From the Newsletter

“You Are Love:” Fraternity is our Workshop

... how grateful I am for the gift of fraternity: “What is truly special and emotional for me, though, is to see how people of different backgrounds, languages, and cultures are so much alike in our love for one another, for God, and for our Franciscan vocation. The Holy Spirit has given each one of us the exact gifts and talents we need to allow us to get along and to be productive. It's a bit of a miracle to see what even a tiny "temporary" fraternity can accomplish if we are open to the Spirit and to one another.”

Carolyn Seal2024-07-21T14:17:38-04:00July 22nd, 2024|Categories: From the Newsletter, Minister’s Message|0 Comments

Puzzles & Important Information TAU-USA Digital #111

These Puzzles and Important Information originally appeared in the TAU-USA Spring 2024 Digital Issue #111 – GOSPEL TO LIFE BOOKSTORE INFORMATION IS UPDATED June 20, 2024.

Carolyn Seal2024-06-24T13:01:22-04:00July 1st, 2024|Categories: From the Newsletter|0 Comments

Prayer inspired by Pope Francis’ Laudate Deum

This prayer is inspired by Laudate Deum, Pope Francis' apostolic exhortation on care for creation in follow-up to Laudato Si'. Laudate Deum is available on the Vatican website under “Apostolic Exhortations.”

Carolyn Seal2024-06-19T11:42:51-04:00June 24th, 2024|Categories: From the Newsletter|0 Comments

St. John the Baptist Fraternity Essay Contest Winner

With brilliance and insight, Jordan weaves a philosophical connection between beauty and God as proclaimed by St. Francis in the Canticle of the Sun. Jordan received a $100 prize and a Word of Fire Bible. We hope that you are inspired by the thoughtful writing of this young man. Praise be to God!

Carolyn Seal2024-06-11T09:49:51-04:00June 17th, 2024|Categories: From the Newsletter|0 Comments

The Cross and St. Francis

On Friday, January 5, 2024, at the Sanctuary of La Verna, the Franciscan Family officially opened the VIII Centenary of the Stigmata of St. Francis, with an event entitled “From the wounds to new life.” Eight centuries ago this year, up on the same mountain, on September 17, 1224, he received the stigmata; that is, the wounds of Christ were revealed on his hands, feet, and side. However, St. Francis’ interiorization of the cross took place much earlier. It happened around 1205-06, at the beginning of his conversion.

Carolyn Seal2024-06-04T13:29:12-04:00June 10th, 2024|Categories: Centenaries 2023-2026, From the Newsletter|0 Comments

We Are Called To Renewal

This passage from St. Paul (Rom12:2), notes three levels of adherence to God’s will: good, acceptable and perfect. Initially there is a minimum of following Christ which is solely good (not evil). Next we have acceptability which reflects a little higher adherence but still withholds total commitment and finally, there is perfection; for those who are fully committed to follow Christ and to become transformed by Him. It is a renunciation of self and desires, with a total intention of living for Christ in this world.

Carolyn Seal2024-05-29T14:16:08-04:00June 3rd, 2024|Categories: Formation, From the Newsletter|0 Comments

The Gift of Greccio

(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Spring 2024 Digital Issue #111)

by Patrick Martin, OFS National Centenary Task Force

According to the American Museum of Natural History, two thousand years ago our planet’s population was about 170 million souls (a far cry from today’s population of about 8 billion). […]

Carolyn Seal2024-05-21T19:52:08-04:00May 27th, 2024|Categories: Centenaries 2023-2026, From the Newsletter|0 Comments

And after the Lord gave me some brothers

For St. Francis, living “according to the pattern of the Holy Gospel” was physical and sacramental. One of its signal characteristics would be its communal nature. Modeled on the example of Jesus and the apostles, it would be a community of brothers who would “give themselves to honest work,” living a life of poverty in the world “as pilgrims and strangers.” In this and the other ways in which the Franciscan movement would take shape—St. Clare’s cloistered Poor Ladies or the secular Brothers and Sisters of Penance—the paradigm of Franciscan life would be fraternity.

Carolyn Seal2024-05-15T13:49:49-04:00May 20th, 2024|Categories: Formation, From the Newsletter|0 Comments

Taking Action for Renewal

Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation is meant to be more than a list of topics. It is a model to show how our life in the Rule brings about conversion, and how our actions are its fruit. We practice contemplative prayer, we reflect on our Gospel call, experience conversion, and apply it to this age and place. In our work, in our family life, in the parish and in our fraternities, we are a people of renewal.

Carolyn Seal2024-05-08T13:56:15-04:00May 13th, 2024|Categories: From the Newsletter, JPIC|0 Comments

Joy Comes With The Morning

We are often sad to lose the old, but we must never despair, for our Lord may prune, but he does so only to help his branch yield more fruit (Jn 15:2). In the area of ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, for example, we leave our old isolation, lose our false sense of security, and we enter a new path of discovery; we gain new friends and new wisdom. It doesn’t always happen in that order, but “joy comes with the morning!” (Ps 30:5).

Carolyn Seal2024-06-06T18:33:36-04:00May 6th, 2024|Categories: Ecumenical Interfaith Committee, From the Newsletter|0 Comments