Carolyn Seal – Page 9 – Secular Franciscan Order

Franciscan Jubilee – Minister’s Message Summer 2022

I will never forget my 50th birthday. My daughter, aware of the significance of this 50-year mark, made a sign that she hung on my mailbox. It simply said, “It’s Jan’s Jubilee!” I still have that sign. It now hangs on a wall in my garage as an important reminder to always turn to God, where I find joy and peace beyond all I could ask or imagine. It was not my idea that the theme of the 2022 Quinquennial Congress would be “Jubilee,” but when Br. Bob Brady, OFM, suggested it, I was thrilled. ...

Carolyn Seal2022-08-15T08:48:57-04:00August 15th, 2022|Categories: From the Newsletter, Minister’s Message|2 Comments

St. Michael’s Lent August 15th to September 29th

"In the writings of St. Francis, such as the Volterra text (Letter to All the Faithful) which is included in The Rule of the OFS, we are reminded again and again that Franciscans are called to be penitents, to pray and fast. For these reasons this ancient tradition is important to us. St. Michael’s Lent is a period of 40 days, honoring Mary and St. Michael the Archangel. It begins on the Feast of the Assumption and ends on The Feast of the Archangels. ...

Carolyn Seal2022-08-14T15:27:31-04:00August 13th, 2022|Categories: Announcements|1 Comment

The Pardon of Assisi – The Porziuncola Indulgence – August 2

This is the spot where, while listening to the Gospel, Francis understood what he was called by God to do. This is the spot where, while listening to the Gospel, Francis understood what he was called by God to do. St. Clare received her religious habit from the hands of Francis here in 1211.

Carolyn Seal2022-08-02T11:40:28-04:00July 30th, 2022|Categories: Formation|1 Comment

Ecumenical Interfaith Committee Joint Committee on Franciscan Unity

“The People of God: A Sacred Prism,” was an interfaith gathering of representatives of various Franciscan groups, which sparked joy, peace, and spirituality for all who attended. What a privilege it was for us, as members of the OFS-USA Ecumenical / Interfaith Committee, to attend this special event held Nov. 14-16, 2021, at the Graymoor Spiritual Life Center in Garrison, N.Y., a ministry of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. [...]

Carolyn Seal2024-06-06T18:33:33-04:00July 18th, 2022|Categories: Ecumenical Interfaith Committee, From the Newsletter|1 Comment

Franciscan Living – Take Delight in the Lord

I remember when each of my children was placed in my arms for the first time! I examined each one, marveling over every finger and toe, with their eyes gazing upon me! My children heard my voice and were comforted. I delighted in them, and they delighted in me. Psalm 37, verse 4, tells us to “Take delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” If the desire we have is to love God, then we must learn to delight in Him. How then do we do this? [...]

Carolyn Seal2022-07-12T14:27:19-04:00July 11th, 2022|Categories: From the Newsletter|2 Comments

Did You Know – Regionalization, A History

Willian Wicks, OFS, gives us a complete history of Regionalization – moving to geographical structuring and governing away from friar provincial jurisdictional structuring – in A History of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States. ... Presented here are only excerpts copied directly from Vol. III, Chapter 12, pages 277- 316. ... No one can tell the story better than William Wicks. The rest of the story, the details which mentions talks dating back to “1934 and probably before”, can be found in these volumes.

Carolyn Seal2022-07-08T09:05:52-04:00July 9th, 2022|Categories: Did You Know|4 Comments

Strengthening Our Faith Journey

I recently enjoyed conversing after Mass with several young adults who were home for the semester break from college. One of them shared that he felt a bit lost off at school without his family and the friends he’d grown up with. He was especially concerned that his faith life had come to a standstill. [...]

Carolyn Seal2022-09-30T08:03:08-04:00July 4th, 2022|Categories: From the Newsletter, YouFra|1 Comment

State of the Order Spring 2022, National Minister, Jan Parker, OFS

A little over a year ago, my daughter and I stopped at the “Little Church”, one of my favorite places of prayer. We prayed together before heading to the hospital for my surgery that day. It’s been quite a year since then, with many months of chemo. ... I reflect on all this because I am far from alone in having had to face trials this past year. As I prepared for this talk, it occurred to me that the State of our Order depends to a great deal on the state of each of us. We have all been through a lot. Health issues, isolation, job losses, and drastic changes in our lives, not to mention natural disasters, political divides, and social unrest. ... This pandemic has affected each of us, and it has affected our Order as well. ... So, what do we do when fears and worries surround us? We continue to pray. And we listen for God’s voice. [...]

Carolyn Seal2024-06-06T18:45:05-04:00June 27th, 2022|Categories: From the Newsletter, Minister’s Message|0 Comments

From Roswell to Rome for a Fraternity Gathering

In November 2021, I had the opportunity to travel from Roswell, N.M., to Rome, Italy, for a fraternity gathering. Well, it wasn’t just any fraternity meeting, it was the gathering of the International Fraternity Council of the Secular Franciscan Order (CIOFS). All Secular Franciscans (OFS) are members of the International Fraternity. [...]

Carolyn Seal2022-06-17T11:18:32-04:00June 20th, 2022|Categories: From the Newsletter|0 Comments

A Message From Pope Francis

On November 11, 2021, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the participants in the General Chapter of the Secular Franciscan Order, to whom he addressed the following words: [...]

Carolyn Seal2022-06-08T12:03:10-04:00June 13th, 2022|Categories: From the Newsletter|2 Comments

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