Initial Inquiry Made Easy

Initial inquiry

the next stage of formation for me is what's called a novice I will be shipped to another friary in another part of the country and I will be invested in the habit of st. Francis this will be my first year as a true official friar for the Capuchin Order after a year is a novice I come back to my home province here in the Midwest and I get to take my vows I profess vows of poverty chastity and obedience and I am so blessed and I thank God every day for this noble calling he has given me and although I feel unworthy of such a calling I am so very thankful God has been very good to me now perpetually professed for life the maturity of brother MJ's vocation is measured not only in the formation programs he has successfully completed but the personal growth that has moved him from his pre Capucine personal crisis to become a competent minister in the Catholic Church I look back at the first film it's it's shocking it's amazing it's still very moving but what it speaks to me is of God's grace working in my life it shows a young man 78 years ago who is very raw and zealous and idealistic excited that video it appeared that MJ was just fine and healthy and recovered at that point and he was but as a mom I was still sitting on the edge of my seat afraid of a real a big boy Nestle's being family it wasn't at that point where I was completely comfortable in you being wrong and now all these years later we've never had that relapse and I'm no longer sitting on the edge of the chair so to speak I have faith in his recovery he should look different now you do yeah me too I think it's miraculous the reason he was delivered from that I truly believe is so that he can relate and people can relate to him on these things that are going on in our society and he can help them comes from the Italian Bushido and refers to the orders would inhabits this order would become the destination 4mj recalls his journey luckily my dad had built a very fruitful crew photography industry I was coming off of a very strong conversion experience and that's great and that film has touched a lot of lives and it still touches my life but when I look at it now you know it's it's like looking at a more immature version of me you know and that's that's exactly what formation has done for me over the last seven eight years it's really allowed me to develop myself and my skills and my talents and my abilities to serve this Brotherhood in the best possible way with his initial cabbage information complete brother MJ continues his formal education my sister how are you good are you meeting me on my paper I need your help let's go talk right when I joined the Capuchin friars I had a high school diploma and so I was out of the classroom and into the workforce for a long time and so I came to the Kappa shins a little to no education sure what I've written so far joy of the gospel thanks for you to God the capetians are one of the few religious orders that is sympathetic towards people that don't already have an undergrad degree which I didn't and so the last four years have been in the classroom for me which was a hard transition you know being an older guy and having completed his bachelor's degree brother MJ now studies pastoral theology leading to a priesthood a Catholic theological Union in Chicago Chicago is where the Capuchin formation program is located providing excellent education options at area colleges and universities so before you you come at people with doctrine and dogma right off the bat the arrow head should be the beautiful expression of those doctrines and dogmas pursuing a degree in philosophy and anthropology and it's been very exciting and again every day that I'm able to go to school is a gift because someone has worked hard for that money and a benefactor has gifted it to us so that I can have an education you know and a chance to be a competent minister in this world the Capucines believe strongly in education for the friars to help them grow spiritually and emotionally every day for the last four years I I worked my butt off you know study in and write in papers and it's been hard but it's been the greatest struggle of my life you know is understanding how great a gift education is and how lucky I am to have that gift when so many people don't don't have that opportunity I did very well with my undergrad and I got my philosophy degree and very shortly I'll be starting my theological studies at Catholic theological Union in Chicago brother MJ's already a Capuchin brother and hopes to also be a Catholic priest being a brother is always the fundamental vocation of every Capuchin my initial call I believed and I discerned ways to be a Catholic priest but as I progressed throughout the years in initial formation with the captions and really having a more mature and better understanding of st. Francis of Assisi and what his intent was and what he started so long ago I believe that Francis thoroughly wanted an order of lesser brothers and that radically changed the way I approach my vocation I understand this call my primary call is to be a brother in this world and particularly as a caption frame so when I took my solemn vows last summer I laid down my life for this Brotherhood and I promised to live the rest of my life in poverty chastity and obedience as a Capuchin friar and and for me that's the really the height of this vocation and you know I'm a devoted person thanks me God I did it and we're accustomed Capucines reach out to the people at the margins this morning brother MJ is ministering at a largely Hispanic and african-american neighborhood on Chicago's South Side loving God we thank you for this beautiful day for these friends for this church for this community we ask you to bless this meal and this time together as we learn more about each other's lives and share in fellowship we ask all this to Christ our Lord Father fryer experiences the cultures of the people he serves Latino african-american Vietnamese Native American and other Catholics and people's hospitality is a key value of the Capucines the Friars role is to immerse and serve to provide a setting where all feel safe and welcomed brother MJ began his Capuchin postulant see with ministry at Milwaukee's Capuchin Community Services House of peace location this Capucine ministry serves chronically poor and working poor families providing food clothing and spiritual nourishment the captions are a great organization they were the first religious order when I was discerning that asked me what are my gifts and how can I help this group become better shares of the gospel in the world you know which was unique rather than telling me hey if you join us you're going to do this ministry or do this ministry they say hey we we serve the poor and we live the gospel that's exciting brother MJ he returns often to this central city ministry