They looked into it, prayed about it, and decided to give it a closer look. Some have been thinking about it for years; others only recently have heard God calling them to live more deeply in Christ, perhaps as a Capuchin-Franciscan friar. They have taken a bold step to understand what God is calling them to be and do. The spirit of St. Francis of Assisi is especially attractive to each one of them, and they see something that draws them to the Capuchin-Franciscan tradition. Now they have an opportunity - a blessing - to see it up close; in fact, to live that life with Capuchin friars. Matt, Craig, Richard, Will and Scott became postulants in November 2005. They now pray, eat, work, and begin to think like Capuchin friars, to see if it is a good fit. For a year they will test the Capuchin Life and themselves, all in order to know God's purpose and will for them.

Three friars have welcomed them into their west Philadelphia friary. Friar Paul Kuppe is their director and the pastor of the local parish. Friars John Harvey and Paul Dressler are involved in the postulants' lives and moods and activities, to share with them a Life each of them began in much the same way as these five men are now experiencing.

 
    From Yorktown, Virginia, Will Mullins met the friars at the annual Capuchin Mass and March for Life in 2004. He attended that Capuchin formation program in Cleveland and is now a postulant. Will is much taken with the life story of St. Francis and says that he wants to live in the spirit of St. Francis, striving to be holy through love and service to the poor. He is 21 years old.
    Craig Glantz graduated from Alvernia College in Reading, Pennsylvania. There he majored in theology and liberal arts and later worked as a high school theology teacher at St. John Neumann-Maria Goretti High School in South Philadelphia. Craig, age 32, is a convert from Judaism. He now wants to live the words of St. Francis, "preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words."
    A native of Philadelphia, Richard Owens, graduated from LaSalle University with a major in Management Information Systems. This 23 year-old grew up active int he church and was an altar server, president of his parish youth group, on the parish council and was also a member of the Archdiocesan Youth Leadership Team.
    The oldest of four children, Matt Chominski is from Wallingford, Pennsylvania. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2005 with a major in politics and philosophy. During his college years he was an avid lacrosse player. Matt spent one semester in Australia, and it was there while at Mass that he heard the call to serve God as a priest and religious. Matt is 22.
    Scott Champine comes to us from Altamonte, Florida. He attended a high school operated by the Capuchins in the Detroit area. He graduated from the University of New Mexico and later worked in computer and communications services marketing. This 42 year loves to share his Faith with others.