A Lifetime of Service

Last year marked the 75th jubilee of three Capuchin friars of the Province of St. Joseph: Brothers Franklin Eichhorst, OFM Cap., Tony Scannell, OFM Cap. and August Seubert, OFM Cap. Together, these friars dedicated 225 years to Franciscan ministry, living out the Lord’s call to St. Francis to “Rebuild my Church.” These are the stories of how they came to their Capuchin vocation and lived it out in ministry.

Br. Franklin Eichhorst, OFM Cap.

Like many Capuchins, Br. Franklin found the way to his vocation by means of St. Lawrence Seminary. Despite not knowing what life had in store for him, Br. Franklin’s experience at the school led him to continue pursuing the Capuchin way of life. “I was a student at Calvary for four years,” said Franklin. “(I) felt a connection with the Capuchins there, so when I finished my fourth year, I figured I’d continue with the Capuchins... They seemed like a good crowd and that attracted me.”

The ideals of St. Francis and poverty in particular attracted Br. Franklin to this way of life. Franciscans take a vow of poverty that requires them to depend on God’s providence and to embrace simplicity. “I think that poverty attracted me because I come from a very German family where you don’t waste, you save. You work and don’t depend on others except when there is a real need.”

After joining the Order, Br. Franklin enjoyed the ministries he’s been assigned to. He describes himself as feeling particularly called to pastoral ministry in both Capuchin and independent parishes, but Br. Franklin has always relied on where the Lord was calling him next. When asked what he would say to his 20-year-old self, he emphasizes, “do what and where God seems to be calling according to the abilities he has given.”

Br. Tony Scannell, OFM Cap.

Br. Tony Scannell can trace his call to religious life back to a dramatic experience he had after beginning his first year at a major seminary in Milwaukee. He too had recently been a student at St. Lawrence. Being a Hilltopper left a lasting impression. As a freshman, he experienced a six-day retreat that awakened something in him. “At the end of the day as I knelt after night prayers in the chapel, I felt such a strong call to something deeper,” said Br. Tony.

“The year I graduated from second year college at St. Lawrence, my younger brother graduated from high school and went to the Capuchin novitiate… I had to discern whether I had a real vocation to the Capuchins or whether I just missed Calvary and my brother to whom I was very close. I had no real peace of mind until I decided that I had to find out by going to the Capuchin novitiate. Once there, I’ve never had any doubts after that.”

For Br. Tony, the years he spent in California at Franciscan Communications were the most impactful part of his life as a Capuchin. Throughout his 50 years of ministry, he became president of the organization and made exciting short films for religious education throughout the world while also producing award-winning broadcasts. Franciscan Communications eventually gained membership in the Catholic National Broadcasters Association, as well as the International Catholic Broadcasters Association approved by the Vatican called UNDA. Br. Tony would go on to become president of both of these organizations as well, taking part in annual meetings at the Vatican.

Br. Tony was also instrumental in forming an organization, along with Jack and Patt Shea, called Catholics in Media, which helped Catholics in the industry link their faith and their profession.

Br. August Seubert, OFM Cap.

Br. August thanks the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration for stoking an early interest in his future vocation while attending St. Mary’s Parish School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. During his boyhood education there, he was particularly moved by art and faith as well as concern for his afterlife (as he was taught in detail about Hell by one of the sisters). He was also inspired by a particular scripture verse, Mark 10:29: “Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more in this present age.”

“It eventually did turn out to be totally true in a deeper spiritual sense,” said Br. August. “I had … my many Capuchin brothers and 100s, perhaps 1000s of lay ministers whom I’ve gotten to know in the missions and ministry. We call each other ‘brothers’ and ‘sisters’ and so we are.”

Toward the end of eighth grade, Br. August would go on to have his vocational journey pushed toward the Capuchin order when he enrolled in St. Lawrence Seminary. He graduated from the school in June 1949 and, like his fellow jubilarians, was inspired to attend the Capuchin novitiate the following fall.

Br. August spent his years as a friar doing missionary work in Nicaragua and other parts of Central America. “My first assignment was to the missions in Nicaragua,” said Br. August. “My impression of it was a solid jungle.” He arrived in Managua on the Feast of St. Francis in 1949 and would spend the next 50 years serving in locations across the country. He organized the local churches with their own lay leadership and this allowed the native church to grow and meet the needs of the people. “I’m grateful to the good Lord that, by His Holy word in them, that has happened. There are now hundreds of Christian communities, all with their own men and women and the talents to coordinate them.”