to renew the bonds he made with staff and guests right by downtown Loop we raise blowing all my life 2x all right I need to knock up yeah I'm talking to yes sir you to pray for me will you yeah you prove me - you got it you got it all right you folks finding everything okay oh you're doing all right you can fold yeah yeah I'm doing today man I'm so good I'm sorry it's not snowing anymore so but I retired and I work all support veterans hills for degrees three box remember sauce the Capucines social services ministries strive to meet the poor's basic needs bringing to life corporal works of mercy these works of mercy found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others as if those we serve we're Christ in disguise the friars work side by side with volunteers promoting sister and Brotherhood just as Christ did justice and Francis did but you know right now my main focus is becoming a competent minister right yeah let's go forever see what we got we got big we got big and these are nice shirts too dang our job as Kappa shanz has been to really build relationship with people encounter people meet them right where they're at on this journey of life and just let them know that they're not alone that they're loved that they're valuable they're beautiful so I've experienced that everywhere I've been sent whether it's Detroit Milwaukee here in Chicago I on the Indian reservations in Montana I mean you encounter the same issues drug abuse neglect economic poverty no jobs depression I mean it's the same elements just different cases as Franciscans the Friars live and work with those who are in need of help the poor the disenfranchised the needy the brothers serve got to the work they do in the communities they serve the friars provide hope to those communities to jiffy mix get a box of cake mix I got cake no ma'am not yet I got one here the Capucine fryer has changed as much as he helps following in the footsteps of Francis it is important for the friars to be a part of the lives of the people they work with they want to be a brother to all who enter their ministries our job isn't to solve the problem you know the poor will always be with us we know this but our job is to simply encounter them into their lives build relationship with them and let them know that they're not alone are you doing my name is brother MJ was here in the area the one people life thanks for being here thanks brother MJ thank you all for being here tonight brother MJ retinol shares with guests that he is in recovery his past drug addiction contributes to MJ's spontaneous ability to minister to others today always aware that he and the other all brothers and sisters he always been from Milwaukee Michigan okay well TJ didn't change too much it startled because I was still drinking trying drink and then I realized it kept him down I statement treatment center for your head high and I'm gonna start counting till I was sure it's hard it is hard it's a minute-by-minute struggle isn't it 12th the 12-step program saved my life you know and like like you said a geographical change you know that what do they tell you it changed people places and things you know you haven't burned you gotta you've got to cut those ties and it's hard right but you gotta gotta get out can we say quick prayer just three of us real quick I want you guys to pray for my sobriety and my vocation as well too so whereas Heavenly Father I ask you to bless these two men these two servants of God keep them absolutely safe and sober this night and give them another day and ask them to be beacons of Hope light peace and sobriety to the rest of the world and everyone they encounter through Christ our Lord amen god bless you guys all right keep me in prayer I need it beautiful right thank you god bless you about one of those that looks little baby like this thank you about a tray a little one Thank You angel ha I had to guess the Friars focus on the gospel and those who have been forgotten Capucines have always done a few others wish to go brother MJ's first ministry experiences as a postulant have matured into confident partnering with those on the periphery whatever we can offer you or do for you and this is the great rest assured I would definitely pray for you you know and I hope you pray for me you know and that's something that I always ask of them is that they pray for me because I feel like they're probably closer to Jesus than I am sometimes so you know I asked the port always extend a blessing over me and all of my Capuchin brothers so that we can be the best ministers that we possibly be brother MJ serves the port ministry which provides food health care and support to Chicago's South Side here he and the port volunteer ready the bread truck which will travel back in the arts providing food to the hungry when I came into the order a long time ago I think I had these ideas of what captions were about it's nice out today man I have a more balanced understanding of not only myself what makes me tick my ego my mind my heart my soul but also how the church as a whole is really just this plethora of human beings in this diversity the food is donated by parishes partners and corporations how you doing gentlemen are you doing give it out one everybody how did you do that no no no okay I'm good day guys thank you god bless you friend gentlemen baloney more of a pretty ponies you want a you god bless you god bless you savages Capucine formation is an opportunity to develop spiritually and emotionally the process is layered where the friar keeps peeling until the core Capuchin values are reviewed and so more mature version myself sits here today the more balanced well developed individual in all aspects of the life and that's what the gift that the captions have given me informations I get to come home every night to a house full of brothers that are my support system they are the joy of my life really I mean you know it's it's amazing how once you're properly formed and you understand this life and this gift that we have in fraternity and communion with one another what a source of power and hope and love that to be fraternity was just a word when MJ joined the Capucine postulant see now it's a lift value to which he contributes and from which he gets his support most importantly fraternity is a way of life with other Capucine Center with everyone involved in his ministry you know everything we do within the walls of our houses gives us that light and that power and then we take that out into the world so when we've had a particularly tough day we're not going home alone to just dwell on it and let that weigh on us you know we can express that to our brothers be vulnerable to each other to share that cry on each other's shoulders you know and just like pass that off you know it's like we're in this this together and and that makes this immensely easier what Chicago allows