by Joe Makley, OFS
National JPIC Animator

(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Fall 2024 Issue #113)

Our JPIC Award recipient for 2024 is Michele Dunne, OFS. Michele is minister of the Mount Saint Sepulchre Fraternity in the Margaret of Cortona Region. Since 2021, she has served as executive director of the Franciscan Action Network. What follows is a brief interview with Michele:

JM: Michele, the arc of your work reflects so many elements of our Rule, and you are currently the Minister of your OFS fraternity. Can you describe how you became aware of your Franciscan vocation?

MD: My Franciscan vocation came to me in 2013 at a time of crisis in my personal and work life. I often say that, of the many gifts the Lord has given me, this vocation was the greatest, the most surprising, and the most humbling. And it completely changed my life, gradually, over the next few years. One of those changes was leaving behind my previous work and joining the staff of the Franciscan Action Network in 2021. Article 15 of our Rule about being “individually and collectively in the forefront in promoting justice” just would not let go of me.

JM: Those of us who follow the Franciscan Action Network have noticed a significant difference since you became executive director. At the recent national Chapter, you explained your thinking and vision. Could you expand a little on that for the members who were not present?

MD: My colleagues and I at FAN have reoriented the organization since 2021. Looking at the name of the organization, we decided there was plenty of Action, but that we needed to remember the Franciscan basis of that action and to strengthen our Network. Instead of seeing FAN as a small staff in DC, we view FAN as being a network of 50 Franciscan religious communities and nearly 14,000 individuals. We, the staff, exist to serve that Network – to inform, inspire, and mobilize that Network to take loving action on JPIC issues in the United States, rooted firmly in our Gospel values and Franciscan spirituality. The other big change is that FAN is doing a great deal of grassroots work, organizing more than 20 Franciscan Justice Circles across the country in the last few years. The Circles bring together members from all branches of the Franciscan family – friars, sisters, Seculars, Associates, students at Franciscan colleges, and many others who are simply attracted by St. Francis.

JM: FAN is able to attract many young adults to its activities, along with OFS members of all ages. How are you doing this?

MD: We found out that young adults are eager to learn how to connect their faith with taking action on the issues they care about, for example the environment, gun violence, and peace in the world. They want to learn communication and advocacy skills that are effective while also fully aligned with their faith and values. And they like to work with older adults in this, as long as the older adults do not dominate. Through our annual Franciscan Justice Leadership Conference and Franciscan Justice Circles, FAN has been able to create settings in which young adults feel heard, supported, and in which their contributions are valued.

JM: What keeps you going?

MD: I feel blessed to be doing work every day that seems like a direct response to the call of my Franciscan vocation. And I am endlessly inspired by my fellow Franciscans! So many Seculars have given many years of direct service to our impoverished, vulnerable, and marginalized brothers and sisters, as well as to our beloved earth. And many of them engage in loving advocacy for public policies to address the underlying causes of poverty, injustice, environmental destruction, and insults to human dignity at all stages of life. To see all the love that Seculars, sisters, friars, and young Franciscan volunteers bring to the world is amazing and humbling.