Meet a Franciscan Friar

Just click on on a Friar's name below to read about their individual and unique journeys to Franciscan life.

Father John Stowe, OFM Conv. | Father Chuck Henkle, OFM Conv. | Father Troy Overton | Brother Paul Clark | Father Miguel Briseno | Father Paul Schloemer | Friar Andrew Martinez | Friar Jesus Grajeda | Friar Nick Spano

Father John Stowe, OFM Conv.

In grade school John Stowe wanted to be different. So he declared that he was going to be a diocesan priest--not a Franciscan like the other boys aspired to in his Franciscan-run parish. However, as a youth John attended a retreat at a diocesan seminary, and he realized that he actually wanted the community life that the Franciscans offered.

"I was most impressed with the friars' sense of family. I wouldn't have called it community back then. I just thought of it as family," he says. The friars in his Lorain, Ohio parish were his pastors, his teachers and his leaders in the myriad of church and Boy Scout activities he was involved in. Some were even his family's dinner guests. John easily names friars from his youth who impressed him. "They were an inspiration. They gave me examples of ministry and community."

John spent one year in community college and, at the friars' invitation, joined the Franciscans at age 19. He was the youngest one in the candidacy program--the first step in the formation, or entry, process. "I was reluctant to tell most of my friends, but nobody was surprised, everybody was supportive," says John.

His family backed him up, too, although his parents worried that he was too independent to live in community. John admits that his first year as a candidate was rocky. He challenged the formation director time and again, resisting his authority, "but with my peers I had a great time." John looks back now on his formation period as a time filled with rich, new experiences. He had the opportunity to study in Spain, Germany and Ireland, to learn Spanish in Costa Rica and to travel to Italy and Brazil because of his involvement in international peace and justice issues

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Father Chuck Henkle, OFM Conv.

Chuck was later than most men in realizing a call to religious life and the priesthood. He was 46 years old when he decided to trade in a comfortable, successful life as a single professional for life as a Franciscan. "Something was missing," Chuck explains when asked why he made the change. "I was interested in the whole notion of religious life, of growing closer to God, to being present to the broader community of the human family.... I couldn't explain the fire within me, but it was there and it wouldn't go away."

Chuck had grown up in Lewistown, Pennsylvania and Akron, Ohio in a devout family of six, attending Catholic grade school and high school. He made murmurs about going to the diocesan seminary as a young man but never followed through on it. Instead, he carved out a life in nursing, which quickly morphed into a notable career in the fast-paced world of health care administration. He oversaw increasingly larger nursing staffs, set up quality assurance programs, negotiated hospital mergers. He moved around to pursue higher degrees and to challenge himself with new jobs. By his mid-40s, Chuck had a good life. He had a responsible hospital job in the coastal city of Brunswick, Georgia and was living on St. Simon's Island. "Every evening was like going home on vacation," he says.

To satisfy a growing spiritual hunger, he became more involved in parish life on the island. He took part in RCIA and the Spiritual Life Committee. He asked the pastor, Fr. Ernie Waechter, OFM Conv. to be his spiritual director so he could discuss his growing spiritual unrest with someone. He intensified his prayer and meditation. In his solitude, he was attracted to the communal life of the Franciscans who ran the parish.

Chuck remembers well the day he decided to act on what he finally realized was a call to the Franciscan life. In a state of excitement, he tracked down Father Ernie who was at home doing his gardening. "This scares the hell out of me, but I think I may have a vocation," Chuck told him.
"Well, it's about time," replied Father Ernie. "I've felt that about you for some time now."

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Father Troy Overton

When Troy first came to the Order, he was an 18-year-old convert to Catholicism, having grown up in a secular family. The Mass appealed to him, and he joined the Church at a Conventual Franciscan parish when he was a teenager, moved by a desire to have religion in his life. As he grew more involved in his parish, Troy decided he wanted to be a priest. His pastor, Fr. David Hutt, OFM Conv., said to him, "Why don't you give us a try?" And so he did.

"The friars really became a family to me," Troy says. His birth family had fractured when his parents divorced, but he found affection and comradery in his new way of life.

Over the years, he has embraced a Franciscan spirituality that embraces all aspects of life. "To me, being a Conventual Franciscan is confronting injustice in myself and the world around us--and loving the world and having fun at the same time," Troy says. "I want people to know that they can cry on my shoulder and then maybe we'll have a beer and laugh together afterward."

"Once I entered Franciscan formation (seminary), I was surprised how well the life suited me. It was like trying on a new pair of shoes that not only felt comfortable but were also going to take me places. At the time I was going through my initial discernment, a call to religious life didn't seem to make a lot of sense. But later, looking back on my life, it all made so much sense. So many experiences, relationships, career moves, were right for that moment, but were also preparing me for religious life and ministry in the Church. I just couldn't see it at the time and probably wasn't supposed to."

"There was still a lot of discernment to do while in Franciscan formation. My parents, siblings, and friends still had to come to know the friars to see how right this was for me. In time, all that happened and more.

