Kathy Vore, OFS, minister of the San Damiano Fraternity, in Ruskin, FL, shares her experience at the opening of the 8th Centenary of the Transitus in Assisi, Italy.
Every person is a child of God--fabulous, unique, talented. Every person is asked to set forth their gifts on the altar of the world.
As part of their National Chapter, on Friday, September 12th, members of the Secular Franciscan Order set aside time for a half-day pilgrimage to St. Anthony Shrine in Ellicott City, MD. The site has long stood as a place of prayer, reflection, and Franciscan witness. Operated by the Conventual Franciscan Friars, the shrine rests on 236 wooded acres, offering both spiritual and natural beauty.
In a recent article, the St. Louis Review offers insight into the lives and thoughts of those living the secular life and how they profess their charisms in daily life.
If our gazing at Christ doesn’t cause us to turn a compassionate gaze at the world, and motivate us to compassionate action, then we need to check on whether it’s really Christ to whom we’ve been gazing.
Our OFS Rule Article 5 reminds us that the heart of our vocation is encounter. As Secular Franciscans, we are called to seek the living and active presence of Christ in our brothers and sisters, in sacred Scripture, in the Church, and in the liturgy. This is not an abstract ideal but a daily way of seeing and loving.
1st Order, TOR and Secular Franciscans gather to share charisms.
There is a great deal of difference between fishing for fish and fishing for people. Fish can be caught against their will, and violently pulled from the sea. People are caught by uncovering the deep desires of their hearts. Their hearts were moved to immediately follow Him.
I shared this story ["The Song of the Bird"] at the NAFRA Chapter this year, congratulating us all in our determination to become experts in the challenge to reach out to our younger generations. Many regions have attended the Core Four training sessions - or used the on-line presentations to learn the why and how of this task.
Our JPIC Award recipient for 2025 is Carolyn Townes, OFS. Carolyn has had a long and impactful history as the National JPIC Animator for over ten years, and currently serves on the boards of several Franciscan organizations. What follows is a brief interview with Carolyn: