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Franciscan Novices

- Each Friday during the Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters, Catholic students meet up at various spots around UCSB to eat, hang out, and talk for a bit. To find out the where and when for a given week, contact the parish office. Or if you just happen to spot two happy guys dressed like Friar Tuck on campus, know that you are in the right place and are welcome to join in the fun!
2023-2024 Franciscan Novices at St. Mark’s/UCSB
- Br. Arnaud Dadjo, OFM Cap was born in Yaounde, Cameroon where he spent most of his childhood, even playing on a national youth soccer team. He studied for a degree in French Literature for 2 years in Marseille (France) and then for 2 more years in Dubai (UAE) where he met the Capuchins. His favorite saints are Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Francis of Assisi, and Saint Kisito, and he also enjoys playing soccer, meeting new people, and learning about new cultures.
- Br. Simon Li, OFM Cap grew up in Orange County, CA along with three siblings and several very loyal dogs. After attending the University of California- Irvine for college, he entered the diocesan seminary where he first learned about St Francis of Assisi. Attracted to his way of life, Br. Simon left the seminary after six years inorder to join the Capuchins. Among his favorite saints are St. Faustina and Blessed Solanus Casey.
- Past Capuchin Novices
  Br. Kevin Campos, OFM Cap grew up in a Brazilian Catholic family. Born and raised in south Florida, he spent his whole life in the state until he joined the Capuchins, having studied for 6 years at the University of Florida. Go Gators! Br. Kevin met the Capuchins at a FOCUS conference and felt a call to religious life shortly thereafter. His favorite saints are St. Therese of Lisieux, Padre Pio, Solanus Casey, Maximilian Kolbe, Jose Sanchez del Rio, Hananiah, Azariah and Mishael.
  
  Br. Joseph Liu, OFM Cap was born and raised in New York City. He attended Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio and has served with a number of different domestic missionary groups including NET Ministries, Totus Tuus, and Damascus. His desire to give more and more of himself to the Lord eventually led him to discerning and joining the Capuchins. With a love for languages and cultures, his hobbies include traveling, reading, and meeting new people.
  
  Br. Kriston Mary, OFM Cap was born into a devout Eastern-rite Catholic family. He spent most of his childhood in Kerala, India and emigrated with his family from India to the United States at the age of 9. After moving around the country, he and his family finally settled in Houston, Texas. After graduating from Ridge Point High School in 2016, he spent 3 years at St. Joseph College Seminary located at Loyola University Chicago while discerning for his home diocese. He took a leave of absence and felt called to religious life with the Capuchin Franciscans. Br. Kriston enjoys making rosaries, playing the guitar, leading praise and worship, playing sports (especially basketball), as well as spending time with people.
  
  Br. Gregory Armstrong, OFM Cap grew up in the small town of Fort Morgan, Colorado. He attended the University of Colorado, Boulder for two years, starting as an Applied Mathematics Major before changing his major to Philosophy. While at CU, he was involved in almost every facet of Campus Ministry, especially as a student led-retreat rector and Spiritual Life Campus Ministry chair. While teaching Totus Tuus in Denver between his freshman and sophomore year, he received a call to the Capuchins and left college a year before finishing his degree to begin Postulancy. His hobbies include reading and learning how to play multitudes of musical instruments at a surface level.
  
  Br. Connor Bannon, OFM Cap was born in Connecticut and raised in Oklahoma. He attended The George Washington University in our nation’s capital and earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. After graduation, he served as a missionary with A Simple House of Sts. Francis and Alphonsus in Washington, DC. During this time, he discerned a religious vocation and decided to join the Capuchin friars. Br. Connor’s hobbies include golfing, reading, and weightlifting. His favorite saints are Augustine of Hippo and Francis of Assisi.