Brian becomes a Franciscan cleric and studies for the Catholic priesthood in the historic Missions of California

Brian joins the Franciscan seminary in the historic Catholic Missions of Caliornia (Mission San Luis Rey College, 1962-1966; Mission San Miguel, Novitiate,1965; Mission Santa Barbara, Theologate, 1966-67. Brian is standing in the second row, second from the end (next to cleric with glasses). Brian was formed in the fundamentals of St. Francis, and his dedication to serving peace and the impoverished and forgotten populations taking the vow of poverty.

He left the Order in 1967, after five years, partially due to his excitement for the recent Vatican Council II updating (aggiornamento) of the Catholic Church. The Council allowed the Church to build bridges with other faiths (ecumenism) and to focus on God's mercy and forgiveness rather than on strict rigid rules.

Brian viewed the Council as a "springtime of renewal" or an "opening of the windows" to let in fresh air, much like Pope John XXIII advocated at the time. Brian's embrace of the Council's fundamental ideas carries over to this day.