Next Steps
Quo Vadis?
No man is born a Capuchin; the Capuchin vocation is a radical response to the invitation of Christ to “come, follow me.” Every baptised person is called to follow Christ, but the Capuchin is called in a particular way to “follow the very footprints of our Lord, Jesus Christ” (Rule of St Francis, Ch 1).
There is no one type of man who is called to be a Capuchin, our Capuchin saints themselves demonstrate that men from all walks of life, from all nations, families, and temperaments are called to this way of life. What is common to all these men, though, is their desire to be conformed to Christ, to be moulded after the pattern of his life, and to go forth to bring to the world the Good News of salvation. If you feel you might be called to live this way of life, the following tips could offer you some guidance on your way.
When considering Religious life, ensure you are striving to live our fundamental vocation to Christian holiness. Building a healthy habit of prayer is important in order to be attentive to the voice of the Lord. Our Seraphic Father himself spent much time in prayer where he was able to hear the voice of God calling him to this way of life.
A Strong Prayer Life
If you are interested and want to learn more about our way of life, feel free to reach out to our vocations team. Don’t worry, reaching out doesn’t mean signing up right away, our vocations team can offer you advice, provide you with resources, and assist you on your journey. Check out our Enquiry Form to get in touch.
Get in Touch
It can be a great help in your discernment to get involved in ministry in your local Church. This could be things such as serving at Mass, leading catechesis, assisting with a youth group, or volunteering with an outreach to the poor. Reach out to your Parish Priest, or get in touch with our vocations team and they can help you get involved.
Get Involved
Getting to know the Friars is an important way to discern if you are called to this way of life. The Capuchin Friars run various vocations events across Australia. Check out our events to find out more about upcoming events. You can also reach out to the vocations team and they will keep you in the loop.
Come Along
The lives of the saints and their writings are great examples for us of people responding to the Holy Spirit in their lives. If you would like to read more about St Francis, the Capuchin saints, the Capuchin way of life, and more, check out our Helpful Resources page.
helpful resources
Once again, prayer is of great importance. There is no better way to be attentive to the voice of the Lord than through daily personal prayer. Praying the Holy Rosary, attending Holy Mass, meditating on Sacred Scripture, and spending time in Eucharistic Adoration are all good ways to build this life of prayer.
Pray, Pray, Pray
In focus
What is Religious Consecration?
“This is the meaning of the call to the consecrated life: it is an initiative coming wholly from the Father (cf. Jn 15:16), who asks those whom he has chosen to respond with complete and exclusive devotion. The experience of this gracious love of God is so deep and so powerful that the person called senses the need to respond by unconditionally dedicating his or her life to God.”
— Vita Consecrata n.17