My Heart Is Ready: Profession of Solemn Vows

Pure Joy. Deep Peace. Wonder and Awe. 

God’s Generous Love. Much Goodness. Holy Spirit Present. 

Held by the Saints. Surrounded by Holiness. A New Chapter. 

Gift. Humbled. Hope. 

Fraternity and Community. True Celebration. Powerful. 

Jesus – Emmanuel – God With Us. Family. Sacred Bonds. 

Past – Present – Future. Lesser Brother. Gospel Life Awakened. 

Honest. Challenging and Rewarding. Amazed. 

Grateful. Woven into my History. We are God’s Vessels. 

Voices Raised in Praise. Power of Prayer. Impacting. 

Here and Now. Walk with St. Francis. God Blessed Big Time.

My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready. - Psalm 57.7

For the past few days I have been trying to find the right words to describe the experience of making my Solemn Profession. The above list seems to best capture the events leading up to, the ceremony itself and the immediate events after my Profession of Solemn Vows on August 23. I continue to let these statements take hold of my heart. I will continue to allow them shape my life as Solemnly Professed Friar (and if I forget, you may remind me.)

Over the next few posts I will share some more insights from the celebration. I will speak of scripture, music, people and the vows themselves. For now I leave you with some final thoughts I shared that evening.

St. Francis of Assisi you touch something in my depth and awaken me to the beauty of gospel living. Each day you invite me to journey with you in the footsteps of Christ. Thank you, my Brother. Pray for me. Pray for us.

St. Clare of Assisi your wisdom and light help keep me focused on Christ. You continually nudge me into knowing the depths of God’s love more. Thank you, my Sister. Pray for me. Pray for us.

Come Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth and renew us.

This journey began with a question “Why the heck aren’t you a Friar?” In that moment of wonder and awe; of stunned silence; of my heart doing flips, my vocation was brought to light. God works in beautiful, unique and mysterious ways. I am in awe of how our Emmanuel – God With Us - continues to awaken us to the depths of love, the power of charity, certain hope, true faith and the gift of another and all of creation.

To God all praise and glory is due! To Christ all praise and glory is due!

To the Holy Spirit all praise and glory is due!

To our Triune God my life is full of thanksgiving!

To God I offer you my heart each day and say:

“My heart is ready, O God, my heart is ready!”

Thank you for journeying with me to my Solemn Vows, 

let us continue the journey from here for as St. Francis once said, 

"up to now we have done very little."

Thank You for your prayers and support,

I humbly ask for your continued prayers

for myself and the Franciscans in Canada.

Pilgrimage: A Lesser Brother Praising God

I’ve been home from my pilgrimage for just over a month now. There has been a lot going on in this month (moving, travel, planning, ministry) and in this fullness, I have been reflecting on the pilgrimage that was and the pilgrimage of life which is now unfolding. The graces of the pilgrimage in Assisi continue to speak to my heart and cause me to ponder St. Francis and his challenge to live the pattern of the gospel – to embrace the life of Christ in my daily living. The graces of the pilgrimage have allowed for me to ponder relationships and how they change and grow and invite us into the depths of who we are. I have also been pondering what it means to be a lesser brother – a friar. 

Today I was reminded of the pilgrimage that is now unfolding. My Solemn Vows are now 12 days away! Final preparations are taking shape and details are being worked out. In this excitement I pause each day to pray with the words of the vows I will profess for life. They challenge to embrace the pattern of the gospel and to embrace the way of being a lesser brother. I ponder again with St. Francis and St. Clare and their vision for living the pattern of the gospel. I ponder the gift of being a lesser brother. I’m excited for the pilgrimage that is unfolding now and look ahead with hope – Christ my all.

Before I profess my Solemn Vows I share with you a final reflection from my pilgrimage to Assisi. These thoughts came just over the midway point of the pilgrimage and they seem to capture not only the pilgrimage which was but also the one that now continues and will unfold with my Solemn Vows.

Praise be God

in all that God is,

in all which God made,

in all where God dwells. 

Praise be God

every where then,

in every heart,

in all of creation,

in silent prayer,

in communities gathered.

Praise be God

these words on my lips,

these words on my heart,

these words on my mind.

Praise be God

in all that was,

in all that is,

in all that is to come,

in all, with all, for all:

Praise be God!

