On March 12, former National Minister, Jan Parker, OFS, visited the current National Executive Council to transfer documents, or so she said. In reality, she stopped by to transfer a special gift. She presented Jane DeRose-Bamman, OFS, the current national minister with a relic of our seraphic father, St. Francis of Assisi.
It is that wondrous time of year again! Our Seraphic Father Francis said that for us. Lent is all year round. And for these six weeks, Holy Mother Church will share it with us!
Have you ever dreamed of celebrating in joy and fraternity with Franciscans from around the world? The opportunity is coming Nov. 14-19, 2024, in Rome, Italy, with the Chapter of Mats for the Secular Franciscan Order and YouFra.
The messages of joy, hope, service, and the onset of our celebration of Franciscan centenaries are expressed in CIOFS General Minister Tibor Kauser’s Christmas letter. “Do not think about Christmas as a cozy feast but let us make it a feast of being children of God,” Tibor said.
The new National Executive Council was elected Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Chapter meeting in Detroit. Jane DeRose-Bamman, OFS, was elected minister, and Diane Menditto, OFS, was elected vice-minister.
Franciscan discernment starts with listening, and National Minister Jan Parker, OFS, called upon fraternity members to do just that in her State of the Order address delivered at the National Chapter meeting on Oct. 11-15 in Detroit.
Louise Sandberg, OFS, was announced Wednesday as the 2022 recipient of the National Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Award presented at the Secular Franciscan Order’s National Chapter held Oct. 11-15 in Detroit.
Bishop Gerard W. Battersby opened the National Chapter of the Secular Franciscan Order with Mass that included a homily that reminded listeners of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. The Christ who animated Peter and the other apostles is the same one who animates us, Bishop Battersby said.
12 Weeks of Franciscan Peace is a beautiful way to prepare for the coming of the Prince of Peace. The program is available in English, Spanish, and Korean and includes thoughts or themes for each week, a reflection, a Psalm fragment, a reflection question, resolution, and prayer.
Maybe the celebration of "Hispanic Heritage Month" can help all of us think a bit more about inclusivity --- and ask ourselves are we doing enough in our fraternities to be inclusive? How can we bridge that language gap? How can we be more inclusive?