Brother Jordan Jesse Rojas Professes Vows as Capuchin
Jordan Jesse Rojas, 41, of Austin, Texas made his profession of temporary vows as a Capuchin Franciscan brother at St. Patrick Oratory in Denver, Colorado on July 15. The profession of vows marks Br. Jordan's completion of his year as a novice at San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Ynez, California and the beginning of his three-year post-novitiate of Capuchin formation in Denver.
Austin, TX, July 22, 2014 --(PR.com)-- Texas native completes novitiate program in California and moves to Colorado to continue Capuchin formation.
Br. Jordan Jesse Rojas, 41, of Austin, Texas made his profession of temporary vows as a Capuchin Franciscan brother at St. Patrick Oratory in Denver, Colorado on July 15. The profession of vows marks Br. Jordan's completion of his year as a novice at San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Ynez, California and the beginning of his three-year post-novitiate of Capuchin formation in Denver.
Capuchin Provincial Minister Fr. Christopher Popravak received the profession on behalf of the Church during Evening Prayer. Local Capuchin brothers and Capuchin Poor Clares sisters witnessed the profession and participated in a celebratory dinner that followed in the gardens at Our Lady of Light Monastery. Among the guests was Br. Jordan's former spiritual adviser, Fr. Michael O'Connor, of St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Round Rock, Texas, and his Capuchin Novice Master, Fr. Frank Grinko of Santa Ynez, California.
Br. Jordan is the son of Frances V. McChristian of Tucson, Arizona and the late Jesse Rojas of Ft. Stockton, Texas. He grew up in Marfa, Texas and later settled in the Austin, Texas area. He attended St. Mary's Grade School in Marfa and graduated from Marfa High School. He went on to study criminal justice and computer science at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Following college, Br. Jordan spent more than 20 years in the technology field culminating his business career as a Regional Technical Project Manager for Dell at its headquarters in Round Rock, Texas. He began his vocation discernment journey and made his decision to become a Capuchin brother while attending the St. William Catholic Church of Round Rock, Texas in the Diocese of Austin.
As part of his formation, Br. Jordan was a postulant at San Antonio Friary in Denver, Colorado from 2012-2013. He completed his interprovincial postulancy at St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, Kansas last summer.
During the profession ceremony, Fr. Popravak spoke to Br. Jordan about the three Capuchin vows — poverty, chastity and obedience. He focused on obedience. Shouting out, "Hooah!" he went on to explain that it's an apt term relating to obedience because not only does it mean, "anything and everything except no," it also stands for "Heard, Understood and Acknowledged." Fr. Popravak shared that obedience is not just submitting to a higher authority, but truly hearing, understanding and acknowledging God's will. Referencing Br. Jordan's career and his many years as a manager, he noted that he would now be entering a new era where he is not the boss, but a follower of Jesus Christ.
Hours before to the ceremony, Br. Jordan reflected on his decision to become a Capuchin brother: "I felt a calling as a child — as early as second grade. I used to pretend being a priest celebrating mass at my grandmother's house on her coffee table with vanilla wafers and Hawaiian punch. Later, I became more distracted with sports ... and girls ... and partying." He further reflected that he enjoyed a successful business career and all the perks that went with it, including a big salary and a home on a golf course (golf being one of the many sports he enjoys playing).
Yet something was unsettled. "There was always a spark and the spark would grow when I went to Mass and it would dim when I did not. In recent years, there was a definite pull as I was going to Mass, receiving the Eucharist, attending daily adoration and praying the rosary. The spark was back and glowing brightly," Br. Jordan said. Through the guidance of his church and with special assistance from Fr. O'Connor, he made the decision to follow in the steps of Christ and pursue his vocation of becoming a priest. "My vocation is to be a minor brother — a little brother — and my ministry within that vocation is to be a priest," Br. Jordan said.
The departure from secular life to the quiet, solemn setting of the fraternal brotherhood of the novitiate marked significant change for Br. Jordan. "First you isolate yourself — your life. You separate from all the distractions — family, friends and TV — the good and the bad. You have to unlearn and detach from all the distraction. This allows God to work and bring to the surface healing and understanding." When asked about the best parts of the first year experience, he immediately exclaimed that, "It's the fraternity with my brothers! You learn to open up and be vulnerable and this in turn allows you open up and be vulnerable with Jesus Christ."
Br. Jordan will continue his Capuchin formation at the San Anthony Friary in Denver, Colorado.
