Franciscan Vocation Office
Central Region
MEN CURRENTLY DISCERNING IN
INITIAL FORMATION
Postulants
Holy Name College
Located: Silver Spring, MD
Received: August 2020
Novices
Location: Old Mission Santa Barbara, California
Received: July 2020
Post-Novitiate House of Studies
Location: Hyde Park, Chicago, IL
Students are Simply Professed (one year vow duration)
RECENT SOLEMNLY PROFESSED FRIARS
Ed Tverdek, OFM
Born and raised: Chicago, IL
Current residence: St. Peter’s in the Loop Friary, Chicago, Illinois
Current Ministry: Teaching philosophy at CTU & Priest at St. Peter's in the Loop
He made his Solemn Profession on March 11, 2017, at Quincy University in Quincy, IL. He has recently completed his studies for priestly ordination at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL. He was ordained a deacon on March 10, 2018 and ordained a priest on November 17, 2018. Along with completing his studies, he also teaches philosophy at CTU.
Ed is the author of The Moral Weight of Ecology (Lexington, 2015) in addition to various articles in the area of moral and political philosophy as well as the nature and language of religious faith.
Robert Barko, OFM
Born and raised: Chicago, IL
Current residence: St. Francis Solanus Parish, Quincy, IL
Current Ministry: Parochial Vicar at St. Francis Solanus Church
Bob was ordained a priest on October 14, 2017.
“I have enjoyed my education at CTU tremendously and appreciate the great privilege it is! However, I do look forward to continuing my journey as a Friar in service to God’s people and the Church.”
Guillermo Morales, OFM
Born and raised: Santiago, Chile
Current residence: St. Peter's in the Loop Friary, Chicago, IL
Current Ministry: Front desk administrator & spiritual director at St. Peter's in the Loop
Guillermo enjoys music, movies and hiking.
He says, “I like the different kinds of ministries that the friars around the world are doing among the people. The work with the poor and marginalized is something that attracted me to the Franciscan friars. Saint Francis of Assisi is a person that I was always attracted to. The love and respect for nature as a manifestation of God love for us.”
Marc Sheckells, OFM
Born and raised: Chicago, IL
Current residence: St. Peter's in the Loop Friary, Chicago, IL
Current Ministry: Studying for M.Div. at CTU & Secular Franciscan Regional Spiritual Assistant
Marc says, “I am definitely a ‘people’ person, so one of my biggest interests is meeting new people and getting to know them. I love animals and have recently obtained an aquarium and am enjoying taking care of my new fish friends.
One of the things that drew me to the friars is the variety of ministries they fulfill. Being a Franciscan has opened many doors and led me down many paths that I would have never been able to do alone. Additionally, being able to follow in the footsteps of the many holy men that have gone before me and knowing that I, with them, am part of something bigger than myself is a constant source of renewal and inspiration.”
Dat Hoang, OFM
Born: Vietnam
Raised: Minneapolis, MN.
Current Residence: St. Anthony of Padua Friary, St. Louis, MO.
Current Ministry: Priest at St. Anthony of Padua Church
Đạt enjoys studying scripture and chemistry. “I am always thankful to God for the vocation to the consecrated life with the Franciscans - because of it I have learned and grown so much and still continue to do so.”
Friar Đạt has recently completed his studies for priestly ordination at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, IL. He was ordained a deacon on March 10, 2018 and ordained a priest on November 17, 2018.
Young friars together from different provinces
Jay Woods, OFM (Holy Name Province); Juan De La Cruz Turcios, OFM (Holy Name Province); Maxwell Klug, OFM (Assumption BVM Province); Guillermo Morales, OFM (Sacred Heart Province); Marc Sheckells, OFM (Sacred Heart Province).