Four men took temporary vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience at St. Jude’s Parish in Lakewood July 23.
These vows are for three years and will allow Brothers Jude Quinto, Joseph Ignowski, Luke Jordan, and Alex Diaz to continue their discernment within the religious community. All of the men will be entering post-novitiate and will be furthering their studies for the priesthood while at St. Anthony of Padua Friary in Denver.
Brother Luke Jordan ‘Pray with your heart’
Age: 22 Hometown: Ft. Collins, CO Home Parish: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Ft. Collins Saints that inspired his vocation: Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati; St. Padre Pio
It wasn’t until after high school that Brother Luke began to take his faith seriously. It was during this time that a priest invited him to visit seminary to discern a potential call. The visit did not lead to his entrance, but later he did become connected with the Capuchin Friars. He began to visit the order, fell in love with their way of life and decided to join after his sophomore year of college.
When talking about the fruits of his novitiate, Brother Luke reflected on how he has grown to appreciate the use of affective prayer, or praying with the heart, and how affective prayer is connected to effective prayer. “As you pray with your heart, your heart begins to be transformed, and that’s had a really strong impact on my two years with the order.”
Brother Alex Díaz Wants to bring Christ to others
Age: 40 Hometown: Houston, TX Home Parish: Catholic Charismatic Center Saints that inspired his vocation: St. John Paul II; St. Thérèse of Lisieux
After living a life away from the Church, Brother Alex first heard a call to religious life in 2007. “I heard a call and started discerning, but then I paused it for seven years until my spiritual director told me it was time to do something about it if I wanted to (pursue religious life). I started discerning with different communities . . . and the Lord brought me here to Denver and I’m very happy to be here.”
As a future priest, Brother Alejandro is looking forward to bringing Christ to others, especially through the sacrament of reconciliation.
Brother Jude Quinto Found mercy and compassion
Age: 20 Hometown: Denver Home Parish: Christ the King, Denver Saints that inspired his vocation: St. Padre Pio; St. Aloysius of Gonzaga; St. Gabrielle of Our Lady of Sorrows
Brother Jude had desired to become a priest from a young age. After meeting the Capuchins he loved how merciful, compassionate, human, and encouraging they were in confession with him. After spending some time with various religious orders and not feeling called to enter any of them, he thought back to his initial encounter with the Capuchins. It was then that he decided to apply for postulancy. In his vocation, Brother Jude is most looking forward to being a witness to God’s mercy through the sacrament of reconciliation.
Brother Joseph Ignowski Totus Tuus ‘changed me’
Age: 22 Hometown: Ft. Collins Home Parish: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Ft. Collins Saints that inspired his vocation: St. Joseph; St. Thérèse of Lisieux; Ven. Solanus Casey; St. Padre Pio
It wasn’t until after a retreat as a teenager that Brother Joseph decided to take his faith seriously. “That kind of started me thinking about Catholicism as a reality. Then after freshman year of college, I did Totus Tuus in the Archdiocese of Denver. That was the most profound and dynamic summer of my life. (It) completely changed me. I heard a call very strongly to the Capuchins and in a year I decided that call was persistent enough that I needed to follow it so I left school sophomore year and went to join the Capuchins.”
Photo: Capuchin Brothers Jude Emmanuel Quinto, Luke Jordan, Joseph Ignowski, and Alex Díaz kneel in prayer prior to making first profession as Capuchin Franciscans (Photo by Caitlin Chase).