A Publication of the Capuchin Franciscans / Fall 2016

THE PORTER

VOCATIONS ON THE RISE IN ST. CONRAD PROVINCE

The Gift of aVOCATIONIn a 2012 letter addressed to institutes of consecrated life, PopeFrancis wrote that the relationship with Jesus Christ is nourished by akind of restless searching. He went on to say: “This makes us aware ofthe gratuity of the gift of a vocation and helps us to explain thereasons for our initial choice and for our perseverance. Letting Christmake us his own always means straining forward to what lies ahead,to the goal of Christ.”

In the past five years, the Capuchin Province of St. Conrad has beenblessed with a resurgence of vocations, young men engaged in this“restless searching” and “straining forward” to follow the call of JesusChrist after the manner of St. Francis of Assisi. We are living in a timeand a culture that downplays the supernatural and communal, layingemphasis instead on the material and individual. Ironicaly, it is in thisvery climate, dissatisfied with what the world has to offer, that youngpeople are beginning to ask themselves, “Is there not something moreto life, something greater to strive for?” It is in struggling with thesequestions that a person may arrive at the answer and discover withincredible joy the gift of a vocation to priesthood or the religious life.

Discovering this call is but the beginning. There remains the hard andcareful work of discernment. From the Latin word discernere,meaning to separate or divide, the work of discernment involvessetting aside certain paths in order to choose one, unique path. Aperson may feel an attraction to both teaching, carpentry, and

and nursing, but in order to perfectlychoose one, he must set aside the others.Likewise, in discerning a religious vocation,a young man sets aside the good ofmarriage and children in order to moreperfectly and completely give himself to theLord.

As a young man attending Sunday Masswith my family, I constantly heard of theneed for vocations. I watched people takehome “Vocation Chalices” and speciallyappointed Crucifixes, promising to pray foryoung men who would say ‘yes.’ Now, as aCapuchin and a vocation director, it is clearthat God is hearing our prayers. God isblessing us with vocations and new life. Letus thank God for this incredible gift andcontinue to pray for saintly priests andfervent religious!

Fr. Joseph Mary Elder, O.F.M.Cap.Director of Vocations

“The vocation is truly atreasure that God placesin the hearts of somemen, chosen by Himand called to followHim in this specialstate of life.”

- Pope Francis

Vocationsat a glance

In this first year of discernment with the Capuchins,young men live the day-to-day life of the friars,participate in the prayer schedule, have days assigned forministry and have regular meetings with their formationdirector for guidance and feedback. Four men officiallybegan postulancy in July when they received the TauCross, a sign of their initial entrance into the order.

A time of more intense prayer and solitude following thepostulancy, young men enter the novitiate upon aceremony called Investiture, in which they receive the“clothes of probation” and begin a year of deep interiorreflection and discernment. Currently there are twobrothers in the novitiate discerning their call to maketemporary vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Upon completion of the novitiate, young men return toour province and take temporary vows. Thereafter, theybegin preparations for future ministry, whether priest orlay, while continuing to discern their personal vocationwithin the order. Currently there are four brothersbeginning initial preparations for future ministry throughseminary formation or ministry training.

Fully discerning their vocation within the order, brothersfollowing the call to the priesthood begin philosophystudies at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver andtheology studies at the Oblate School of Theology in SanAntonio, TX. Men called to the lay brother vocation begintraining for their particular ministry at various locations.Currently there are seven brothers in ministry formation.

OCTOBEROur Lady of the RosaryIn the Catholic Church, the month of October is traditionally themonth of the Rosary. The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebratedon October 7. Known for several centuries by the alternate title “OurLady of Victory,” the feast day takes place in honor of the 16�� centurynaval victory which secured Europe against Turkish invasion. Pope St.Pius V attributed the victory to the intercession of the Blessed VirginMary, who was invoked on the day of the battle through a campaignto pray the Rosary throughout Europe.

The Rosary has a long and beautiful history within the CapuchinOrder. During the Counter-Reformation, the early Capuchinspromoted this simple prayer among the people, urging them to recitethe Rosary, meditating upon the lives of Jesus and Mary. The popularCapuchin saint, Padre Pio, is said to have prayed this beautiful prayeras much as 30 times a day! St. Leopold Mandic referred to Our Lady as“my holy boss” and seemed ever to be passing the beads of theRosary through his fingers. Venerable Solanus Casey had a strongdevotion to the Rosary and did not let a day pass without reciting theprayer. Nearly all of the Capuchin saints and blesseds were strongdevotees of the Rosary and saw it as an integral part of their dailypractice and spiritual life.