Capuchin friars information many opportunities the Friars are on the south side evening meals are often times of cooking together it's a time to gather share the day's activities and unwind as brothers as family three average in what time did they call you two o'clock yeah yeah that's about the time they called me I was about to three o'clock in there brother MJ remembers the phone call he received six years ago accepting him into postal and see his blossoming enthusiasm is reflected in every young man who receives the same Corps since then his understanding of what San Franciso of Assisi means to our world and church has matured deepened and refined when I first heard about this guy Francis of Assisi I understood that he created this movement and I knew that it consisted of brothers I didn't quite understand what that meant until I entered a Capuchin friars for the first time and over the last seven or eight years that has been the single biggest gift that God has given me is this fraternity realizing how absolutely important it is for us to create fraternity Brotherhood within our own walls but sister Brotherhood for them yes yes sir when I entered the order I had zero cooking abilities skills desire luckily I'm able to team up with guys like Trung who are actually competent in the kitchen and know flavors and recipes and have done this a lot and so I mirror them and I just work with them and learn from them and slowly but surely I can make something that's halfway edible we find that a lot of the stuff we do in the kitchen whether it's preparing the meals cooking is a big source of community for us it's a way that we really learn to live together as brothers teach each other learn from each other and share our lives so the kitchen is a very important part of our life the the atmosphere is really really vibrant and I didn't expect it to be you know this kind of vibrant because I always thought that you know prison is really boring you have to live alone but the Capuchin or the Franciscan family is very different we live as a brotherhood type so which is which the main thing that really got me into one and become a Capuchin we all have different gifts abilities talents and that's what we bring you know to this community so you know trums a great example he knows how to cook very good with time management and a lot of these things I'm not so good at so it's a way for us to really learn from each other and and grow together and teach each other and it's a really cool experience good looks beautiful the fact that we make it an absolute priority to be brothers and to come together is is almost strange but it's so beautiful and I believe that that is the single biggest thing we can offer to the world today we are created to be in communion with one another to be in the relationship and we do that very well and that was something I had a slight idea of about the Franciscan movement but I had no idea how intentional and how beautiful it is until I actually joined many applicants into religious life worried that they will lose their families upon entry but in fact brother MJ has deepened his blood family ties why gaining a wider family through his Franciscan ministry and way of life I know that he is already touching and helping so many people he will continue to help many many people and that's why he joined the campus in order because of who they minister to they minister to the poor and the homeless and the addicted and the imprisoned and the sick and he was all of those things his entire being is to be there for others and he's he's dedicated to that the captions are dedicated to that he does that because he's been there he's walked that path he understands where those people are coming from my whole family it is Catholic and it's not only a mj's conversion but it's our conversion as well and it is such a blessing and such a joy today brother MJ is joining his family on the joyous baptism of his brothers and his sister-in-laws baby I'll show you the video Oh beautifully 70 cry oh this experience that we have been fortunate enough to come out on the other side was a healthy child has allowed us to be grateful to God not for the experience but for bringing him through so second place is 1/3 during the elevations yep we just you know pray that we can continue going deeper in our faith and we can continue to help others we really do see that as what we're called to do is to we we are able to and so we are we must do let us give thanks to the Lord our God it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks Lord Holy Father Almighty and eternal God as a postulant novice and temporary professed Capuchin brother MJ gradually acquired more liturgical skills in these final years of his ministry preparation he will further develop his preaching prior and community leadership skills when he ended up with the captions I mean they have been nothing but the greatest thing in the world for him I think it's an answer from above that saved his life with you all it is offer each others you know we just continue to pray that God's will be done whether that's to be a priest as he discerns it or if it's to stay right where he is as a brother continue his education and help as many people as he possibly can to use these experiences that that he's been through in the best possible way to save as many souls as possible every candidate into religious life wonders about his ability to live a healthy celibate life Capucine formation helps man to learn whether they have the gift of celibacy and if so how to mature in that gift vows also include living a life of poverty and obedience as the Friars grow in their spirituality the followings of San Francis becomes clearer there's your on hall yeah you little guardian angel in the end Capuchin Franciscan fraternity is the core of brother MJ's life it was present in the initial impulse that led him to reach out and become a Capuchin postulant it matured through no vitiate and temporary vows as he gathered more experiences both inside and outside the fiery my first call is to be a brother and to be a little brother to be a Capuchin brother and that's amazing because that that changes everything and so when I was able to profess my solemn vows last year that was the pinnacle for me I peaked I mean that was absolutely the height of my vocation as a Capuchin I laid down my life for this Brotherhood I said I will I will be a brother for the rest of my life that's amazing I still feel called to be a priest and that will come you know God willing with time and study but my first call is to be a Capuchin friar and and God has given me that gift and and I responded to it wholeheartedly now alive long perpetually professed Capuchin brother MJ completely embraces his fraternity and looks forward to completing his professional training to be the minister he can be in our world and church you you