The Franciscan Gathering

The Importance of the Franciscan Gathering 

 A gathering of the fraternity should occur at least once a month. The monthly gathering is important because it shows that you have dedicated yourself to the “Franciscan Way of Life” in community with your brothers and sisters. True Franciscanism requires sacrifices, at times, for the good of your fraternity and of the Franciscan Order. You have an obligation to schedule your times of serving other church obligations around the day of your regular Franciscan gathering.

 Your Franciscan way of life begins in, is nurtured on, and blossoms out of your Franciscan gathering. This is your community life. Only for a good and acceptable reason should you skip a regular gathering. There are times, such as health problems and family responsibilities, that you may have to skip a regular meeting of the fraternity.

 We all owe it to our God, St. Francis, and our brothers and sisters; your presence is NEEDED at the gathering.

- from The Secular Franciscan

Pax et bonum

A Reflection on Our Profession

Reflection on Our Profession

As Secular Franciscans

By: Rich Backlas, OFS

     As a young lad I remember going with my mother to the local post office, as she mailed a care package to one of my relatives who was in the military.  The time was World War II.  In the post office there was a prominent poster showing Uncle Sam with the American Flag in the background.  He was pointing with his hand directly in front, pointing at you, with the slogan that read “I WANT YOU.” 

     As a prankish boy I would go to all the different corners of the post office room to try to avoid Uncle Sam’s gaze upon me but no matter where I went I could not escape that gaze or pointing hand.

     As I grew older I reasoned, how would this poster be, if the person portrayed was Jesus Christ saying, “I WANT YOU.”

     At our last ongoing formation gathering, we had a very informative question and answer session about Padre Pio and his life.  A servant of God, truly a devoted priest of Jesus Christ, he dedicated his life of servitude to accomplish all that was asked of him.

     His gifts of discernment moved hearts of the mild mannered and the hardened as well.  People, who would normally be shunned by society, were brought to a renewal of faith and salvation history took place.  Padre Pio became an example to all of us as Franciscans to follow his example.  He, as Francis, our founder, become our role models.

    We are called to a commitment to use our gifts, to bring about a positive change in the world.  The challenges we face in the new year of 2019, within our Church, compel us to take an active role as Franciscans to bring about a common good!  While we might question how effective we can be, we must realize that all things are possible with God.

     “And if God is for us, who can be against us?”  May we dedicate ourselves daily, to do His will.  Amen.

Pax et bonum

The results are in

This fall we conducted a survey of parish and non-parish ministries in which Fraternity members engage. The hope was to get a sense of the broad range of ways in which the members live out their Franciscan vocations, and perhaps to offer some ideas and inspiration for expanding our own activities.

 

Fraternity members belong to a number of different parishes. Among the most common volunteer activities are lectors, Eucharistic ministers, and music ministers. Some members are involved with prayer groups and Bible study, Vacation Bible School, evangelization, and conducting Communion services. Some engage in outreach activities, such as Stephen Ministry, food pantries, clothes closets, and Thanksgiving/Christmas basket programs. Still others use their gifts behind the scenes, such as serving on buildings and grounds committees or counting the collection.

 

In addition of parish-related ministries, Fraternity members are active in the broader world.

 

A number of members are involved in pro-life activities - Project Rachel, Focus Pregnancy Help Center, Rachel’s Vineyard, Sidewalk Advocates, 40 Days for Life Pro-life vigils, Good Friday Stations of the Cross for Life, and Feminists for Non-Violent Choices. Some are involved with ministries and groups, including prison ministry, the Catholic Daughters, Church Women United, the Ladies of Charity, the Children’s Agenda, Magnificat Women’s Breakfasts, the Diocesan Public Policy Committee, and volunteering at the Padre Pio Chapel.  There are others who evangelize when they get the opportunity - such as when undergoing dialysis - or who regularly visit and help those who are infirm, homebound, and so on.

 

The picture we get is of Franciscans who take to heart our call to embrace the Gospel, and to proclaim God’s message to the world through our words and actions.

 

Perhaps in reading what others do, we may get ideas about other things we can do individually.

Pax et bonum

St. Francis and the sinful priest

One version of the story ...

By the time Francis was an old man, he was widely known as a saintly man. He was afflicted by a disease that robbed him of his sight and he suffered so severely from the stigmata that he could not walk. He rode a donkey from town to town.

There was a town who's priest was living in sin with a woman. When the townspeople heard Francis of Assisi was coming to their town, they rejoiced, hoping the holy man would rid them of their sinful priest.

When Francis arrived, the people carried him to the door of the rectory and demanded the priest come out to face the chastisement of the saintly Francis. When the priest opened the door Francis dropped to his knees and raised his hands up until he clasped the hands of the sinful priest.

Francis kissed the priest's hands and said "All I care about is that these hands can bring me Jesus."

Pax et bonum

Questions for the rule

RULE OF THE SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER             Prologue: Chapters 1 and 2

The Prologue begins with the title “Concerning those who Do Penance” - What does “penance” mean here? How does that compare with other understandings of penance?

What is the purpose and value of penance?

What kinds of penances do I do?

How does Francis weave the Trinity into this prologue?

When you examine your life, who are the people who gave you your idea of love?

Why does all personal sin have social consequences?

What procedure do I use to work on my characteristic fault(s)?

How does spiritual blindness hurt us and deprive us of so much good?

Do we need to offer satisfaction for our own sins and those of others?

What blinds those who do not do penance?

Do we have a responsibility to those who do not do penance? If so, what?

CHAPTER ONE- ARTICLE ONE

What do you consider the primary purpose of the Secular Franciscan Order?

What other purposes might the SFO fulfill?

Does membership in an Order call us to make changes in our lives?

How do we explain to ourselves and to others that we are called to develop a spirituality and lifestyle “in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi”?

Who are included in the term: “the Franciscan family”? Do we interact as a family?

In what ways is your local fraternity a “spiritual family”?

 

How did you recognize that you were called to follow Francis?

Did a person or event awake you to that call

What charism of Francis speaks the loudest to you?

As a member of the Secular Franciscan Order, what are some of the blessings you experience by belonging to a fraternity?

What are some ways “to follow Christ in the footsteps of Saint Francis of Assisi”?

CHAPTER ONE-ARTICLE TWO

SFO fraternities are not to be “isolated” and “autonomous” - what does that mean?

      If we have become so, why did we?

     What can we do as a fraternity and as individuals to overcome that?

Did profession change your life? And if so, how?

How does an Order differ from a parish society?

What is meant by the common adage: “From Gospel to life and life to Gospel”?

Do I regularly wear the external sign of my membership in this Order-the Tau Cross?

Article 2 states: ”In these fraternities the brothers and sisters, led by the Spirit, strive for perfect charity in their own secular state.” What does “strive for perfect charity” mean to you personally?

What are some ways our fraternity and our order as a whole help us to strive for perfect charity?

Pax et bonum

New Fraternity Council Elected

 

At the Glory of the Most High Secular Franciscan Fraternity meeting October 19, the following people were selected to be the Fraternity Council for the next three years:

Minister - Lee Strong
Vice Minister - Nancy Strong
Secretary - Carolyn Barth
Treasurer - Mary Smith
Formation Director - Betty Carmen
Councilors. Ann Marie Kunz, Dick Kunz
Pax et bonum

2018 Picnic pictures

Pax et bonum