Few people get to live their childhood dreams. Even fewer people have childhood dreams of being a secret priest in China.

Ever hear of the "the brown pope"? Probably not, because I'm pretty sure we just made it up. But if there was one, it would be Michael Perry, OFM, the former minister general of the Order of Friars Minor. As the leader of all the Franciscans in the world, he saw some wild things and has some crazy stories. He's also not taking to retirement well, starting international initiatives at Siena College.

It's not every day you get to speak with a guy ordained a priest under a day. What was ordination like? How did he feel during his first mass? How does he deal with being the youngest Franciscan priest in the country?

Br. Andy Brophy has not lived a conventional life. He trained to be a teacher but dreamed of being a missionary. When he was finally asked to be a missionary, he was too old for the job. So he started raising money for missions, now traveling the world to support the friars in nearly every country.

Franciscan life isn't about ideas or concepts, it's about relationships. Fr. Ed Shea, OFM knows a lot about that.

Br. John Barker, OFM is a man of many talents: accomplished chef, biblical scholar, and now excellent preacher. It's not everyday that you meet someone who completely changes their life plan... multitple times... but John shows that you should always be discerning God's call.

Few brothers live with more energy for the present moment than Fr. Juan de la Cruz Turcios. He's creative, joyful, and always ready to bring people together.

Fr. Jim Sabak, OFM has an interesting life. On the one hand, he is the chaplain to an elementary school and spends his days entertaining children with his gregarious personality and jubilant energy. On the other hand, he is the director of worship for a diocese, concerned with the most holy and solemn occasions of Christian life.