In addition to Br. José Leonardo Rojas’ first profession of vows, we marked the following milestones in our initial formation program in the summer.

Our newest novice, Br. Shawn Natola, received his religious habit at the investiture ceremony held at San Lorenzo Seminary in Santa Ynez, Calif., on July 16. San Lorenzo Seminary is home to the intercontinental novitiate of the North American and Pacific Capuchin Conference. Brother Shawn will spend the next year with his fellow novices from across the United States. With the guidance of his formation directors, Fr. Will Tarraza and two other Capuchin friars, Brother Shawn will deepen his relationship with Jesus Christ through prayer and contemplation, study, work, and discernment of God’s will for him as a Capuchin friar.

Br. Gabriel Conlon, who is beginning his second year of post-novitiate formation, renewed his vows on Aug. 23 at San Lorenzo Friary, Jamaica Plain, Mass., before Fr. Robert Abbatiello, provincial minister, and all the friars who live in Boston. He is looking forward to his first semester of studies at Boston College School of Theology and Ministry.

Without a director of the vocation ministry, we would not have new friars to welcome and cherish. We wish to thank Fr. Marvin Bearis for serving the Province faithfully as vocation office director for the last six years. We wish him well in his new assignment as pastor of St. Pius X Parish in Middletown, Conn. The new director is Fr. Erik Lenhart, who assumed the role on Sept. 1. With him, the vocations office will relocate to the Capuchin provincial headquarters in White Plains, N.Y. For a calendar of upcoming vocation discernment events, see Page 18. If you or someone you know is curious about religious life as a Capuchin, contact us at (857) 615-3893 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..