By Patrick Downes, Hawaii Catholic Herald
Brother Marvin Castillo Bearis will be the first from Hawaii to make his final profession of vows as a Capuchin Franciscan friar. The profession ceremony is Aug. 12, at 10 a.m., at his home parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ewa Beach.
“I am excited that this is what God wants me to do — and what I want to do,” said Brother Bearis, who will turn 28 on July 27.
Final vows are the three solemn promises to God to follow a life of poverty, chastity and obedience.
“I just know this is what I am meant to do,” he told the Hawaii Catholic Herald by phone on July 7.
“Life won’t be fulfilling,” he said, if he did not follow this calling which will culminate with ordination to the priesthood in about two years.
Brother Bearis is the son of Ben and Carmen (Castillo) Bearis. He has three brothers, Patrick, Michael, Mark, and a sister Maribel. He grew up in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish where he was an active youth ministry leader.
Brother Bearis earned a bachelor’s degree in family resources specializing in adolescence from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2000.
He joined the Capuchin Franciscans, the Vice-Province of Our Lady, Star of the Sea — Guam and Hawaii, in January 2001
He spent his postulancy, or initial formation, at the main Capuchin friary on Guam and his first year of novitiate at the Capuchin Novitiate in Mt. Calvary, Wisconsin. He made his first, or temporary, profession on Aug. 16, 2002.
As a novice, Brother Bearis volunteered at a hospice in Wisconsin and ministered to residents of a homeless shelter in Boston.
He then attended graduate school for two years, studying theology at the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley, Calif.
Last year was spent as a “pastoral year” on Guam teaching fifth and sixth grade language arts in Bishop Baumgartner Catholic School, Sinajana, Guam. This summer he is teaching summer school St. Elizabeth School in Aiea.
Brother Bearis returns to his study of theology in the fall at Westin Jesuit School of Theology in Cambridge, Mass. If all goes as planned, he will be ordained in two years.
Capuchin Father George Maddock said the Aug. 12 profession will be a happy day for the Franciscan community in Hawaii and for the church in Hawaii.
Father Maddock was the first Capuchin to be assigned to Hawaii, coming from Guam in 1984 to be pastor of Brother Bearis’ home parish, Our Lady of Perpetual Help. He also helped the new Capuchin in his formation and lived with him in Guam this past year.
“He’s definitely got the Hawaii touch,” said Father Maddock.
“He’s no slacker for action,” he said, explaining how hard he worked this past year teaching full time and doing other volunteer jobs.
Father Maddock said that, once ordained, the chances of Father Bearis being assigned to Hawaii is “999 out of 1000.”
“He will be a big help” in attracting local vocations, he said. “It’s so good to get the Hawaiian flavor, the local approach” in the order.
This is Hawaii’s “first inroad” into the Capuchin community, Father Maddock said. Brother Bearis will be a good model to other men to “give it a thought.”