My Franciscan Life
(This article originally appeared in the Summer/Fall 2019 Issue of TAU-USA)
By Mary Soledad Batista, OFS
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
I can’t believe I have been a Secular Franciscan for 50 years. While reading our roster, my dear sister, Isela Sanchez, noticed that it had been 50 years. Shementioned the date I professed, which was March 1969, at our meeting and even had a beautiful card for me that everybody signed. That was a beautiful feeling.
My parents were Secular Franciscan all their lives. They met at their fraternity meetings. Later they got married. In their wedding pictures, they are wearing their brown scapular and their white cord.
I remember they used to take us to their fraternity meetings at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Juarez, Mexico, when we were little. I joined the Nifra, which they used to call “Jardin Seráfico” or The Seraphic Garden for Children. I remember our teachers were very sweet to all of us.
Later, I joined Youthfra.It was the most memorable part of my youth. There I received my formation to become a Secular Franciscan. I was 17 years old when I professed. That took place at Senecu in Juárez, México.
We moved to El Paso when I was 20 years old. We joined The Saint Luis Rey fraternity. While we were at this fraternity, I served as minister twice, as vice-minister, and as a councilor, and at the regional level, I served as an Area Rep. Recently, I joined the Mary Immaculate fraternity, because it is much closer to my house. My mom passed away eight years ago, and my dad is no longer attending our meetings. I have been in this fraternity for about six years. At thistime, I’m serving as an Area Rep for three fraternities.
I can say I have been a Secular Franciscan all my life, and it has been such a wonderful blessing. A few years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Assisi. It was an indescribable feeling to be there. Our Father Francis has been with me all this time and he won’t let me go. I can’t imagine my life without being a Franciscan.
It is an honor for me to share my life story as a Franciscan with you, my brothers and sisters. I anticipate seeing the wonderful blessings our Father Saint Francis has gained for all of us.
Thank you!
Maria Soledad Batista, OFS
Mary Immaculate Fraternity
El Paso, TX
Welcoming Fr. Chris Shorrock, OFM Conv., to the CNSA
In late October, Jan Parker, OFS, our National Minister, received a letter from Fr. Michael Zielke, OFM Conv., Minister Provincial of the Province of St. Bonaventure, OFM Conv., appointing Fr. Chris Shorrock, OFM Conv., as the OFM Conv. representative for the Conference of National Spiritual Assistants, USA. Fr. Chris replaces Fr. Giles Gilbert, OFM Conv., who had to step down from the CNSA due to health reasons.
Fr. Chris is a native Australian, and currently lives at St. Bonaventure Friary in Chicago, IL. Fr. is assisting with classes to Postulants at the House of Formation, and is also an adjunct lecturer at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in Hales Corner, WI. Fr. Chris was a member of the Conference of National Spiritual Assistants for Australia. He holds a doctorate in Theology, and has taught at Catholic Theological College in Melbourne, Australia and the Franciscan International Study Centre, Canterbury, UK. His academic interests are Franciscan Spirituality, Church history and Mariology.
Fr. joins Fr. Christopher Panagoplos, T.O.R., Br. Alexander Escalera, OFM Cap., and Fr. Jerome Wolbert, OFM, making the USA CNSA fully representative of the four obediences of Friars. Welcome, Fr. Chris!