As Br. Sebastian De Backer prepares to take his final formative steps as a Franciscan Friar Conventual, he sits at the bedside of many of the men who have gone before him in a life of ministry, living out their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.
As a trained clinical social worker, Br. Sebastian provides counseling and psychotherapy to aging friars in Enfield, MA.
“This is a ministry of presence,” he said. “It’s a wholistic approach to social work and I love it.”
Br. Sebastian, who will profess his solemn vows on May 2, 2025, knew that having the ability to serve those in need was an important part of his decision to join the Order that traces its roots directly back to St. Francis of Assisi. The Franciscan Friars Conventual have been welcoming men into the Order for 800 years.
According to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate’s most recent annual report, the Franciscan Friars Conventual were among the top nine percent of religious communities who had more than one person profess final vows in the last year. Three friars professed final vows with the Our Lady of the Angels Province in 2024.
Br. Nicholas “Nick” Romeo, OFM Conv., has served as one of the vocations directors for The Our Lady of the Angels Province for the last five years. While based in Washington, D.C., he is often traveling, promoting vocational discernment and meeting with men called to follow in St. Francis’ footsteps with a life of lived fraternity and ministry.
“A lot of the guys I talk to are looking for tradition, stability, and something to trust,” Br. Nick said. “They want to be a part of something bigger than themselves.”
The Formation Process
Br. Sebastian De Backer’s vocational discernment can best be described as gradual. There was no lightning strike or lightbulb moment for him. Over time, it just felt more and more right.
“When I visited the Franciscans, I found a beautiful middle between contemplative and active [orders],” Br. Sebastian said.
While entering the seminary to become a priest had been a consideration when Br. Sebastian was a teenager growing up in Belgium, he ultimately decided then that he wanted to take time to discover more of the world, and himself.
It wasn’t until his mid-thirties, after spending time in school and working as a lay chaplain in the Belgian healthcare system, that he began the formation process to be a friar.
“We’re always invited to grow, especially if that means being vulnerable – something that is not always easy,” he said. “But that’s something I cherish so much about religious life.”
Men considering life as a friar are first invited to seek counsel with Br. Nick or his co-director of vocations Friar Manny Vasconcelos. Applications to join the Order take anywhere from six months to a year, depending on timing of interviews and psychological screenings.
The three phases of formation include:
- A one-year Postulancy.
- A Novitiate, which ends with the profession of simple vows.
- Post-Novitiate, which will vary depending on whether the friar is seeking the brotherhood or priesthood track.
After at least four years of Post-Novitiate, friars profess their solemn vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Friar Sebastian, along with Friar Edgar Varela, will profess solemn vows in May.
Recruitment Today
Since St. Francis’s time, the number of Orders seeking vocations from young men has significantly grown. Br. Nick said the “competition” is much steeper today, with a lot of options for men to choose from in discerning religious life.
Add to that, a smaller population of young people as compared to decades ago and fewer young men growing up with a strong religious upbringing. All told, there are more choices and fewer men to make them.
Still, there are three men in active application to join the Our Lady of the Angels Province this year. In addition to the two friars, including Br. Sebastian, who will profess solemn vows in May, one solemnly professed seminary student at the Post-Novitiate House in San Antonio, TX will be ordained as a priest in July.
“Ultimately, vocations come from God,” Br. Nick said, as he remains open and willing to work men seeking religious life. If the fit is right, the support is there to welcome them in.
Supporting Vocational Discernment
Praying for vocations to religious life is just one way to help increase interest in a life of brotherhood and service. But Br. Nick likes to encourage Catholics to go another step further.
When speaking at parishes and other events promoting vocations, Br. Nick said he calls on those present to follow three steps.
- Step 1: Think about a young man who you think would make a good priest or brother.
- Step 2: Tell him that you think he would make a good priest or friar.
- Step 3: Tell him the specific qualities and traits you think he possesses that would lead to a successful life in ministry.
“The average number times someone needs to hear an invitation is five,” Br. Nick said he tells people. “You might be number five.”
When it comes to advice to others discerning religious life, Br. Sebastian encourages men to take their time.
“We naturally want to rush things … We want to arrive at this place of homecoming,” he said. “Take time to discover who you are and what charism speaks to you.”
And then, he added, “When you’ve found your place with Christ, jump!”
After all, Br. Sebastian said, over time, what matters more is not so much the reason why you decide to join, but the reason you decide to stay.
To learn more about Vocational discernment and the formation process for Franciscan Friars Conventual, please visit www.franciscanvoice.org.