(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Spring Issue  #109)

NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

2022-2025 OFS-USA Theme

2022-2025 OFS-USA Theme

Daily Boosters for our Vocation through Email

In 2007, our sister, Kathleen White, OFS, of Our Lady of Indiana Regional Fraternity, started sharing daily emails about various OFS-related aspects with other Regional Ministers. After her 2nd term as Regional Minister ended, she learned that many still wanted to receive her daily posts. Thus, the Tau-Daily email list was born. At one point, there were more than 1,000 names on that list serv. A few years ago, Yahoo closed down the list serv features, so Kathleen opened a Google Groups list. Currently 472 have subscribed to receive the daily messages. Topics of the emails include, in monthly rotation:

  • The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order,
  • the Admonitions of St. Francis,
  • an article from the OFS General Constitutions,
  • the USA National Statutes,
  • Little Flowers of St. Francis,
  • a Franciscan quote, and additionally,
  • the Franciscan saint of the

To subscribe, send a blank email to: tau-daily+subscribe@googlegroups.com If you don’t succeed there, send her an email request at kdwofs@gmail.com

If you change your email address, unsubscribe from your old address, then re-subscribe from your new email address.

To end your subscription, there is an UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of each email.

Thanks to Kathleen for those daily boosts of inspiration for our vocations!

Chapter 2023

This year’s annual chapter gathering will be held at the Pallottine Renewal Center in St. Louis, MO., from August 22 through 27, 2023. This is a fraternal and pastoral visitation for the OFS-USA. We will be welcoming Presidency Councilor Dina Shabalina, OFS, (Ukraine) and General Spiritual Assistant Fr. Carlos Campos Julve, TOR (Peru). Fraternal and Pastoral visitations are a wonderful opportunity to deepen our understanding of how to live our vocations. It is so good to receive feedback on what is going well and suggestions for doing some things differently. There are so many ways to correctly serve our Lord. It’s such a gift to receive ideas on what is working well in other parts of the world. We look forward to sharing the experience with you in a variety of ways―Facebook, our website, and TAU-USA. Just like regional and local fraternity visitations, we have a visitation questionnaire to fill out for the visitors. We are just starting to work on that now. Thank you for your prayers so we may continue our journey to effectively animate and guide the OFS-USA.

National Fraternity Council Meetings

Meeting with the National Fraternity Council throughout the year: the NEC is continuing its practice of holding virtual meetings to stay in contact with the Regional Ministers. The National Fraternity Council met on February 8 and April 29, 2023. Virtual meetings allow us to continue the business of the Order throughout the year, as the Regional Ministers are a critical part of the National Fraternity Council.

Connecting with Our Members

Years ago, Jane used to listen to a radio show. The host had a segment when he’d throw a dart at a map of the U.S. He’d get a copy of the phone book from that location (remember phone books?). The next week, he’d call someone from that town during the live broadcast and ask questions to learn about the town. Jane really liked that idea. She also heard that Pope Francis has made random calls to people. So don’t be surprised if you get a call from one of your National Executive Council members. We want to learn about you! 1-How you heard about the Order; 2-Your favorite Article of the Rule or aspect of our vocation that resonates with you strongest; 3-How you serve currently and in the past; and 4-suggestions for the NEC.

Ritual Update

A significant amount of progress is being made on an update to the brown Ritual book. In 2022, the OFS-USA obtained the copyright for the text and began the process for the update. The CNSA and Deacon David and Therese Ream, OFS, worked on the initial update. The NEC is now in the process of reviewing. We will keep you informed of plans for issuing the revised text.

Duns Scotus Board

Requesting applications for OFS members to serve on the Duns Scotus Formation Fund Board. There are two openings for terms starting January 2024-January 2026. Please contact Patricia Serotkin, OFS, DSFF Secretary, to apply by May 31, 2023. Pat’s email: dunsscotustrustfund@gmail.com