by Carol Gentile, SFO
With a humble heart and the gift of a courageous spirit from God, I assume the position of National Minister. It is with great appreciation and respect that I acknowledge the wisdom of our past ministers that helped shape and mold our focus and vision. Richard Morton, past minister, reminded us that “Our goal is to absorb the Gospel in the very fabric of our being, making the Rule the corner post of our very self.” Bill Wicks, recent past minister, reminds us of the living Christ in all of us, “Our Rule calls us to recognize the Divine Seed in our brothers and sisters: not just in Franciscans; not just in Catholics; not just in Christians; not just in those who believe in the one true God; not just in those who believe in many gods; but in all people, even those who do not believe.” Thank you, Richard Morton and Bill Wicks and all of our past leaders for saying “yes” to our precious Jesus and the call to follow Francis.
We are blessed to hear the voice of the Spirit as the continuity is maintained through the following Franciscans who were recently elected. John Sanborn, prior National Treasurer, was elected to the Vice Minister position. He has served in leadership positions on the local, regional, and national levels. Elizabeth Allen was elected as the National Secretary for a second term. She has been active on the local, regional and national levels as well as formation leader and fraternity newsletter editor. Dennis Ross was elected as National Treasurer. He has served as vice minister, minister and treasurer at the regional level. Diane Halal was elected to her second term as a National Councilor. She also chairs the Fraternal Life Committee and has served on the National Family Commission. Michael Carsten is new to the Executive Council, but not new to leadership roles. Michael was the Minister of Divine Mercy Region. Kathy Taormina was elected to a new position, a third councilor to serve the order; also she is not new to leadership. She will continue in her role as the National Youth and Young Adult Commission Chair. Deacon Juan Lezcano was re-elected to continue in his role as International Councilor. He represents the U.S. on the International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order in Rome.
My vision for the order is to move ever so gently from a corporate style of national meetings, using Robert’s Rules to Jesus’ Rules, so that we can accomplish with a congenial heart what is ours to do. Our Holy Father has asked that we set out into the deep - in other words, move toward making a serious difference in the world today. I call your attention to the name “Jes(us).” All things are possible with the Lord!
At our recent NAFRA meeting, Doug Clorey, Presidency Councillor, English (Europe and North America), shared these thoughts with us, and I quote: “I would like to share with you some of the words of our Holy Father directed to Secular Franciscans during our last General Chapter in November 2002:
The Church expects from the Secular Franciscan Order, one and only, a great service in the cause of the Kingdom of God in the world of today. The Church desires that your Order should be a model of organic, structural and charismatic unity on all levels, so as to present itself to the world as a community of love...The Church expects from you, Secular Franciscans, a courageous and consistent testimony of Christian and Franciscan life, leaning towards the construction of a more fraternal and gospel world for the realization of the Kingdom of God.’
In September, 1982, he exhorted us to `study, love, live the Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order.’ The Holy Father refers to our Rule as the `authentic treasure in your hands, corresponding to what the Church expects of you.’ In both the Rule and the General Constitutions, the Holy Father reminds us,
‘You are called on to give your own contribution, inspired by the person and message of St. Francis of Assisi, in speeding up the advent of a civilization in which the dignity of the human person, co-responsibility and love will be a living reality…You now have in your hands the Rule, approved by my predecessor Paul VI, of happy memory, on the 24th of August 1978; the Ritual, approved on the 9th of March 1984; the General Constitutions definitively approved on the 8th December 2000; and the International Statutes, approved in this Chapter. It is now necessary to look to the future and to set out: Duc in altum!’ (Message of the Holy Father, The Vatican, November 22, 2002)Set out into the deep! Get on with it! Move on!”
Now that we have heard the words of our Holy Father, let us follow Jes(us) in the footsteps of Francis…