Witnesses to Christ’s love: Franciscan novices receive habits at investiture ceremony

By Eileen Connelly, OSU

Just days before the start of National Vocation Awareness Week, which is celebrated this year from Nov. 3 to 9, four men took the next step on their journey in Franciscan life.  

During the simple yet deeply moving investiture ceremony, held on Oct. 31 at Old Mission Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara, California, Brothers Jimmy Beh, OFM, Ricky Ferrer, OFM, Christian Gonzalez, OFM, and Jesus Heber Lara Romero, OFM, received the habit of the Franciscan Order, an outward sign of the life they are discerning. The men completed their year of postulancy and were received into the Franciscan novitiate on July 16.  

As the ceremony began, Novice Master Br. Gene Pistacchio, OFM, greeted the novices, saying, “Thank you for persevering with us thus far, brothers, in your formation process. My brothers, you are about to receive the habit of the Franciscan Order, a habit made after the shape of the cross of our Lord. This habit reminds of our call, which is to make the kingdom of God initiated by Jesus a reality in our midst, and in so doing, we embrace the same cross of our Lord together and we give birth to the kingdom of God.  

“As this moment approaches, we feel joy and are grateful for these talented, eager men, who wish to walk with us in the Franciscan way,“ he said.

Each of the men experienced the call to journey with the Franciscans in a unique way, yet they share the desire to live a fraternal life and serve God and his people in spirit of compassion, openness and humility.  

Br. Jimmy, who grew up in Washington, D.C., met the friars through Br. Gino Correa, OFM, at the University of San Diego, and later had the chance to meet and engage with more friars. He is most attracted to fraternal life and the friar’s values of simplicity, inclusion and itineracy.   

Br. Ricky served as a Franciscan volunteer in Philadelphia and ministered with friar communities in Boston; New York City; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Loudonville, New York. He looks forward to getting to know the Franciscans on a deeper and more spiritual level.   

A native of the Bronx, New York, and Union City, New Jersey, Br. Christian is a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps. His proximity to New York City allowed him to engage with various friar communities. Having witnessed the friars’ fraternity and outreach ministry, he cites the Franciscan hallmarks of brotherhood and service that attracted him to life as a friar.  

Br. Jesus was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, where he was introduced to the friars. As a Franciscan, he hopes to serve others as an ordained friar working in a pastoral or educational setting. He is most attracted to life in fraternity and community, the example of St. Francis and service of the Order.   

Br. Jimmy Beh, OFM, receives assistance with is habit from Novice Master Br. Gene Pistacchio, OFM. (Photo courtesy of Br. Octavio Duran, OFM)

Br. Christian Gonzalez, OFM, was all smiles after receiving the Franciscan habit. (Photo courtesy of Br. Octavio Duran, OFM)

An outward sign of commitment and faith  

In the weeks leading up to the ceremony, the novices experienced a variety of emotions.  

“I’m excited to be receiving the habit and the cord and really become a more public member of the Order of Friars Minor,” Br. Jimmy said. “It’s exciting to be able to take that more public step, both public and within the order itself and within the larger world, of living this life and continuing to try to figure out how to live this life authentically. It’s a mixture of excitement and a little bit of nerves, but I think whenever you do something meaningful, both of those emotions are there.” 

Br. Ricky expressed similar feelings noting that receiving the habit is “not a decision I will take lightly. It’s an outward sign to my commitment to being here in the novitiate and being in formation. It’s not just a simple garment. It’s an outward sign of our commitment, of our lived experience together as one fraternity.”  

“Being able to receive the Franciscan habit is overwhelming,” Br. Chistian said. “By putting on the habit and putting on this way of life, I know that everyone is going to see me as a friar and not so much as me, though I’m still there and I can use the gifts God has given me.”  

“It implies a commitment, it implies a responsibility, it implies an effort, even within me, in my dedication, in my relationship with God,” added Br. Jesus. “Of course, it brings me joy; I am happy about it. It's not something that when you're in the postulancy, you visualize for the future and say, ‘Oh, the day I can wear that.” It is more than just that. It’s seeing it as something deeper, something stronger, more profound.” 

An enduring symbol of love 

Addressing the novices during his reflection, Br. Gene said, “Jimmy, Jesus, Christian and Ricky, the habit you receive today is both a conformity to a tradition that has lasted for 800 years, but even more, it is a practice that represents Christ’s decent into the very marrow of our precious humanity. The habit we embrace symbolizes a further descent into love, and, since it is a love that is the Alpha and Omega of everything we strive to do in the humility of Christ, it is obviously an ongoing endeavor that will occupy us until our final breath. Perhaps the conformity and practice of self-emptying love is what makes the Franciscan habit an enduring symbol of a faith-filled disciple of Jesus’ love. 

“The Franciscan way, based on the Gospel of Jesus, offers you and me far more than we can ever think or imagine. May God give you all his peace,” Br. Gene added.  

The novices will now continue their journey in formation in a rhythm of prayer, study, reflection and ministry, as they move toward temporary profession on in July 2025. They look forward to strengthening their relationship with God, deepening their Franciscan spirituality and growing in the bonds of fraternal life. 

Is God calling you or someone you know to become a Franciscan? Visit our Become a Friar page to learn more about our way of life and contact our Franciscan Vocation Ministry team.