Carolyn Townes, OFS

The Secular Franciscan Order USA presented the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Award to Carolyn Townes, OFS, at its annual Chapter gathering held at the Bon Secours Retreat Center September 9-13.

Her acceptance speech, delivered on September 11, inspired the audience of 70 regional ministers, National Executive Council members, commission and committee chairs, and observers.  She spoke of the world’s pain and suffering, and the need to listen to one another’s stories and take heart in the proximity of God’s love.

“We try so hard to steer clear of anything that smacks of pain and suffering, although we are a nation in pain with tremendous suffering. We are brokenhearted. But the Psalmist tells us that God is close to the broken-hearted,” Carolyn said.

The JPIC Award is given to members who embody Franciscan values through their actions and initiatives. Recipients actively promote fairness to others, advance the care of creation, work for reconciliation, and advocate for the human dignity of the marginalized. First established in 1950 as the Peace Award by the North American Federation of the Third Order of St. Francis, the honor continues today under the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order (NAFRA).

Carolyn has dedicated decades of service to the Order at the local, regional, national, and international levels. For more than ten years, she served as the national OFS JPIC Animator.  She is also a member of the OFS Ecumenical and Interfaith Committee, where she educates on mindful communications and racial justice, with a focus on unconscious bias, empathic listening, and conflict management.

Carolyn extends her leadership throughout the broader Franciscan community. She has served on the board of the Franciscan Action Network and currently sits on the boards of Franciscans International, Pax Christi International Fund for Peace, and the Franciscan Federation. She collaborates closely with the Franciscan Action Network, the Catholic Mobilizing Network, and serves on the Joint Committee on Franciscan Unity.

(This article originally appeared in the TAU-USA Summer 2025  Issue #116)

by Mary Frances Charsky, OFS

International Councilor

Our relationship with the International Fraternity, CIOFS, begins with all of us being brothers and sisters of Secular Franciscans around the world. I recall former National Minster, Tom Bello, OFS, telling us that we are members of four fraternities: the local, Regional, National and International Fraternities. We are connected to all Franciscans around the world.

The International Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order is guided and animated by the International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order (CIOFS). It is organized and functions in conformity with the OFS Rule, the General Constitutions, the Ritual and the Statutes.

The International Council is made up of seventy International Councilors elected by the National Fraternities in the world, the CIOFS Presidency (of elected officers and Councilors), representatives of Franciscan Youth (YouFra) and the four General Spiritual Assistants.

The objective of every level of the Order is to help each brother and sister attain holiness according to one’s own personal Secular Franciscan vocation. We live in fraternity, always striving for unity with one another.

It is my joy to serve as the International Councilor for OFS-USA! Being together with sisters and brothers throughout the world is both enlightening and heartwarming! It is my responsibility to participate in the General Chapters which are scheduled every three years. Communication between CIOFS and the National Fraternity is expected as well as speaking/voting at the General Chapters in the name of the National Fraternity that I represent.

Here is a new logo and brand design for CIOFS. “A circle of rays bursting out from the Tau, like the sun shining on the secular world” is the description according to their website https://www.ciofs.info. The logo can be used with or without words and you will see it on the letters that Minister General Tibor Kauser, OFS, writes to us.

We are blessed to have the current Vice-Minister General, Mary Stronach, OFS, from the United States serving on the Presidency. Mary is the first member form the USA to serve on the Presidency during a six-year term. Every six years there is a General Chapter for elections. The interim three-year Chapter meets to address the theme, priorities, budget and statutes of the International Fraternity.

We are fortunate to have Ana Maria Raffo Laos, OFS, from Peru, as the CIOFS contact for the OFS-USA. Ana Maria and Fr. Tomas Ginga Panzo Suva, OFM Cap., General Spiritual Assistant, are coming to preside and witness the OFS-USA national elections in September 2025.

Secular Franciscans worldwide are encouraged to be compelling witnesses to build God’s Kingdom through their everyday lives in a spirit of charity following the Gospel. We realize that our vocation is not just for ourselves. We are called to bring Christ into the world by following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi.

Please read Vox Franciscana, the international OFS newsletter in digital form found at https://ciofs.info/news/vox-franciscana/ It is edited by Bob Stronach, OFS, from the USA. You will see photographs of national fraternities around the world during elections, visitations and YouFra gatherings. We truly are a global Franciscan family!