National Chapter Opens with Mass Celebrated by Bishop Battersby

Bishop Gerard Battersby

Bishop Gerard W. Battersby opened the National Chapter of the Secular Franciscan Order with Mass that included a homily that reminded listeners of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ.

The Christ who animated Peter and the other apostles is the same one who animates us, Bishop Battersby said.

“The first historical proof of the risen Lord was when the apostles encountered Him after the resurrection­.  Before they witnessed the resurrection, it was hard for the apostles to remember His promise. especially after Jesus’s savage death.  Can you imagine how they must have savored the wonder and explosion of joy that changed everything for everyone?  The disciples became transformed men and women,” Bishop Battersby said.

“The North Star guiding our lives is the fact that he is risen. That is the life-giving transformation because we are risen with Him, and we come to know him as the Lord of all creation.”

This changes everything for us as it did for the apostles and Francis,” he said.

“The Father’s plan is for us to become like Jesus.  Do not be afraid.  You have eternity to work it out,“ he said.  “We must always press into the Resurrection.”

Franciscans are meeting at the Sheraton Hotel at Metro Airport in Detroit on Tuesday, Oct. 11.

The national group will continue to meet to discuss business, worship, share fellowship, and tour the Blessed Solanus Casey Center.  National Chapter concludes Saturday evening after an election of officers to three-year terms on the National Executive Council.

https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/2022/10/12/national-chapter-opens-with-mass-celebrated-by-bishop-battersby/

Open post

SHAPING THE FRANCISCAN FOOTPRINT – October 6 – October 12 2022

 

(a PDF copy for printing is attached)

Five Important Spiritual Thoughts from the Liturgy of the Word

…and follow up for the Secular Franciscan

October 6 – October 12

 

 

1 — “Ask and you
will receive, seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Lk 11:9)

…When I pray the prayer of petition, do I ask with the belief that the Lord truly will answer in the way He wants?

 

 

2 – “Then it goes
and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there.” (Lk 11:26)

…a frightening thought from Jesus: evil will never give up.

 

 

3 — “Blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.” (Lk 11:28)

…An extended meditation:

What would you feel like?

We were gullible teenagers in a high school designed to help us discern whether we
had a vocation to the priesthood or not.
Our spiritual director, a kind man that every one
of us trusted was giving his usual Wednesday evening talk in our chapel. He came into the chapel and walked slower than
usual up to the front, turned to us, very slowly, paused for a long time, it
was an uncomfortable silence, and said: “I know something that I wish I didn’t
know.” We were interested, to say the least. He paused with more silence. Then he continued: “When I finish this talk, I
know that one of you is going to leave chapel like he always does, walk through
those doors back there, and fall over dead.”

He paused, again for a long time. Now,
what do you think of at a time like that—the man’s crazy, but he is holy—he
wouldn’t be wrong; I hope the man’s crazy; who is the person that will die;
what if it’s me. It really upset a
number of us, and you wonder whether he really should have got our attention
that way. To this day, I remember well having a very uncomfortable feeling. He did not say anything for the longest time. Finally, he continued: “Now what if that were
true. What would you do about it?” And he went on to say that we should be
prepared, and he wanted us to read a spiritual magazine. I remember everything about that moment,
especially when we were leaving the chapel and going through the doors very
cautiously. He got our attention, and I have
never forgotten it.

In many ways, Jesus’s whole life was a
way of getting our attention. He calls
us to “listen” to him often throughout the Scriptures.

Listening is among the most important
virtues that we can have as a human being. Actually it is the most important
part of communication which I believe to be the most important principle of
leadership for anyone. One of the songs
of not too long ago by a group called The Fray was about communication and
listening; it was cleverly named “How to Save a Life.” In general, the song said that the way to save
a life is by communication, and the most important part of communication is to
listen.

We do not listen well. What we tend to
do is what has been called “selective hearing” or “hearing what we want to
hear.”

