Catholic Brothers

[Guest]

Do most require you to have went to college to join ? I was looking at the Franciscan webpage and they wanted men with a college education. Are all orders like this ?

Edited December 12, 2011 by Guest

[InPersonaChriste]

No,

Most require that you complete high school.

[i<3franciscans]

Which Franciscans???

[LaPetiteSoeur]

What IPS said. It depends on the order. If it's not too personal, what order? PM if you want.

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Delivery Boy' timestamp='1323686700' post='2349701']
Do most require you to have went to college to join ? I was looking at the Franciscan webpage and they wanted men with a college education. Are all orders like this ?
[/quote]

Trust me man, I felt your pain for the longest time. I assume you're talking about the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. If you are, don't worry. I talked to the Vocations Director Father Gabriel on the phone, and he said college is preferred, but it's not an absolute necessity. You simply need to be either twenty or twenty-two, I can't remember the exact number. It would be best to call and ask him, since the website doesn't answer that particular question.

However, if you feel drawn towards other Communities (Or are indeed talking about a different Community) don't worry: Most Communities (Franciscan especially) do not require college. They are not centered on education as much as other Orders, such as the Dominicans. Ones that I would recommend looking into are the Franciscan Brothers of Peace (http://brothersofpeace.org/), the Order of the Friars Minor (There is also the Order of the Friars Minor Conventual to look into).

If you need any help, let me know. I have a lot of information about a lot of Franciscan Communities that I'm not able to mention since I'm about to leave.

[Guest]

Hey thanks for the replies. I tried to send some of you messages but it isn't working for some reason. I checked out the link you gave me future priest. Thanks. I looked the website over and read everything. If it ends up being Gods will this is somewhere I think I would like to be. If you have any more links could you post them ? Thanks. Godbless you guys.

[BigJon16]

[quote name='Delivery Boy' timestamp='1323719426' post='2349861']
Hey thanks for the replies. I tried to send some of you messages but it isn't working for some reason. I checked out the link you gave me future priest. Thanks. I looked the website over and read everything. If it ends up being Gods will this is somewhere I think I would like to be. If you have any more links could you post them ? Thanks. Godbless you guys.
[/quote]


Prayers for you in your discernment, ma man.


If you ever want to talk, my PM inbox is fairly empty. (I have no friends... XD)

Edited December 12, 2011 by BigJon16

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Delivery Boy' timestamp='1323719426' post='2349861']
Hey thanks for the replies. I tried to send some of you messages but it isn't working for some reason. I checked out the link you gave me future priest. Thanks. I looked the website over and read everything. If it ends up being Gods will this is somewhere I think I would like to be. If you have any more links could you post them ? Thanks. Godbless you guys.
[/quote]
[quote name='Delivery Boy' timestamp='1323719426' post='2349861']
Hey thanks for the replies. I tried to send some of you messages but it isn't working for some reason. I checked out the link you gave me future priest. Thanks. I looked the website over and read everything. If it ends up being Gods will this is somewhere I think I would like to be. If you have any more links could you post them ? Thanks. Godbless you guys.
[/quote]

Links? Most certainly.

If you want an austere life that can lead you to Africa if your Superiors decide so, look at the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate: [url="http://marymediatrix.com/religious-life/friars-of-the-immaculate."]http://marymediatrix...the-immaculate.[/url] They have a Vocations video on Youtube that you can find easily by typing in their name, and they also have a Youtube account called FranciscanFriars that has homilies of their Friars, as well as other videos.

If you're looking for a life that is geared more towards the Blessed Sacrament, working in television, and traveling, I would recommend that you look no further than the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word: [url="http://www.franciscanmissionaries.com/."]http://www.francisca...sionaries.com/.[/url] They are the guys you see on EWTN all the time, and they take care of the Nuns and Mother Angelica as well.

However, if you're looking for a real man's job, with a lot of heavy lifting, mowing, and one that even involves you to show tours of Our Lady of Angels Monastery (The one at EWTN), I would recommend you look into the Knights of the Holy Eucharist: [url="http://knightsoftheholyeucharist.com/."]http://knightsoftheholyeucharist.com/.[/url] This is a group of men founded by Mother Angelica to take care of the shrine and its visitors herself in 1998, just before her unexpected and tragic health decline. They are Franciscans that consist of both Brothers and Priests, and they have one of the most breathtakingly beautiful modern Habits (Not that this should be your main concern). However, as odd as it is, it's not exactly a Community. It's a Community in the sense that a bunch of men live together as Brothers, but they do not take Final Vows. They retake their vows once yearly. However, this shouldn't be seen as a minus; they live as any other Community does.

But how about one that follows Francis to a T? This would be the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal: http://franciscanfriars.com/. Although they take a little longer to join (As do the Franciscan Missionaries; they require that you be twenty-one), they really are a holy group of men and women. They do sidewalk counseling at abortion centers, they care for the poor, do charity work, retreats, and, as a bonus, they don't even wear shoes, as long as weather permits! They have a two-part Vocations video on Youtube. All you have to do is type in their name, and it is one of the first ones that comes up.

Edited December 13, 2011 by FuturePriest387

[PhuturePriest]

... And the links keep coming!

If you want a group of men that takes care of the poor specifically, and that has almost no possessions at all, I would recommend the O.F.M. (Order of the Friars Minor) Capuchins: [url="http://www.capuchins.org/."]http://www.capuchins.org/.[/url] Don't be alarmed: If you live far away from Denver, you don't have to sweat it; they have Provinces literally all over the world. There are eleven thousand Franciscan Capuchins around the globe, and trust me, if you look, you can't miss them.

