Thursday July 24 2008 12:47:00 CDT
Three brothers connect at O'Hare
April 29, 2008
As Br. Thomas made his way from his home in Liverpool, England, to his home in Huntsville, Texas, he was intercepted for lunch and a visit by Br. Francis Leo and Br. Craig Robert in Chicago.
Francis Leo reports that it was a wonderful occasion to connect with family. Far-flung as we are, we don't get to see our brothers and sisters often enough. When you are traveling, be sure to put out word to the Order so that connections like this can be made!
Br. Thomas phones home, perhaps?
Francis Leo, Thomas, and Craig Robert
Welcome, Little Brother!
January 24, 2008
Dear brothers and sisters,
On January the 24th
of the year of our Lord 2008,
being the 20th year
of the reign of H.M. the Emperor Heisei,
at 2:32 p.m. Japan time,
at Yahata Women's Clinic
in the town of Isehara, Kanagawa prefecture, Japan,
Brother Charles Kowalski,
novice in the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans,
and his lovely wife Yuki Takahashi
joyfully welcomed into the world
KENT FRANCIS KOWALSKI-TAKAHASHI!
He measures 48.7 cm (19.17 inches) and weighs 3.36 kg
(7 pounds, 6 ounces).
His first name was chosen for its meaning in both
languages; in Japanese, it would be pronounced "Kento"
and written with the symbols meaning "wise person". As
for his middle name...well, three guesses where that
comes from!
He is only hours old, and his international experience
is already considerable! Within an hour after his
birth, he had already been talked and sung to in
Japanese, English, French, Latin, and Burmese - the
first from his mother and the medical team that
delivered him, the next three from his father with his
Taize songs, and the last from a dear friend of ours
from Myanmar, who was acting as a doula - for which
she is well qualified, having three children of her
own and expecting her third grandchild. In the last
few minutes before our boy came into the light, I was
clutching my rosary, praying and singing Taize songs,
while she was sitting beside me reciting Buddhist
sutras in Burmese. I felt very strongly that between
us, we were pushing the gates of heaven open wide!
And intervention was certainly needed - both the
divine and human variety, because the gate of his
mother's pelvis wasn't quite wide enough to
accommodate his big body and brain. An excruciating 28
hours after beginning the induction (with hardly any
sleep for mother, father, or doula), the doctor
finally judged that mother and baby had reached the
limits of their power, and recommended a caesarian,
which was performed successfully and mother and baby
are both doing very well.
At one point during the ordeal, I reflected that there
are some men who work in coal or diamond mines, or on
Alaskan fishing trawlers, or go through Navy SEAL
training - but aside from those, rare is the man who
is called on to do anything nearly as physically
demanding as what every woman does who brings a child
into the world. All my dear Sisters with children, I
bow deeply to you!
We bless you, Kent Francis,
in the name of the Sacred Three,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
May you drink deeply
from God's cup of joy.
May the night bring you quiet.
And when you return
to the Father's palace,
may His door be wide open
and the welcome warm.
Peace and all good,
Proud papa Charles
Red Coat Bluebonnets
November 21, 2007
Br. Thomas and Sr. Magdalena are now legally Red Coat Bluebonnets. On November 21st, Tammy Pruitt presided over A Navajo Celebration and Blessing of Marriage complete with rings, representing the full circle of life and the community that surrounds and supports this marriage; a Navajo wedding vase, a symbol of the eternal love...drinking as one from the same source of love and washing each other from the water as a reminder of their shared love and its source; and a Navajo wedding blanket that Tammy wrapped them in that they might be blessed with the warmth and light of their union. Tammy blessed them with these words:
"Above you are the stars, below you are the stones. Remember always, like a star, your love should be constant. Like the earth, your love should be firm. Be understanding and patient, for storms may come and go. Be free always in giving affection and warmth, for it is the currency of a happy marriage."
