Monks’ marketing campaign declared a success
About 20 candidates answered a job ad placed by Capuchin friars in a Swiss newspaper last month, the order has announced.
About five out of 20 were found to be suitable, a figure which satisfied the friars, who wish to recruit a younger generation, head friar Willi Anderau said.
The ad, which was placed in early November in a supplement that lists management jobs, seeks unmarried Roman Catholic males between 22 and 35, with a university degree or similar training.
Capuchin friars are becoming rare in Switzerland. Fifteen years ago, there were 400. Now there are just 200, and the average age is over 70.
The Franciscan Order, which goes back to Francis of Assisi (1182-1226), consists of three branches today: Franciscan friars, Conventual friars and Capuchin friars.
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