Peace and All Good, Sister and Brother Servant Franciscans. I have begun this blog at the invitation of Bishop Ken and with the hope that we will find this a good place to share with and get to know one another. While living in community has it's difficult moments, not doing so makes group communication a challenge. We sincerely hope that this blog will be a safe place to share with one another as we journey together to bring Christ to the world through the example of St. Francis.
"The Uniqueness of Following Francis" newsletter will hopefully provide our community with both spiritual and community support as we enter into ministry with the people of God. Today, with the experience of forty years as a Franciscan, I believe that we all need means to reach beyond "traditional" and stereotypical identifications of poverty as we reach out to the people of God in love and concern. In the hope of generating conversation, I raise the question "who are the poor?"
Once we have established our goals for this blog and have begun conversation regarding the uniqueness of following Francis, I hope that we will invite other Franciscans to enter into dialogue with us and that we will begin to build a larger community of like minded and spirited Franciscans.
This is NOT MY BLOG. It is OUR BLOG and a place where we can share our concerns, achievements, questions, concerns, and whatever is on our hearts and minds with one another and expect that we will be respected and encouraged as we do so.
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Sr. Francis,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for creating this blog spot and opening yet another door of ecumenical and spiritual dialogue amongst our Franciscan family!
This is fantastic. I welcome the opportunity to be more connected to everyone.
ReplyDeleteB.Dan
Let us continue to invite the Holy Spirit into our every activity, mindful of our Franciscan vocation within the secular world. Let us be the converted ones we wish to see and experience in our world. This is the life that Francis and Clare point us toward. -see our text, p. vii.
ReplyDelete+Ken, osf
My Dear Brothers & Sisters,
ReplyDeleteOn this 4th of July, let us take a moment to remember all those brave young men & women who have lived, fought, & died for our freedom. May God guide us to use what was gained at such a heavy cost with kindness, caring, compassion, & love. As a Franciscan that love eminates through us not only for our fellow man but for all of God's creation. May God continue to bless each & every one of us & in the words of Irving Berlin, "God Bless America"! Yours in Christ,....Fr.Chris, O.S.F.
Reflection 1. Beginning Again. This chapter reminds me of Genesis 1:1. Our God is a God of creative beginnings. May God work "out of us" that new creation that has been planted there from the mind of God in eternity past. May that love and work be the fruitful vineyard He intends for us, and for all of creation! May we begin this formative journey with less questions, and with more love and service, and thus, become the creative work of God.
ReplyDeletePeace,
+Ken, osf
My dear Franciscan family,
ReplyDeleteAugust is upon us as we continue to journey with Sts. Francis and Clare! I truly appreciate the message of our text that tells us (page 5) that as Franciscans, we continually renew our commitment to Jesus, and that as we come to the point in our lives that we make our initial profession, annula commitment, and Solemn Profession, that what we have really done is to "begin again" to follow Jesus.
I don't know when, if ever, we will "get it" and be mature in Christ - and that's actually a blessing - for this continual growth through consistently following Christ propels us to grow more deeply in love with Him and the Family of God, day after blessed day after blessed day.
May we all see our days as truly blessed, when we can follow Christ and begin again, even today, to follow Christ.
Remember: study, reflect, pray and serve.
+Ken, OSF