Three Franciscan Friars Profess Final Vows

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Three Franciscan friars—Brother James Bernard, O.F.M.; Brother Steven Kuehn, O.F.M.; and Brother Aaron Richardson, O.F.M.—professed final vows during a Mass celebrated Aug. 21 by Father Kevin Mullen, O.F.M., the provincial minister of the Holy Name Province, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Manhattan.

The three friars are now pursuing their priestly ordination. 

Brother Bernard received a bachelor’s degree in financial planning from Grove City College, Grove City, Pa., and a master’s in banking from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He served his 2020-2021 internship in the Franciscan Food Center at St. Anthony Shrine, Boston. Brother Bernard, who grew up in Bohemia, Long Island, plans to move to Chicago to complete his master’s in divinity degree.

Brother Kuehn, who grew up in Annapolis, Md., earned a bachelor’s degree in systems engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy. He volunteered at food pantries and was active in prayer groups, Bible study, fellowship programs and other ministries at area parishes while stationed in San Diego and Washington, D.C. After serving 12 years in the U.S. Navy, he joined the Franciscans, professing first vows in 2017 and completing an internship at St. Bonaventure University, Olean, during the 2020-2021 school year.

Brother Richardson received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from George Mason University, Fairfax, Va., and plans to return in 2022 to Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, to complete his master’s in divinity degree. The California native who grew up in Fredericksburg, Va.,  joined the Holy Name Province in 2014, professed first vows in 2016 and completed an internship at the St. Francis Inn soup kitchen in Philadelphia during the past year.