Vocations - Meet a Franciscan Friar

"When their initial formation is complete, they are to be received into obedience promising to observe this life and rule always" (Rule II: 7).

Different people, different ages, different directions, yet the same Spirit leads each of them on this adventurous journey as they deepen the expression of their baptismal call.

Every vocation is a unique story. Yet, each story contains parallel experiences, similar hopes and common dreams. Hopefully one idea in these four diverse stories will awaken, in some young person’s life, the realization that God is inviting him to explore a religious vocation.

Every vocation is also a miracle. But, as the following stories reveal, the miracle is not found in the quaking thunder, the burning bush, or the blinding light. Rather, the miracle of a vocation is discovered in the "still, small voice" (Ps. 46), the ordinary event, the dark unknown, the risk, the tentative step.

By highlighting the stories of these five men, this issue of Journey Men hopes to achieve three things: first, to assure these men of the support and interest of others in their vocation; second, to encourage the older friars of our community with the happy fact that our way of life continues to draw people; third, to inspire young readers to act on God’s invitation in their lives.

Congratulations to every solemnly professed religious who has faithfully journeyed toward God on the road of vowed life. Let us pray for these four men who have begun this amazing journey— one step at a time.

	BRO. ROBERT JUROSZEK. T.O.R. Robert Juroszek is the oldest of our friars in formation, both in chronological age and years of profession. At age 44, two-and-a-half years in first vows, and two years of study at Saint Paul Seminary under his belt, Robert’s experience provides an example of
some of the joys and challenges of entering religious life at a later age. It also reveals how living the vows expands an idealistic understanding of them and what it is like for a Franciscan religious to study in a diocesan environment.

Robert lived alone for 20 years before joining our community. He was successful at work, financially secure, committed to service in the Civil Air Patrol, and maintained solid friendships with people who shared his interest in amateur radio. Despite his years of independence, Robert was able to draw upon his experience of growing up in his nuclear family to learn the qualities necessary for life in a religious family. "It’s very much like a family," Robert says. "A lot happens around the dinner table: the events of the day are discussed, new insights are shared, future plans are made." Robert doesn’t belittle independence but recognizes that interdependence expresses the obedience called for by the gospel and expected in religious life. Our baptism and our religious vow sinvite us to be responsible to others and for others. Sometimes, that is as simple, Robert says, as "letting someone know I am going out, or cooking for others types of food that I would never cook for myself."

The understanding of the vow of poverty is often radically transformed by the experience of living the vows. Robert’s understanding of poverty, he notes, was "very tight" when he entered. "I got rid of a lot of equipment that, now I realize, the friary could have used. Now I realize that it is important to have what is needed to do God’s work well." Robert has learned that getting rid of things may be necessary initially, but that poverty is essentially about a freedom from unhealthy attachments, cultivating a generous heart, and a humbleness to serve.

"Chastity," Robert says, "is not easy, but everyone is called to live a chaste life." He sees that the communal life of the friars makes our living of this vow unique. Nothing tests the limits of a person’s capacity for love more than living obediently and interdependently with those whom one would not choose, necessarily, as friends. The meaning of the vows is rich and Robert hits the nail on the head when he adds, "Everyone has a slightly different understanding of what the vows mean. It is the sharing of those understandings in communal life that expresses the richness of the vows.

Robert and the other friars preparing for priesthood study with diocesan seminarians at St. Paul Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Because the seminary draws candidates from a number of dioceses, our friars, as Robert points out, "have a chance to establish relationships with some of the people they may be working with in the future." Studies at St. Paul Seminary also provide our friars with a great opportunity to experience the difference between community as it is expressed in religious life and in diocesan life. Robert expresses gratitude for the opportunity to be immersed in two different communities. The contrast helps him appreciate the extent to which religious life requires accountability, provides a depth of support, and challenges him to make decisions in light of the larger community.

Robert Juroszek, T.O.R. completed a two-and-a-half month apostolic experience at Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Altoona, Pennsylvania during the summer. He was responsible for helping with home visitation of the elderly, communion calls, and attending to the daily running of a parish. He was also invited to hone his preaching skills by offering reflections at daily Eucharist, and he assisted in the pastoral care department at Bon Secour-Holy Family Hospital. He was ordained a deacon on November 30, 2004 at Saint Mary’s Chapel, Saint Paul Seminary.

BRO. TELLO TRUONG VU, T.O.R

The vocation of Brother Tello Truong Vu provides a reminder that the spirit of Saint Francis of Assisi continues to have universal appeal. His own experiences have prepared the groundwork for the compassionate ministry he provides for the sick and the elderly.

Tello was born in Vietnam and fled his homeland in May of 1982. He was only 20 years old at the time. He came to the United States after the Vietnam War to try and help his family recover financially from the devastation of war. This was a formidable task since Tello comes from a family of ten children! One of his three sisters had left Vietnam seven years earlier. She settled in San Diego, California. Tello joined her after he was discharged from a refugee camp in the Philippines.

