“The Franciscan family, as one among many spiritual families raised up by the Holy
Spirit in the Church, unites all members of the people of God—laity, religious, and
priests—who recognize that they are called to follow Christ in the footsteps of Saint
Francis of Assisi. In various ways and forms but in life-giving union with each other, they
intend to make present the charism of their common Seraphic Father in the life and
mission of the Church.” (The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, Article 1)
Dear sisters and brothers, this is a challenging time for us as a fraternity. After a process
of discernment and discussion since January, it has become clear that there are not
enough members who are able to take on Council responsibilities for the coming three
years. Many fraternities are facing similar situations.
Rereading our Rule as I consider what comes next—likely deactivation and transfer of
our members to another fraternity—I am struck by a phrase in Article 1: “in various ways
and forms but in life-giving union with each other, they intend to make present the charism
of their common Seraphic Father.” My vocation and yours is not just to belong to a certain
fraternity. In fact, whatever “various ways and forms” Franciscans are organized into,
what is important is that we continue to be “in life-giving union” with each other and focus
on our intention “to make present the charism” of our common father, St. Francis, within
the life and mission of the Church.
As we move forward together in this journey toward new “ways and forms” of living out
our vocation as Secular Franciscans, most likely as members of a new fraternity, let’s
remember that it is God’s will for us to continue to be in life-giving union. We will still be
in union with each other but also with the members of a new fraternity, our whole Order,
and all Franciscans. And the point of that union is not to be an exclusive Franciscan club
but to bring the gifts of our Franciscan charism to the whole Church and the whole world.
May God continue to show us what is ours to do in this new phase of our lives together!