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Order of Friars Minor ConventualSaint Anthony of Padua Province, USA
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Formation

New ministers for the ChurchA ministry that St. Anthony of Padua Province performs for the good of the Church and for its own good is formation ministry. The goal of formation ministry is to nurture vocations to the Franciscan way of life and to provide those who respond to God's call the necessary formation for religious life and the specialized training that will be needed for service in the Church.

The formation ministry of the Province has four stages. The first is the Vocation Program, which is responsible for encouraging and nurturing vocations to the Franciscan life. The Vocation Director maintains communication with interested men and assists them in their discernment process. The second stage is the Candidacy Program which is located in Philadelphia, PA. During this two-year period men who feel called to the Franciscan life have the opportunity to experience the life of the friars and to further discern God's call. At the end of Candidacy the candidate applies for acceptance into the Novitiate Program. The Novitiate Program is the third stage in the formation process. Presently, the Novitiate is located in Skaneateles, NY. The Novitiate year is a period of retreat from the world during which the novice dOrdinationelves into the theology of religious vows, the history and spirituality of the Franciscan Order, and the life of prayer and contemplation. This period of formation ends with the profession of simple (temporary) vows of poverty, chastity and obedience. The fourth and final stage of initial formation is the Post-Novitiate Program which is located in Washington D.C. During this time, which can be anywhere from two to five years, the friar pursues the necessary studies to prepare him for the ministry that he will undertake. During the years of the Post-Novitiate the friar also discerns his readiness for solemn vows.

Formation as a friar and as a minister of the Gospel does not end with profession of solemn vows. Formation is a life-long process and the Province of St. Anthony of Padua provides its friars with an On-going Formation Program which allows the friar to grow in his spiritual and ministerial life.

 


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St. Anthony of Padua Province
Provincial House
12300 Folly Quarter Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042-1419

410-531-1400 (voice) • 410-531-4881 (fax)

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