News from Br. Francis Leo
On October 6, 2007 Sister Christine, OEF, and Brother Francis Leo, OEF, went to a Franciscan Peace Event in Frankfort, IL the Motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart to the presentation by Fr. John Dear, SJ, on "The Beatitudes of Peace: Following Jesus, Francis and the Way of Nonviolence for the Rest of Our Lives" A very beautiful and holy day of Peace!
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| John Dear, SJ |
On October 10, 2007, Brother Francis Leo, OEF, was invited to the PBS Studios in Chicago, for a taping of three shows with Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB (you can see one of the cameras on the right). Francis Leo says, "I have read so many books - she is #1!" Joan Chittister, OSB, is a Benedictine Nun best-selling author and international speaker, is Director of BenetVision, a resource center for contemporary spirituality.
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| Joan Chittister, OSB, and Francis Leo, OEF |
New film by Gerry Straub
The Narrow Path looks at the work of John Dear, SJ
Long-time OEF friend and San Damiano Foundation filmmaker, Gerry Straub, has made a film about John Dear, a Jesuit priest and peace activist.
On October 2, Nancy Menning, OEF, hosted a film screening of The Narrow Path at PEACE Iowa, the peace education and action center in Iowa City. Then, on October 4, John Dear (accompanied by Gerry Straub) delivered an address on his work as a peacemaker at Mount Mercy College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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Nancy Menning, OEF, with John Dear, SJ, in front of
the Chapel of Mercy at Mount Mercy College
(Cedar Rapids, IA) on October 4, 2007 |
Sr. Elisa Dale enters novitiate
22 July 2007
On July 22, 2007, Bluebonnet Franciscans gathered in the home of
Louann and Tom O'Bannion in Austin, TX. Our gathering was small and
intimate, but very powerful and profound. The novitiate ceremony led
into a celebration of the Eucharist. Sr. Magdalena, Chaplain received
the vows of Elisa Dale, and her daughters, Audrey and Esther were
present as Lay Eucharistic Minister and Acolyte respectively.
Here is the blessing that we all shared in, spoken over Elisa.
A Four-fold Franciscan Blessing
May God bless you with a restless discomfort about easy answers,
half-truths and superficial relationships, so that you may seek truth
boldly and love deep within your heart.
May God bless you with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and
exploitation of people, so that you may tirelessly work for justice,
freedom, and peace among all people.
May God bless you with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer
from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they
cherish, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
transform their pain into joy.
May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really
CAN make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's
grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.
And the blessing of God the Supreme Majesty and our Creator, Jesus
Christ the Incarnate Word who is our brother and Saviour, and the Holy
Spirit, our Advocate and Guide, be with you and remain with you, this
day and forevermore.
AMEN.
Updated web pages
4 June 2007
One of the many things that happened at Chapter 2007 was that Sr. Paula Clare was elected Fellowship Coordinator. The Fellowship Friary is her new web page on the site. Sr. Alyssa Claire Magdalena Loukota is the new Chaplain for the Order. The Chaplain's Corner will soon reflect her gifted touch.
Look for other Chapter & Convocation news here soon. If you attended the St. Louis gathering this year and would like to share a story or reflections on the event, please feel free to send an e-mail to Br. Fred Ball with your contribution!
 Br. Colin ordained deacon
24 March 2007
Br. Colin Stebbing, n/OEF, was made a deacon this morning, and shares this photograph from his ordination.
Franciscan Family Commits to One Voice for Advocacy
14 March 2007
BALTIMORE, MD. -- More than 130 members of the Franciscan Family, leaders and justice, peace & integrity of creation representatives from 69 provinces, congregations, Secular Franciscan Regions and Ecumenical partners from throughout the United States, met March 7-9, 2007 in Baltimore, MD to discuss and discern ways to bring a more visible and effective Franciscan presence to the effort of repairing relationships to establish justice in the world. In this meeting, Franciscan friars, sisters, seculars and ecumenicals called for themselves and the larger U.S. Franciscan Family to “speak with one Franciscan Voice in order to effect the transformation of national social policy.” The gathering represented the largest U.S. Franciscan group ever assembled in the U.S. solely to discuss ways to be better advocates with persons who are poor, marginalized or victims of injustice.
