The Province of Mid-America currently has brothers studying at all the various levels of formation, including the college program, postulancy, novitiate, post-novitiate, and ministry formation.
Men in Formation
From the News Blog on the Main Page, you will find links to the province’s various news outlets. The news blog is the primary means of posting information, announcements, and articles relating to the Capuchin Province of Mid-America and the worldwide Capuchin Order. Regular reflections from the Provincial Minister are also posted on the blog.
News Features
Br. Barnabas Eichor, Third Theology
Br. Barnabas joined the Capuchins in 2001 after an adventerous life serving his country in the first Gulf War, driving a semi across country and earning two Master's Degrees at University. He is a convert to the Catholic faith who followed the call to religious life after listening to Catholic religious speakers. Brother is currently in theological studies at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, CO. He teaches and assists Fr. Gene at Sacred Heart Parish.
Br. Barnabas joined the Capuchins in 2001 after an adventerous life serving his country in the first Gulf War, driving a semi across country and earning two Master's Degrees at University. He is a convert to the Catholic faith who followed the call to religious life after listening to Catholic religious speakers. Brother is currently in theological studies at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, CO. He teaches and assists Fr. Gene at Sacred Heart Parish.
Br. Joseph Mary Elder, Second Theology
Br. Joseph joined the Capuchins in 2002 after experiencing a life-changing conversion through the events at Medjugorje. Originally from St. Louis, he currently resides in Denver where he is engaged in theology studies at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. Br. Joseph teaches youth Confirmation Classes on the weekends, helps with the youth group at Annunciation parish and maintains the Province Website. He professed solemn vows in March 2008.
Br. Joseph joined the Capuchins in 2002 after experiencing a life-
Br. Christopher Gama, First Theology
While participating in the holy sacrifice of the Mass, Br. Christopher Gama experienced God's personal love in a deep way. Understanding the reality of Christ present upon the altar in his total, self-giving love, Christopher asked himself what he could do to respond to this love. He decided to give all of himself to the Lord in religious life. Br. Christopher joined the Capuchins in 2003 because he believed it to be the best way for him to respond to God's love through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Br. Christopher is in theology studies and works with a youth group part time. His professed solemn vows in November 2009.
While participating in the holy sacrifice of the Mass, Br. Christopher Gama experienced God's personal love in a deep way. Understanding the reality of Christ present upon the altar in his total, self-
Br. Lawrence Bowers, First Theology
Br. Larry was the sole postulant in his class when he joined the Capuchins in September 2004. Previously, Larry had graduated from Kansas University where he studied computer engineering and worked as a campus minister. Brother currently resides at San Damiano Friary in Denver. He is also engaged in theology studies at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. In addition to this, he helps with information technology at the development office and prepares youth for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Br. Larry was the sole postulant in his class when he joined the Capuchins in September 2004. Previously, Larry had graduated from Kansas University where he studied computer engineering and worked as a campus minister. Brother currently resides at San Damiano Friary in Denver. He is also engaged in theology studies at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary. In addition to this, he helps with information technology at the development office and prepares youth for the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Br. Ryan Tidball, First Theology
Br. Ryan has had a long association with the Capuchin Franciscans. Before entering postulancy in 2003, he earned his philosophy degree at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio as part of the Capuchin College Formation Program. Ryan also had the opportunity to spend time studying at Oxford during his college career. Currently Br. Ryan resides in Denver, where he studied theology at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary and helps run the RCIA program at both Queen of Peace Catholic Church and St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.
Br. Ryan has had a long association with the Capuchin Franciscans. Before entering postulancy in 2003, he earned his philosophy degree at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio as part of the Capuchin College Formation Program. Ryan also had the opportunity to spend time studying at Oxford during his college career. Currently Br. Ryan resides in Denver, where he studied theology at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary and helps run the RCIA program at both Queen of Peace Catholic Church and St. Anthony’s Catholic Church.
Br. Anthony Monohan, Novice
Br. Tony, a farm boy from Lewiston, Minnesota, spent 12 years in the hotel and restaurant business before beginning studies for the priesthood. He earned a BA in philosophy from Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, in 2007. Then after a year working for a sports memorabilia firm, he began postulancy with the Capuchins. He currently is 2/3 of the way through the novitiate at Allison Park, Pennsylvania. During his postulancy in Denver, Tony ministered at the Father Woody Haven of Hope.
