In a major step on their journey toward priesthood, three Capuchin Franciscan friars of the Province of St. Conrad were ordained transitional deacons on March 19 in San Antonio, Texas. Brother Vincent Mary Carrasco, Br. Luke Jordan and Br. Jordan Rojas were ordained deacons by Bishop Gary Janak before a crowd of family, friends and formators at Immaculate Conception Chapel of the Oblate School

Pope Francis issued a rescript on May 18, allowing the possibility for lay members of a mixed religious community to be elected to positions of leadership. This welcome change was a long time coming and there is an important history behind it. It was the heads of the four major men's branches of the first order Franciscans: Friars Minor, Conventuals, Capuchins and Third Order Regulars (TOR’s) that

We know with certainty that St. Francis of Assisi was never ordained to the priesthood, although there is some evidence to suggest he may have been a deacon. Nevertheless, Francis exercised the role of leadership over the order which he himself had founded for several years. At the Chapter of 1232, Elias of Cortona, also a lay brother, was elected as the successor to St. Francis. Lay brothers were

Mark Rey was born in Sigmaringen, Germany, in 1577 to a devout Catholic family. From an early age, Mark showed signs of a deep faith life, spending time in daily prayer and attending daily Mass. At university, Mark studied both canon law and civil law, opting ultimately for a secular career as an attorney.

In 2001, the Capuchin friars of St. Conrad Province took the Church to the people by opening The Catholic Center in the Citadel Mall. Now in its 19th year, it is going strong.

When it was announced in 2012 that the Capuchin Franciscan friars would be leaving St. Joseph Parish in Hays, Kan., which they had staffed since 1878, church organist Kevin Rupp sent an email to then-provincial Fr. Charles Polifka that said, "Say it isn't so." Sadly, it was so, and within a year, a 135-year tenure came to an end.