Little Friars of Jesus and Mary
Contact
Rev. Antonio Farrugia, PFGM
6641 Grand Caillou Road
Dulac, LA 70353
poorfriarsvocations@gmail.com
poorfriars.net
Dioceses
Houma-Thibodaux
Mission
Our community is composed of two celibate branches of brothers and sisters, who through the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, consecrate all of their life to the Lord, at the service of the Catholic Church and of their neighbor. The brothers and sisters work together, although living in completely separate houses. We have a "dual spirituality" drawing both from the contemplative silence and prayer of the early Carmelites and from the active poverty and evangelization of the early Franciscans.
The founder of our community likes to compare our lifestyle to breathing: in silence, prayer, and study, we "breathe in," and then in going out to share the good news of Jesus Christ and bring people to an intimate relationship with Him in the Sacraments, we "breathe out" again. In doing so, we are trying to imitate the lifestyle of Christ as closely as possible, Who frequently withdrew into prayer [cf. Matt 14:23; Mark 1:35; Luke 22:39] and just as frequently went out into the world to preach the Gospel [cf. Mark 1:38.]
Qualifications
While no one over the age of 18 will be refused the opportunity to begin a prayerful online discernment process should they feel inclined towards our lifestyle, only those who have perceived a possible calling to consecrated life will be invited for a weekend “come-and-see” experience. While we do not put limits to the Lord’s providence, applicants aught keep in mind that our lifestyle may require good health.
Formation
Should the applicant following a weekend “come-and-see” experience be discerned as positive, they will then be invited to return for a 15-day experience. During the 15-day experience, one discerns if they should continue for the 6-month experience [typically known in the US as an “aspirancy”]. A letter of presentation from their spiritual director/parish priest will only be required before entering into the 6-month experience. The Postulancy of one year in duration (waring the “half-habit”) then follows. The candidate enters deeper into the life and apostolate of the community, while the intellectual component of the formation focuses on the mysteries of the Rosary, an overview of the Bible, the four patron saints of the community, and further study on the liturgy and consecrated life. Following this remains two years of Novitiate (wearing the “long-habit”), and then three years of temporary vows, leaving the entire Itinerary of Consecration as a total of six-and-a-half years of formation before one makes their perpetual profession (https://poorfriars.org/itinerary-of-consecration).
International
Yes, international houses include Italy, Mexico, Brazil
Belated Vocations
Yes, each applicant will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.