Outline of Formation

In his Rule, our Father Saint Francis set forth what was required of those who desired to follow his way of life: “If anyone wants to profess our Rule and comes to the friars, they must send him to their provincial minister, because he alone, to the exclusion of others, has permission to receive friars into the Order. The ministers must carefully examine all candidates on the Catholic faith and the Sacraments of the Church. If they believe all that the Catholic faith teaches and are prepared to profess it loyally, holding by it steadfastly to the end of their lives…tell them what the Holy Gospel says (Mt 19:21), that they should go and sell all that belongs to them and endeavor to give it to the poor…when this has been done, the ministers should clothe the candidates with the habit of probation…” (From the Rule of 1223 by St. Francis of Assisi) Formation as a Conventual friar accordingly follows a traditional course through Postulancy (pre-novitiate), Novitiate, and a period of time in Temporary (or simple) Profession before making a Solemn Profession of Vows.  Formation necessarily involves integration into the way of life of the friars, focusing on living the vows, fraternal life in community, and understanding our Franciscan tradition.  The period of formation also includes the appropriate theological and pastoral formation required for priests and brothers.   Postulancy Postulancy is the first step of entering the Franciscan Order, and usually lasts for one year.  During this stage a postulant is immersed in the community life of the friary.  He is introduced to Saint Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan tradition, and begins to learn the dynamics of balancing the active and contemplative dimensions of the Franciscan charism. Novitiate Having discerned to pursue the vocation of a friar, the postulant receives the Franciscan habit and enters the novitiate.  The novitiate is an intense year of development of the inner prayer life and the practical fraternal skills required of a friar.  In recent times, our novices have joined the novitiate program of the friars in North America. Temporary Profession After the year of preparation, the novice makes profession of the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience.  These vows are renewed for several years until the student friar takes permanent or ‘solemn’ vows.  During this stage, the student friar begins a program of specialized ministry training and academic study that corresponds with his own abilities, and that prepares him to serve the Church as either a Franciscan brother or a Franciscan priest.