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Brother Paul Clark

Paul Clark never planned to join a religious community. Back in his early 20s, he was determined to go to medical school and someday get married. But the summer after he finished his undergraduate degree, the Franciscans he had met at St. Louis University invited him to be a sort of live-in caretaker at their residence--doing chores in exchange for room and board. "I thought, 'Good! A free place to live,'" Paul says. But the summertime arrangement turned out to be a lot more than convenient. It changed his life.

Paul got to know the friars up close, and he was impressed with what he saw. He came to know them as real human beings--interesting people who had their flaws but nonetheless had a genuine commitment to prayer, to each other, to ministry. That summer Paul joined them occasionally for Mass and evening prayer, and again, he liked what he saw. "This was a community of men who prayed prayer like it really meant something to them," he says. "It was more than just following the rubrics; they really sang; they had good homilies when they celebrated Eucharist."

The summer ended, and Paul headed off to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky to take rigorous science courses in preparation for entry to medical school. He was up to his eyeballs in schoolwork, but he couldn't shake the idea that the friars had planted in his mind. They had encouraged him to consider joining the Order!

Paul contacted the vocation director of the Conventual Franciscans, who also happened to be in Louisville, and began praying in earnest for discernment about his life's direction. He had always been a committed Catholic. Raised in a family of five in Louisville, he attended Catholic schools his whole life and loved going to Mass.

In high school, his friends teased him about becoming a brother. "My high school friends used to tell me, 'You're gonna look good in polyester!' because the brothers who ran the school wore a lot of polyester clothes. I know, how shallow can you get, making fun of what people wear," Paul laughs.

Despite his strong church ties, "I was fighting against becoming a Franciscan," he says. After three months of praying and arguing with God, Paul decided to try living with the community as a candidate,-- a person who lives with the community but is still in the process of considering membership. And he never turned back!

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Father Miguel Briseno

For Miguel Briseño, entering the Conventual Franciscan Friars was as natural a slipping on a pair of favorite shoes. The fit was just right. He grew up in Artesia, N.M. in a family bigger than many religious community households. He and his five brothers, one sister and parents lived two blocks away from the parish that played a dominant role in their lives. The Conventual Franciscans staffed the parish, so even before he became an altar server, Miguel got to know the friars.

He graduated from high school in Artesia and vocational school at Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell campus and returned to Artesia to work as a tractor mechanic. Upon graduating from the vocational school, Miguel got involved in directing a youth choir for the parish. One friar in particular, Fr. Antonio Moreno, impressed him and got him thinking about his own calling in life. "He was very excited about what he was doing. The way he preached, the way he interacted with people affected me." Miguel realized that he was drawn to church activities.

"I decided religious life was maybe something to look at," he says. "So I talked to a vocation director, Bro. Timothy Unser, and went on a vocation retreat." Brother Timothy encouraged Miguel to try Franciscan life. "I knew I needed to look at this life more in depth and the only way I was going to be able to do that was to join." Although he had fleeting doubts and questions, Miguel says his becoming a member of the Conventual Franciscans was a natural progression from joining to "see what would happen" until he made his final vows on August 2, 1987.

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Father Paul Schloemer

Ask Paul Schloemer when he decided to become a priest and he'll tell you the date, the place and the hour: March 28, 1993, 10 a.m. He was in Norfolk, Virginia attending a Southern Baptist service because, although a devout Catholic, the Protestant faith experience fascinated him. "People were going up to the mike and witnessing about how they came to Christ. A woman came up and told the story of how a friend's husband found Christ at their church. He found a relationship with Christ that he couldn't find in the Catholic Church. It struck me that most of the Catholics I knew were like that--cultural Catholics who participate out of habit. Suddenly I knew that's what I wanted to do.... I wanted to inflame people's faith. It made me want to tell other people how a personal relationship with Christ is alive in the Catholic Church."

He was so excited about this new insight, the 28-year-old Paul contacted Fr. John Weber, OFM Conv., a friend of his family. Soon Paul got in touch with the vocation director and attended a vocation retreat. "I never planned on doing this," Paul says. "I was an altar boy and I would watch the priest and think, 'That's kind of cool. I could do that.'"

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Friar Andrew Martinez

What has been the most challenging part of your vocational discernment experience? The most challenging part of my vocational discernment experience is making the decision to want to enter the Franciscan community. Not knowing if it was right or not but I have found it to have been a good decision.

What has been the most rewarding part of your vocational discernment experience? The most rewarding experience has been to see the different ministries where the friars are involved. This helps in my vocation discernment to see a calling from God to help out also.

What is the best advice you have received so far regarding your vocational choice and who gave it to you? In my vocational choice, the best advice I have received from others is to always be open to new ideas from friars and other people.

