Friar Colden was born in Monroe, Louisiana and spent most of his life in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He is a convert from the Protestant Christian tradition. He confirmed into the Catholic Church on the Easter Vigil of 2019.

He was Homeschooled from second grade through high school and received an associate’s degree in general studies and humanities at River Parishes Community College in 2017. Before joining the friars, he spent eight months as an intern for the Gonzales Weekly Citizen newspaper where he crafted his writing skills in reviewing film. He also was a grocery store clerk at Harvest Supermarket from 2014-2021, where he eventually got promoted to warehouse manager.

During 2018-2020, Colden walked with his girlfriend through her battle with brain cancer. After eight years of fighting, she was called home to the Lord on Feb 27, 2020. After her passing in Colden felt the call to the priesthood had reentered his heart, which he originally felt when he was going through RCIA in 2018. His bishop however thought since he had only been Catholic for a year at that point, he should give the decrement process another year and serve in the parish.

He served as lector and taught the tenth-grade confirmation class at St Mark parish in St Amant, Louisiana. During this year of discernment, he felt the call to join religious life after discovering “Breaking in the Habit,” a YouTube channel by Fr Casey Cole, OFM. He decided on the Conventuals by “God’s providence” since they were the first ones he contacted.

His Come and See retreat was in San Antonio, Texas in December of 2020. He entered the Postulancy program in July of 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. During his postulancy year he ministered at the Little Sisters of the Poor nursing home in Palatine, Illinois and at St Stanislaus Soup Kitchen in Chicago. He received the habit of St Francis on July 10, 2022, at San Damiano Friary in San Antonio, Texas. His novitiate was in Arroyo Grande, California from July 2022-July 2023. He ministered at St Mary’s Hospital where he distributed the Eucharist to the extended care patients. He also ministered at the California Men’s Colony prison where he prayed the rosary with the inmates.

Colden had this to say about his experience: “My time ministering at the Men’s Colony was a very faith filled experience. These were men who were on their way to recovery and who loved the Lord. They were very responsive and grateful to know that the friars were there. If anything, they ministered to me more than I did them because I saw Jesus in each of them. Yes, they had sinned, we all have, but they sought forgiveness and Christ granted them that. I remember one brother, who painted the best image of the Sacred Heart I have ever seen. There was another who always lifted up those who suffered from addiction and one other who prayed for his victim’s family while we prayed the rosary together. It was truly a blessing to grow in my faith with those brothers.”

He professed first vows on July 19, 2023, at Mt St. Francis, Indiana and began the dual bachelor’s program in Pastoral Ministry with a concentration in Philosophy in August of 2023 at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) and the Mexican American Catholic College (MACC) in San Antonio, Texas. He spent his first year of studies ministering at our parish of St Alphonsus Church as an acolyte and sacristan.