What we are interested in, of course,
is “listening to Jesus.” I believe that
we have the same problem as listening on a human level: we “hear what we want
to hear” or “selective listening.” There
are certain things that we know that the Lord says to us in the Gospels
especially, and we often hear only a part of it. We know what Jesus has said
about how we treat others—all others. We
know what Jesus’ words and actions are concerning prayer—and the need for more
of it. We all know the basics of what
Jesus says in the Scriptures. Often we
simply do not want to follow through with what we have heard.

One of the skills that is taught to
anyone in a caring profession is the skill of active listening which involves
four steps: stop, look, listen and respond. Applied to our listening to Jesus,
it means:

– stop – what you are doing—do only one thing—pay attention to the words of Jesus;

– look – at the person directly—study the words that Jesus says;

– listen—as though nothing else mattered at this moment than what Jesus is saying;

– respond—do what you can to move yourself to what the other has said.

God is talking to us. We should be actively listening to what God is
saying, as well as what God is trying to say to us in particular.

 

 

4 – “Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” (Lk 17:18)

…Do I say “thank you” enough to God and to the people who help me?

 

 

5 — But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.” (Lk 11:41)

… I must remember my Franciscan charism. Am I giving enough of what I have to others?

 

Day of Prayer and Fasting – October 11

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Peace be with you, and peace to all!

The Ministers General, gathered in Assisi have called us to unite in a day of prayer and fasting for peace, tomorrow, October 11.  Please see the attached letter [Copy of letter in this blog and link to the letter with signatures] that was composed on Oct. 4, and is now being sent to us from CIOFS.  Please share this invitation widely.  

The thirty-eight members of the National Fraternity Council, along with many observers, will be gathering tomorrow for the opening of our National Fraternity (NAFRA) Elective Chapter.  We will stand together in prayer for this intention.  I am confident that each of you will also be with us in prayer as we ask God to grant us the peace we so long for.  May hearts be converted toward the peace and love that God so desires us to share!

I also ask that you pray for your servant leaders, gathered here in Detroit for Chapter, that we may be led by the Holy Spirit and filled with the peace and the purpose of Christ.  May Holy Wisdom, hover over each of us to guide us as we elect the next Executive Council.

Remember too, that each of you have also been called and chosen.  Each of us are servants of the Lord! Let us open our hearts to God’s grace, and respond with whole-hearted love to the call to live the Gospel.

Through the intercession of Sts. Francis and Clare may each of us be totally renewed in Christ, and may the prayers of Blessed Solanus Casey also be with us during the days ahead.

All praise and thanks to God who fills us with every blessing!
With fraternal love, your sister and Minister,

Jan

Jan Parker OFS,

National Minister, Secular Franciscan Order – USA

The Letter:

Conference  of the Franciscan Family

Dear Brothers and Sisters of the Franciscan Family,

                May the Lord give you peace!

As we are gathered together in the city of St. Francis on the occasion of his feast, we send you our heartfelt request to stay attentive to the issue of peace at this very difficult time for humanity. We want to express our deeply felt concern for peace, especially in the light of the suffering that has already been inflicted upon so many, and the risk that nuclear weapons could be used.

The Lord gave St. Francis a proclamation to be addressed to all, “May the Lord give you peace!” It has become an essential element of our charism. We welcome the gift of peace through the conversion of hearts. We ourselves are called to be meek, peaceful, modest and humble men and women, without quarrels or rivalry. Let us therefore be witnesses to the peace we have received.

“Nothing is lost with peace. Everything may be lost with war. May men once more begin to understand one another. May they once more talk to each other. If they deal with one another in good faith and with respect for reciprocal rights, they will realize that an honorable outcome is never prejudiced by frank and effective negotiations.” In 1939, Pius XII addressed this cry to everyone on the eve of the outbreak of World War II. Now, his words are dramatically relevant again. “Never again war!” exclaimed St. Pope Paul VI during his address to the United Nations. St. Pope John Paul II called war “an adventure without return.” On September 25, 2015, Pope Francis addressed the United Nations with an identical request: “No more war; war is the negation of all rights.”

Attentive to the signs of the times and these words from our charism and our pastoral leaders, we invite everyone to seriously and passionately take up the concern for peace, and to pray constantly for this precious gift.

