On May 3rd, 2020, Fr. Christopher Panagoplos recorded his first Sunday homily to be shared with the Secular Franciscan Order.  Since then, faithfully, he has prepared and delivered a homily each week, reflecting on the scriptures from a Franciscan perspective.

As we approach the beginning of a fourth year of these treasures, Fr. Christopher shares in his most recent homily for Sunday, January 28th, 2024, the 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time, some insights about how in our following in the footsteps of our Seraphic Father, Francis, we are following in the footsteps of Christ himself.

“We encounter Francis as real, real as you and me, no more, no less ordinary as you or me: a person with dreams, hopes, expectations; a person with a life, a history; a person of success, a person of failure, a person who embodies everything that is noble and fine and good in the human condition, a person who suffered the deepest, and darkest depression in a sense of self-failure. An extraordinary individual in an ordinary life, transformed by a desire to be as Christ-like as possible.”

Read the full text of this Sunday’s homily here:  4th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher (text)

View his homily on Facebook here:  4th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Fr. Christopher (video)

https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/2024/01/27/the-gospel-through-a-franciscan-lens/

On Thursday, January 18th, the Conference of National Spiritual Assistants (CNSA) gave a workshop for 12 local and regional spiritual assistants and formation directors from St. Francis, St. Junipero Serra and St. Thomas More regions at Mary and Joseph Retreat Center in Rancho Palos Verdes, California.

The day’s theme was “Intentional Choices:  The Life and Ministry of the Spiritual Assistant“.  Each of the CNSA Friars gave a talk, and invited the participants to share their own experiences. We had a lovely lunch together, and ended the day with a Mass, celebrated by Fr. Marek Stybor, OFM Conv., and concelebrated by Fr. Christopher Panagoplos, TOR, who was the homilist, Fr. Jerome Wolbert, OFM, and Fr. John DeLaRiva, OFM Cap. Br. Kip Kedger, OFM Cap., St. Francis Regional Spiritual Assistant, led us in song accompanied by his guitar. Br. Bob Brady, OFM, former National Spiritual Assistant, and current local spiritual assistant in St. Junipero Serra Region, was also in attendance.

The CNSA holds two or three in person multi-day meetings a year in different parts of the country, and offers a workshop to local Secular Fransciscans when possible.

https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/2024/01/24/cnsa-workshop-intentional-choices-the-life-and-ministry-of-a-spiritual-assistant/