Francis, Clare, and Gypsy Moths
The postulants
A Different Kind of Summer Camp
During the summer, the postulants of all seven U.S. provinces gather at “Camp Bonaventure,” the tongue-in-cheek name for summer school at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York. “We are all living in one apartment building on campus, having prayer and meals together, while attending classes on campus. It’s like an extension of postulancy,” explains Fr. Carl Langenderfer, OFM. He and Fr. Ron Pecci, OFM, of Holy Name province are there with the postulants, including Ramon Castellon and Zach Bischler of our province, Saint John the Baptist. Below we share Fr. Carl's letter from 'Camp'
Francis, Clare, and Gypsy Moths
by Fr. Carl Langenderfer, OFM
Fr. Carl Langenderfer, OFM
We finished the first week of classes at Camp St. Bonaventure after the initial short retreat. Our group is coming together, and we are learning about each other and forming our summer community prior to novitiate. Dr. Mary Meany, Ph.D., is halfway through her two-week course, “Francis: His Life and Charism,” and the guys are beginning to write their papers for her class, analyzing how a word or phrase is used in one of the writings. Fr. Ron Pecci and I finished our class with Maria Pia Alberzoni: “Clare and Her Sisters: Their Life, Vision and Legacy,” which had a record enrollment of about 40 people, lay and religious.
We have had muggy, rainy weather every day this week, and are looking forward to more sunshine and less rain. The gypsy moths have eaten every leaf off the oak trees on campus, and those trees look like spring hasn’t arrived yet. We have yet to see if they’ll put out another set of leaves, or if they’re going to be bare all summer, or maybe even die.
The Gypsy moths destroyed the leaves of the oak trees.
I saw a mother bear and three cubs cross the bicycle path near the Allegany River in Olean last evening, so we can add them to the multitude of squirrels and woodchucks, deer and other wildlife that we see every day. Hopefully the bears will keep their distance from the campus.
Some of the postulants went to a Byzantine Liturgy on Saturday, and others went to Mt. Ireaneus, the university retreat up in the hills, for Mass today. So the guys are learning their way around, and are choosing some various highlights to explore and experience. They are also taking up some of the cooking responsibilities and preparing delicious meals for us. You can be sure that nobody is starving!
This is a great time for Franciscans and highlighting the Franciscan charism. It’s a good time for the Jesuits, too, but we will let them celebrate that! Pope Francis’ humble, simple, and pastoral style seems to resonate with people. Let’s enjoy it, but also make the most of it. I have great hope that this publicity might cause some more young men to consider imitating Francis (the Pope and the Saint) as a way of life. When you have the chance, tell someone about Francis, and invite them to consider joining us!
Posted in: Saint Anthony, Saint Francis, Vocations