 Therefore, we ask that you join with the Franciscan Family in observing a special day of fasting and prayer on October 11, 2022. While with evil we see the mystery of immorality in action, we respond to it with penance and prayer, by promoting reconciliation and peace, and by raising awareness among ourselves and many others regarding this fundamental issue. In our formation and our preaching, in our various works and service projects, in proclamation and in daily life, may we promote peace and reconciliation with power and conviction.

Let us entrust this great and urgent prayer for peace to the Queen of Peace and to our humble and peaceful Saints Francis, Clare and Elizabeth. In closing, we offer you our best wishes and a fraternal embrace.

Solemnity of St. Francis of Assisi, the Herald of Peace

Assisi, October 4, 2022

Letter with signatures:    Conf MMGG & FF 2022-20 Messaggio della pace e digiuno 11 10 ENG

https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/2022/10/10/day-of-prayer-and-fasting-october-11/

The Importance of Leaders Presence

(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Summer 2022 Issue #106)

by Willie Guadalupe, OFS

This is an article that I have been thinking about for several months. I felt I needed to relate to our leaders the importance of their “Presence.” I would like to share observations I made and complaints I heard in my role as your Multicultural and Diversity Councilor and to provide suggestions on how to make the best of your presence as regional leaders of diverse fraternities.

The complaints I heard were either from local ministers or fraternity members. On more than one occasion, members of fraternities who are from other cultures would mention how they feel isolated from their regions because of the language barrier.

At the regional level, leaders would express guilt because they were not visiting those fraternities as often, for the same reason.

The intent of this article is not to address this challenge, but to use the challenge as an opportunity in a more positive way.

Quite simply, be Present to each other.

Some regions have fraternities whose members’ first language is not English. Communicating with them is not an easy challenge and will require humility and patience, but it can be done. Leaders will need to exhibit these virtues when dealing with all fraternities, but especially those that are culturally diverse.

Spend time with members of the fraternities. Learn to speak greetings in their vernacular language. ‘God bless you’ and ‘good morning’ are good places to start. Fraternity members will appreciate your presence and willingness to try to communicate and will feel welcome rather than isolated.

Remember, language is not always verbal. Body language spoken in smiles and nods of the head can convey love and warmth.

Your presence as a leader alone without speaking their language is a way that you can show sincerity in learning more about another culture, and that can be an asset that may help to overcome cultural barriers. When communicating, remember that someone’s lack of proficiency in English does not reflect their level of intellect. Both sides should speak slowly and try to have someone who can translate if possible but this is not necessary.

Even though you may not speak their native language, our Franciscan kinship contains the language of love and affirmation. The presence of your leadership will give you the ability to connect authentically, build confidence, trust, and inspire and motivate members into action.

As we pursue our multicultural interactions, remember the words of St. Francis: “Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary, use words.”

This quote embodies how St Francis understood the ministry of presence. It is less about the words you speak and more about simply walking the journey with people.

Article 31 (General Constitutions of the Secular Franciscan Order – 2000) 

  1. The office of Minister or Councillor is a fraternal service, a commitment to hold oneself available and responsible in relation to each brother and sister and to the Fraternity so that each one may realize his or her own vocation and each Fraternity may be a true community, ecclesial and Franciscan, actively present in the Church and in society.

https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/2022/10/10/the-importance-of-leaders-presence/

Open post

FORMATION FRIDAY – When We Gather in National Chapter – October 7, 2022

When We Gather in Chapter

Next week the National Fraternity Council (all Regional Ministers and members of the National Executive Council) and Commission Chairs will meet in Detroit for our National Elective Chapter. The National Executive Council will meet earlier, so they will be traveling tomorrow. Your prayers are appreciated.

In the USA, the National (and Regional) Chapters are held each year and have a profound effect on every Secular Franciscan. This week and next week, Formation Friday will focus on National Chapters.

General Constitutions Article 68.1:” The National Chapter is the representative organ of the Fraternities existing within the confines of a National Fraternity. It has legislative, deliberative, and elective powers. In conformity with the Rule and the Constitutions, it may make legislative decisions and give norms valid within its national confines. The National Statutes determine the composition of the National Chapter, its frequency, its powers, and how to convoke it.”

