By Roxanne King
“The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few,” Jesus said as his eyes swept the crowds flocking to him for healing and hope (Mt 9:37). The next thing Christ does in Matthew’s Gospel is to choose 12 apostles to shepherd those lost sheep.
“Abundant harvest” was the theme for the 31st annual Brown Robe Benefit, to express both the vast spiritual needs of the culture today and God’s generosity in sending a record number of Capuchin Franciscan vocations to meet them. In 2024, St. Conrad Province ordained three men to priesthood and received solemn vows of five others, both were the most in the province since its 1977 inception.
Providentially, the generosity of the 2024 Brown Robe supporters broke records as well.
“We have huge news, and we’d like to thank God,” Gina Francis, development officer for the Capuchin Franciscans of St. Conrad Province, told The Porter. “For the first time in the history of the Brown Robe we grossed just over 1 million in revenue—our first million-dollar year. We are just in awe.”
Nearly half that amount was a record-breaking response to the formation appeal made at the benefit, which brought in $480,000.
“I am constantly amazed at the generosity of our friends, and immensely grateful that they understand the importance of our ministries—and how instrumental they are in keeping those ministries alive,” said Capuchin Br. Mark Schenk, provincial minister.
The Brown Robe Benefit was held Oct. 13 at the Denver Sheraton hotel. Supporters also attended at satellite locations in Colorado Springs, Victoria and Lawrence, Kan., and San Antonio where they connected to the live event via satellite. Additionally, the event was livestreamed.
Capuchin Fr. John Lager served as emcee for the benefit, which included live and silent auctions, dinner and dancing, and short but powerful “Abundant Harvest” videos highlighting vital ministries the friars provide.
Statistics from the event videos about U.S. culture are startling: nearly 24 percent of teens ages 13 to 17 identify as Roman Catholic, but by the time they reach ages 23 to 26, more than 88 percent of them will have left the Church. Over 1.8 million people are incarcerated in prisons. Most never receive visitors. More than 700,000 people die in hospitals. Many die alone.
The friars are meeting those needs. Narrated by Capuchin Fr. Joseph Mary Elder, friars spoke about their ministry in videos showing the difference their ministry makes.
Capuchin Br. Anthony Monahan is a chaplain offering spiritual care in hospitals and assisted living facilities. “There’s always a shortage of chaplains,” he said. “It’s one of the things in life you can’t put a price on.”
Speaking about the incarcerated he ministers to, prison chaplain Capuchin Fr. Jason Moore said, “It’s hard for them to really know their worth.”
Describing his ministry, he said, “There’s … someone to recognize their worth and tell them, ‘You have dignity…. And there’s a place for you in this world. Just because you’re in prison doesn’t mean you can’t be a light to others. You can be God’s compassion, God’s love to others.’
“It’s a pretty heavy battleground for spiritual warfare…. The way God is working in their lives is beautiful.”
“We announce the good news to them,” said Capuchin Fr. David Songy, a licensed clinical psychologist who spoke about leading youth pilgrimages. “You think of Jesus Christ, the scene in which he’s looking at all the people and they’re like sheep without a shepherd.”
Young people expressed how through the Capuchins’ ministry, faith once seen as a myth, became real to them.
“We go wherever there’s a need,” Fr. Songy said. “We bring hope to people.”
Brown Robe Benefit supporter Ann Mahler told The Porter she was drawn to the friars by their genuine Christian joy.
“They are very happy people,” she said. “And seeing how much they go out to help the homeless, like with their food truck, they are always helping people. I know that what I’m giving them will be used for evangelization and for helping the poor.”
Longtime benefactor Rae Tafoya, who died last year, was remembered with a toast at the benefit and a tribute in the program lauding her ardent support and the countless people she introduced to the friars who soon became an integral part of their own lives.
“Because the Capuchins work so much behind the scenes, they’re not very visible. Introducing people to their work allows them to garner new support and to grow,” Francis told The Porter. “Once people recognize the charism of these men, they fall in love with their work.
“The cumulative efforts of our supporters and the volunteers honoring the work of the Capuchins is what makes a harvest such as this even possible.”
“Without the money raised at the Brown Robe Benefit, we would be forced to scale back or even eliminate some of the ministries,” Br. Schenk said. “The proceeds from the Brown Robe Benefit make it possible to form new generations of Capuchins who can perform these ministries.”
