(This article originally appeared in the Winter 2021 Issue #102 of the TAU-USA)

By Josh Molidor, OFS

Many might remember the cute poster popular in the 70’s that pictured a cat desperately hanging on to a branch with its claws! The depiction underneath was “Hang on, Baby!”, and it became a common catchphrase, often used to this day. Words of wisdom for the struggles we are dealing with now.

About one year ago, the Covid virus started to circulate through the United States and the world, with the first national shutdown in April, and the virus is really raging now. Most fraternities have cancelled in-person meetings, and virtual gatherings are now the norm. That close connection we once enjoyed, that intimate gathering with family, is now replaced with something much less. Yes, thank God for the technology, but a Zoom meeting just doesn’t fulfill our need to continue to grow the bonds between our favorite sisters and brothers in fraternity! Oh, what to do?

Well, let us make prayer and contemplation the soul of all we are and do. It’s a good (Art.8) Rule of Life! Most have more alone time to pray for the suffering and pain around us, so use your time fruitfully. Finally, we have the spare moments to delve into the Gospels, as we always said we wished we did! Now the opportunity for contemplating His Wonderous Love is here for the taking. It seems we even have extra moments to study our Rule and Constitution. How many of us have gone in that direction?

While we cannot yet give those needed hugs to our sisters and brothers, we must still try to build fraternal bonds! Most all of us have phones, so let’s more readily reach out and touch somebody, and less texting. Call everybody in your fraternity and spend time that way. Thank your council, both Local and Regional, for keeping it together. Share your stories, offer your talents up, never forget the shut-ins and suffering of our fraternities.

These plagues and pandemics come and go, but Our Lord’s Love remains. Just over 100 years after Francis’ passing, the Black Death hit Europe, and claimed 60 percent of the population. Franciscans have survived to this day! One hundred years ago, the Spanish Flu claimed 50 million worldwide, and we still are here to serve others in Christ Jesus! We have sadly lost many to this virus in the last year, but our light must grow only brighter. We are called to be that Hope that the suffering are looking for, the word of encouragement and help for those who have lost their livelihood, and the joyful message of the Risen Lord to all around us.

God has gifted us with the knowledge to produce a vaccine to overcome this virus. Never in the history of the world has this happened so quickly, Thank You, Jesus! Our fraternities will go back to gathering in a short while, we will once again hold visits and elections, and lots of love and hugs will happen at meetings once more. We will get through this with His Strength, and so in the words of St. Padre Pio…Pray, Hope, and Don’t Worry!

STEADY, FRANCISCANS

I got involved in Multicultural and Diversity on November 3, 2012, when I was an REC councilor in my region. Our Regional Spiritual Assistant at that time asked whether I could assist with a newly forming bi-lingual group by helping with the formation for the Hispanic members. I knew that it was going to be a challenge, but not how challenging it was going to be.

Over the course of a year, I began observing a pattern. Each member stayed within their own social group and without conscious intent, self-segregated. The English speaking sat on one side of the group and the Spanish speaking on the other side.

During the gathering’s social time there was always a pleasant exchange of, “Hello, Hola” from each side. It became quite evident that the language barrier was preventing kindhearted, compassionate members from bonding in this group.

In one of our gatherings an orientee told the English-speaking leader she would no longer be able to attend formation because she had been diagnosed with cancer. I was out of the room and when I got back, I noticed that the English-speaking group was in a circle surrounding the member getting ready to pray over her and the Spanish group was just sitting at their table. When I approach them, I asked, “why are you sitting there”? and they replied “Oh Señora Guadalupe, you know we cannot speak English,” and I responded “please get up and let us go and pray over her in Spanish. God understands all languages.”

As we prayed together and were united in prayer as brothers and sisters, it was a God moment. It was not just for one group or the other, because at that moment, everyone in that room felt the power of the Holy Spirit while being surrounded by prayers in different languages in unity as a Franciscan community.

At the next gathering, I was not sure what to expect after such a powerful spiritual encounter the previous month. As I entered the room, I immediately noticed the atmosphere was different⎯it was no longer “Hello and Hola.” The power of prayer had bonded the separate groups right before my eyes.

Through prayer, they were able to establish trust and love for one another. Unity was underway, and the language barrier was no match for God’s divine mercy.

I am blessed and thankful to have experienced this profound God moment.

However, it is important to note that this is not just my story⎯this is all our stories. At some point in all our spiritual journeys and our various walks of life, we either have or will experience the power of God’s love and unity.

I would like to leave you with this reflection to keep the bond of unity in your diverse communities.

✦ Recognize the abundant diversity of cultures.

✦ Respect the differences.

✦ Acknowledge the validity of different cultural expressions and contributions.

✦ Value what other cultures offer.

✦ Encourage the contribution of diverse groups.

✦ Empower people to strengthen themselves and others to achieve their maximum potential by being critical of their own biases.

✦Celebrate rather than just tolerating the differences to bring about “Unity” through diversity. Be proactive in listening, accepting, and welcoming people and ideas that are different from your own.

Paz y bien!

MY STORY: UNITY IN A MULTICULTURAL FRATERNITY