Vocational Discernment
Upon showing interest in the Capuchin way of life a candidate starts having frequent encounters with the vocations director and at a later stage invited to experience life within the fraternity for short periods of time. The aim of this initial stage is to help the candidate understand better one’s attraction to the Capuchin life. In this phase the candidate has all the opportunity to open up and express what and how the person is reading one’s interior experience as a divine calling. This is a time where the candidate is presented with the initial Franciscan vision and what entails a life consecrated to God and his Church. It is also a time where one is challenged to dig deeper into various intentions and motivations one can have. This initial phase helps the candidate make a first decision to leave everything for a whole year, to be able to enter postulancy.
If this is the case, the next step is to speak to someone – usually the vocations director – to begin a process of discernment, a journey that will help you understand God’s call for you.
Postulancy
Upon deciding together with the vocations director, the next phase for the candidates is the year of postulancy. Throughout this year, they live full-time at the friary in Kalkara under the guidance of the postulancy director. In doing so, one can experience what it feels like to live as a Capuchin friar, now for a longer period compared to the shorter experiences during the process of vocational discernment. The primary focus of this year is fostering self-awareness and human maturity. The candidate is accompanied on an interior journey of growth and self-knowledge to help him become better equipped.
Moreover, throughout this year, the postulant is accompanied into a deeper understanding of the Christian faith, nurturing a closer relationship with Christ while focusing on love, compassion, mercy, and the gift of self. This year of postulancy helps them discern whether they are ready and freely willing to continue the formation journey by entering the year of novitiate.
Novitiate
The year of novitiate is the one that truly stands out. During this year, the novices join others from several countries to journey together through this defining phase. Currently, they participate with novices from southern Italy and Lebanon at a novitiate held in Morano Calabro. Throughout this year, the novices are encouraged to commit even more deeply to a life centered on Christ, moving from self-centeredness to a Christ-centered way of living—in other words, to live like Him. Throughout this year, the novices are accompanied in rereading their lives in the light of God’s love. The novices also engage in lesson-style formation focusing on consecrated life and Franciscan studies to help them develop a more Franciscan perspective on life. Finally, the novitiate year prepares them for a central decision in the life of a friar: the profession of temporary vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
Post-Novitiate
Following temporary profession, the newly professed friar then moves to the longer phase of post novitiate. Following the years focused on self-awareness, along with the strong decision to follow Christ and the introduction into consecrated life, now comes the time where one is invited to put all this into an attitude of perseverance, and, once some of the initial excitement wears off the post-novice is accompanied into a fuller integration of these learnt values. Throughout these years (between five and six years) the post-novice is given all the help possible to develop on the various aspects of one’s life: psychological, spiritual, intellectual, charismatic and missionary. During the post novitiate further studies are offered, especially in philosophy and theology. Throughout these years a variety of experiences are offered in order to better integrate one’s personal calling with real life. Experiences such as visiting the sick, visiting prisoners, helping out in the various ministries within the formation house, such as with the altar servers and other groups who gather in the friary. Finally, the post novitiate journey helps the student to come to one’s final decision of perpetual profession in which one vows to live a poor life, in chastity and obedience for the rest of his life.
Further studies and Ordination
Following perpetual vows, further studies are offered in a more specific way. This helps the newly professed friar to better prepare oneself for a particular ministry. For some, according to the specific calling, continue towards the priesthood, which means a year into diaconate and another year to priestly ordination.
Is the Lord calling you?
God still calls. All around the world we hear of young people who dedicate their lives to God and his people, responding to a personal call. Is God calling you? How can you know? For some, the call might manifest as a desire to help the poor, while others may feel drawn to life in fraternity. Some might experience a deep interior void, while others are filled with joy at the thought of consecrating their life to God.