By Jan Parker, OFS

National Minister

The National Priority of Fraternity Life has never been more important than at this time of social distancing.  Some of you have asked how to maintain fraternity activities during this time.

The following events can be held using video conferencing or conference call:

• Fraternity gatherings
• Fraternity Council meetings
• Initial formation sessions

Some fraternity events require personal presence:

• Elections
• Visitations
• Rite of Admission
• Rite of Profession

These must be postponed until we can meet safely in person, however, initial formation should continue in the manner described below.

Please see the following sections for detailed guidelines on all the above.

Fraternity Gatherings

We encourage fraternities at both local and regional levels to maintain fraternal bonds as much as you can.  Be creative.  Make phone calls, send cards or letters.  Use technology to meet as a group (conference calls or teleconferencing, etc.)  if possible.  On a video conference some members will not have the ability to be “on screen,” but they can join by phone.  Do your best to incorporate prayer and ongoing formation.

Fraternity Council Business

Fraternity Councils and Regional Executive Councils can conduct business by phone or teleconference.  Decisions can be made by consensus or voice vote.  (Note: A secret ballot is only required for elections or for approval of a Candidate for Profession.)

Fraternity Council Elections

Fraternity members, the appointed Presider and Ecclesial Witness must be physically present for an election.  Elections involve voting by secret ballot, and this cannot happen by teleconference, phone or email.  Mail in ballots are not acceptable for the following reasons:  the reading of ballots must be overseen by the Presider and Ecclesial Witness, and there are multiple elections and a changing slate.  Elections that cannot be held safely must be postponed.

What if postponement of an election is not a good option?

If a Council member is not able to continue to fulfill their duties during a term that has been extended due to the pandemic, then that person may resign.  In this case the Council fills the vacancy in the usual manner.

Official Fraternity Visitations

Fraternity members and the Visitor(s) must be physically present for an official Visitation.  An official Visitation cannot take place by teleconference.  Visitations that cannot be held safely must be postponed.

Initial Formation

Initial Formation should continue during social distancing. However, every effort should be made to maintain the same standards followed for an in-person formation session.

• Material can be sent out by email or surface mail but discussion is still key.
• Engage everyone in discussion as it would normally take place at a formation gathering.
• This can be done by phone, conference call, Face Time, Zoom, Google Classroom—whatever is the most comfortable for the formation director and those in initial formation.
• Please resist the urge to combine classes. Orientation, Inquiry, and Candidacy sessions should be held at separate times as you would usually do.
• For those in initial formation, it is even more crucial at this time to have contact with their sponsors or a prayer partner.
• Formation team involvement is very important at this time.

 

For those fraternities currently meeting virtually, (by teleconference or video conferences)

Question: We have new members whom we want to welcome into the fraternity even though we are not meeting in person. Can we do this?

Answer:  Ceremony of Introduction and Welcoming (p. 9 of the Ritual)

The Ceremony of Introduction and Welcoming can be celebrated by conference call OR video conference if the following conditions have been met:

• The individuals had been attending in-person fraternity meetings before the quarantine. (At least 2-3 meetings)
• They have been participating in the fraternity Zoom or conference call sessions. (At least two or three regular virtual fraternity gatherings)
• The fraternity council and the fraternity itself have had the opportunity to get to know them. (Either prior to social distancing or by talking to them on the phone and exchanging emails during social distancing.)
• The initial interview and faith summary have taken place. (This might have already been done prior to social distancing or it can be handled by phone or video conference [preferred, if possible].)
• Orientation lessons have been completed. (Not less than three months) This can be handled by phone, email or videoconference. Full sessions should be held, just as if you were meeting in person.
• Ensure that they have access to a short biography of St. Francis.

If all of this has been completed, the Ceremony of Introduction and Welcoming (p. 9 in the Ritual) lends itself to taking place during a videoconference (ex: Zoom, Go To Meeting). The Ritual says that it is to be kept as simple as possible; it is not a liturgical rite and should take place during the regular virtual fraternity gathering at the time of ongoing formation and socializing.

