Young Adult Ministry: A Franciscan Approach

by friar Bob Roddy, OFM Conv.

Walk with Friar John Pozhathuparambil, OFM Conv., Director of Campus Ministry on the Bellarmine University campus. It does not take long to realize that he is a beloved figure on the Bellarmine campus. Students, faculty, administrators, and staff all light up when they see friar John approaching and greet him warmly.

“When friar Adam Bunnell, OFM Conv., asked me to consider coming to the United States and begin a ministry to young adults, especially the NONES (those who don’t identify with any faith tradition), I was scared to death.” Yet, friar John accepted friar Adam’s invitation to leave family, home, and familiarity for a new land and a completely different culture.

Friar John waited for two more Indian friars, Leo Payyappilly and Tony Vattaparambil, to join him in the United States before they began their outreach to young adults. “I could see that young people are hungry for connection, for a welcoming space, and so we set about creating opportunities for students to gather with us. Fortunately, one of our friars, friar George Munjanattu, is a terrific cook; we quickly hit upon the idea of gathering students to share a meal with us. We called it `NONES eating Naan.’” [Naan is an oven baked or fried flatbread common to South Asian cuisine.]

After many meals and many gatherings later, friar John continues to work tirelessly to create a welcoming and accepting space for students. “I have a lot of dreams for campus ministry here,” friar John said with a wry smile, “I like to dream and envision new possibilities.”

One challenge friar John and the other campus ministers face is the polarization that affects all of us in the spheres of politics and even the Church. “Our students who identify as more `traditional’ Roman Catholics find it challenging to understand and accept the students who have, on the surface, a completely opposite approach to their faith. The same is true that the less traditional Roman Catholic students do not understand or even respect, where the more `traditional’ students are coming from.”

Friar John finds that his witness as a Conventual Franciscan, his wearing of the Franciscan habit, and his generous sharing of Franciscan spirituality and customs goes a long way to break down the divisions that exist among young people. “As Pope Francis has repeatedly said, we make it a point to go to the peripheries, to reach out and to engage those who may not be overtly religious, but who nonetheless have a hunger for connection with something or someone greater than themselves. St. Francis has taught me how to bring different people together. Among St. Francis’ early companions friar Elias was charismatic but could be very controlling; friar Leo was very delicate and sensitive; friar Juniper was funny. They were all vastly different, but they were all brothers.”

In recent years, friars John and George have shared the Franciscan custom of the “Transitus,” a celebration of St. Francis passing into eternal life, which is usually celebrated on October 3rd. Other friars from the Kentuckiana area are present as well. One year, six members of the University’s Wrestling Team attended the service, largely because of friar John’s welcoming spirit.

Building bridges among diverse groups of students while sharing the joy and wonder of our Roman Catholic faith with all those who hunger for something more in their lives, Friar John’s door and heart are always open; he is an amazing Franciscan witness.