The Gospel Through a Franciscan Lens – 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher
Whether we are looking for God, or not. God is looking for us. God is always successful.
The Gospel Through a Franciscan Lens – 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher
We often confuse appearances. We mistake our enemies for God’s enemies. We are quick to uproot those whom Christ is patiently nurturing. The Kingdom grows through God’s patience before it culminates in God’s judgment.
Francis: Our Model for Following Christ
My very first introduction to a Secular Franciscan was getting to know a gentle soul named Anna. When she described her relationship with God as “intimacy,” I knew that I wanted to have what she already possessed. I wanted to love God as she loved Him. Anna was my living model of loving Christ. She lived her Franciscan life as Francis did: with humility, simplicity and love for others. Although Anna surely knew suffering in her life, she still remained joyful and caring.
The Gospel Through a Franciscan Lens – 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher
“The word that goes forth from the mouth of God does not return empty. It does not come back without succeeding in what it was sent to do.”
October: A Month for All Things Franciscan
The mission of Franciscan Month is to celebrate the 800-year charism of the Franciscan way of life, to build awareness about this way of life, and to invite and inspire people of all faiths to live it. Our intention for 2026 is to promote the Franciscan values of simplicity, care for creation, peacemaking, the dignity and integrity of each person and service to the poor, marginalized and forgotten - especially during this Jubilee Year of St. Francis.
The Gospel Through a Franciscan Lens – 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher
Jesus comes back again and again to this image of the child, to communicate a sense of human relationship to God.
A MESSAGE FROM THE Q PLANNING COMMITTEE
This year, we will celebrate the 21st Quinquennial Congress (Q2026) at the Griffin Gate Marriott in Lexington, Kentucky, from July 29 to August 2. This gathering comes at a particularly grace-filled moment, as the global Franciscan family continues to celebrate the Jubilee Year of St. Francis and the 800th anniversaries that mark the final years of his earthly life.
Trust God’s Wisdom – OFS Rule Article 10
Surrender is the willing offering of one’s own will, desires, and life to God in trust, obedience, and love. It is an active response of faith—choosing to yield oneself to God’s purposes, following the example of Christ, who entrusted himself completely to the Father (Lumen Gentium, 41).
The Gospel Through a Franciscan Lens – 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher
“Whoever welcomes you welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me.” Hospitality extended from one to another becomes a place of encounter. In welcoming another person, we may discover that Christ has already arrived ahead of us.
Francis, Renewed in Our Times
In my lifetime, four of my relatives have celebrated their 100th birthday. A century is a long time. But this year, as you all know, we are celebrating the 800th anniversary of Francis’ death. How does Francis stay so popular after eight centuries? We can get an idea by looking at what has happened in just the last 40 years – my part of the story.