The New York Post is reporting an interesting trend. Many New Yorkers who have lost their jobs to the economic downturn are considering religious vocations.
According to the Post, at least 45 individuals have responded to subway ads to become friars through a Midtown-based Franciscan community, the Holy Name Province.
From the article:
“I thought it was speaking to me,” said George Camacho, 29, a Flushing, Queens, resident who saw one of the 1,000 “BeaFranciscan.org” ads on the subway.
The NYU graduate, who rents the basement of his parents’ home, was laid off as an on-air promotions producer for PBS in June.
“Getting laid off, it forced me to reflect,” he said. “What do I really want to be doing with the rest of my life?”
About one-third of the total callers met the order’s basic requirements and were sent application forms. Among the inquirers, there was a doctor, a teacher, a programming analyst, and a couple of unemployed men.
Since his initial call, Camacho has attended a retreat to hear first-hand accounts of life as a brother. Now he is deciding whether to pursue a path in the group, a period known as discernment.
“I need to make the most of however many years I have left,” he said.