Lesser Brother
Little Brother
Friar Minor

Brother Francis,
these simple descriptions are my prayer and desire. 
I too desire to live the gospel as a little brother
filled with joy and hope, 
rooted in and radiating Christ 
and his love into the world.

Help me not to be overcome
with busyness, with circumstances, 
with position or with power.

I strive to be humble, kind,
open, generous and free 
to always proclaim with my life 
the good news – the pattern of the gospel.

St. Francis… pray for me, pray for us.

Portiuncola - An Assisi Treasure

August 2 is the Feast Day of Our Lady of the Angels – the Portiuncula (Porziuncola) meaning “little portion.” This small chapel which is now situated in a large basilica was dedicated on August 2. It is considered to be the birth place of the Franciscans. It is a chapel which St. Francis repaired, where the Order of the Poor Clares began and where St. Francis died. St. Francis had a love for Mary – the Mother of God and so this chapel had a special place in his heart.

While I was on pilgrimage, I had the opportunity to pray in this small chapel, to pray around the chapel and to pray while sitting in the basilica gazing at this chapel. I pondered St. Francis and his passion and drive to fulfill the “command” he heard from Christ, “Go repair my church.” I considered that his hands had touched these very stones as did the hands of countless Friars, Poor Clares and pilgrimages all seeking to root themselves on the foundation of Christ. I thought of my journey so far as Friar and what will yet unfold and the challenge I hear in “Go repair (rebuild) my church.”

As we celebrate the Feast of the Portiuncula, I also am reminded that four years ago this day I made my first vows, vowing to live for the year ahead the Franciscan way. I have renewed these vows three times since. Now in just mere weeks I will profess my solemn vows – making my life time commitment to live as a lesser brother continuing the pilgrimage of life and rebuilding the church in the small ways I can.

As I sat and prayed at this sacred treasured place in June, I penned these thoughts.

Porziuncola

“Repair my church”

the message given from

the cross at San Damiano,

and here at the Porziuncola

Francis continued the mission.

Each stone, each rock

put properly in place

this home, this haven

this place of sending forth

under the mantel of Mother Mary.

This chapel of hope,

the vision unfolding

fraternity growing

doing what was his to do

Francis loved this little chapel.

The little portion

lessons learned and decisions made

brother unfolding the vision

place of prayer, place of rest

this chapel in the Rieti Valley.

This chapel too a place for Clare

here her journey began

she made her commitment

in tune with her Brother Francis

the chapel of light and strength.

Now we the followers of Francis and Clare

we come to this little chapel

we pause in prayer, we gaze in awe

this small mustard seed has given birth

to the way of life for those called little.

Porziuncola, sanctuary of life

your stones call out to us

they remind us of our foundation

in Christ we are built up

as our Brother Francis continues through us

stone by stone by stone.

St. Francis... pray for us.

St. Clare... pray for us.

Angels of God... pray for us.

Holy Mary Mother of God... pray for us.

Assisi: Delighting in God

It has been a month since my pilgrimage and retreat in Assisi came to a close. I continue to reflect on those days: the gifts which came with the time away, the insights that awakened me to goodness and the ponderings which continue to stir my heart.

As we see the bounty of the earth unfolding this summer time, as we take in grand views from summer car rides, as we gather with neighbours and friends and families may we be reminded of our God with us.

I offer to you this reflection which I wrote one morning looking over Assisi and the Rieti Valley. I tried to capture the closeness of our God in this simple moment. May it remind you of how close our God is to us, in both the grand and simplest of moments.

Bells chime their tune, 

the breeze gently swirls

the sun is rising, 

the day is beginning.

My heart declares: 

I delight in you, O God,

and God you delight in me.

You gaze at me.

I gaze at you.

Love beyond telling.

Love never fully captured.

Goodness and mercy shall follow me.

Goodness and mercy are your gifts.

My God and My All

I live and move and breath in You.

Birds sing their song, 

the breeze gently settles

the sun is setting, 

the day is ending.

My heart declares:

I delight in you, O God,

and God you delight in me.

Continued Summer Blessings.

What are your moments of delighting God

and God delighting in you?

Yearning: Assisi Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage – a journey, especially a long one, made to some sacred place as an act of religious devotion; a journey of spiritual significance.