Question: We have Inquirers who are arriving at the time for the Rite of Admission. Can we celebrate the Rite during social distancing?

Answer: Rite of Admission (p. 11 of the Ritual)

It is not recommended that the Rite of Admission be carried out virtually.  The Rite of Admission takes place within a liturgical celebration (not Mass). The fraternity really should be gathered in person for this to take place. (Depending on the social distancing guidelines of particular dioceses, it might be possible to have the Rite of Admission with a small group representing the fraternity. [See Ritual pp. 4 and 5 section 3.2 description of those to be present.])

However, determine if the following has taken place:

• Inquirers should have completed at least 6 months of focused discernment-(Inquiry classes—of the same length and nature that would have taken place before social distancing began. Once again, material can be emailed or surface mailed, but sufficient time should be taken for explanation and discussion.)
• Prior to the interviews, all sacramental certificates, and letters of recommendation should be received and reviewed by the Council.
• Two interviews (one by the Spiritual Assistant) to assess the readiness of the Inquirers to become candidates. (These can take place on the phone or via video conference.)
• A letter written to the Council by each Inquirer requesting admission to Candidacy. These can be emailed to the Formation Director who will share with the rest of the Council.
• Discussion and collegial decision of the Fraternity Council (GC 39.3)
• The Inquirers should be made aware of the seriousness of the Rite of Admission and why it is being delayed until the community can gather.
• Once all of the above has been completed, Candidacy classes can begin via video conference or conference call. Again, these should be of the same length and nature as prior to social distancing.
• When social distancing has ended, the Rite of Admission can take place in person. It should be noted in the fraternity register that the Rite of Admission was delayed due to social distancing and that Candidacy classes began on ___ date.
• The Rite of Profession will also need to be delayed until the fraternity can gather. This is necessary for two reasons:
  • The Council needs decide by secret ballot on admission to profession of each candidate. (GC 41.1)
  • The Fraternity needs to be present to witness the profession
• Even when social distancing ends and the Rite of Admission takes place (if it has not been possible beforehand), an appropriate interval (below) should elapse between the Rite of Admission and Profession. (As long as Candidacy does not extend beyond three years.)
• Explanation of appropriate interval:  

The Rites of Admission and Profession offer separate and distinct opportunities for celebration, reflection, and the action of the Holy Spirit. Under the pandemic guidelines, someone could proceed through candidate formation for many months before participating in the Rite of Admission. Care should be taken to maintain an appropriate interval (at least six months) between the two rites to preserve the dignity and efficacy of each and to allow grace to act in the life of the candidate.

The National Executive Council thanks the National Formation Commission for their work on these guidelines.

https://secularfranciscansusa.org/2020/05/13/guidelines-for-fraternal-life-during-social-distancing/

Beloved National Family,

As all good Franciscan gatherings should begin, the National Formation Workshop May 12-15 in Belleville Illinois began in prayer, breaking open the Scriptures and sharing the Good News with one another.

Led by our beloved Friar Richard Trezza OFM, the Scripture passage selected was the Easter Gospel of Jesus with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35, http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/luke/luke24.htm). Biblical scholars will tell us that most of the Easter narratives in the Gospels feature an empty tomb and/or a non-recognition of the Risen Lord. Here we have the latter, where on the road to Emmaus, these two disciples of Jesus, who have journeyed with the Lord, seen His works and wonders, yet now after His death and resurrection do not recognize Him, even though He clearly recognizes them and journeys with them despite their lack of recognition or understanding.

I think as Secular Franciscans we might journey with this Gospel for all of Easter. Now no human explanation can fully “exhaust” any Gospel passage, as the divine will always exceed the human, but permit me to share the following with you.

I love this story! It is a perfect story for our lay spirituality. Clearly, these disciples are not of the Eleven. They are not the predecessors of our Bishops. They are “ordinary” followers of our Lord, as I hope are all of us. Now there has always been much speculation as to who was the other disciple with Cleopas. I am going to side with those Biblical scholars who have argued that this other disciple was none other than Mary, the wife of Cleopas, previously mentioned in the Gospels, even seen so recently at the very foot of our Lord’s Cross (John 19:25).