I would also recommend looking into the Conventual Franciscans (O.F.M. Conven: [url="http://www.franciscans.org/index.php/en/"]http://www.francisca...g/index.php/en/[/url]) who have places all around the world, the original O.F.M. itself ([url="http://www.ofm.org/"]http://www.ofm.org/[/url]) that probably have twenty thousand or so around the world, and that should just about do it for now. Know that you are just scratching the surface when it comes to Franciscan Communities; the Franciscans are the largest Order in the entire world, with over one million Franciscans and associates. You'll find Franciscans of every color, size, and shape; and you'll probably find them in the poorer sides of town. If you are more interested in preaching and less on the poor, I would recommend the Order of Preachers ([url="http://www.op-stjoseph.org/"]http://www.op-stjoseph.org/[/url]), also known as Dominican Friars, or "Black Friars", for their black cape. They focus on study, as is the example and wish of Saint Dominic, and they study all throughout their life. Don't worry, as they do not particularly require you to do college if you want to be a Brother. However, if you wish to be a Priest, a minimum of "a degree" is required. Whether this means Bachelors or not, I do not know, as it does not clarify. This would be something to bring up with them.

However, the history of the Dominican Order is quite rich, and I think you'll enjoy it quite well. It was founded to preach and defeat the Albigensian heresy. As Father Dominic and his fellow "Black Friars" preached, Father Dominic's Nuns prayed at their Convent, praying especially with the Rosary, which was given to Saint Dominic by Mary herself. If you wish to know more and are interested in the Order, just ask. I would tell you more, but it's one A.M., I still have to pray and brush my teeth, and I somehow have to go to bed immediately to get up at seven tomorrow. How I will manage only the Lord knows. But, if you want to know more, I have to amazing biographies, and I can ask just about every question you have, so if you have one, don't hesitate.

God be with you on your discernment. Please keep me posted from time to time on your Vocational journey.

Edited December 13, 2011 by FuturePriest387

[TheresaThoma]

I know you were asking about Franciscans but this is a really great website by some Dominican brothers. [url="http://www.preachingfriars.org/"]http://www.preachingfriars.org/[/url] They have blog posts written by different brothers plus a page where you can ask questions. My favorite part though is the videos of the brothers giving homilies at Vespers.

[Pax_et bonum]

Has anyone mentioned the [url="http://www.franciscanbrothersminor.com/FBM/Home_1.html"]Franciscan Brothers Minor[/url]?

[BigJon16]

[url="http://www.brothersofthesacredheart.org/"]http://www.brotherso...acredheart.org/[/url]

[i<3franciscans]

It is nice having men discerning... just saying. VS was getting realllllly girlie.

[LaPetiteSoeur]

[quote name='BigJon16' timestamp='1323829081' post='2350858']
[url="http://www.brothersofthesacredheart.org/"]http://www.brotherso...acredheart.org/[/url]
[/quote]

These guys are amesome! They taught at the boys school near my (coed) Catholic school. I had to share a bus with their boys for four years. Ah, memories.

Anyway, these guys are co.ol. They do a ton of great work, and their schools are excellent.

[Pax_et bonum]

[url="http://vocation.nd.edu/"]Holy Cross Priests[/url]

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='Pax_et bonum' timestamp='1323817255' post='2350667']
Has anyone mentioned the [url="http://www.franciscanbrothersminor.com/FBM/Home_1.html"]Franciscan Brothers Minor[/url]?
[/quote]

Me, actually. Except they are not called the "Franciscan Brothers Minor". They are the "Order of the Friars Minor" (O.F.M.). Their official name is Friar, not Brother. However, this has unfortunately been unofficially changed by lay-people, who find it easier to call them "Brother" instead.

Sorry, I'm just a stickler for these things.

[PhuturePriest]

[quote name='TheresaThoma' timestamp='1323813725' post='2350641']
I know you were asking about Franciscans but this is a really great website by some Dominican brothers. [url="http://www.preachingfriars.org/"]http://www.preachingfriars.org/[/url] They have blog posts written by different brothers plus a page where you can ask questions. My favorite part though is the videos of the brothers giving homilies at Vespers.
[/quote]
Where do they live? And how do you contact them?

Edited December 14, 2011 by FuturePriest387

[BigJon16]

[quote name='Pax_et bonum' timestamp='1323839794' post='2351026']
[url="http://vocation.nd.edu/"]Holy Cross Priests[/url]
[/quote]


I've been in contact with them for quite a while. They are pretty amesome.


[quote name='LaPetiteSoeur' timestamp='1323835963' post='2350972']

These guys are amesome! They taught at the boys school near my (coed) Catholic school. I had to share a bus with their boys for four years. Ah, memories.

Anyway, these guys are co.ol. They do a ton of great work, and their schools are excellent.
[/quote]

razzle dazzle!! Yeah, they had a small community living in my diocese, and their vocation director really helped me out in my discernment. Another amesome order!!



Alas, I feel called to diocesan life though... But I contacted A LOT of orders. lol.

[LaPetiteSoeur]

[quote name='BigJon16' timestamp='1323893605' post='2351296']


I've been in contact with them for quite a while. They are pretty amesome.




razzle dazzle!! Yeah, they had a small community living in my diocese, and their vocation director really helped me out in my discernment. Another amesome order!!



Alas, I feel called to diocesan life though... But I contacted A LOT of orders. lol.
[/quote]

It's good to explore! You never know where God's going to put you!

[TheresaThoma]

[quote name='FuturePriest387' timestamp='1323845091' post='2351093']
Where do they live? And how do you contact them?
[/quote]
They live in Saint Louis MO. (They are moving to their new priory this week so I don't know exactly where they are now but it is still in Saint Louis). They are actually the student brothers of the Central and Southern Provinces. So if you want general information I would contact the provinces. If you would like to ask a question directly to these brothers click on the "Ask a Friar" tab on the page and it will take you to a form there.