170 another. In other words, the communities get along with one another and there is no evident tension in the air. Some of the men who have joined us after having been in other congregations have said that there is a big difference between the Marians in the U.S. and what they experienced in other groups. They admire our desire for holiness, but our ability to joke around and to be very human as well. Father Donald is the Superior of our Religious House in Steubenville, OH. We opened a house there in 1997, for our men to take their philosophy classes at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. This is a dynamic university run by the Third Order Regular Franciscans. It is unapologetically Catholic in the midst of a secular environment. Other Catholic Universities in the United States have become Catholic in name only, but Steubenville was attracting people who truly want to live and deepen their Catholic faith. They began a pre-theology program there. Young men who are thinking about entering the seminary, live in community, pray together and study philosophy as they discern their vocations. Every year there are between 50 and 100 young men in this program. One of our aims for opening a house near the university was to be in proximity to this promising group of vocation candidates. Every month, Fr. Don leads a “Come and See” weekend retreat at our Marian House in Steubenville. Between three to nine men come every month. This gives the men a great impression of us. Many of the men discerning vocations today love the fact that we have a house in Steubenville and this makes a very favorable impression on them. In the 11 years since we have had a house near the University, we have received a number of vocations in this way and over the last several years, we have gotten at least 1 man a year from Franciscan University. We are very well known there and loved because of the pastoral ministry our priests do on Campus through preaching, confessions, etc. For next year, already, it looks like another man from there will be applying to the community after graduating in May! Father Don fi nds it to be a vocation goldmine. Besides the students at the University, there are a number of Catholic families who have chosen to live near the University who are searching for ways to authentically live their Catholic faith. There is much social pressure in the U.S. now to limit the size of families and it is common to see families with only one or two children. Many of the families who live near the University have many children—often fi ve to 10 and they seek an environment where they can fi nd the support of other like minded adults. Many of these young people who live in our neighborhood are future vocation prospects. Father Donald also travels a good deal, giving testimony of the dramatic story of his conversion to the Catholic faith at parish missions and Catholic Conferences. Father Don’s traveling expenses to these conferences are paid for by those who invite him. While at these conferences, he is able to talk about the community and invite men to join. This has allowed him to reduce the vocation
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