I would like to know about this Mary, but in the Hebrew writings and early Christian writings, women do not receive many speaking parts, nor much name recognition. On the other hand, Luke’s Gospel, where we find this story, gives women a considerable ministry of presence and consolation, a ministry of hope and service, as Mary was certainly offering at the foot of the Cross with the Blessed Mother and Mary Magdalen.

To me it makes perfect sense that Mary and Cleopas would be returning to their home in Emmaus, “conversing about all the things that had occurred” (Luke 24:15) as would any husband and wife. When our Lord appears with them, Cleopas as the man does most of the talking, but when this lonely Traveler appears to be “going on farther” (verse 28), “they urged him, ‘Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over’” (verse 29). It sounds like an invitation to stay at one’s home, and with whom would Cleopas be living if not with his wife? So, both husband and wife, Cleopas and Mary, invite Jesus to dine in their home as a member of the family. And almost certainly, it is Mary who prepares the meal and bakes the bread that Jesus will bless, break and give them so that they will finally recognize him. It was her baked bread!

And that’s the challenge that I wish to leave with all of us this Easter Season: Where do we seek and meet the risen Lord? Who will help us recognize Christ in our midst when we are too busy or too blind and foolish to see Christ ourselves? After all, we should not be seeking the historical Jesus of Nazareth seen in His day; rather, we should seek the Risen Savior still healing, still consoling in His Mystical Body, Holy Mother Church today.

Do we seek this Risen Savior by reading the Holy Scriptures? Do we find Him waiting, even when we don’t recognize or understand Him, in the Sacraments of Confession and Holy Communion? Yes, He’s there, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity, whenever the Sacred Bread is broken in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Do we run to Him? Do we beg Him to stay with us? Do we see Him in our brothers and sisters gathered in His name?

Let us pray especially in this Holy Easter Season of Hope that we may never lose sight of our Risen Lord, still journeying with us even when we don’t see him, still with us in all the Sacraments, still with us whenever two or three of us gather in Fraternity in His name.

Christ is risen! Christ is truly risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!

May all the Love, Peace and Joy of this Holy Easter Season be yours!

Reflection Questions

1. How should all good Secular Franciscan Gatherings begin? Why?
2. According to this article, who might be the other disciple with Cleopas?
3. If so, why might the two have been going to Emmaus?
4. And where would they invite their fellow traveler to dine with them?
5. And who would have prepared and baked the bread that Jesus blessed and broke and gave them?
6. Where do we seek and meet the risen Lord?
7. Who will help us recognize Christ in our midst when we are too busy or too blind and foolish to see Christ ourselves?

This is an excerpt from a series of articles by the late Deacon Tom Bello, OFS, former Minister of the National Secular Franciscan Order – USA.  “Many of these essays were originally published in TAU-USA, our national newsletter,” said Jan Parker, OFS, current National Minister. “They are excellent for reflection and ongoing formation.”  Jan helped Tom publish these essays in book form.  It is called  For All The Saints:  St. Francis’s Five-Point Plan for Salvation and is available from Tau Publishing. These excerpts will appear several times a week on the Secular Franciscans website.

https://secularfranciscansusa.org/2020/05/11/the-road-to-emmaus/

Should we talk about Christ Crucified as we enter the Easter Season? Absolutely! Without Christ dying on the Cross, we would still be locked in our sins. Without Christ’s Crucifixion, there would be no Resurrection!

Why the San Damiano Crucifix? Well, why not? The same Crucifix that spoke to Saint Francis can still speak to his followers if only we will look and listen.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before Him He endured the Cross, despising its shame and has taken His seat at the right of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2 NAB rev).

Was the San Damiano Crucifix painted with these words in mind? Let us start as we should always start by “keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,” as the writer to the Hebrews wisely advises, because this Crucified Jesus has His eyes open and fixed on us, not angrily or with pain, but rather curiously watching to see what we will do with the graces His death has purchased for us. He is aware of all that is going on, and He is enduring this Cross, “despising its shame” all for “the joy that lay before Him.”

