A Saint Professes His Solemn Vows

When Jimmy Kernan was an undergrad at St. Bonaventure University, he liked to attend Mass in the campus friary. He went to the Mass celebrated for the campus community, but there was something special about the sense of belonging he felt with the Franciscans in their campus home.

"This is something I can see myself being part of," he recalled.

That warm welcome in the Bona friary started him on a life and faith journey to become Brother Jimmy. He professed his solemn vows with the Order of Friars Minor on August 23 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Albuquerque, one of five candidates at the Mass.

After graduating from St. Bonaventure in 2019, he took the first step of discernment with the order that fall, then enrolled at the University of Chicago to study molecular engineering. After taking his temporary vows, he joined the Siena community in June 2024 as a lecturer in physics, assistant director of the Laudato Sí Center for Integral Ecology, and friar in residence in Hines Hall.

"Friars have a long tradition in academia, dating back to the time of Saint Francis," he explained. "It's an 800-year tradition."

His family from Syracuse, along with four Siena friars, traveled to New Mexico to witness their literal and spiritual brother take the final step to become a Franciscan friar.

Br. Jimmy, who attended "Come and See" weekends while he was an undergrad to explore the possibility of becoming a Franciscan, isn't far removed from his own college experience, and says he's happy he's landed on a university campus to serve as a friar.

"It's great to be around young people and watch them grow into adulthood and see their transformation as they take ownership of their futures," he said. "It's also a joy to live in community and fellowship with my brother friars, who have done so many amazing things in service to others."

The appreciation is definitely mutual.

"It is always an honor to welcome a brother to live and work in one of our fraternities, but it is especially the case when the fraternity is the first assignment for a friar," said Fr. Kevin Mullen O.F.M., guardian of the Siena University friary. "Our community is proud that Brother Jimmy professed his solemn vows as a Franciscan friar, pledging to follow in the footsteps of Saint Francis and Saint Clare for life."

Fr. Mark Reamer, O.F.M., vice president for mission, called Br. Jimmy "a great gift to our local fraternity, the order and the church." Fr. Mark attended the profession of vows along with Fr. Larry Anderson, O.F.M., Br. Michael Perry, O.F.M. and Br. Jacek Orzechowski.