The IPP in STL

St. Anthony of Padua

I write this week’s blog from St. Louis, where the North American Pacific Capuchin Conference (NAPCC) conducts our annual Inter-Provincial Postulancy (IPP) Program.  The IPP brings together postulants from the various provinces in the USA, Canada and Australia for eight weeks of immediate preparation for the NAPCC Novitiate in Santa Ynez, California.  It is primarily an effort to help the men form a fraternity through shared prayer, community service, study, reflection and recreation as well as the ordinary tasks of day-to-day living like cooking.  This year there are 16 postulants participating, including the largest contingent ever from Australia. 

This year’s class is very diverse in terms of background, work experience, etc.  It includes an electrician, a violinist, a high-level online gamer and an attorney (Javier Rodriguez, our Province’s postulant).  The postulants are guided by a team of formators from four different provinces, including our own Br. MJ Groark, who will be entering the final year of his theological studies at Catholic Theological Union this fall. 

Please continue to pray for our men in initial formation—candidates, postulants, novices, simply professed and perpetually professed in studies for ministry.  May they discern and confirm God’s call and, through the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua, deepen their spirits of generosity, availability, humility and trust in the Holy Spirit.—JC