Vermont

The postulants are staying in Rutland, Vt., on Thursday and Friday in the company of the Capuchin brothers who reside at St. Peter Friary and minister to the Catholic communities of St. Peter and St. Dominic.

I have never been to Vermont before. The forecast is rain throughout our visit, but that doesn't bother me much. The novelty of being in Vermont itself is good enough for me. And the foliage should be near perfection at this time of year.

In addition to enjoying our surroundings, we are going in order to see the ministries in which the brothers serve and to spend some time in fraternity. It is good for us to become acquainted with as many of the friars in our province of New York and New England as we can, so that we may build the foundations our fellowship wide and deep.

Truly, all our travels as brothers and brothers-in-formation are purposed for widening the circle of fraternity. Today, for instance, the postulants visited Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School, one of the schools of the Diocese of Brooklyn. In three morning assemblies we addressed the classes of the student body about our way of life, answered their questions about consecrated religious life, and encouraged the young men among them to consider a vocation with the Capuchins. (There were religious sisters, too, who shared their stories.) I will worry less about whether our seeds fell on rich soil than whether we planted good seeds in the first place! Most of all, I hope that in our words and gestures toward the students, they could feel our brotherly love toward each one of them.

As the friars across our province, from Maine to Manhattan, have showed continually their fraternal affection toward us -- and no doubt will continue to do, to our humble delight -- so I hope we who are in formation may offer a return of the same charity toward those whom we have an opportunity to love as friends in Christ's name.