This is not a Crucifixion of the Dead, but a Crucifixion of the Living. The Crucified Christ on this Crucifix bleeds, but is not dead; bleeds, but is not dead. Jesus lives. Yes, He has been “lifted up,” “hypsoun” in Greek, which the scholars tell us can be both “lifted up” for the Crucifixion and “lifted up” for the Ascension AND we see both depicted as Jesus ascends into heaven at the top of the Cross to take “His seat at the right of the throne of God.” “And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (John 12:32 NAB rev).

Thus, this Crucifixion teaches the Incarnation. Jesus bleeds: Jesus is truly human. Jesus lives; Jesus cannot be killed; Jesus ascends into Heaven to sit at the right hand of God: Jesus is truly God.

Further, this is no Crucifixion of a Solitary Christ: no, Jesus hangs in solidarity with many. Have you ever seen Christ Crucified “surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses”? This Crucifixion shows us Community, Fraternity. Jesus is literally surrounded on His Cross by witnesses: at His feet, by His sides, at his outstretched arms and above His head.

Scholars tell us that the San Damiano Crucifix contains 33 figures, including the Hand of God at the very top and even a small rooster at the Lord’s left shin. It’s not necessary to examine all the figures because the same scholars cannot agree on the identity of all of them, but some have been identified standing by the Cross.

We must give pride of place to His Mother Mary and His Apostle John to Christ’s right where the lance has pierced His side, and to His left, Mary of Magdala, Mary the wife of Clopas and the Centurion.

None of these figures looks particularly sad. Again, this is a Christ living; a Christ Who has defeated death. His arms stretch over the empty black tomb, and his blood gives life to all “the crowd of witnesses” around Him. Indeed, these figures, human and angelic, seem to be marveling over and discussing about the great Mystery of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.

Perhaps this is where we should be in this Easter Season: focused on this great Mystery and its influence on our lives. Do we keep our eyes fixed only on Christ or are we easily distracted? Christ can never die, but do we kill Christ in our own hearts when we sin mortally? How can we draw closer to Christ this Easter Season as we meditate upon and pray to the same Christ on the same Crucifix that spoke to our Spiritual Father St. Francis?

Let us pray for one another in words similar to those St. Francis prayed:

Our Father, all-powerful and all-loving, cast Your light into the darkness of all our hearts. Grant to all of us right faith, firm hope, and perfect charity with unfailing gentleness and generosity, and above all, with profound humility, wisdom and perception, so that we may accomplish what is truly Your Holy Will. Amen.

Reflection Questions

1. Why might it be appropriate to talk about the San Damiano Crucifix even during the Easter Season?
2. Why might the San Damiano Crucifix in particular still speak to Secular Franciscans?
3. In meditating upon such a “busy” Crucifix with so many figures, where is the best place to start?
4. Is the San Damiano Crucifix more a Crucifixion of the Dead or of the Living? Why?
5. In what ways does this Crucifix show us Fraternity? In fact, how many figures do scholars say are actually part of this Crucifixion?
6. Specifically, who are the two large figures talking on Christ’s right side? Who are the three large figures talking on Christ’s left side?
7. About what topics does the article speculate that these larger figures might be talking?

This is an excerpt from a series of articles by the late Deacon Tom Bello, OFS, former Minister of the National Secular Franciscan Order – USA.  “Many of these essays were originally published in TAU-USA, our national newsletter,” said Jan Parker, OFS, current National Minister. “They are excellent for reflection and ongoing formation.”  Jan helped Tom publish these essays in book form.  It is called  For All The Saints:  St. Francis’s Five-Point Plan for Salvation and is available from Tau Publishing. These excerpts will appear several times a week on the Secular Franciscans website.

https://secularfranciscansusa.org/2020/05/08/the-san-damiano-crucifix/

First, prayer. St. Pio said, “Pray, hope and don´t worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful and will hear your prayer.” He also said, “Prayer is the oxygen of the soul.” Prayer is the breath of the Spirit; prayer is our communication with God. […]

https://secularfranciscansusa.org/2020/05/08/awakening/