Show that Living the Gospel is Possible

Our Challenge as Secular Franciscans:
Show that Living the Gospel is Possible

Fraternity is the perfect workshop for testing ourselves

Poverty, humility, meekness… In fraternity we hone our…

• Willingness to yield to others

• Willingness to see that those who are different than we are have value

• Call to be “poor enough” to be generous

• Call to make ourselves available to bring others to God

In the “Workshop” of the Fraternity we find that:

 “The identity of the Secular Franciscan is expressed in a triple dimension

• Personal (the inner life),

• Fraternal (co-responsibility)

• Universal (the mission).”

(Emanuela  DeNunzio: Belonging to the SFO - GENERAL CHAPTER November 2008)
(2008 General Chapter Docs - CIOFS)

Fraternity is the perfect workshop to prepare us for our Mission

We are strengthened in our efforts

• Through prayer

• Through study of the Scriptures

• Through study of our Rule

• Through our service to the fraternity

To think about or to discuss in a virtual gathering with a few fraternity members:

Q1:  What is your favorite part of fraternity?

Q2:  What have you missed about being able to gather with your fraternity during the time of quarantine?

Q3:  What part of the “workshop” of fraternity life has made the biggest change in your life?

Diane F. Menditto, OFS

Chair, National Formation Commission

Minister, Our Lady of the Angels Region