Candidates begin year of Discernment at St. Francis Friary, Burlington, Wisconsin, September 2003. (Left) Fr. James Gannon, OFM; Jason Welle; Stephen Salvo; Fr. Thomas Luczak, Provincial Minister; James Dominick; Antonio Arango; Fr. Linus Kopczewski, OFM Director of Vocations; Br. Michael Kulan, OFM

The Formation Process of the Assumption Province

The term "formation" in religious life basically means that a person who enters this way of life is being "formed" into a healthy, dynamic and spiritually balanced individual. This process takes time and involves effort on both the individual and formation team. The formation process, which is directed by a professed friar or a team of professed friars (friars who are in solemn vows), involves a healthy balance of prayer, study, spiritual direction and recreation. Each man who enters the Assumption Province is recognized as a unique individual with unique talents and gifts. The formation process tries to develop these unique aspects of the individual to further enhance our brotherhood and the Church at large. BACK TO TOP

To be a friar or a priest?
When a person inquires about becoming a Franciscan friar, many automatically state "...because I want to be a priest." This shows an individual's desire to serve God through a life-long commitment. However, the emphasis that is stressed in our formation program is a candidate's commitment to our community and way of life as we strive to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In other words, one's first priority about joining the Franciscans is to live in fraternity. As brothers, we enrich each other through our gifts, talents and shared experiences. BACK TO TOP

We begin with those who are of college age. If you are between the ages of 18 - 24 and want to learn more about our lifestyle as friars, then our Associate Program may be the right program for you. BACK TO TOP

The Contact Program
If you have completed college, a trade school or have had some work experience and wish to begin the discernment process, then we invite you to enter into our Contact Program. This means you are in contact with one of our friars from one to two years, while working, going to school or learning a life skill. During this time, a friar from our province serves as your mentor to help in your discernment process. You are expected to go on an annual retreat, and provide a service project within the province.
You are also given a contact friar at this time to help you with your discernment process. The contact friar helps the vocation director in gathering information about you, ranging from employment background, family history, a medical evaluation and further recommendations e.g. from your parish priest. If you feel you have a vocation to our way of life and this is agreed upon by the contact friar, then an interview for formal admission is set up, usually in mid-May. BACK TO TOP

The Associate Program
The Assumption BVM Province has responded to the national trend of college aged men desiring to learn more about religious life by offering a community where men between the ages of 18 - 24 can come and live with the friars while they pursue their academic degrees.

This is an opportunity for young men to come and see how the friars live, pray and minister to the people around them. Students are not expected to live the life of a friar, but rather they should live like students who are serious about their Christian faith.

St. Stanislaus Friary in Cleveland, Ohio, is the site of our Associate Program. The city of Cleveland has many quality colleges nearby, such as John Carroll University, Borromeo Seminary or Ursuline College. St. Stanislaus Friary and parish offer opportunities for ministry.

What’s expected of me?
We invite mature young men to this experience who are seriously committed to their Catholic Christian faith, and who are willing to learn more deeply about their relationship with Jesus Christ.

Who pays tuition?
You would be expected to cover your own tuition. The Director of the program will help in your application for tuition assistance. These loans are in your name, and your responsibility. If you were to discern that you are called to live the life of a friar, and make your solemn profession (permanent commitment) in the Order, the Assumption BVM province would assume your educational loans.

You are also expected to maintain your own health care insurance, travel costs, long distance phone calls and any extraordinary expenses while living at St. Stanislaus. You would also be responsible for helping maintain your home at St. Stanislaus. That means cleaning chores, shopping for the community, basic repairs, doing dishes and your laundry.

How do I apply?
First, an inquiry is made. This may take place while you are still a Junior or Senior in high school, or perhaps already in your first or second year of college. There are several weekends available where you can come and visit our friary in Cleveland, and visit the local colleges. Fr. Linus Kopczewski, OFM is available to meet with you and your parents to explain the program. Upon acceptance into the Associate Programs, Fr. Michael Surufka, OFM would then assist with the necessary paperwork, and direct you to the appropriate college. An orientation program would be set up for all the new students.

What if I can't afford it?
Tuition money is available through government or private foundations to assist young people who can't afford college. Fr. Michael, the local director of the program, will present various options to assist you.

Academics isn’t my main interest. Can I still apply?
There are many schools in the Cleveland area that can help you learn a trade or develop a skill. As Christians, each must contribute to the greater good of all, through prayer and work. St. Francis urged those who were coming to the Order to use their talents in order that they might best work in the way God gifted them. This program is designed to work with a young man who has the desire and commitment to serve the Lord. If you are willing to give it a sincere try and work hard, then the friars are willing to work with you!

Admissions and Candidacy Program
Successful completion of the admission interview makes you a candidate for the formation program. Under our regulations, the candidate's program goes for one year. You live at one of our friaries, and immerse yourself in the everyday lifestyle of the friars with whom you live. Depending on your talents and background, a ministry program is set up for you by the friar who is your formation director. You will learn about the history of the province, basic precepts of our constitution as well as the dynamics of community living. BACK TO TOP

Novitiate
At the conclusion of the candidacy program, interviews are set up for the process of entering the novitiate. This is a wonderful year in which you are given ample time to develop your prayer life, learn more about Franciscan spirituality as well as the man who founded our Order, St. Francis. This is when you are received into the Order and are given the religious habit of a friar minor, a lesser brother. Our novitiate is inter-provincial, which means you will be living and praying with novices from other provinces. The formation team is comprised of friars from several different provinces. This experience is to help you become aware of the fact that while you belong to a particular province, you are a member of the entire Franciscan Order.

After completion of the novitiate, you profess your first vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. Our vow of poverty reminds the world that all we have is God's gift to us, and that we are detached of worldly goods and attached to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Our vow of chastity reminds the world of Christ's love for all, especially the unloved whom we are called to serve. Our vow of obedience tells the world we are open to God's will in serving the Church unselfishly and fully committed by living a celibate lifestyle. BACK TO TOP

Post novitiate
As a newly professed friar, you move to St. Francis Friary, Burlington, Wisconsin. For those not seeking ordination, there are several colleges in the area for further training in various fields.

During your two years at St. Francis, you are expected to take some academics in order to obtain a better understanding of the Church and society as a whole. Those seeking ordination may also attend the area colleges to pick up needed philosophy courses

The primary focus at St. Francis is formative. You are continuing to experience what it means to be a friar minor. During the third year, you will live in one of our communities within the province to get a real feel for our Franciscan lifestyle. This is referred to as your mentoring year. You can request to profess your solemn profession after your mentoring year is completed. Up until that time, you renewed your "simple" vows each year. When you profess your solemn vows, you are making the lifelong commitment to Christ, to the Church and to your brothers in the Order. Those who are not seeking ordination are then given their first assignment at one of our community houses within the province. Again, depending on your special gifts and talents, you are sent to serve where you will be most effective.

The friars studying for the priesthood will continue their studies.
It may seem like a long process, but remember: the formation years are a preparation for a lifetime commitment to the brotherhood. After solemn vows, while the friars may not have any more formation staff to direct us, we are still challenged as friars to be formed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and by our love and commitment to each other as brothers in Christ. BACK TO TOP