This being the definition of pilgrimage does capture in words what the past month was for me and yet only scratches the surface of the gift of my pilgrimage to Assisi. The journey was indeed a long one and within the long journey there were even more journeys that were long to locations but also into the depths of my heart and with my companions. The journey by plane, by bus, by car, by foot always brought me into an encounter with God, others and parts of myself that were yearning and still continue to yearn.

A friend of mine asked: “If this pilgrimage was a chapter in a book, what would it be called?” I laughed and said, “it can’t just be a chapter, it is probably a whole book, regardless I would call it “Yearning” as that seems to best describe the journey.” “Yearning? But wasn’t the pilgrimage to quench this yearning?” he asked in return. “Yes,” I replied, “but it opened me up to desires and awareness that can only be described as yearning.” 

In the journey, in the sacred encounters, in the moments of prayer and seeking, the heart is opened even more and is exposed to grace, mercy, newness, hopes and even reality. This is why “Yearning” would be the title I give my pilgrimage experience. In all I encountered in the sacred, the ordinary, the funny, the mundane, the special, the personal and the shared my heart drew in the riches of these moments and expanded. The yearning is not about this pilgrimage not being fulfilling rather it is about what it did to me and my heart and now how I will live. 

Now, how will I live in the encounters with God, with others, with creation? 

Now, how will my vows be lived out in new ways 

- in greater truth; in realities made known; in deeper joy? 

Now, how will I walk with St. Francis and St. Clare 

– knowing I have touched the ground they touched; 

breathed the air they breathed; saw the valley they saw? 

Now, how will I be Brother? 

The answer for me comes in the yearning; this desire to keep my heart open, allow it grow and to continually beat in tune with Christ and allow grace to touch the journey - this pilgrimage of life - in new ways and sustaining ways.

My Assisi pilgrimage was life-giving, challenging, gift and beautiful. For these blessings and for the amazing brothers I journeyed with, the delicious food that sustained us, the holy places we encounter (even a gelato shop can be holy) and the opportunity to draw close to St. Francis and St. Clare I give thanks to God.

Brother Assisi

paths lead to you 

for so many of us  

who are brothers of Francis.

We have walked your streets

drank in your beauty

delighted in your goodness

discovered gifts and treasures.

We have pondered your peace

where Francis encountered Christ

where the gospel stirred new life

where fraternity grew stronger.

We have celebrated your connections

where Sister Clare joined fraternity

where the Brothers told the story

where places honor your legacy.

Brother Assisi

paths lead from you

leading us in new ways

as brothers to the world. 

Fast Facts:
Pilgrimage and Retreat: 25 days

Number of Friars on Pilgrimage: 13
from India, Australia, Mexico, United States, Canada
4 OFM Friars, 2 OFM Conventual and 7 OFM Capuchins 
(amazing group of brothers – I’m still in awe that this was our group)

Number of Friars as Guides: 4
Days spent in Rome and area: 4
Days spent in Greccio and area: 3
Days spent in Assisi and area: 10
Days spent in Rivo Torto: 8

In upcoming blogs, I will share further reflections, prayers and more photos of the pilgrimage.

I humbly ask for your continued prayers for the Friars of this pilgrimage, as many of us are preparing to celebrate our Solemn Vows (beginning next weekend for 3) and then moving into new ministries.

Continued blessings on your summer journey.

St. Francis and St. Clare pray for us.

Saturated with the Holy Spirit

I recently heard a Friar use the phrase “saturated with the Holy Spirit.” 
Is that not a beautiful image and thought? 
To be completely consumed and filled by the Holy Spirit; 
wrapped up in the Trinitarian Love of our God. 

To be saturated with the Holy Spirit means we must be vessels open to the will of God and seeking the freedom of being God’s children (Romans 8.15-16). To be saturated with the Holy Spirit awakens us to God at work in our lives and the lives of those around us. To be saturated with the Holy Spirit means that we are open to new works, new beginnings and being made into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5.17). To be saturated with the Holy Spirit means we seek ways of peace, healing and hope to shape our lives. To be saturated with the Holy Spirit means we utilize the gifts of wisdom, understanding, right judgement, knowledge, reverence, courage and wonder and awe. To be saturated with the Holy Spirit means we live out our baptismal call of being priest, prophet and king; building the kingdom here and now for we are “led by the Spirit” as “children of God” (Romans 8.14).

