Friars, discerners find spiritual renewal during discernment retreat
By Eli Pacheco and Greg Plata, OFM
A Franciscan Vocational Discernment Weekend is a mosaic of faith journeys. Men considering Franciscan life meet a variety of friars, some with decades of experience and others who have just begun a life of service.
That blend of voices forms a picture for discerners of what life could be like if they say “yes” to following God in St. Francis's footsteps.
The first Vocational Discernment Weekend of 2025 was held Jan. 17 to 19 in California. Attending a Franciscan Vocational Discernment Weekend is the final step a discerner must take before he is presented with an application for the province’s postulancy program.
Three of the four discerners who attended received applications, bringing the total number of men in application to nine. With one remaining discernment weekend in this admissions cycle, the next postulant class could be the largest since six men joined postulancy in 2020.
From discernment to decision
During discernment retreats, a team of friars meets with each candidate for three 45-minute conversations. Friars ask various questions that help determine whether a man is suited for the brotherhood. Questions center on integral themes, including:
Relational history: His capacity for love and ability to move outside himself. How might he be in relationships – fraternal, pastoral and professional?
Spiritual history: His relationship with God and the Church. Is he seeking us out of a desire to answer God’s call? What does he expect of religious life?
Work history: His education and work experience, addressing decision-making skills and a fitting place in the province’s technical or theological work.
After the three conversations, friars complete forms indicating how the candidate responded and whether they would recommend that the candidate be presented with an application for the postulancy program.
The province’s Board of Admissions will review these documents and a candidate's autobiography, psychological assessment, and other background information. This multi-level assessment of a candidate’s readiness is essential in establishing a culture of safeguarding within the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe through the Praesidium Accreditation Process.
Novice Christian Gonzalez shares time with a discerner. This weekend gave men in various stages of discernment a chance to get to know each other. (Photo courtesy of Br. Basil Valente, OFM)
A call to ‘holy newness’
Throughout the January weekend, discerners prayed alongside solemnly professed friars and a group of men who had been in their shoes two years ago: the novices. Br. Ricky Ferrer, OFM, one of the novices, felt God at work there.
The discerners’ “openness to explore this journey highlighted how God's call goes beyond personal history and circumstance,” Br. Ricky said. “Each man's experience and questions enriched their faith and exploration, prompting me to reflect on my own.”
During the weekend, Novice Master Br. Gene Pistacchio, OFM, spoke about the hope Franciscans have to offer the world through their witness to the Gospel.
“The more I live in the Franciscan way, the more I am re-discovering what it means, what Franciscan life calls me to, and how it shapes my brothers and me living in the 21st century,” he said. “It is a call to ‘holy newness’ that Francis urged his brothers: ‘For we have been called to this: to cure the wounded, to bind up the broken and to recall the erring.’ In other words, to unite what has fallen apart, to reconcile and continue to love despite many forces that seek to destroy it.”
That call to live the Gospel life manifests itself through the three vows professed by the Franciscan friars: poverty, chastity and obedience.
“The vows are graces from God,” Formation team member Br. George Camacho, OFM, said as he gave participants an overview of the vows. “They are vehicles for us to manifest God’s presence in our life, and like any grace, they bring challenges and blessings.”
Through the vows, the friars are “called to live an authentic life,” Br. George continued. “A life of integrity through the example of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. All of it is rooted in the Gospel.”
Br. Basil Valente, OFM, executive director of vocations, thanked western regional vocation directors Ryan Thornton, OFM, and Henri Djojo, OFM, for coordinating the retreat. He also thanked the solemnly professed friars of Old Mission Santa Barbara and the novitiate community for their generous hospitality and one-on-one interactions with the discerners.
“I’m delighted with how the friars interjected their own experiences of ministry and formation,” he said. “There was much free-flowing reciprocity from a good-hearted and prayerful group.”
Participants enjoyed their time in Cincinnati. (Photo courtesy of Br. Greg Plata, OFM)
‘Come and See’ in Cincinnati
Meanwhile, three men from Texas participated in a Come and See experience hosted by Br. Greg Plata, OFM, and the friars of St. Anthony Friary in Cincinnati that same weekend. Come and See weekends allow men to get to know the friars and experience Franciscan ministry firsthand.
During the weekend, the discerners learned about the vows, the formation process and what it means to be a friar in the 21st century. On Saturday, they visited several Franciscan ministry sites in Cincinnati. Later that day, Br. Chris Cahill, OFM of St. Juniper Friary, helped prepare dinner for discerners, friars from St. Anthony, and other local communities.
“It was a wonderful experience of how y’all opened up your home and made it such a nice weekend,” said one of the participants.
After dinner on Saturday, Brothers Chris and Greg, along with Brothers Mark Hudak, OFM, John Boissy, OFM, Josh Richter, OFM, Jud Weiksnar, OFM, Tim Sucher, OFM, and Ed Tlucek, OFM, shared stories of what attracted them to the Franciscans, and what being a friar meant to them. Each friar’s story was personal and uplifting, making an impression on the discerners who listened and asked good questions that helped in their future discernment.
“I’m always touched with the interest our brothers show in mixing with the discerners who come here,” said Br. Greg, who serves as the province’s National Vocation Director and Central Region Vocation Director. “They also give me good feedback regarding the discerners, which is essential in helping me assess some of their strengths and weaknesses.”
The evening ended with a fun game of UNO – where, as one friar quipped, “This is where you see a friar’s true colors come out!”
The weekend concluded with Mass at St. Francis Seraph Parish, presided by Br. Jud. Before heading to the airport, the discerners were invited into the friary to have coffee with Brothers Tim Sucher, OFM, and Al Hirt, OFM.
The friars are here to accompany you on your faith journey. Contact our vocation office for more information about how to become a Franciscan friar.