Joy and expectation accompany first vows
Vocation director Fr. Don Miller, OFM, center, with novices Adam Farkas, Jonathan Beer, William Gibson, and Eric Seguin
Article by Fr. Henry Beck, OFM
Interprovincial Novitiate House, Burlington, WI
Sunday, Aug. 5th, was sunny and cool here at the St. Francis Friary in Burlington, Wisconsin, and filled with expectations. We began with morning prayer together, and the novices washed the feet of the present Interprovincial Novitiate team (Br. Norbert Bertram, OFM, Fr. Ralph Parthie, OFM, and Fr. Joachim Studwell, OFM) to “complete the circle” of the team’s washing the new novices’ feet when they arrived at St. Francis Friary last year. Then, as more provincials and friars arrived, we gathered for Mass and First Profession in the novitiate chapel.
The newly-made knotted Franciscan cords for the novices had been placed on a table in front of the lectern awaiting their vow ceremony. Ten novices from six provinces were ready to make their profession of vows, including our four SJB novices: Eric Seguin, William Gibson, Adam Farkas and Jonathan Beer. Provincial Minister Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM, was present to accept their first vows “in the name of the Church and of our brotherhood”. Vicar Provincial Fr. Frank Jasper, OFM, Fr. Carl Langenderfer, OFM, Fr. Don Miller, OFM, Br. Tim Sucher, OFM, and Br. Adam Calder, OFM, were also present to witness the first vows of our novices.
Fr. Ralph Parthie, OFM, preached the homily and reminded all that at the heart of this liturgy was the “self-gift” that each friar was offering to God, to the Order, and to the People of God to live the Gospel, a gift called forth by the initiative and love of God. A delicious and celebratory brunch was shared by the fifty or so friars gathered for this moment. Special guests who gathered with us for the Mass and Profession were Vicar General Michael Perry and General Definitor Francis Walter.
SJB Provincial Minister Fr. Jeff Scheeler, OFM, hears the vows of novice Jonathan Beer
Fr. Don Miller, OFM, made a great video of the ceremony on the Franciscan Vocations YouTube channel
Joy and fraternal care were very evident throughout the day, even as the newly professed began to leave for home visits and the next steps on their Franciscan journey.
Fr. Henry Beck, OFM, of the Interprovincial Novitiate team
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