How to blend faith and fitness: Tips from four friars

By Eileen Connelly, OSU  

A new year often inspires resolutions to exercise more. Physical activity like running, walking, and weightlifting can foster inner growth, a sense of connectedness, and opportunities to pray, reflect, and draw closer to God amid his creation. 

Four Franciscan friars who combine physical fitness with spiritual practice share the benefits of blending both. 

At 78, Br. Bill McConville demonstrates that fitness is possible at any age. (Photo courtesy of Br. Bill)

At age 46, Br. Bill McConville, OFM, of St. Anthony Friary in St. Petersburg, Florida, started weightlifting as an outlet for dealing with stress and to stay strong as he aged.  

“I picked up weights and never looked back,” said Br. Bill, who participated in body building competitions until he was in his late 60s.  

Now 78, Br. Bill still trains heavily, typically lifting five days a week and spending between 30 and 45 minutes on the treadmill most afternoons.  

“Fitness is a lot like prayer. Even if you don’t feel like it, you show up,” Br. Bill said. “When you pray, you’re resting in God. If you're spiritually healthy, you’re living a life that’s prayerful.” 

For him, the parallels between spiritual and physical health are obvious.  

“In fitness, you need to strengthen and stretch your physical muscles, or they will atrophy. Strengthening both our spiritual and physical cores helps us stay in balance, helps us recover if we fall, and keeps us vital and healthy.”  

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Br. Bill emphasizes that working out doesn’t need to be daunting at any age.  

“Find something you enjoy doing and do it with consistency and focus,” he said. “If you’re intimidated by the gym environment, there are plenty of online resources and workouts available. Fitness is fun once you get into it!”  

Br. Tyler Harris holds a finisher medal after a 50K ultramarathon in a high-altitude desert in Wyoming in 2021. (Photo courtesy of Br. Tyler)

Create sustainable habits that foster spiritual connection 

Br. Tyler Harris, OFM, a student at the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, fell in love with long-distance running after participating in a half marathon in college. For him, running is a “sustainable form” of exercise. He typically runs four days a week and has participated in several marathons.  

“(Running) puts me in touch with my humanity. It’s when I’m most in touch with my mind, body and heart,” Br. Tyler explained. “I’ll use it as a time to review the day. It becomes a way to do the examen, to consider where I saw God in the day, the high points, the low points.  A prayer of gratitude emerges throughout the run. St. Francis’ ‘Canticle of the Creatures’ really comes to mind when I’m running in nature.”  

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Br. Tyler recommends finding a type of physical activity you enjoy and sharing goals with others who can hold you accountable. “Every time I move to a new house, I share my running goals with the fraternity. That makes it a stated goal that I’m going to hold fast to, and the fraternal and moral support really helps.”

Grow your community and have fun  

In addition to the spiritual connection between faith and fitness, Br. George Camacho, OFM, also appreciates the opportunity to build community and just have fun.  

“I tend to enjoy life-giving experiences that can be shared with others. The ability to move, dance and engage in physical activity is a gift from God,” said Br. George, a member of the novitiate formation team at Old Mission Santa Barbara in California. “I’m grateful for the opportunities to share these gifts with others and to benefit from mutual encouragement and accountability.”  

At 5 a.m. every morning, Br. George joins local residents for strength training sessions that “help me start the day right. I return to the friary in the proper state of mind for our fraternity prayers and the tasks ahead,” he said.  

He also enjoys dance aerobics and has facilitated classes for the novitiate community, incorporating his background in traditional folkloric dances from Colombia (his family's country of origin), Brazil and classic American pop music. He incorporates walks and solo runs throughout the week for a more solitary, contemplative fitness experience.   

“The Holy Spirit seems to kindly point me in a healthy direction, and I do my best to follow along,” he said. “Our physical health is God-given, and our bodies are meant to be taken care of to the extent possible and according to our ability. It helps us keep a sense of balance, reduces anxiety and (helps us) stay focused spiritually. It makes us better members of our community and is something we can do for ourselves as much as others.”  

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For those who don’t have a fitness background, Br. George said, “Start with walking. It clears your head, and you can go at your own speed. You may even find yourself praying.”