Men in Formation 2010

On October 9, 2010  Fr. James McCurry, the Minister Provincial of the Conventual Franciscan's of Great Britain and Ireland, formally welcomed a newly professed friar, four postulants and their formation director

to Canterbury as they embarked on the journey of re-establishing formation in the Conventual Franciscan form of life at Saint Anthony of Padua Friary at the Franciscan International Study Centre.

 

Friar Rory Doyle, OFM Conv.

Rory Doyle is from County Wexford, Ireland. Although brought up a Catholic, he began taking his faith more seriously after a personal conversion at age twenty-two. He was just starting higher studies in Belfast when he began attending different prayer groups. This made him think about religious life and in particular the priesthood. A few years later while working as a civil engineer, he joined the Legion of Mary and began exploring different religious orders. During this process he met Fr. James McCurry, a Conventual Franciscan who had just been named the new Delegate Superior of England and Ireland. Through Fr. James Rory learned more about the friars and decided to join them in 2008. After completing his postulancy in Chicago and his novitiate in Mishawaka Indiana he professed simple vows and is currently doing his philosophy studies in Canterbury.

Postulant Vincent Doyle

My name is Vincent Doyle. I was born and have lived in Dublin in Ireland all my life. I have had a checkered career working in retail sales then in the bank for some 20 years before becoming a taxi driver for a number of years. I have always felt a calling to religious life and the priesthood but because of circumstances could not respond to that calling until recently. I came here to the FISC in Canterbury to begin Postulancy with the Conventual Franciscans, and have found it an interesting, enlightening and motivating experience. I am 59 years old and have found you are never too old to respond to the call of tne Lord. I would encourage anyone who feels they may have a calling to discern and pray earnestly for the Lord's guidance no matter your age or circumstance and He will answer you. God's blessing on you.

Postulant Matthew Bond

I am Matthew, and a postulant in the formation program here at the Franciscan International Study Centre, Canterbury. I am originally from Derbyshire England, but spent a good many years having lived and worked in Leeds, West Yorkshire until coming here to Canterbury. Until recently I worked in banking for 8 years, despite my professional qualifications being in art and design.  My religious vocation goes back to when I was 16 years old, and by the time I left school I knew that I had a vocation within the church. I was at that time an Anglican. I became a volunteer with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity spending 8 months with them sharing community life and working among the poor in Hong Kong and Macau. I became an Anglican Franciscan Friar (from 1982-1990). In 2009 I decided to contact the Conventual Franciscan Friars.  Why? It seemed to me that despite the smallness of the Conventual family of Franciscans, they were nearer to the founder within its historical context.  So here I am in Canterbury, and enjoy being here. It was also an honour to be formally received as a postulant on the feast of Blessed John Henry Newman, on the day of his decision in 1845, to become a Catholic.

Benedict Abugu

My name is Benedict Abugu.  I am from the eastern part of Nigeria.  I studied Information Technology in London and I am a member of the British Computer Society (BCS).  I  came to know the Conventual Franciscan through the devotion i have to St Anthony of Padua (my best loved saint) back home. Through the reading of the inspiring articles in the  Messenger of St Anthony Magazine (which is published by the Conventual Franciscans in Padua), I became more and more inspired by the Saint to the extent  that i decided to imitate him by applying to join the Conventual Franciscan due to the fact that they are the custodian of the Basilica of St Anthony in Padua.  More so because i found out that they are the unreformed branch of the Franciscans and  that they have unbroken succession from St Francis until today, and i know that this is where GOD is calling me to serve him in his people and where I will be happy to serve him in any circumstance.

 

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