(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Spring/Summer 2021 Issue #103)

By Kathleen Molaro, OFS

National Franciscan Youth and Young Adult Commission Chair

When I served as a youth director, each summer we participated in a week-long service program called “Young Neighbors in Action.” One year, our week was spent in an orphanage in Mexico. Among other chores, we were each asked to choose one child and befriend them, rather than spread ourselves among the large group. We were told it would be better for that one child to benefit from extra love and attention, even if only for a week. “A little bit of love goes a long way. The love settles in their hearts and can be drawn on later,” the director explained.

I believe the same philosophy applies when reaching out to youth and young adults. Young people are often in flux at this point in their lives, so we may only have them for a short time. Every moment counts in building a loving relationship that might “settle in their hearts.” Are we genuine? Do we truly live what we preach about gospel life? Are we willing to hear their story and share their successes, fears, and struggles?

Many fraternities have shared that a young adult will call or drop into a gathering to check out the Secular Franciscans. They often have but a few months to join us, considering they may be on a break from school, looking for a job elsewhere, moving away from family to start their own, or any number of reasons. They may or may not stay, depending on their need and intention— but also on what they find when they arrive. The FY/YA Commission has encouraged all fraternities to be ready for the possibility of younger members by taking a close look at their fraternity dynamics.

I found myself reflecting on the Instrumentum Laboris in light of this challenge. On pages 5 and 6 there is a list of ways to animate and guide our fraternities. Simply rephrasing them a bit helps us see why they are important to consider if you are serious about offering the gift of fraternity and Franciscan spirituality to young people.

✦ Do we understand the importance of a Christcentered life, and are we able to inspire young people to adopt that goal?

✦ Do we encourage one another to accept and respect the young person simply because they are a brother or sister of Christ?

✦ Do we witness a life of prayer and intimacy with the Lord, both as individuals and as fraternity?

✦ Do we work for justice and invite young people to join us, and do we join young people in their work toward a more just world?

✦ Do we share concrete experiences and truthful stories of our own spiritual journey and allow young people to do the same, without judgment?

✦ Do they see us in fidelity with the Church, our Order, and each other? Are we obviously growing in our faith and in our charism?

✦ Do we model lives of vital and reciprocal communion, and are we an active presence in the world?

✦ Do our young people see us as a family, working together and sharing responsibilities?

Jan Parker wrote in the Winter 2021 TAU-USA about the term “prophetic creativity” used in the Instrumentum Laboris. She describes prophetic creativity, saying “It is innovative action we take in response to the Holy Spirit working within us.” The Holy Spirit is moving across our country, inspiring us to journey together with our younger Catholic brothers and sisters. The apostle Paul says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23) Practicing these virtues and modelling a way of life led by the Holy Spirit and our beloved Saints Francis and Clare is what we are called to do as Secular Franciscans. A little love goes a long way. Just think what a lot of love can do!

The commission gathers via Zoom monthly with FY/YA Regional Animators for ongoing training, prayer, networking, and formation. Our meeting right before Pentecost included a “Prayer for Perfect Charity,” and ritual for strengthening the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The prayer can be found on the National Website on the FY/YA page, in the young adult faith development document, Living a Gospel Life: Walking in the Steps of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi—Session 10.

https://secularfranciscansusa.org/2021/09/27/a-little-bit-of-love-goes-a-long-way/

(This Article originally appeared in the Spring/Summer Issue of TAU-USA #103)

Ecumenical Interfaith Committee Joint Committee on Franciscan Unity

by Donna Hollis, OFS, National Councilor

We are called to rebuild. We must dare to dream! We must dare to Hope!

(Reflection from the book “Let us Dream” by Pope Francis)

Pope Francis has been transforming the tone and approach of the Catholic Church towards Ecumenism by reaching out to non-Catholic denominations to reconcile past differences, opening the doors to dialogue and understanding, focusing on what we have in common and not differences, celebrating and reconciling “That they may all be one.”

Pope Francis inspires us to dream of a future that seeks to restore the dignity of every person and creation in order to foster healthy relationships. As Franciscans we ask, “How do we work to heal the Body of Christ, to speak as Franciscans to the world based on ‘one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism?’” Certainly, our vocation is meant to be one of healing and witness to the urging of the Spirit. Doesn’t our vocation to “live the gospel in fraternal communion” call us to create a sisterhood and brotherhood beyond borders of our beliefs? Fraternity itself is our challenging new frontier.

How might these ideals look in practice? Scripture asks us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked and give hope to those in most need. Doing these works of mercy tears down the walls of differences, and we find ourselves working together for the common good for all people.

Members of a number of Christian denominations are working together to assist refugees coming across our Southwest Borders seeking asylum due to threats, and a way out of violence and poverty. They have their own stories to tell. One family arrived with their oldest son, having left the younger behind, only to find out that he was killed while they were on their journey. They faced a difficult choice. Going back would mean not being able to return; moving forward in search of a better life would require leaving the heartache to heal in time.

We listen to their stories and our hearts are broken; compassion is released as we serve together in helping those whose hearts are already broken. We recognize that we are all children of God, men and women of every race, of every faith. If we really see someone in their fullness, recognizing the Divine seed in everyone, we cannot help but treat treating them with kindness and compassion.

Where do we go from here? Working with the refugees reminds us that God Himself chooses to go to the margins; they are places full of possibilities. We need to become those “saints”’ who have an awakened heart to seek those in the marginal places where possibilities are waiting. We let those stories told of the journey of desperation change our hearts. We need to rethink our priorities and dare to take risks. Enkindle the fire of the Spirit that we experienced when we were first Professed, and that in itself will be a witness to others and catch on like wildfire! So, keep living it out!

“Live a life worthy of your calling”

Prayer for Franciscan Unity

O gracious and loving God,

Having brought us into the Body of Christ

And Called to follow Francis and Clare:

Let your Holy Spirit inspire all

In the Franciscan Family to be of

One heart and mind in love with

You and one another.

Grant, we pray, that our common Charism and Vocation,

Shared by Franciscan Orders, from every

Christian tradition, help build up

The Body of Christ

And heal the Franciscan Family,

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

https://secularfranciscansusa.org/2021/09/20/new-beginnings-with-a-hopeful-vision-of-unity-among-all-people/