That man in the second picture holding the book looks like the priest in the Fishers of Men video...?
It is - that's Br. Augustino Torres, CFR who is studying for the Priesthood at St. Joseph's Seminary in Dunwoodie.
I praise God for these dedicated young men... I know Oisin Martin from a voluntary organisation we're both involved in... All I can say is we miss him terribly, and our loss is the friars gain...
May God bless and protect you, Oisin, and all of your colleagues...
Carolyn...
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