The Rosary combines different forms of prayer, vocal, meditative, andcontemplative, into a singular and beautiful encounter with Jesusthrough Mary. The repetitious chanting of the Hail Mary frees themind to focus on the mysteries: joyful, sorrowful, glorious andluminous. The imagination is engaged to bring these mysteries to lifethrough meditation while the heart cries out to God in praise, joy,gratitude, pleading and love. Through the recitation of the Rosary aperson may arrive at a place of profound quiet and deep peace, aprayer called contemplation.

During this month of October, join the Capuchins in praying thisbeautiful prayer and rediscovering the riches of a deep devotion toOur Lady and her Rosary.

he word Rosarycomes from a Latin word

meaning “garland ofroses.” If you’ve never

prayed the Rosary beforeor find it difficult, hereare some helpful tips.

T Read aloud the Scripture verses that correspond to themystery you are praying. If you don’t know them, refer to abook such as “The Mysteries of Christ: A Scriptural Rosary.”

Before praying, silence your cell phone, turn off the televisionand other distractions in order to be disposed for prayer.

If you find the silence difficult, turn on some light, meditativemusic, for example Franz Schubert’s “Ave Maria.”

Be patient with yourself. Remember that prayer is likeanything else: it takes time, discipline and lots of practice!

In all the free time youhave, once you have

finished your duties ofstate, you should kneel

down and pray theRosary. Pray the Rosary

before the BlessedSacrament or before a

crucifix.

Mary has recommendedthe Rosary at Lourdes

and Fatima because ofits exceptional value for

us and our times.

Therefore, pray therosary frequently. It costs

so little, and it's worthso much!

- St. Padre Pio

meet the capuchinsBr. Jude Emmanuel Quinto,the eldest of three siblings, wasborn in the Philippines, in thecapital city of Manilla. Alongwith his family, heimmigrated to the UnitedStates when he was six yearsold. From that time, he haslived with his family inDenver, Colorado. As amember of Christ the KingParish in Denver, he was analtar server and also attendedtheir parochial school. Judebegan discerning with theCapuchins when he was 17years old and enteredpostulancy following his 18�

Jude Emmanuel Quinto was going to enterthe Dominican Order, of that much heseemed certain. After all, he had returned tohis native city in the Philippines for thepurpose of studying at St. Thomas AquinasHigh School, which is run by the DominicanFriars.

During his time at the school, however, Judebegan to change his mind. While he had agreat respect and even reverence for hisDominican teachers, Jude wondered if hemight not be called to something different.

Returning to his home in Denver, COfollowing his graduation, Jude began to seekout other possibilities. This search led him tothe Capuchin Franciscans and to theirvocation director, Fr. Joseph Mary Elder.

“I still remember the first time he came to thefriary,” reflects Fr. Joseph, “I thought hecouldn’t be more than 15 years old!”

Jude, though youthful, was a tenaciousvocation candidate, visiting the friars at St.Anthony Friary for prayer and dinner on anear weekly basis. After celebrating his 18��birthday and reaching the minimum agerequired for the Capuchins, Jude applied and

was accepted into postulancy. InJuly of 2016, Br. Jude Emmanuelprofessed his temporary vows ofpoverty, chastity and obedience.

What does Jude like best aboutbeing a Capuchin? “The prayer,” hesays, “Prayer has taken me into partsof my heart I didn’t know werethere. I want to go deeper anddeeper into prayer.”

Br. Jude is known among the friarsfor his effervescent personality; hecan quite literally strike up and keepa conversation going with anyone.Perhaps that is why he has been sosuccessful in selling Road to Romeraffle tickets alongside Br. Anthonyto raise funds for the Capuchins’numerous ministries.

Among his many hobbies, Br. Jude isa avid relic hunter. He currently has115 relics, including a splinter of thetrue Cross and a relic of Padre Pio.Br. Jude currently resides at St.Anthony of Padua Friary in Denverand is studying philosophy.