He started work at a printing company where he was paid two dollars an hour. At the same time he attended a community college full-time and worked in the library. One might hope that the difficulties of a person’s life might be no greater than these, but, in 1983, Tello’s oldest brother died tragically in a motorcycle accident. Then, on October 1, 1987, his father passed away as a result of a stroke. Both lived in Vietnam so Tello was unable to be with his family.

Sometimes the seeds of religious life are planted early and lay dormant until tragedy breaks them open. The pain of life often provides a catalyst to ask deeper questions and seek broader answers. Tello remembers being told stories when he was 12 or 13 about Damian, the leper priest, and Saint Francis’ encounter with the leper. Something in these heroic tales attracted his youthful imagination.

The death of his brother and father helped Tello begin to question the direction of his life and to take greater responsibility for the talents he was given. The search led him to the P.I.M.E. and the Divine Word missionary communities. Life with both of these communities helped him recognize that they were not the place where he could best offer his gifts.

Through years of searching, a friend kept encouraging Tello to pursue his spiritual quest. This encouragement spurred him to make a retreat at San Pedro Center in Winter Park, Florida which is staffed by our TOR friars. There Tello realized in a new way that "one must always go back to the gospel. The most important value is following Christ, wherever he leads," he says.

When asked what attracted him to the our community, he said it was the image of how Francis served his brothers. "I want to be able to serve my brothers so that they can do their work more effectively." In addition to Tello’s commitment to the fraternity, he feels a particular attraction to ministry with the elderly and the sick. During his early years of formation he has served the church by visiting parishioners of Saint Bridget’s in Minneapolis who are homebound, in hospitals or in nursing homes. Currently he is attending Metropolitan Community College in pursuit of a nursing degree to augment his ministry skills and interests.

"What God wants, I don’t know," he exclaims. "I just try and stay open to God. When I do that I find that God places me someplace. My prayer is, ‘Please lead me, Lord. I don’t know what you want.’" His advice to someone interested in becoming a member of a religious community is, "Just try it. Say ‘Yes’ and go!"

Tello Vu, T.O.R. completed a three week intensive Nursing Assistance course at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC). He took the State Board exam on September 16 and passed with flying colors. He is currently enrolled in an Acute Care course at Abbott Northwestern Hospital. Upon completion of this course he will be seeking employment to gain experience as a Nursing Assistant while waiting for an opening in the LPN program at MCTC. Congratulations, Tello!

BRO. DAVID KACZMAREK, T.O.R.

David was interviewed for a vocation article in the September 2002 issue of Journey Men. He stated in that interview that he hopes friars "will continue to ask Francis’ question, ‘What do you want of me?’ and be willing to take the risk to respond." Since that interview, David completed his novitiate at San Pedro Friary in Winter Park, Florida and made his first profession of vows on May 31, 2003. In this follow-up story, Journey Men interviewed David to find out how the novitiate impacted his understanding of what God wants of him and what new risks he is willing to take after that year-long formation experience.

D.K. Formation involves some stretching. That was certainly true of my experience in the novitiate. I find some measure of comfort in being around what is familiar. Having the novitiate at San Pedro gave me a chance to interact with many different groups of people. It’s a busy place and every week, sometimes every day, there is a new retreat group on the grounds. That was challenging.

D.K. I discovered that I can be more adaptable than I thought. That helped to confirm my vocation in a new way. The unfamiliar place and the variety of people and experiences helped me recognize how much I am capable of outside the familiar arena of my previous life. The novitiate challenged me to begin to break out of a narrow world where I’m at the center of the universe and other people are not.

J.M. You were involved in some active ministry during the novitiate year. What was that like?

D.K. I was part of a parish ministry that visited shut-ins. It was a great experience. It brought home the message of how valuable it is just to be present to another person. I experienced God’s presence there. Having an active ministry made the vows come alive and moved me out of myself.

J.M. Last September you expressed a hope that the friars would be willing to take risks. What risks are you willing to take now after your experience of novitiate?

D.K. Prior to joining the Franciscans I worked in a wealthy parish where lots of resources were readily available. I often wondered if I could serve in a poorer church or a rural parish. The novitiate experience challenged me to trust that God provides whatever is needed, wherever, and whenever it is needed. I feel freer to respond to whatever is asked and not be bound by fears of my own limits. Adaptability seems important for Franciscan life. When I look at the overall picture of Francis’ life, he could be the poster-child for adaptability. He threw himself into a variety of settings in his many travels. He could live in caves, huts or houses. He mingled with the poor and the rich. Through it all he seemed to always know who he was, what he was about, and never lost himself. He brought himself fully to every person and every situation. That’s the challenge and risk I want to continue to grow into as a professed friar.

Bro. David completed his first semester of studies at St. Paul Seminary. His course work included classes in greek, history of Christian tradition, sacraments, public communication, pastoral ministry, the Prophets and homiletics.

David Kaczmarek, T.O.R. spent the summer completing a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Fairview Ebenezer campus in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Ebenezer campus specializes in Geriatric care. David’s clinical experience was at Ebeneezer Hall, the nursing care center of the campus. Although CPE is required for completion of the Master of Divinity degree at Saint Paul Seminary, David found that CPE training was valuable to his personal and pastoral growth as well as his academic growth. David has entered his fifth semester of studies at Saint Paul Seminary.