Apostolic Commissions

"Secular Franciscans, together with all people of good will, are called to build a more fraternal and evangelical world, so that the Kingdom of God may be brought about more effectively. Mindful that anyone 'who follows Christ, the perfect man, becomes more of a man himself' let them exercise their responsibilities competently in the Christian spirit of service." (SFO Rule, Article 14).

COMMISSIONS COORDINATOR

Mary Christine Huber, SFO

mchrishuber@yahoo.com

Peace and Justice

"Let them individually and collectively be in the forefront in promoting justice by the testimony of their human lives and their courageous initiatives. Especially in the field of public life, they should make definite choices in harmony with their faith."   (Rule, Article 15).

Work

"Let them esteem work both as a gift and as a sharing in the creation, redemption, and service of the human community." (Rule, Article 16).

Family

"In their family they should cultivate the Franciscan spirit of peace, fidelity, and respect for life, striving to make of it a sign of a world already renewed in Christ.  By living the grace of matrimony, husbands and wives in particular should bear witness in the world to the love of Christ for His Church. They should joyfully accompany their children on their journey by providing a simple and open Christian education and being attentive to the vocation of each child."  (Rule, Article 17) .

Ecology

"Moreover they should respect all creatures, animate and inanimate, which 'bear the imprint of the Most High,' and they should strive to move from the temptation of exploiting creation to the Franciscan concept of universal kinship." (Rule, Article 18).

See, National Ecology Commission Link:  http://www.nafra-sfo.org/ecology.html.

Formation

Mary Christine Huber, SFO

mchrishuber@yahoo.com

"...By their profession they pledge themselves to live the Gospel in the manner of Saint Francis by means of this Rule approved by the Church." (Rule, Article 2).
"...Secular Franciscans should devote themselves especially to careful reading of the Gospel, going from Gospel to life, and life to the Gospel." (Rule, Article 4).
"Secular Franciscans, therefore, should seek to encounter the living and active person of Christ in their brothers and sisters, in Sacred Scripture, in the Church, and in liturgical activity." (Rule, Article 5).
"United by their vocation as 'brothers and sisters of penance', and motivated by the dynamic power of the Gospel, let them conform their thoughts and deeds to those of Christ by means of that radical interior change which the Gospel itself calls 'conversion'." (Rule, Article 7).

"Admission into the Order is gradually attained through a time of initiation, a period of formation of at least one year, and profession of the Rule. The entire community is engaged in this process of growth by its own manner of living." (Rule, Article 23). “... take care to ask for a regular pastoral visit by the competent religious superiors as wel"To promote fidelity to the charism as well as observance of the Rule and to receive greater support in the life of the fraternity, the minister or president, with the consent of the council, should ask for a fraternal visit from those of the higher fraternities according to the norm of the Constitutions." (Rule, Article 26).

Youth / Young Adult

Dawn Rusinko, SFO, Chair

GRAYHAVENS4@aol.com

"To foster communion among members, the council should organize regular and frequent meetings of the community, as well as meeting with other Franciscan groups, especially with youth groups...." (Rule, Article 24).