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Franciscans get new blood,
hope
Two men made final vows for lives of
poverty, chasity, obedience
SARA FRANCIS, Western Catholic
Reporter
August 30, 2010
Cochrane - An
aging Franciscan community has just gotten an injection of new blood
and, in turn, new hope.
Jean-Pierre Ducharme and Billy Isenor made their solemn profession
of vows to live a life of poverty, chastity and obedience to God as
a Franciscan friar at St. Mary's Catholic Church here on Aug. 20.
The 33-year-olds are welcome youthful additions to the Franciscan
Friars of Western Canada, whose members average 70 years old. For
years the number of new members has dwindled, but this is a hopeful
sign of change for Franciscan Father Dennis Vavrek, superior of the
Western Canadian friars.
"This is a rare event in this part of the world, in this time and
place to have young gifted men make a commitment to religious life,"
said Vavrek at an outdoor reception following the Mass.
One year ago to the day, Daniel Gurnick and Armand Mercier made
their solemn profession of vows, which at the time was only the
third profession in 20 years.
"Ten years ago we didn't have anybody around," said Vavrek. "We were
feeling demoralized. It's just like someone who gets married and
can't have a family, what are you leaving all your work to in terms
of your legacy. With these guys, there's a future for us. It's
picked up the spirits of our older men."
TEST OF TIME
For Ducharme and Isenor, they were attracted to the 800-year-old
religious order partly because it has stood the test of time.
"It's 800 years old, but it's been 800 years living," said Isenor.
"What attracted me to this charism is I see 90-year-olds still
participating in their own way. To our current friars, 50 to 70, and
it doesn't look like they've lost any passion.
"At first when I met everybody I saw a lot of wisdom around me and I
liked that because I think in this search there is a search for holy
men, holiness and wisdom and that comes with age. And we certainly
have a lot of wisdom," said Isenor, adding it's not the number of
vocations the brothers are concerned about, rather the quality of
men.
Currently, the Province of Christ the King has roughly 30 members in
British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan with five more men in
formation: two in temporary vows, two novices and one postulant
starting in September.
After serving as vocations director for a decade, Brother Gerry
Clyne is looking forward to having Ducharme help him recruit new
members in the upcoming year.
"We're finally starting to see some fruit. I feel like Zechariah:
'Lord, now let your servant go in peace,'" said Clyne, laughing that
it will be nice to have someone without white hair to be the new
face of vocations.
PEER GROUP
Clyne believes the formation period is made easier when done with a
peer group. "When they come in by ones they are almost destined to
fail," he said.
Several men have come to discern with the brothers over the years,
but the inability to make a permanent commitment has been the
downfall, said Clyne. "There are too many options out there."
On the other hand, Clyne said the order gives men a variety of
options for ministry while living out the Franciscan spirituality,
something which is attractive to prospective members.
"It's a hopeful time and it's a time where we are living by faith to
see what shape the province will take," said Clyne. |
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Fr. Dennis Vavrek (centre) accepts the vows by Jean-Pierre Ducharme
(left)
and Billy Isenor (right) while
Frs. Don MacDonald and David
Norman observe.
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