Br. Tony, a farm boy from Lewiston, Minnesota, spent 12 years in the hotel and restaurant business before beginning studies for the priesthood. He earned a BA in philosophy from Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Winona, Minnesota, in 2007. Then after a year working for a sports memorabilia firm, he began postulancy with the Capuchins. He currently is 2/3 of the way through the novitiate at Allison Park, Pennsylvania. During his postulancy in Denver, Tony ministered at the Father Woody Haven of Hope.
Brandon Berg, Postulant
Searching for his place in religious life, Brandon from Atchison, Kansas, visited several communities. Two charisms stood out and drew him to the Capuchins: fraternity and contemplative prayer. His time in postulancy has taught him about these charisms. “I’ve begun to learn about myself in relation to others during this time of having brothers and living in fraternity. My experiences with contemplative prayer are highpoints of the day as I begin to communicate personally with Jesus and desire to unite my soul with the Trinity.”
Searching for his place in religious life, Brandon from Atchison, Kansas, visited several communities. Two charisms stood out and drew him to the Capuchins: fraternity and contemplative prayer. His time in postulancy has taught him about these charisms. “I’ve begun to learn about myself in relation to others during this time of having brothers and living in fraternity. My experiences with contemplative prayer are highpoints of the day as I begin to communicate personally with Jesus and desire to unite my soul with the Trinity.”
Donald “Digger” Rank, Postulant
“Postulancy has been a tremendous blessing,” say Digger Rank from Monument, Colo. “Every day I wake up with a sense of surrender, placing my life in God’s hands. With few material things and without the ‘busy-ness’ of the modern world, I’m able to quiet my interior, be more reflective, and allow God to transform me by growing in love and forgiveness with the other postulants and friars. Serving the poor at St. Francis Center, a homeless shelter, I have the opportunity to put my prayer into action. It is a great privilege to give God’s love to the poor, and in return, find Jesus in them.”
“Postulancy has been a tremendous blessing,” say Digger Rank from Monument, Colo. “Every day I wake up with a sense of surrender, placing my life in God’s hands. With few material things and without the ‘busy-
Chris Vigil, College Program
Christopher Vigil is a freshman collegian at Front Range Community College in his home town, Westminster, Colorado. At Steubenville of the Rockies in 2007, he obtained information on the Capuchins and since then has felt strongly called to be a friar. He is presently taking general education or core classes, but with Fr. John Lager’s help, is planning to move elsewhere to begin majoring in philosophy.
Christopher Vigil is a freshman collegian at Front Range Community College in his home town, Westminster, Colorado. At Steubenville of the Rockies in 2007, he obtained information on the Capuchins and since then has felt strongly called to be a friar. He is presently taking general education or core classes, but with Fr. John Lager’s help, is planning to move elsewhere to begin majoring in philosophy.
Mark Martin, College Program
In the midst of studying at Boise State University in Idaho, Mark Martin came to a great love for the Gospel life of Francis. As a result, he began to search out various religious communities through VISION Magazine's online vocation match where he found the Capuchin Franciscans. He attended a Come and See weekend and visited the Capuchin College Formation Program at Borromeo Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio. He decided to apply to the program, and has been attending there since Fall 2009.
In the midst of studying at Boise State University in Idaho, Mark Martin came to a great love for the Gospel life of Francis. As a result, he began to search out various religious communities through VISION Magazine's online vocation match where he found the Capuchin Franciscans. He attended a Come and See weekend and visited the Capuchin College Formation Program at Borromeo Seminary in Cleveland, Ohio. He decided to apply to the program, and has been attending there since Fall 2009.
Joseph Quinlan, Novitiate Preparer
A 1973 Camden native, Joe calls Philadelphia his home. He grad- uated from St. Joseph Prep High School in 1991 and earned a BA in psychology and philosophy from LaSalle University in 1995. Joe then spent a year at St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia. In 2003 he began five years of formation with the Capuchins’ Pennsylvania province and studied two years of theology at Catholic University. Since then he has ministered as a resident coordinator at Samaritan House in Denver. In January, 2010, Joe resumed Capuchin formation with the Mid-America province.
A 1973 Camden native, Joe calls Philadelphia his home. He grad-
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