The friars lay prostrate during the "Litany of the Saints" at the celebration of the Rite of Solemn Profession in the Order of Friars Minor.
Posted on 03/03/2009 5:48:29 AM PST by NYer
Out of the frying pan, into the friary.
Forty-five New Yorkers who have lost their faith in the flailing economy, want to put their trust in God are responding to subway ads to become friars through a Midtown-based Franciscan community, the Holy Name Province. To pursue a life of charity, they'll have to give up the rat race - and also money and sex.
"I thought it was speaking to me," said George Camacho, 29, a Flushing, Queens, resident who saw one of the 1,000 "BeaFranciscan.org" ads on the subway.
The NYU graduate, who rents the basement of his parents' home, was laid off as on-air promotions producer for PBS in June.
"Getting laid off, it forced me to reflect," he said. "What do I really want to be doing with the rest of my life?"
Camacho was one of an unusually high number of recruits this year, said Rev. Brian Smail, the Catholic community's vocation director. At its peak, the community had 1,022 friars in 1965. Today, its membership is only 372; the average age of friars is 68.
About of a third of the 45 callers - those who met the order's basic requirements and expressed a true interest after the initial conversation with Smail were sent forms to fill out. They include a doctor and a public-school teacher. A couple of women even inquired (sorry, men only).
Two men who expressed interest were unemployed.
"Given what has happened with the economy, I think it has led to a lot of self-reflection among people about what is important in life," said Smail, who joined the order in 1992 after working 15 years at a bank in Boston. "They realize there are limits to the system that everyone is playing into."
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
I have already given up money and sex!
I give the friars a high five for such an innovative campaign.
One has to wonder if after 9 months of unemployment, that George’s parents have told him enough is enough and he needs to grow up and get out on his own. Either he’s trying to threaten them with no grandkids or he’s so immature that he’s exchanging one parents’ basement for another. I’m not buying he truly has the calling.
Maybe the reason he was there at his parents’ is because he wasn’t really suited for the business world.
Or maybe this is a good way for him to discover that he isn’t suited for monastic life, and will cause him to redouble his efforts to get work and get out on his own.
Whatever the outcome, it is better than sitting in a basement.
While he is with the Franciscans he will learn some discipline, order, and hard work. Not a bad thing for anyone to learn.
I will say this, I have met some OFMs with very odd personal quirks, and some very liberal ones, but each and every one of them has been a good man and a believer in Christ.
Prayers for them.
Did you see this?
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