PHOTOS FROM AROUND THE PROVINCE

The Feast of St. Francis - On October 3, CapuchinFriars, Sisters and members of the Secular FranciscanOrder joined together at St. Patrick Oratory in Denver tocelebrate the Transitus of St. Francis, his passing fromdeath to eternal life. On October 4, Franciscans all overthe world celebrated the solemnity of their founding fatherand spiritual inspiration.

Around the ProvinceOn September 15, Fr. Barnabas Eichor was appointed spiritualassistant to the Secular Franciscan Fraternity in Olathe, Kansas.

Capuchin Archbishop Charles Chaput delivered an address atNotre Dame University on September 15. In the address,sponsored by the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, Chaputemphasized the family and religious liberty.

Brothers Jude Quinto, Joseph Ignowski, Luke Jordan andAlejandro Diaz professed temporary vows on Saturday, July 23 atChrist the King Parish in Denver.

Vincent Carrasco was invested with the habit and began hisnovitiate year on Sunday, July 24 at San Lorenzo Friary in SantaYnes, CA.

Fr. Blaine Burkey recently completed his book Only theBeginnings, detailing the early years of the Capuchins’ work inPapua New Guinea and the beginnings of the Mendi Diocese.Fr. Blaine began work on the book from 1979-1984 and thisSeptember, with the help of friars and volunteers, brought it to afinal typed format.

On Monday, July 25 four men began postulancy in a specialTauing ceremony at Solanus Casey Friary in Colorado Springs, CO:Artemio Aguilar, Benjamin McCartee, Henry Nyugen and CollinBrown.

Fr. Bill Kraus was honored with special recognition for his workat Samaritan House at the September 10 “Sam’s Supper,” anevent celebrating 30 years of serving the poor at SamaritanHouse in Denver.

On September 17, Fr. Woody’s Haven of Hope honored Fr. JohnLager with the “Father Woody’s Haven of Hope HumanitarianAward” at their annual fundraising dinner.

Affiliate Rosa Gonzalez passed away on September 30. Rosaserved the friars in Denver for many years, cooking meals for thebrothers at Annunciation Friary.

CAPUCHIN PROVINCE OF ST. CONRAD3613 Wyandot St.Denver, CO 80211

(Headquarters)3553 Wyandot St.Denver, CO 80211303.477.5542 Fax: 303.477.1676

(Post Novitiate House of Formation)3805 W. Walsh Pl.Denver, CO 80219303.936.6242 Fax: 303.936.6255

3554 Humboldt St.Denver, CO 80205303.292.5110

(House of Prayer)8095 Walker RoadColorado Springs, CO 80908719.495.2228

(Postulant House of Formation)5 University Dr.Colorado Springs, CO 80910719.632.7584

745 Tennessee St.Lawrence, KS 66044785.843.0188 Fax: 785.843.2214

900 Cathedral Ave.Victoria, KS 67671785.735.9456 Fax: 785.735.9455

(Post Novitiate Theology Studies)143 Honeysuckle Ln.San Antonio, TX 78213

From One Color to All Colors

In Capuchin circles, the word porterrefers to the friar who used to be incharge of answering the door. Ourprovince's patron, St. ConradBirndorfer of Parzham, had such aministry for over 40 years, and won hisclaim to fame through the patienceand charity which he showed to thethousands who came to the friary doorat Altötting, Bavaria.

For almost 40 years, our ProvincialPorter has been a publication whichboth welcomes visits of the friars andopens the portals of our friaries farenough to let a wider circle of relativesand friends in on what the friars of St.Conrad are up to.

The Brown Era was the13 year period (1977-90)when Br. Blaine Burkeypublished the first 80issues of the ProvincialPorter.

After a two year hiatus, the ProvincialPorter returned with the The Gray Era.This was the 15 year period (1992-

2007) when Linda RothSarmo and BrothersGreg Beyer, Mike Scully,and Charles Polifkapublished the next 60issues.

Following a period ofinactivity, the publicationwas launched anewwhen Megan Curtis,Stephanie Pedersen, andLeslie Torvik edited thenext 17 issues in The

Blue Era (2009-2014).

And now with Issue 158,Br. Joseph Mary Elderbrings the ProvincialPorter into a new era,The Full-Color Era. TheProvincial Porter isavailable in hard copythrough snail mail or via electronicdownload through email. To receivethe publication by email, entersubscription information on the mainpage of the website: capuchins.org.

The Porter is a publication of the Capuchin Province of St. ConradWritten and designed by the Capuchins - Issue #158