JPIC Award Honors Works with Refugees
2019 OFS-USA Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Award winner, Kent Ferris, OFS, (center), is congratulated by the JPIC Commission Chair Carolyn Townes, OFS, (left) and National Minister Jan Parker, OFS, (right).
By Sharon Winzeler, OFS
Kent Ferris, OFS, is the 2019 recipient of the National Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Award presented at the Secular Franciscan Order’s National Chapter, held Oct. 15-20 at Pax Christi Liturgical Retreat Center in Corpus Christi.
Ferris voiced the need to advocate on behalf of immigrants and refugees, who are among the people he serves as director of social action and Catholic Charities for the Diocese of Davenport, Iowa.
Ferris expressed gratitude to the refugees, including a family who fled violence in southern Sudan only to face hate-filled, anti-Muslim notes left on their community’s residences in the U.S. He felt compelled to apologize for such intolerance, he said, but the refugees themselves were “very gracious.”
He also said he was inspired by such individuals as Diego and Pedro who fled threats in their country and “expressed confusion and sadness but never bitterness at having been separated at the border for 40 days, with young Pedro being taken to the state of New York while Diego remained in custody and then finding themselves in need of family reunification services after the trauma of separation.”
Ferris is a past national JPIC chair for the order and has been an action commissioner for the Franciscan Action Network (FAN). He belongs to the order’s Franciscans of the Prairie Region.
He said he felt humbled by the award because most of his daily work is for justice and peace.
“I work for a diocese, on a bishop’s staff. This is what I do all day every day.”
Ferris said he was grateful for all of the people who have helped him work in the area of social justice, especially Bishop Martin Amos who hired him 10 years ago and Bishop Thomas Zinkula for whom he currently works.
Ferris and his wife Lori have both been Secular Franciscans for 27 years. Their children—Clare, 20; Miles, 17; and Lucy, 15—were raised in the order.
“My children, having grown up in a Franciscan household, know exactly what a Transitus service is,” he said. “They also would look every year to see if their birthdays fell on the first Sunday of the month so they would know whether or not birthday celebrations would occur after a local fraternity meeting.”
Ferris also expressed gratitude to Secular Franciscans around the country.
“I am quite convinced that had I not experienced such a deep and profound sense of fraternity at so many times and places, I could not have served the Lord to the extent that I have,” he said.
National Chapter meeting underway in Corpus Christi
Bishop William Michael Mulvey prepared the way for the 2019 National Chapter meeting by celebrating Mass at the Jesus Christ Our Peace Chapel in Corpus Christi on Tuesday, Oct. 15.
The meeting, which will continue through Saturday night at the Pax Christ Liturgical Retreat Center, will include approval of the 2020 budget, a keynote on the state of the order by National Minister Jan Parker, group discussions, presentations, a service project, and the announcement of the JPIC award.
The meetings began Tuesday as Cherryle Fruge, OFS, Minister of St. Joan of Arc Region, and Claudia Kauzlarich, OFS, National Treasurer, facilitated the orientation of the new Regional Ministers in preparation for the official opening of the Chapter on Wednesday morning, October 16th.
Each year at our National Chapter, the Regional Ministers elected since the previous Chapter, along with their mentors, assemble for an orientation session. This year, Fruge focused on the spirituality of serving the region as minister. She shared with us that she didn’t fully understand servant leadership until she served as Regional Minister. She told us that the experience of being Regional Minister has enhanced her spiritual life.
Fruge encouraged the new ministers with inspiration words about their role as leaders: “A vocation to the office of service is under the mantle of divine protection, and you are given all the graces sufficient to do whatever God wishes to do through you.” Most importantly, she said, “Don’t short change prayer”.
The new ministers and delegates were warmly welcomed in the traditional introduction of the National Executive Council and Commission Chairs at the conclusion of the orientation. The new Ministers and the delegate are:
- Emma Lozowski OFS – Franciscans of the Prairie Region
- Barbara Braley OFS – Our Lady of Indiana Region
- Steve Geldmacher OFS – Saint Clare Region
- Joanne Lockwood OFS – Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Region
- Marianne James OFS – Saint Maximilian Kolbe Region
- Gene Keenan OFS – Tau Cross Region
- Tim Taormina OFS, RVM, delegate for Hazel Martin, OFS – Queen of Peace Region
- Dale Marzano, OFS – delegate for Lorna Miressi, OFS – Mother Cabrini Region