Friar Angel Vazquez proves he’s a cut above, ministering to
St. Bonaventure students from his Reilly Center barbershop
Story by Beth Eberth | Photos by Danny Bush, ’13, ’15
Growing up on Staten Island, New York, Br. Angel Vazquez, O.F.M., spent many a summer day hanging out at his grandfather’s barbershop. However, the path that led this friar in training to his own barber certificate – and to St. Bonaventure – was anything but direct.
A barber for about 30 years, Br. Angel’s grandfather ran a shop on the Manhattan side of the Staten Island Ferry terminal. He would get businessmen looking for a last-minute trim, guys stopping in because they were going for an interview downtown, and retirees like Jose, a regular who told the same stories. Over. And over.
“It was this hilarious type of setting. There was this great mixture of New Yorkers coming through his shop,” Br. Angel said.
He loved seeing how his grandfather interacted with the customers and the welcoming community at his shop. But it would be years later before he would see his grandfather’s career as a natural fit for his own vocational path as a Franciscan friar with Holy Name Province.
“That is ministry,” Br. Angel said. “Here was a perfect opportunity to reach out to people who are marginalized, who have been put off to the side, or just everyday people who walk into the shop. To have a moment to connect with them in a very nonthreatening way, because everyone gets their hair cut.”
Br. Angel works on one of his regular customers, senior Sam Hoefling of Cincinnati. “Br. Angel’s barbershop has definitely made a positive impact on campus. Along with being free of charge, it has allowed students such as myself to enjoy 15 minutes or so to relax, get a phenomenal cut and, most importantly, have time to connect with Br. Angel. Although my time at Bona’s is nearing its final curtain call, I hope that he is able to stay here for years to come so he can leave the same impact on others as he as done for me.”
That is how he sees his internship at St. Bonaventure, where about 16 students a day make their way to his chair seeking fades and comb-overs.
“I have been slowly developing relationships with the students. It has been nice to see the evolution of the relationships develop, which is the whole point,” he said.
Br. Angel’s barbershop is located on the second floor of the Reilly Center, in a small corner of the Damietta Center. Personal items on the walls – a picture of his parents, a Cuban peso to represent his travels, and a rosary and image of the Blessed Mother – all help spark conversations and connections with students.
“Br. Angel and his barbershop have brought renewed vibrancy to the Student Affairs suite in the Reilly Center. Making connections and developing relationships is at the heart of Student Affairs,” said Kathryn D. O’Brien, vice president for Student Affairs. “The barbershop offers a unique approach to student engagement that helps to build a sense of community and belonging at SBU.”
Br. Angel was first introduced to Franciscans during his undergraduate years as a political science major at Siena College. Following graduation, he worked at the college for six years as an admissions counselor and earned his master’s degree in counseling. He moved on to Tampa, Florida, where he delved into his job as a high school counselor and volunteered in his spare time. It was during this period he began to think, “If I’m spending all this time volunteering and doing ministry work, maybe this is what I am being called to do.”
When he learned there were Franciscans in the region, “I took it as a sign from above that I’ve got to reach out to the brothers in Tampa.”
He soon began volunteering with their Hands of Hope outreach program, which includes a soup kitchen and other means for feeding the homeless, and started pursuing his vocation with the friars.
When Br. Angel was in the novitiate in Burlington, Wisconsin, he came across a New York Times article about a Manhattan stylist who would walk the streets of the city on his day off and offer free haircuts to the homeless.
“He was a Buddhist and he talked about how it was really good karma,” said Br. Angel. That made him think of his grandfather as he weighed his ministerial options.
He didn’t intend to be ordained and work in a parish ministry, so he asked the province if he could be sent to barber school for a certificate to accompany his pastoral ministry certificate in theology.
During this yearlong internship period, “We are tested to see if we can manage full-time ministry,” said Br. Angel. He is in the final stage of formation and will take his final vows in August.
“This idea of going out and being a barber is a way for me to connect with my fraternity and the community. For the most part, you don’t see too many religious outside of a parish setting or a direct service ministry setting like a soup kitchen or a food bank,” said Br. Angel. “This is a way … for people to see us in another way.”
Visiting the barbershop is about much more than just a haircut.
“Br. Angel offers students an opportunity to receive some personal guidance, a sharing of life lessons or a time to talk about what’s happening on campus the coming weekend. I love seeing the stream of new and returning faces pass my office on their way to the shop,” said O’Brien.
Recent Comments