“The goal of all …Chapters is to promote communion of mind and heart, and a renewal of the lives of each and every brother and sister of the OFS Order. Speaking about renewal, it is a long and difficult process that makes serious demands of us: the demand to return to the source of our vocation, the priorities and essential elements of our

gospel way of life that, over the course of time can become less clear and, in the extreme, no longer serve to animate and set direction for our Franciscan lives.” (Br. Michael A. Perry, OFM, former General Minister of the Order of Friars Minor, at the General Chapter of the Secular Franciscan Order in 2021.)

As you can see in what Br. Michael said, the Chapter is not only for business, although that is also important. But, probably the most important part of the gathering is fraternity and ongoing formation. National Chapters (and Regional Chapters) occur on a three-year cycle. One year is a visitation by the higher fraternity; another year is the Elective Chapter—the Elective Chapter in the USA is next week; and the third year is a chapter with only regional or national business. We will focus on the National Elective Chapter next week.

In the United States, all three types of chapters are held over a 5-day period with the National Executive Council and Commission Chairs arriving two or three days early for preparatory meetings. Even if there is to be an election or visitation, National Chapters follow a certain pattern. We open with a special Mass; then, each day there are many opportunities for prayer: Mass, Morning Prayer, Adoration, a Holy Hour, and a Rite of Remembrance for all those who have died in the past year.

Although the National Executive Council carries out the day-to-day business of the National Fraternity, when the National Fraternity Council gathers, it is their responsibility to carry out national business. (See Article 2.1 of the National Statutes: “The governing body of NAFRA is the National Fraternity Council. The National Executive Council acts on behalf of the National Fraternity Council when the members of the entire Council are not in session [cf. General Constitutions, article #66.1]”. Therefore, during each day of Chapter there is business: Updates on what our various commissions and committees are doing; presentation of and approval of the budget for the following year; motions to approve points brought forward by the Regional Ministers who form the National Fraternity Council. The National Minister also informs the National Fraternity Council of the “State of the Order.”

There is also abundant time for the members to meet in fraternity, both casually (at meals, social times, entertainment, and half-day away visit) and, more formally, in Geographic Groups and Councilor Groups. Ongoing formation rounds out the Chapter schedule. Formation presentations are made by members of the National Formation Commission and the Conference of National Spiritual Assistants (CNSA). In election and visitation years, the international presiders/visitors usually also make an ongoing formation presentation.

[Next week: the National Elective Chapter and the Importance of Servant Leadership]

For discussion or to answer in your journal

+Have you attended a National Chapter? What was your impression? Talk to someone who has attended and ask them their impressions. +Have you attended your Regional Chapter? What was your impression?
+If you have not attended, what have you heard about regional gatherings?

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 

Cuando nos reunimos en el capítulo (Por favor comparta con su fraternidad local)

 

La próxima semana, el Consejo de la Fraternidad Nacional (todos los Ministros Regionales y miembros del Consejo Ejecutivo Nacional y los Presidentes de las Comisiones) se reunirán en Detroit para nuestro Capítulo Nacional Electivo. El Consejo Ejecutivo Nacional se reunirá más temprano, por lo que viajarán mañana. Sus oraciones son apreciadas.

En los Estados Unidos, el Capítulo Nacional (y Regional) se lleva a cabo cada año y tienen un profundo efecto en cada Franciscano Seglar. Esta semana y la próxima, “Formation Friday se enfocará en los Capítulos Nacionales.

 

Constituciones Generales Artículo 68. 1: “El Capítulo Nacional es el órgano representativo de las Fraternidades existentes dentro de los límites de una Fraternidad Nacional. Tiene poderes legislativos, deliberativos y electivos. De conformidad con la Regla y las Constituciones, puede tomar decisiones legislativas y dictar normas válidas dentro de sus límites nacionales. Los Estatutos Nacionales determinan la composición del Capítulo Nacional, su frecuencia, sus atribuciones y la forma de convocarlo.”

