Twenty men joined the Capuchin Franciscan friars this past weekend for a Come & See discernment retreat to experience and discern the life of a Capuchin friar.
Over the course of the weekend, the men stepped into the daily rhythm of Capuchin life: prayer, fraternity, and ministry. They set aside time away from their normal routines to listen more closely for God’s call.
The retreat included opportunities for service as participants prepared food for those in need, sharing in the Capuchins’ care for the poor. They also joined the friars for communal prayer, daily Mass, and Eucharistic Adoration, encountering the contemplative dimension of Franciscan life.
During a visit to Old Mission Santa Inés, the men heard stories of St. Junípero Serra and were shown his vestments. This experience connected them to the missionary roots of the Church in California and the Franciscan tradition.
Many participants spent time in two hermitages on the property, places set apart for silence and deeper prayer. In these quiet spaces, along with nighttime walks beneath the stars, they were invited to reflect on their lives and the possibility of a vocation to religious life.
Come & See retreats offer men a firsthand experience of Capuchin fraternity and spirituality while providing space to ask questions, grow in prayer, and discern whether God may be calling them to follow Christ as a Capuchin Franciscan friar.
Please keep the men who attended this retreat in your prayers, as well as those who may be considering attending a future one.
