Carolyn Seal – Page 4 – Secular Franciscan Order

What Way are You Going?

Abraham Lincoln had it right. We should not claim God’s blessing and endorsement for national policies and practices. We should not proclaim that God is on our side. Rather, said Lincoln, we should pray whether we are on God’s side. Martin Luther King Jr reminded us of God’s purposes for peace, for justice, for the building of the “beloved community,” where everyone is welcomed, everyone is included, and no one felt left out of the conversation. By the working of the Holy Spirit in human hearts, unity is forged in diversity. ...

Carolyn Seal2024-01-25T15:00:29-05:00January 29th, 2024|Categories: CNSA, From the Newsletter|0 Comments

2023 Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Award

Our JPIC award recipient for 2023 is Steve Wasko, OFS. Steve is a member of St. Bonaventure Fraternity, in the Divine Mercy region. He is founder and executive director of the St. Suzanne Cody Rouge Community Resource Center, which is a faith based non-profit in Detroit. What follows is a brief interview with Steve: ...

Carolyn Seal2024-01-17T14:08:12-05:00January 22nd, 2024|Categories: From the Newsletter, JPIC|1 Comment

JPIC – A Change in Leadership

Joe Makley, OFS, is the new national animator for Justice and Peace and the Integrity of Creation. He replaces Carolyn Townes, OFS, who was appointed to the position in 2013 by the late Tom Bello, OFS. Bello asked Townes to work on educating Secular Franciscans on JPIC issues. The National Executive Council paid tribute to Caroline (Carolyn) for her 10-year term with a retrospective slide show featuring her work on the JPIC commission. ...

Carolyn Seal2024-01-12T14:10:40-05:00January 15th, 2024|Categories: From the Newsletter, JPIC|2 Comments

Franciscan Centenary Celebration Activity

Vickie Klick, OFS, chair of the Centenary Task Force, led an activity focusing on the four-year Franciscan Centenary Celebration. Chapter attendees had an opportunity to participate in an exercise focusing on the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order. The attendees worked in pairs to discuss questions focusing on the life of St. Francis of Assisi. The goal of the activity was for the participants to better understand how living the Rule, builds relationships between sisters and brothers. ...

Carolyn Seal2024-01-03T20:13:59-05:00January 8th, 2024|Categories: Centenaries 2023-2026, From the Newsletter|0 Comments

Chapter Day Away

National Chapter attendees celebrated the feast of our patron, St. Louis IX, King of France, at a Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis at its 2023 Chapter on the feast day of St. Louis, Aug. 25. Fr. Tom Nairn, OFM, provincial of Sacred Heart province, was the celebrant. ...

Carolyn Seal2023-12-28T15:31:05-05:00January 1st, 2024|Categories: Chapter News, From the Newsletter|0 Comments

Christmas at Greccio (1223)

This year, the Franciscan Family continues to observe a series of eight-centenary commemorations. In 2023, we are reflecting on two important events that occurred 800 years ago: the Approval of the Later Rule and the reenactment of Christmas at Greccio. Not far from Rieti, in the northernmost part of the eponymous valley, is the hill town of Greccio. Home to just about 100 residents, the village is famed for an event that took place in 1223. Within a grotto nestled within a cliff, here, St. Francis of Assisi reenacted the first nativity scene. ...

Carolyn Seal2023-12-21T18:08:43-05:00December 25th, 2023|Categories: Centenaries 2023-2026, From the Newsletter|1 Comment

OFS-USA National Chapter 2023

Seventy Secular Franciscans, friars and visitors met at the General Chapter in St. Louis amidst a record-setting heat wave Aug. 22-27. One day the mercury soared to 104 degrees, breaking a record of 101 degrees set in 1943. This was a visitation year, and Secular Franciscans were honored by the presence of fraternal visitor Dina Shabalina, OFS, from Ukraine, and pastoral visitor Fr. Carlos Gines Campos Julve, TOR, of Peru. Visitations are held every six years at the national level.

Carolyn Seal2023-12-15T17:19:04-05:00December 18th, 2023|Categories: From the Newsletter, National Chapter|0 Comments

Building Relationships with the help of Jesus

Relationships is the third aspect of our national focus for 2022-2025. The Gospel and our Rule call us to be in relationship. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." Matt 18:20 NAB Reflecting on Jesus' reminder from Matthew 18:20 - if two or three are gathered in his name, then He is there, we recognize that relationships with our Franciscan family members are especially important.

Carolyn Seal2023-12-11T17:26:49-05:00December 11th, 2023|Categories: From the Newsletter, Minister’s Message|2 Comments

OFS-USA Greccio ZOOM Event Is Almost Here!

A virtual tour of Greccio, site of the first live nativity scene, will be featured Sunday, Nov. 19 on Zoom. Then the 1223 Greccio event will be told from the perspective of two early Franciscan biographers: Thomas of Celano, one of the original followers of St. Francis and St. Bonaventure (a “second generation” Franciscan who interviewed the remaining original followers).

Carolyn Seal2023-12-23T09:02:24-05:00November 13th, 2023|Categories: Centenaries 2023-2026|3 Comments

A Sunrise Perspective

Early in the morning, when I sit on the front porch and look east, I have a clear view of the distant hills and trees. If I wake up early enough, I watch the sky just above these hills beginning to glow in various shades of yellow, orange, and magenta. A few birds ﬂutter by, and some sit silhouetted in the trees. Even a small hummingbird pauses to watch the new day begin. As time passes, rays of light ﬂare along the hilltops, and Brother Sun slowly appears with a glaring brightness signaling the beginning of a new day. After a short time of quiet reﬂection, it is time to head back into the house for a little breakfast. ...

Carolyn Seal2023-08-24T17:51:00-04:00August 28th, 2023|Categories: From the Newsletter|2 Comments

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