Capuchin Franciscans - Province of Mid-America | 3613 Wyandot St. Denver, CO 80211
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The Postulancy is a minimum one year period of discernment for men who are somewhat
sure that they are being called to the Capuchin Franciscan religious life. The word
is "somewhat" because it is difficult to have more certitude without having first
experienced Capuchin life firsthand, which is what the Postulancy allows one to do.
When a person applies to the Postulancy program, he is not committing himself for
life. Rather, he is taking time to come and live in a Capuchin friary, and to participate
in friary life. The Postulant attends daily Mass, Office or Readings, Morning Prayer,
meditation, Evening Prayer, Night Prayer and meals with the friars.
In addition, he also attends classes, and volunteers in some kind of apostolate or
ministry to the poor. Classes include Catholic doctrine, Liturgy, Prayer, and Franciscan
studies. With the exception of some classes in Catholic doctrine taught outside the
friary, the classes are not formally academic. There is some required reading for
each class, but the focus is on discussion and reflection on the various topics.
The purpose of the Postulancy is to help the person arrive at a little more certitude
as to whether the Lord may be calling him to serve as a Capuchin Franciscan. If by
the end of the discernment period, the Postulant discovers this to be the case, he
then applies to the next level of formation, the Novitiate.
The Postulancy application process itself may take six to eight weeks. An administration
board made up of friars from the Capuchin Province of Mid-America meets in order
to process the applications, and make a recommendation to the Provincial Minister.
The Provincial Minister of the Province then sends a letter to welcome the Postulants
into the program. The future Postulant will then receive a letter from the Postulancy
Director to inform him of what is necessary to bring, the beginning date and what
should be left behind for the duration of the two years.
To help the Postulant in his continued discernment of what God is asking of him,
we ask the person to make a reasonable cut with his past in order to be free enough
to make a prayerful choice with regard to the Lord's call. So, for example, we ask
the Postulant to take care of any major financial debts and to resign from present
employment; we also ask that he put aside financial responsibilities during his stay
with us. If he is presently in studies at a university or college, we ask that he
take a pause from that pursuit as well. This allows the Postulant to have the time
and freedom in his life to give himself to prayer, discernment, reading, and work
with the poor. Then whether he decides that he is called to the Capuchin Franciscan
life or not, at least he will be satisfied that he gave sufficient time and reflection
to that possibility.