What has been the reaction of your friends to your vocational choice? My friends have been very supportive of me joining the friars. This has even sparked interest in them to just ask me all sorts of different questions because they just want to learn. Where do you see yourself in 10 years and what will you be doing? Ten years from now I see myself either doing parish work, campus ministry or doing some missionary work in Central America.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring one book, one CD and one photograph, what would they be? If I were stranded on an island I would bring with me the CD "Chant," a photo of my family to remind me of the good memories, and a book called "The Holy Longing" because it has been great inspiration in discernment in my life.

What is the one thing that has contributed more to your vocational choice than anything else? The one thing that has contributed to my vocational choice is having met so many different friars. They are great men with great views of life. It's just amazing how we come together and live a simple life yet full of joy.

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Friar Jesus "Chuy" Grajeda

What has been the most challenging part of your vocational discernment experience? When I was in high school, I had my own apartment, my own way of transportation, a job and money to spend for what I needed or wanted. When I came to the Franciscans, I encountered a different reality. I had to learn to work with others. It was difficult at the beginning to adjust to a different lifestyle, but I can say that I am getting better at it.

What has been the most rewarding part of your vocational discernment experience? Francis said "The Lord gave me brothers." This sense of brotherhood has been one of the most rewarding parts of my vocational experience. The communities that I have lived in have become my family. This family has been there for me in good times and in unpleasant times. I have come to appreciate people that I live with, especially their challenges, although they might be difficult for me, they still have helped me to see my inner self and grow in many ways.

What is the best advice you have received so far regarding your vocational choice and who gave it to you? One day I was talking to another friar with whom I lived. We were talking about how things were going in my life and in his life. Then he said to me, "You know, Chuy, I do not regret being a priest, being a brother and being here with this community. I have been with the friars for a long time, and yes, I had many hard moments, but I don't regret to have chosen this way of life." I felt a sense of satisfaction and happiness as he said it. This comment made me reflect on my own life. So far I have been with the friars a little over three years and yes, I had difficult moments, but I also had great moments that have brought a lot of joy to my life. So, so far I don't regret being with the friars.

What has been the reaction of your friends to your vocational choice? I told my friends about my decision to join the Franciscans while we were still in high school. Their reaction was the normal question "Why? Why are you going to waste your life? How about sex? How about girlfriends, babies, a wedding, and all that a normal person does?" I said, "If I don't like it, I will leave right away." Well, three years have passed and I am still here. I like it. I find myself at peace with my decision. When they saw that I was happy being a friar, they supported me more, and they understood that it is not a waste of my life, that it is just a different way of life.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years and what will you be doing? I see myself ordained as a priest, perhaps in a parish working with a Spanish/English community. I see myself maybe working in one of our missions in Central America or Africa. I have always had an interest in being a missionary. I hope one day I will have the opportunity to go to the missions.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring one book, one CD and one photograph, what would they be? I definitely would bring a picture of my family. Family for me is very important. As for the book, I would take the bible. God's word will help me along the way in my journey. The CD I would take would be a dance music CD, Maybe Shakira or Elvis Crespo, a Spanish "Merenge" singer, or any type of music that has good dancing rhythm.

What is the one thing that has contributed more to your vocational choice than anything else? Music has really helped me. I play guitar and I use the music that I play as a way to pray. Sometimes I just play guitar and sing any words or thoughts that come into my mind about my life and God. I feel that when I play, for personal prayer or in mass, the spirit of Christ comes upon me and makes me excited about what I do as a friar.

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Friar Nick Spano

What has been the most challenging part of your vocational discernment experience? The most challenging part of my vocational discernment has been acknowledging the fact that each of us is called to a specific ministry in the church and mine happens to be to religious life, and that is quite different than my friends and family.

What has been the most rewarding part of your vocational discernment experience? The most rewarding part has been being at peace with my decision and not regretting what I have given up in order to follow the Lord's call. This took a while and was not reached overnight.

What is the best advice you have received so far regarding your vocational choice and who gave it to you? The best advice I received was from another friar who said: "Whatever you do, you have to be happy." He said that religious life is not always going to be easy, and there will be days it's downright difficult, but that you have to enjoy it and love your brothers. If you can do that, then you can make it. I thought this was good advice because he was honest, and laid things out the way they are.

What has been the reaction of your friends to your vocational choice? My friends were a little shocked about my choice to become a friar. Most of them have supported me since I joined and have become interested in the friars and what they do. Sadly some of my friends have not been very supportive in light of the current clergy scandal within the Church.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years and what will you be doing? In religious life I have learned not to try and come up with projected plans for any length of time, let alone for 10 years. But should things go the way I want them to, I will be ordained and serving in parish ministry in the Syracuse, New York, area. (Part of that ministry would be in the Ukranian-Catholic rite Church).

If you were stranded on a desert island and could bring one book, one CD and one photograph, what would they be? I would bring a photograph of my family and a copy of the bible. The CD I would bring would be "Nevermind" by Nirvana.

What is the one thing that has contributed more to your vocational choice than anything else? The one thing that has contributed to my vocational choice is the love/care/hospitality and support I have recieved from our friars.

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