Come and See - Men's Vocation Retreat!

“O Divine Master, grant that I may not seek to be consoled, as to console. To be understood, as to understand. To be loved, as to love. For it is in giving that we receive. It is in pardoning that we are pardoned. It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.” ― St. Francis of Assisi

friarabelolivasI am Fr. Abel Olivas, OFM, Vocation Director of the Our Lady of Guadalupe Province. Welcome to our Vocation Website. Do you feel called to be a follower of St. Francis? You may be attracted by the experience of our founder, St. Francis of Assisi. During the years of his discernment, Francis struggled with his vocation and the direction of his life should take, just as you may be questioning now. Francis had many options on his own life that he thought would fulfill his dreams. Yet always in the back of his mind was the subtle voice of the Lord calling him to something more. St. Francis had the courage to do something with his life that was radically different from what his close friends and others thought he should be doing.

In this discernment process, Francis often isolated himself away from the world, and its distractions, just as many young people do today, in a world that is so often filled with useless noise and activity. St. Francis would pray from his heart asking old age questions: “God, who are you? And who am I?” Francis asked the Lord what he wanted him to do. In his eagerness to respond to God’s call Francis undertook the renovation of small chapels were he lived and prayed as these buildings were falling into ruin. Gradually, the Lord showed St. Francis the way he should follow. The Lord was not speaking of physical buildings or properties. He was calling Francis by his example to rebuild the Body of Christ, The Church.

As human beings we get to some point in our lives in which we ask the deep question of where we are going, and how we are to get there, and what we want to be. A religious vocation is a special call from God and is different fro each person. As unique as we are in the sight of God, that’s how unique your call to our Franciscan way of life might be. If you feel that you may be called to explore our ministries as follower of St. Francis and want to know more about our way of life, one that is a radical living of Gospel values, then contact us and permit us to assist you in your personal discernment process.:

God Bless you!

Listen
Picture 040If God is calling you to follow him, then you need to listen. God calls in very different ways through persons, positive or negative experiences, etc. You just need to be attentive and ready to listen. There are many ways to do this. For example you could attend a retreat or start taking some time every day to meditate.
Imagine
Picture 044After you listen, dream with what you just heard. If you want to become a franciscan, imagine been a franciscan and what would you do as a franciscan. If imagining becomes exciting and makes you happy then start planning to take action. You could start volunteering serving the poor or doing some ministry at your local parish. It is very important to take action in order to solidify your vocation and be able to take a mature decision.
Act
Picture 038If you have been call to the franciscan life, then respond to the Lord with enthusiasm and start acting. Give us a call and we will be happy to accompany you in a journey of discernment.