I acknowledge that summer is a great time to rest, recreate and enjoy visiting with family and friends. It can also be a time for quiet reflection and this is what I would like to invite you and your members to do: reflect about what a gift our vocation to OFS has been .
In preparation for the next issue of the Regional Update I would ask that you and your members consider sharing your thoughts/feelings regarding the following two questions by emailing me at gerry.rfec@gmail.com.
What has given me the greatest joy in being a Secular Franciscan?
How has being a Secular Franciscan enriched my life?
The intent is to include a selection of the responses in the Update…so we thank you and your members for their contributions! You may recall that our Lenten issue of the Update had two articles on Francis receiving the stigmata. This was in keeping with the Centenary celebration recommendations. In this next issue of the Update we want to devote some attention to St. Clare. If your fraternity has any special celebrations of St. Clare (her feast day is August 11th), you are invited to highlight those as well, We ask for all your responses no later than August 15, 2024.
I would like to suggest that reflecting on the above two questions might serve an additional purpose. Our Regional Fall Workshop is focusing, in part, on our Vision and Mission as Secular Franciscans. It may be that our individual and collective responses to these questions will also provide helpful input to determining how we see our Vision and Mission as members of the OFS.
Once again, thank you for your interest and sharing!
Best regards,
Gerry
Minister, Regional Fraternity of Eastern Canada (RFEC)