 

“El objetivo de todos los… Capítulos es promover la comunión de mente y corazón, y una renovación de la vida de todos y cada uno de los hermanos y hermanas de la Orden OFS. Hablando de renovación, es un proceso largo y difícil que nos plantea serias exigencias: la exigencia de volver a la fuente de nuestra vocación, a las prioridades y elementos esenciales de nuestra forma de vida evangélica que, con el paso del tiempo, puede volverse menos clara y, en el extremo, dejar de servir para animar y orientar nuestra vida franciscana”. ( Fr. Michael A. Perry, OFM, ex Ministro General de la Orden de los Frailes Menores, en el Capítulo General de la Orden Franciscana Seglar en 2021. )

 

Como se puede ver en lo que dijo el Hno. Michael, el Capítulo no es solo para negocios, aunque eso también es importante. Pero, probablemente, la parte más importante del encuentro es la fraternidad y la formación permanente. Los Capítulos Nacionales (y los Capítulos Regionales) ocurren en un ciclo de tres años. Un año es una visita de la fraternidad superior; otro año es el Capítulo Electivo—el Capítulo Electivo en USA es la próxima semana; y el tercer año es un capítulo con solo una agenda regional o nacional. Nos enfocaremos en el Capítulo Nacional Electivo la próxima semana.

 

En los Estados Unidos, los tres tipos de capítulos se llevan a cabo durante un período de 5 días y los presidentes del Consejo Ejecutivo Nacional y de las Comisiones llegan dos o tres días antes para las reuniones preparatorias. Incluso si va a haber una elección o una visita de la fraternidad superior, los Capítulos Nacionales siguen un cierto patrón. Abrimos con una Misa especial; luego, cada día hay muchas oportunidades para la oración: Misa, Oración Matutina, Adoración, Hora Santa, y Rito de Recordación por todos aquellos que han muerto en el último año.

 

Aunque el Consejo Ejecutivo Nacional lleva a cabo los asuntos cotidianos de la Fraternidad Nacional, cuando se reúne el Consejo de la Fraternidad Nacional, es su responsabilidad llevar a cabo los asuntos nacionales. (Véase el Artículo 2.1 de los Estatutos Nacionales: “ El órgano rector de NAFRA es el Consejo de la Fraternidad Nacional. El Consejo Ejecutivo Nacional actúa en nombre del Consejo de la Fraternidad Nacional cuando los miembros del Consejo en su totalidad no están en sesión [cf. Constituciones Generales, artículo #66.1]”. Por lo tanto, durante cada día del Capítulo hay asuntos: Actualización de lo que están haciendo nuestras distintas comisiones y comités; presentación y aprobación del presupuesto para el año siguiente; mociones de aprobación de puntos presentados por los Ministros Regionales que forman el Consejo de la Fraternidad Nacional. El Ministro Nacional informa también al Consejo de la Fraternidad Nacional del “Estado de la Orden.”

 

También hay abundante tiempo para que los miembros se reúnan en fraternidad, tanto de manera informal (en comidas, momentos sociales, entretenimiento, y la visitas de “medio día fuera”) y, más formalmente, en Grupos Geográficos y Grupos de Consejeros. La formación permanente completa el programa del Capítulo. Las presentaciones de formación son hechas por miembros de la Comisión Nacional de Formación y el Conferencia Nacional de Asistentes Espirituales ( CNSA ). En los años de elección y visita, los presidentes/visitadores internacionales generalmente también hacen una presentación de formación permanente.

 

[ Próxima semana: el Capítulo Nacional Electivo y la Importancia del Liderazgo de Servicio]

 

Para discusión o para responder en su diario

+¿Ha asistido a un Capítulo Nacional? ¿Cuál fue su impresión? Hable con alguien que haya asistido y pídale sus impresiones.

+¿Ha asistido a su Capítulo Regional? ¿Cuál fue su impresión?
+Si no ha asistido, ¿qué ha escuchado acerca de las reuniones regionales?

 

 

Diane F. Menditto, OFS

Chair, National Formation Commission

Formation Director, Our Lady of the Angels Region
Formation Director, St. Francis Fraternity, Hackensack, NJ
Scroll to top
Juan de Padilla