Photo: (No Credit Required) Jordan Jesse Rojas In Capuchin Robe
See attached or access here:
Contact:
Leslie Torvik
Capuchin Franciscans
Providence of St. Conrad
(303) 477-5436 (Denver)
leslie.torvik@capuchins.org
www.capuchins.org
Br. Jordan Jesse Rojas, 41, of Austin, Texas made his profession of temporary vows as a Capuchin Franciscan brother at St. Patrick Oratory in Denver, Colorado on July 15. The profession of vows marks Br. Jordan's completion of his year as a novice at San Lorenzo Friary in Santa Ynez, California and the beginning of his three-year post-novitiate of Capuchin formation in Denver.
Capuchin Provincial Minister Fr. Christopher Popravak received the profession on behalf of the Church during Evening Prayer. Local Capuchin brothers and Capuchin Poor Clares sisters witnessed the profession and participated in a celebratory dinner that followed in the gardens at Our Lady of Light Monastery. Among the guests was Br. Jordan's former spiritual adviser, Fr. Michael O'Connor, of St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Round Rock, Texas, and his Capuchin Novice Master, Fr. Frank Grinko of Santa Ynez, California.
Br. Jordan is the son of Frances V. McChristian of Tucson, Arizona and the late Jesse Rojas of Ft. Stockton, Texas. He grew up in Marfa, Texas and later settled in the Austin, Texas area. He attended St. Mary's Grade School in Marfa and graduated from Marfa High School. He went on to study criminal justice and computer science at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas. Following college, Br. Jordan spent more than 20 years in the technology field culminating his business career as a Regional Technical Project Manager for Dell at its headquarters in Round Rock, Texas. He began his vocation discernment journey and made his decision to become a Capuchin brother while attending the St. William Catholic Church of Round Rock, Texas in the Diocese of Austin.
As part of his formation, Br. Jordan was a postulant at San Antonio Friary in Denver, Colorado from 2012-2013. He completed his interprovincial postulancy at St. Fidelis Friary in Victoria, Kansas last summer.
During the profession ceremony, Fr. Popravak spoke to Br. Jordan about the three Capuchin vows — poverty, chastity and obedience. He focused on obedience. Shouting out, "Hooah!" he went on to explain that it's an apt term relating to obedience because not only does it mean, "anything and everything except no," it also stands for "Heard, Understood and Acknowledged." Fr. Popravak shared that obedience is not just submitting to a higher authority, but truly hearing, understanding and acknowledging God's will. Referencing Br. Jordan's career and his many years as a manager, he noted that he would now be entering a new era where he is not the boss, but a follower of Jesus Christ.
Hours before to the ceremony, Br. Jordan reflected on his decision to become a Capuchin brother: "I felt a calling as a child — as early as second grade. I used to pretend being a priest celebrating mass at my grandmother's house on her coffee table with vanilla wafers and Hawaiian punch. Later, I became more distracted with sports ... and girls ... and partying." He further reflected that he enjoyed a successful business career and all the perks that went with it, including a big salary and a home on a golf course (golf being one of the many sports he enjoys playing).
Yet something was unsettled. "There was always a spark and the spark would grow when I went to Mass and it would dim when I did not. In recent years, there was a definite pull as I was going to Mass, receiving the Eucharist, attending daily adoration and praying the rosary. The spark was back and glowing brightly," Br. Jordan said. Through the guidance of his church and with special assistance from Fr. O'Connor, he made the decision to follow in the steps of Christ and pursue his vocation of becoming a priest. "My vocation is to be a minor brother — a little brother — and my ministry within that vocation is to be a priest," Br. Jordan said.
The departure from secular life to the quiet, solemn setting of the fraternal brotherhood of the novitiate marked significant change for Br. Jordan. "First you isolate yourself — your life. You separate from all the distractions — family, friends and TV — the good and the bad. You have to unlearn and detach from all the distraction. This allows God to work and bring to the surface healing and understanding." When asked about the best parts of the first year experience, he immediately exclaimed that, "It's the fraternity with my brothers! You learn to open up and be vulnerable and this in turn allows you open up and be vulnerable with Jesus Christ."
Br. Jordan will continue his Capuchin formation at the San Anthony Friary in Denver, Colorado.
Photo: (No Credit Required) Jordan Jesse Rojas In Capuchin Robe
See attached or access here:
Contact:
Leslie Torvik
Capuchin Franciscans
Providence of St. Conrad
(303) 477-5436 (Denver)
leslie.torvik@capuchins.org
www.capuchins.org
Contact
Capuchins Franciscans | Province of St. Conrad
Leslie Torvik
303-477-5436
www.capuchins.org
Leslie Torvik
303-477-5436
www.capuchins.org
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