It is an honor to serve in the land we call Holy, to follow in the very footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth; to work as a missionary where He Himself preached and taught, to serve the needs of native Christians and pilgrims, and to stand guard at the Holy Places in the name of Christianity.

Pope Paul VI described the Holy Land as the Fifth Gospel, as a means of attaining a fuller, living understanding of the meaning of Holy Scripture. These considerations in the course of centuries have prompted thousands to forsake all for God, giving themselves wholly to his service, even to the point of laying down their lives.

The Franciscan presence in the Holy Land continues to bridge the East and the West, the Eastern Churches and the Catholic Latin Church. It is, and will continue to be, an important cultural presence in the Middle East, in the name of the Catholic Church. And Friars serving in the Holy Land will continue to be prophets of peace and ministers of reconciliation.

But those who become Franciscans for the Custody of the Holy Land must be prepared for a life of self-denial and service to others.

This process begins with initial formation.

Formation

Initial formation aims to incorporate men into the fraternal life and ministry of the Custody of the Holy Land. Its goal is to initiate them into Gospel living as a fraternity in mission, in which prayer and spirituality, ministry, and human growth are supported and challenged by life in fraternity. Part of this process is undertaken on a friary level, among other friars of the Custody. The other part occurs at the Custody’s friary in Rome, in which each man learns the Italian language, which is the common language of the Custody and many other religious orders serving in the Holy Land.

Initial formation is meant to be “experiential,” “practical,” and “takes place in the fraternity and in the real world.” In the process, Initial formation aims for the development of the skills and attitudes of leadership, as well as the ability to deal maturely with authority, and to see fraternity as a primary means of one’s own growth in holiness, even in its stresses and conflicts. This phase of initial formation lasts approximately one year.

The second phase of Initial Formation takes place in Ein Karem in Judea, in which the individual enters his Postulant year. Catechesis and the development of the Christian life are an essential focus of the program.

This phase of Initial Formation is meant to provide time and to judge the ability and vocation of the individual, to determine his grasp of religious matters and, if necessary, to better that grasp, and to continue to train the individual in prayer, community life, and work. Their skills and gifts are molded in ways that will help them and the community. The individual also continues his Italian language studies. Postulancy lasts approximately one year. At the end of this year, a determination will be made regarding the individual’s readiness for the next phase of formation, the Novitiate Program.

The Novitiate Program

The Novitiate Program is the period which begins religious life as a Franciscan. It consists of a twelve-month period of instruction on religious life, the Rule of St. Francis, and the history and spirituality of the Franciscan Order. Also included are classes on the history of the Custody of the Holy Land, Gregorian music, and the Arabic language.

The Novice is trained to commune with God by personal and communal prayer, and he is immersed in the life of the Church (especially the liturgy) and the traditions of the Franciscan Order. Certain times will be designated for retreats and for ministry to the elderly and abandoned children in the area.

At the completion of the Novitiate, the novice professes temporary vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. But the formation does not stop there.

Post-Novitiate Formation is that period in vows between the end of the Novitiate and Solemn Profession. It must be no less than three, and no more than nine years. During this time, further growth of the Simply Professed friar as human and religious is fostered.

The Simply Professed is educated in some field of skill, whether technical, educational, or apostolic. Friars preparing for the priesthood must follow the required course of seminary studies. Friars not preparing for Orders are educated, according to their talents, in professional and technical programs.

At the conclusion of this formation period, the friar professes Solemn Vows, dedicating himself for life to God, the Church, and life with his fellow friars. In essence, the formation of the friar must be human, Christian, and Franciscan.

Qualifications

1. You must be at least 20 years of age and a high school graduate, or have received an equivalent diploma. Anyone 40 years or older will be considered on a case by case basis.
2. You must be a practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church.
3. You must be in good physical and psychological health. Physical and psychological/behavioral assessments are required. Assessments will be given once the candidate has arrived.
4. You must not have any outstanding debts or any financial obligations.
5. You must be able to live a celibate lifestyle.
6. You must have a desire to serve in the Franciscan Mission of the Holy Land. The purpose of our mission remains to preach the Gospel through our presence in the Holy Land, and to perform charitable, educational, and social works for the welfare of all who live in or come to the Holy Land. To do so means you must have flexibility and a good temperament in order to live with others in fraternity.

Questions about vocations to the Holy Land Franciscans? To speak with our Vocations Director, please click here.

Below are photos of the candidates during their stay in La Verna and Montefalco.