The Postulants are now a complete trio after the arrival of Federico ("Fico") Vizquez (right of Tom in the photo) in September, and the friary is complete with the return of our brother Reynaldo Frias Santana, OFM Cap. Our Provincial Minister, Tom Betz, OFM Cap., was there for Fico's reception on Wednesday, September 16, and his companions Pablo Lopez and Raf Altejar (left of Tom) were there to show him around in Philly(below).
The entance into Postulancy is the first step in a man's life in our brotherhood.
It's marked by a prayer Service asking for his "yes" to the Lord's call,
and our promise to join him in fraternal living.
Tom joined the postulants and director Alex Hostoffer, OFM Cap., in a hike through Ricketts Glen State Park where there are some 30 waterfalls on the trail, each more beautiful than the other. A candidate for postulancy next year and Sam Roberts of our College Formation Program in Wickliffe, OH, joined the group for the "great day outside," and they ended the day with a hearty meal on the way home.
The celebration of St. Pio's feast day featured friars Kevin Thompson, Suresh Raj and a "Fr. Jose" (from the Diocese of Fort Wayne) concelebrating a Mass which also offered the Sacrament of the Sick and prayers for healing through the intercession of our Capuchin star saint. They used Q-tips to bless the people with the Oil of the Sick. A good crowd of almost 70 people were distanced in the body of their large church. The postulants served the livestreamed Mass, and Pablo sent along lovely shots of the celebration.
