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New
Franciscans break the mold
SARA FRANCIS,
Western Catholic Reporter
August 30 2010
Dressed in a
brown robe and sandals, Jean-Pierre Ducharme talks with ease about
making a lifelong commitment to live as a Franciscan friar.
"There's always a certain amount of freedom that comes with
commitment. It's going to be nice to be in a position where I know
where I'm going to be for the rest of my life at least in the sense
of who I am," said Ducharme.
For the past three years he's made temporary vows with the
Franciscan Friars of Western Canada. But on Aug. 20 at St. Mary's
Parish in Cochrane, he made his final vows of poverty, chastity and
obedience with the brotherhood.
As Franciscan friars "we're so rooted in the Gospel. It's the kind
of commitment that stands the test of time. It's the kind of thing
that can be of relevance in every generation and I don't think
there's anything more beautiful than a person who lives out their
life authentically," said Ducharme.
Giving up the freedom of having personal possessions has been at
times a challenge for Ducharme, but well worthwhile.
"We talk about being poor, but when you live in community and you
have all the support that goes along with being a member of a
fraternity, it's really hard to see oneself as poor.
"It comes down to imitating Christ and having poverty of self, so
giving of oneself," said Ducharme, sitting at the kitchen table at
Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre in Cochrane less than a week before
his solemn profession of vows.
PASSION FOR YOUTH MINISTRY
It is here at the retreat centre that Ducharme will live for the
coming year while helping the order with vocation ministry and
working at St. Mary's Parish as a deacon once he is ordained in
Edmonton on Sept. 11.
Ultimately, he feels called to the priesthood, but he doesn't know
where exactly that will lead him. Currently, his passion is to work
with youth doing campus ministry.
The decision to join a religious order, however, did not happen
overnight for Ducharme. Raised the ninth of 11 children in a
Catholic family in Coquitlam, B.C., he has always looked for a way
to stand out.
"I've always been a seeker and wanted to be countercultural," said
Ducharme. "Maybe that comes from being part of a big family and
trying to find my place."
After graduating high school he worked odd jobs in construction and
the service industry until he decided to try his hand at an acting
academy in Pasadena, Calif. When that didn't pan out, he returned to
Canada and enrolled in a bachelor of arts program at the University
of British Columbia at age 22. It was during that time he first
thought he might be called to religious life.
NON-CONFORMIST
"My attitude has always been 'I am free. I don't have to do what
everybody else wants or I don't have to conform to society or any
system or community.' But along the way there have been things that
have pushed me to be responsible and to at least try to live a life
of integrity," said Ducharme.
One big turning point was in his early 20s when his girlfriend
dumped him.
"When I discovered my own vulnerability I became more sensitive to
it in others and through that experience and several others I really
searched for meaning in life."
After he completed his bachelor's degree at 26, he moved to Edmonton
to study for his master of divinity in hopes of doing ministry as a
layperson. It was at Newman Theological College where he first
encountered the Franciscans who teach there. Through their example,
two years later he entered a five-year formation program to become a
friar.
Ducharme was attracted to religious life and the Franciscan Friars
of Western Canada in large part due to the fellowship he's
experienced.
CALLED TO COMMUNITY
"I like being with the guys; I like the fact that I can be a member
of a community and do ministry that I wouldn't be able to do as a
married person, as a layperson. I saw a certain freedom in not
having children, a certain release from a lot of the stresses that
married people have," said Ducharme.
"At this point I couldn't think of doing anything else," he said. "I
know that I am here because of the wonderful life I was born into. I
came from a very loving family, I've experienced a lot of love, joy
and happiness in my life and maybe it left me innocent to the
negative perceptions of the Church and this way of life."
His mother Darlene's insistence that faith was the only thing
important to her has contributed to his lifelong religious
convictions. His father Roger modeled for him the virtues of
commitment, determination and a desire to be intentional about life.
"We both lost it. It was very moving for us. We're just very happy
for him. It's a big commitment he's made and he's happy," Darlene
said upon reflection after the ceremony.
His two parents, eight of his 10 married siblings and several of his
35 nieces and nephews came to witness him commit his life to the
800-year-old Franciscan order founded by St. Francis of Assisi.
"A sense of belonging is important and there is a sense of security
I get from knowing I belong," said Ducharme. "I come from a big
family so that might be part of it. The Franciscans are a family.
It's like I've left one family and moved into another." |
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Franciscans Brothers Billy Isenor and Jean-Pierre Ducharme, shown
here at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre in Cochrane, were drawn to
the
Franciscan life of community and poverty. |
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