Br. Ryan Shares His Vocation with his Home Parish
On Sunday, February 1, 2026, our brother Ryan Schmeltzer, OFM Cap., now serving his diaconate internship in Cumberland, MD at Our Lady of the Mountains Parish, was interviewed for the bulletin of his home church of St. Ferdinand in Cranberry, PA (now part of Divine Grace Parish). Noting the upcoming celebration of the World Day of Consecrated Life on the following day, the bulletin article shared Ryan's reflections on Religious Life and the call of our vocation. You can read it in his reflection here.
A quotable quote:
Deacon Ryan Schmeltzer, OFM Cap loved going to Mass as a youngster and grew up curious about the priesthood. Then he attended a Parish Mission with his parents at Saint Ferdinand given by Father Scott Seethaler, OFM Cap. “Father Scott is responsible for my priestly vocation,” Deacon Ryan said.
Thanks go out to both our brothers Scott and Ryan!
Come and See where your call from the Lord can lead you . . . .
Capuchin Postulants Gather in Detroit
Kevin Thompson, OFM Cap., co-director of our Postulancy program in Colorado Springs, CO, joined postulant Nate Sisack as the traveled to Detroit, MI, where as all the USA postulants participated in a retreat from February 1-6, 2026, at the Capuchin Retreat Center in nearby Washington, MI. The most important goal of the retreat days provided the opportunity for all the postulants to come to know one another before their novitiate begins in San Lorenzo, California. One of the days was spent at the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit where our own Alex Hostoffer, OFM Cap., "did a great job," they say, reflecting how our Capuchin Constitutions treat our vows of poverty, chastity and obedience - vows which the young men will profess after their novitiate year which begins in July. That afternoon, our brother Dan Crosby, OFM Cap., spoke about how Blessed Solanus Casey, OFM Cap., lived out those vows in fraternity and service.
Our Brothers Join the SEEKERS: Vocation News
SEEK is a major five-day national Catholic conference hosted by FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students), bringing together thousands of young adults for prayer, adoration, sacraments, and keynote talks. Designed to foster a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ, the event features fellowship and entertainment. Fourteen friars from four Capuchin Provinces and three students from our CFP in Wickliffe, OH, traveled to the event in Columbus and joined 16,000 young Catholics for 5 days. Our brother Michael Herlihey, our Vocation Director, reports that "it was a very successful event. We received twenty-one contacts over the five days. Most of whom are continuing to discern with us."
_Seek00.jpg)
From our Novitiate: The Caperone, January-February
Check out the January-February edition
of our Caperone
from our Capuchin Novices
at San Lorenzo Friary
in Santa Ynez, CA.
Two Brothers Profess Their Solemn Vows
Congratulations to our confreres Elizah Terua and Sylvester Namuno, pictured here with our Capuchin brother Bishop Don Lippert. They pronounced their final vows of poverty, chastity and obedience in a joyful and Spirit-filled Mass celebrated at Mother of the Divine Shepherd Cathedral, Mendi, on Wednesday, January 25th. Custos of our Custody in Papua New Guines is our brother Neil Blue who received their vows. In notifying the Province of the blessed event, brother Neil writes:
Page 1 of 17