Formation

Free Gospel-to-life series offers faithful, contemporary look at Jesus

St. Bonaventure University is offering Secular Franciscans a free mini-course featuring a faithful and contemporary view of Jesus as He is presented in the Letters of Paul and the Synoptic Gospels. Fr. David B. Couturier, O.F.M. Cap., a keynote speaker at the Quinquennial, will present the sessions online via Zoom on June 3, 10, and 17.

2023-03-21T11:16:19-04:00March 21st, 2023|Categories: Formation|1 Comment

OFS-USA National Theme 2022-2025, Listen-Discern-Go Forth

The OFS USA National Theme for 2022 to 2025 is, "Listen, Discern, Go forth." We were inspired by a lecture given by Fr. Thomas Nairn who paraphrased Pope John XXIII. Hear his talk in English here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG6t90WrmIA&t=605s These three Formation Friday will look at each of these words from our perspective as Catholics and Secular Franciscans.

2022-11-26T21:26:36-05:00November 26th, 2022|Categories: Formation|1 Comment

Formation Commission – The Light of the World: We Are Called to See It and Be It

The creation story begins with the goodness of light. Light was God’s first gift to each of us. The birth of Jesus was announced to us with the light of a star. We read of light in many stories in scripture, in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. ... Light symbolizes the many wonderful characteristics of God. Light is also a symbol for awareness, knowledge, goodness, and understanding. We are each called by name (Isaiah 43:1) into the light and to shine the light from God into the world. We are called to be witnesses (Isaiah 43:10) to the world. ...

2022-09-20T13:36:44-04:00September 26th, 2022|Categories: Formation, From the Newsletter|0 Comments

Fraternity Life – Fraternity: Our Secular Franciscan Witness

What could be the best contribution we, as Secular Franciscans, can make to the life of the Catholic Church? ... Here’s what Pope St. John Paul II had to say in 2002: “The Church expects from you, Secular Franciscans, a courageous and consistent testimony of Christian and Franciscan life, leaning towards the construction of a more fraternal and gospel world for the realization of the Kingdom of God. ….

2022-09-13T14:23:19-04:00September 5th, 2022|Categories: Formation, From the Newsletter|2 Comments

A Visioning for Formation: As in St. Francis’ Time, Spirit of Age Ultimately Doesn’t Satisfy

Setting the stage for a weekend of formation visioning, Fr. David Pivonka, TOR, provided a dose of reality. “The world has profoundly changed in the last 25 years,” said the host of EWTN’s Wild Goose series. “Young people have no safe place. There is a sense of danger infiltrating every part of us.” He said that there are things that want to corrupt, to manipulate the spirit of faith.

2022-09-30T08:07:16-04:00May 23rd, 2022|Categories: Formation, From the Newsletter|0 Comments
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