Order of Friars Minor Conventual, St. Bonaventure Province
Contact
Br. Bernard Mary Fonkalsrud OFM Conv.
Vocation Director
6107 N. Kenmore Avenue
Chicago, IL 60660-2722
friarvocations@franciscancommunity.org
franciscancommunity.org
Dioceses
Chicago, IL Detroit, MI Green Bay, WI Milwaukee, WI Monterey, CA Peoria, IL Rockford, IL San Antonio, TX Washington, MD
Mission
The friars of St. Bonaventure Province are called to live the ideals of Francis of Assisi in the Conventual tradition. We are vowed to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in fraternity, through our simple way of living, dedication to prayer and penance, love of the Eucharist, and devotion to Mary, the Immaculate Mother of God. Each of us is drawn to the heroic charity by the witness of St. Maximilian Kolbe and our great Franciscan saints. As prophetic witnesses, we proclaim the Incarnate and compassionate Christ; enable the building of community within the Church and society; form communities of prayer and service reaching out to the marginalized and poor; and praise the God of creation by reverencing our sisters and brothers and the whole earth. We are involved in education, parish and retreat ministry and missionary work.
Qualifications
Catholic, single, male; good health; a sincere desire to love God, serve His people, and share a common life.
Formation
The first step is postulancy, which usually lasts one year. During this stage the postulant is immersed in the community life of St. Bonaventure Province while living at Sacred Heart Friary in Chicago, IL. He is introduced to St. Francis of Assisi and the Franciscan tradition, and begins to learn the dynamics of balancing the active and contemplative dimensions of the Franciscan charism. Following a comprehensive discernment process, the postulant receives the Franciscan habit and enters the novitiate. The novices are gathered from all four North American Conventual Franciscan provinces and spend a year and a day together at the novitiate in Arroyo Grande, CA. This stage of formation intensifies the development of the inner prayer life and the practical fraternal skills of the novice. After the year of preparation, the novice takes the Franciscan vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. These vows are renewed annually for at least three 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.
Province
St. Bonaventure, Chicago
International
Australia
