April 20-26 was a special time at the St. Francis Solano Retreat Center in Lima, Peru, as 3 postulants and 1 candidate were accepted at the Board of Admissions.
The Friars were well represented at this event, as Fr. Brian Terry, SA, Fr. Jim Loughran, SA, Fr. Dan Callahan, SA, and Fr. Jose Delgado, SA traveled to Lima to welcome the postulants and candidate into the formation. They joined Jesus Torres, Mario Alberto Pena Prada, Leoncio Tamay and Alex Zamora in daily prayer, communal meals and fraternal conversation.
Postulancy is the first stage of Franciscan formation. The postulants will immerse themselves in prayer, ministry and community life. During the nine-month postulancy, the men will grow to know the spiritual and emotional characteristics that all Friars must possess. Following postulancy, the men will enter a one-year novitiate phase to further discern their calling. After that year, they will take their vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
St. Francis Solano Retreat Center bears the name of the Spanish Friar who was called to Lima to encourage the Spanish colonists to return to their Catholic Faith. He also helped spare the indigenous people of Lima from oppression. St. Francis of Solano died in 1610 and was canonized in 1726.
Please remember the postulants and candidate, and all others discerning vocations, in your prayers!