As Pentecost draws near, I believe for a few reasons, I have been letting this saturation idea sit within and around me. The first reason is that Pentecost awakens us to the gift of the Spirit at work in each one of us – yes, each one of us – not just a select few. The idea of us embracing this saturation leads me to hopefulness for it means we are in tune with the love of our God and the reality it calls us to, not the false reality our world tries to have us claim. When we allow this saturation to happen, we dream new dreams and truly embrace who we are: the beloved of God. May we be open to being saturated with the Holy Spirit. (I believe it may be a simple start to pray: Come Holy Spirit and fill my life.)

The second reason is that Pentecost is the Feast Day for the Province of Franciscan Friars I belong to. In fact, this Pentecost is our first in celebrating it as our Feast Day; being the newly founded Holy Spirit Province as of this past October. It is a time for us to celebrate the union of the two Canadian Franciscan Provinces into one. It is time for us to be renewed in our ministry, our spiritual life and our presence in Canada. It is a time for us to embrace the challenge of being Friars who live the way of Gospel going where the Holy Spirit is calling us and leading us. It is a time for us to listen to how the Holy Spirit is awakening us to new ways. This is the work of being saturated with the Holy Spirit.

The third reason is that this Pentecost I will be on pilgrimage and retreat for my Solemn Vows. I will be with 11 other Friars from North America and our guides for three and half weeks on pilgrimage in Italy. Walking where St. Francis walk, seeing where the Franciscan Order came to birth, encountering holy sites which shaped St. Francis and his brothers, encountering the sacred peace of Assisi and the bond which St. Francis had with St. Clare and the many who profess to follow Gospel living will fill our days. This pilgrimage is indeed the prompting of the Holy Spirit, and like St. Francis would say, who is our true guide (minister). This Pentecost we will indeed be saturated with the Holy Spirit.

The fourth reason is that Pentecost is about birth and new beginnings and that is truly where I am at. One part of my journey is coming to a close as new paths are made known as my Solemn Vows are drawing near. The day that profess these vows I am professing to live my life within the Franciscan order and will indeed be a day of birth and new beginnings. It will also mark the beginning of being missioned to Retreat Ministry. I will be ministering with my brothers and our retreat team to share the good news of the Gospel for all who seek a place of peace, prayer, healing and an encounter with God. It is time for packing up and beginning again; it is a time for new horizons and encounters; it is indeed a time of being saturated with the Holy Spirit so I may continue to be a living and holy icon and tabernacle for Christ walking with St. Francis.

So as Pentecost draws near, and final items are placed in my backpacks I pray:

Come Holy Spirit,

Come and dwell within me,

Open me up to the depth of your love,

Saturate me with all that you are

For you my God are my all

And in you I live and move and have my being.

This will be my last post until well into summer time. I am taking the pilgrimage time for prayer, encounter and rest. Thank you for journeying with me through this blog. I humbly ask your prayers for the Franciscans in Canada and for the 12 of us and our guides who are on pilgrimage and for those who are preparing to make Solemn Vows. 

Peace and all Good.

Blessings for a Holy Spirit saturated summer!

May God bless and keep you.

Peace of Christ

The last few weeks have been very full and full of much goodness. Within this fullness there has been demands, pressures and my own expectations not to mention the responsibilities and gift of fraternity. In all of this fullness I have been pondering the unfolding journey and I have been reminded about the gift of peace our Risen Lord offers. The following two prayers come from reflecting on the gift of this peace. May we remember that it always offered to us.

Peace:

always from You

sitting with You

penetrating my core.

Peace:

a gift for me

an awareness of Your spirit

strengthening me.

Peace:

released into freedom

greater than this world

aligning my living in You.

“Peace I leave you. My peace I give you.” (John 14.23-29)

Christ Jesus,

You know I have days of

chaos, uncertainty and frustrations

and you are in these moments with me.

The gift of your peace is wrapped up in your love

poured forth from your heart into my own heart.

Your peace is what produces joy

and walks hand in hand with hope which leads me to life.

For the gift of your peace I give you praise.

Amen.

Lord you call me to be a

vessel of life

vessel of joy

vessel of peace.

You are my strength and my all.

Lord you call me to be a

path to life

path to justice

path to fraternity.

You are my strength and my all.

Lord you call me to

open my heart

open my hands

open my soul.

You are my strength and my all.

Lord you call me

to be one with you

to trust in your way

to let your light penetrate my all.

You are my strength and my all.