Carolyn Seal – Page 16 – Secular Franciscan Order

“On the Care and Feeding of Our Fraternities”

In the Gospel of John ... ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’ (John 21:15-17) ... And, what is the Lord trying to teach Peter, the first “minister” of the first “fraternity” of the first “observers” of “the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ”? (Secular Franciscan Order Rule 4, http://www.nafra-sfo.org/sforule.html). ... Thus, love is the third great lesson of this Gospel story; love is the answer to the Lord’s expectations of us in lesson one and how we should respond to the Lord’s love in lesson two. Lesson four is how we should manifest our love. “Feed my lambs.” “Tend my sheep.” “Feed my sheep.” (John 21:15-16).

Carolyn Seal2024-06-06T18:52:11-04:00August 5th, 2020|Categories: Formation, New Resource, The OFS Rule|0 Comments

ST. PADRE PIO SECULAR FRANCISCAN FRATERNITY, GUAM

With the canonical establishment of the St. Padre Pio Fraternity on Jan. 4, 2020, in Guam, the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order USA now reaches to the westernmost part of the United States. “The Holy Spirit has found a welcome home in the hearts of the brothers and sisters of St. Padre Pio Fraternity, and these are not just pretty words. ...

Carolyn Seal2022-05-17T15:42:22-04:00July 29th, 2020|Categories: From the Newsletter|1 Comment

FRANCISCAN LIVING

Have you ever read what St. Clare actually wrote? If not, you will be in for a pleasant surprise! Although a lot has been written about St. Clare, reading what she actually said can be quite an eye opener!

Carolyn Seal2022-05-17T18:05:51-04:00July 26th, 2020|Categories: From the Newsletter|0 Comments

NATIONAL ARCHIVES OFS-USA

Archives are important documents and artifacts that need to be preserved. They are as diverse as the institutions and people they serve. ... An archivist is more than a historian—more like a museum curator.

Carolyn Seal2022-05-17T18:10:25-04:00July 15th, 2020|Categories: From the Newsletter|0 Comments

Formation Commission

When we were very young, we learned that we have five basic senses that help us collect information and process the world around us. ... We are called by our profession to let the Gospel values guide the way we perceive, interpret, and interact with the world around us. With our basic senses in mind, let us ask ourselves these questions and reflect on our answers.

Carolyn Seal2022-05-18T11:10:51-04:00July 8th, 2020|Categories: From the Newsletter|0 Comments

As We Look to Our Own Wellbeing, Think of Others

As part of our Franciscan charism, we have the idea that not only do we need to look to our own wellbeing, but we must also consider the welfare of others who surround us, even if our own life is not going the way we want it. For this, we have the example of St. Francis and his encounter with the leper. Francis was going through a major conversion point in his life (as he would for most of his life).

Carolyn Seal2022-05-18T14:27:21-04:00June 24th, 2020|Categories: From the Newsletter|0 Comments

REMEMBERING FATHER LESTER BACH, OFM CAP.

With the death of Fr. Lester Bach, OFM Cap, Secular Franciscans lost a friend, mentor, author, spiritual assistant, and beloved friar on Feb. 2, 2020.

Carolyn Seal2022-05-18T14:33:51-04:00June 17th, 2020|Categories: From the Newsletter|1 Comment

Paraclete Press Online Retreat – Prayer, Our Deepest Hunger

How is prayer experienced as a hunger? How does the Spirit pray through us “in groans that are too deep for words?” How do we “pray always?”

Carolyn Seal2022-05-18T15:59:29-04:00June 10th, 2020|Categories: Announcements|0 Comments

We need to Be More Welcoming to Build Our Church & Our Fraternities!

He (Jesus) makes them (his disciples) see that the Christian journey is about changing hearts. It is about learning to live differently, under a different law, with different rules. It is about turning from the path of selfishness, conflict, division and superiority, and taking instead the path of life, generosity and love. It is about passing from a mentality which domineers, stifles and manipulates to a mentality which welcomes, accepts and cares.

Carolyn Seal2022-05-18T16:13:35-04:00June 3rd, 2020|Categories: Formation, New Resource, The OFS Rule|0 Comments

The Primary and the Four Marks of a Vibrant Secular Franciscan Fraternity

Not to be legalistic, but the last words of the last Canon of the Code of Canon Law offer the primary focus of a vibrant Secular Franciscan Fraternity. Those last words read: “the salvation of souls, which must always be the supreme law in the Church, is to be kept before one’s eyes”

Carolyn Seal2023-01-27T14:34:19-05:00May 27th, 2020|Categories: Formation, From the Newsletter, The OFS Rule|0 Comments

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