Br. Colin King, OFM
Colin King, 33, is a spirited young friar in the second year of temporary vows. He is a man who takes life as it presents itself, no matter how big the challenge. He has had some rough experiences in his role as a special education teacher. For six years he worked with students who had severe mental, emotional and academic needs.
“I learned to not to be a super hero and try to solve their problems but to love them, not to protect them,” he says. Some of his students had been abused, others had personality and severe mental illnesses, and some were homeless. Others had mild to moderate cognitively low ability for academic work. More than a few had home difficulties not conducive to having a sound learning environment. Some of his students were raising their siblings!
Following the daily work in the classroom, Colin had a reaction not unlike other young teachers – a crisis of faith. He was confronted with serving youngsters who were bearing the most unfair burdens in life. It made him angry. He saw today's classrooms in their naked reality and hung in there.
Franciscan fraternity is important. Br. Colin King, OFM, Br. Roger Lopez, OFM, and Br. Adam Calder, OFM, share a meal at the APA last May.
”Until 2009 I never met a friar. My calling wasn't with a blaring trumpet nor did I see a blinding light. Once I felt solid in my decision to join the Friars, I confided to my family and they were supportive. Mom is an Irish Catholic and Dad is Lutheran turned Episcopalian.” Four years later, he is spending a year at the missions in Jamaica with Fr. Jim Bok. “I want to roll up my sleeves to the elbows and get my hands dirty in the vineyard,” Colin says.
“I was the only older brother to three sisters. Never having any brothers, I was seeking fraternity. After college at Xavier University, I lived by myself and I was profoundly lonely. I compensated by over working. By living in community, I am hoping my brothers will support me and still hold me accountable to stay with my priorities and keep a balance to my life. I realize that in community life some of my 'siblings' are the age of fathers and grandfathers. That enriches my journey.”
This isn’t his first time in Savanna La Mar, where he worked at the soup kitchen and doing outreach ministry. “I'll stay in Jamaica until the Provincial Chapter meets in May next year.” His second trip to Jamaica convinced him he wasn’t crazy about sand and beaches. There’s no air conditioning in the friaries, bathing amenities are primitive, and mosquitos eat you for lunch. So Colin is going into this obedience with eyes and heart open. Being an educator, he is amenable to a teaching assignment down the road. Right now he wants to work with a small Catholic population in a high poverty area like Jamaica.
Colin has about five more years before ordination. In that time, he will finish training in Philosophy and Theology and meet all the provincial formation requirements.
Last summer Br. Colin served in Galveston Texas. Read his blog post, "Blessing Haunted Spaces."
Br. Colin King, OFM, with parishioners of St. Joseph Church in Savanna-la-Mar, Jamaica
Posted in: Missions, Saint Francis, Vocations
