A New Franciscan Community Begins

In August, 1982, just over two months after the Notre Dame conference, Michael and one of the fellows were searching for a small, low-cost apartment. After another day of fruitless searching, they pulled up in front of a building at 391 Grand Avenue in Saint Paul to look over a map. Suddenly, a man who had been sitting on the steps came running down to them and asked, “Are you the six o’clock appointment?” They shook their heads. “I thought you were the people coming to view the apartment” he said. “Well, we are looking for an apartment,” they replied, and they asked if they could take a look. They went in to view the empty apartment and, to their amazement, the previous renters had left behind only one item: a plaque hanging on the living room wall. It read:

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity.”

The men saw it and felt that it was a confirmation of the way of life which they were beginning. Needless to say, they took the apartment.