On August 9, 1979, nine members of St. Francis Fraternity in Hackensack, NJ, took a significant step in their spiritual journey by being professed into the Secular Franciscan Order. My great blessing is that I was one of them. As I reflect on these 46 remarkable years, I want to share a few things I have learned along the way.
El 9 de agosto de 1979, nueve miembros de la Fraternidad de San Francisco en Hackensack, Nueva Jersey, dieron un paso significativo en su camino espiritual al profesar en la Orden Franciscana Seglar. Mi gran bendición es que yo fui una de ellos. Al reflexionar sobre estos 46 años extraordinarios, quiero compartir algunas cosas que he aprendido a lo largo del camino.
The Holy Spirit is always attentive within us; are we listening? Relationships are built on open hearts and trust. The Spirit empowers Jesus to be continually present in the world. God’s Spirit conceives Jesus, initiates his public ministry and sustains his Spiritual life.
One of our recent Formation Friday”s offered a beautiful reflection on St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures that we’re all celebrating during these centennial years. We were asked to write our own canticle. I offer to you my humble “New England Spring Canticle.”
For the past month the hymn, Companions on a Journey, has been running through my mind and heart. The lines of this hymn by Carry Landry keep repeating. “We are companions on a journey, breaking bread and sharing life, and the love we bear is the love we share, for we believe in the love of our God, we believe in the love of our God.” These words ring true for us as Franciscans.
Saturday, we prayed as our Holy Father, Pope Francis, was laid to rest at St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome. Pope Francis was so consistent with his message about the Gospel. His first Apostolic Letter – Evangelii Gaudium – The Joy of the Gospel was in line with the OFS Rule.
I want to share with you two things: the fruitfulness of my vocation in the Secular Franciscan Order, and how the call led me to serve as a National Executive Councilor.
At our National Chapter in October 2022, the National Fraternity Council decided that the priorities for the following three years would be Vocations, Communications, and Relationships. As we enter 2025, we have a year - long opportunity to assess our progress and plan for the future.
En nuestro Capítulo Nacional en octubre de 2022, el Consejo de la Fraternidad Nacional decidió que las prioridades para los tres años siguientes serían las Vocaciones, las Comunicaciones y las Relaciones. Al entrar en 2025, tenemos una oportunidad para evaluar nuestro progreso y planificar el futuro.
New Year’s blessings to you. The beginning of the liturgical year also means the start of the Advent Season. Notice I wrote Advent Season, not Christmas Season. Although the Church says the Christmas Season doesn’t start for 3+ weeks, the rest of society doesn’t buy it. Most of our friends, neighbors and businesses have jumped to Christmas already. By the time the Feast of the Nativity arrives, and the actual Christmas Season begins, many have moved on - ready to take down the decorations.