FRIARY

History of the Friary

For many years the building that is now St. Ann Friary was the residence of the Sisters who taught at St. Ann School. In 1986, when the building was no longer needed as a Sisters' convent, the Franciscan Friars began renting it for their Candidacy program. Candidacy is the initial stage for young men desiring to enter the Franciscan Order.

Here for eight months candidates could sample the lifestyle of a Franciscan without the responsibility of a permanent commitment. If a man decided to further pursue this religious way of life, he entered the Novitiate for one year, where he would spend much time in prayer, community living and learning about Franciscan Spirituality.

In 1991 the Candidacy Program was relocated and the building then became a residence for friars who minister in various places. In imitation of their founder, St. Francis of Assisi, the friars stress living as brothers with each other and with all of creation. Accordingly, they perform all the domestic tasks such as shopping, cooking and maintaining. They pray and celebrate Eucharist together and meet each month to engage in faith sharing. Such fraternal living is combined with serving the church by celebrating Mass in local churches and institutions, administering the sacraments and conducting retreats and Days of Recollection. Of the four friars presently residing here, two are ordained priests. The non-ordained friars enter fully into the fraternal aspects of the life, and by coincidence the two presently living here both minister to the church by working at skilled, technical positions at St. Anthony Messenger Press.

 

Father Joe Ricchini was born in Philadelphia, PA. When he was 19 years old he joined the U.S. Air Force and became a radar mechanic. For almost three years he served at an Early Warning Radar station in Calumet, Michigan. One week after his discharge he entered the Franciscan seminary. Father Joe was ordained in 1964 and completed assignments in Louisville, Dayton, Chicago and Cincinnati. Father Joe has lived in St. Ann Friary since 1991. Presently he ministers locally as a Retreat and Spiritual Director for priests, sisters and the laity.

Brother Kevin Schroeder was born in Pulaski, Wisconsin. He joined the Franciscans in Wisconsin and made solemn vows as a friar in 1963. For many years he was assigned to Franciscan Communications in California, doing audio work in the production of religious educational materials.

He has been working at St. Anthony Messenger Press since 1994, serving as audio editor and audio & video technician. He has been a resident of St. Ann Friary since 1999.

   

Franciscans Relaxing and Doing Kitchen Duties

 

 

For more information about the Franciscans, go to http://www.franciscan.org

If you are interested in a life of service with the Franciscans,
call 513-542-1082 or 800-827-1082 or e-mail sjbvocations@franciscan.org
 

Prayer to St Francis

Make me an instrument of your peace,
where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury...pardon;
Where there is doubt...faith;
Where there is despair...hope;
Where there is Darkness..light
And where there is sadness...joy

O Divine Master,
Grant that I may not so much seek to be to consoled as to console:
To be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life .