Participating from the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans was Bro. Craig Robert Miller, OEF. Rev. Carol Tookey, TSSF, and Rev. Emmett Jarrett, TSSF represented the Third Order Society of St. Francis. Together the three discerned that Emmett Jarrett would serve as joint representative (OEF/TSSF) on the newly appointed steering committee.
The meeting began with prayer, which was woven through all the proceedings. Following prayer, the participants interacted with three speakers to explore more deeply a Franciscan approach to advocacy. Fr. Michael Perry, OFM, councilor for the Sacred Heart OFM Province, began the discussion by looking at the Franciscan Charism and how it requires its followers to be engaged in the transformation of the world, or, to put it in a modern context, to be engaged in advocacy. Next Sr. Meg Guider, OSF, professor of Missiology at Weston Jesuit School of Theology, explored the modern context of globalization and the reality of American Exceptionalism. To be most effective, our Franciscan advocacy work must be grounded in this context and boldly challenge how the U.S. interacts with the rest of the world. Finally, Marie Dennis, SFO, director for the Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns, shared how religious communities have been and can continue to be effective shapers of public policy. Each of the three presenters was paired with a “Franciscan Voice” who shared personal stories and realities. Br. Rodrigo Peret, OFM of Brazil, Mrs. Mary Mwangi, SFO of Kenya, and Sr. Sheila Kinsey, OSF from Wheaton, IL grounded the three presentations with the experiences of those ministering with persons who are poor or marginalized. The “voices” were able to help make clear the connections between our experiences in the world and our rich Franciscan Charism.
Building from the first day’s input, the participants in the historic meeting moved from why we should have an organized Franciscan Voice for Advocacy to how we should establish it. The group collectively wrote a vision statement (see below) calling the Family to work together for social transformation. From the vision statement, the participants then committed themselves to having further dialogue and finding the resources to establish a broad-based Franciscan Family Commission for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation, as well as a Center for Action based in Washington, DC. These two structures will be launched in the next six to twelve months so that the Franciscan Family in the U.S. will be able to effectively “walk with our brothers and sisters who are poor and marginalized… to advocate for peace and to reaffirm the dignity of all creation.”
The meeting ended with the newly appointed steering committee anointing the assembly. With this action, participants sealed in prayer the commitment they verbally made to one another to work together to establish structures that can bring the voice and spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare to a world that is crying out for transformation.
Following is the Vision Statement that will guide the work of the steering committee, the commission, and the center as together we will work to advocate with one Franciscan voice for peace, justice, and the integrity of creation:
Vision Statement of the Franciscan Family
Adopted March 9, 2007
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We Franciscan brothers and sisters, Religious and Secular, from throughout the United States, gathered together in Baltimore, MD to discern the possibility of a unified Franciscan Voice for justice. With great concern for dehumanizing issues in our society, we recognized trends contrary to our calling as followers of Christ. We see that we have the power to effectively advocate for the redistribution of resources, the responsible care for creation, and the healing of relationships within the Franciscan Family, the Church and society. To these ends, we commit ourselves and call all members of the Family to speak with one Franciscan Voice to effect the transformation of national social policy. By walking with our brothers and sisters who are poor and marginalized, we intend to advocate for peace and to reaffirm the dignity of all creation. |
Br. Fred receives new orders
27 January 2007
Br. Fred Ball, OEF, was ordained to the Catholic priesthood by Bishop Peter Hickman of the Ecumenical Catholic Communion, Saturday morning, January 27, 2007. He is working with a new faith community in Little Rock, San Damiano Ecumenical Catholic Church.
To see photos from the ordination service, click here.
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