Our postulants, novices, student friars, and formators gathered last week at Marytown, in Libertyville, Illinois. The men began each day with Morning Prayer and Mass.
The speaker for the week, Fr. Rick Martignetti OFM, gave presentations based on his book Perfect Love: Forty Stories and Reflections inspired by Saint Bonaventure’s De Perfectione Vitae. He geared the talks to the formation process and shared stories of his own days in postulancy, as a novice, and young friar.
The days included time for community and ended with Prayer. Friday was a free day with various outings planned, including a visit to the Basilica of Saint Josaphat in Milwaukee.
Friar Paul Schloemer, Formation Director in San Antonio, Texas, emphasized the fraternal aspect of the week, especially for the postulants and novices to be able to talk with the friars in post-novitiate.
Friar Joseph Wood, Novice Director (in March, Friar Joseph was appointed to the office of Assistant General for the CFF), talked about how the novices in Arroyo Grande meet with the OFM and Capuchin friars whose novitiates are nearby. Connecting with men in the same level of formation, even though from different communities, is affirming.
Please keep in prayer our postulants, novices, and student friars as they continue their discernment and formation journeys.
