Archdiocese of Sydney’s Justice and Peace Office Offers Care of Creation Guide

/ Tom Delaney, O.F.S., M.A.Theo. / Leave a comment

The Justice and Peace Office of the Archdiocese of Sydney is offering a Care of Creation Guide, including guidance, resources and tips on how to get active around environmental issues in your parish. Ecospirituality is a cetral focus of the guide. Ecosprituality is a term that combines ecological awareness with spiritual and religious beliefs and practices. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of all living beings and the importance of stewardship and responsibility towards the gift of God’s creation. Ecosprituality may involve actions like advocating for environmental justice and practices that recognize the social dimension of environmental issues, such as the need for social justice and care for the poor and vulnerable. It is important that any Catholic Care of Creation group integrate elements of ecospirituality, as the concern for creation is wound up in our beliefs about our place in God’s creation. It’s also important for church-based groups not to be coercive about action on Care of Creation and instead be ‘invitational’ to others to come along on the journey.

Interested Franciscans may also want to check out Ilia Delio’s (also see idelio.clasit.org) book Care for Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth (also available at Amazon and other sellers).

Are you feeling called by your Catholic faith to address environmental and ecological issues, and to support care for creation? Are you studying for or working in a profession to address environmental and ecological issues, and to support care for creation? Or maybe you find yourself in that role within your own community or even family? Are you considering whether the Secular Franciscan Order (O.F.S.) would bring and grow the spiritual dimension in your daily life and work? We would love to hear from you! E-mail the St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans at mailbox@stcloudfranciscans.org.

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Eucharistic Revival is a Call for Inclusion of People with Mental Health Challenges

/ Tom Delaney, O.F.S., M.A.Theo. / 1 Comment

Florida Catholic Media has published an article entitled Eucharistic revival a call to accompany those with mental illness, says expert, linking the current Eucharistic Revival by the United States Council of Catholic Bishops to the need for the Church to be more inclusive with mental health challenges. As pointed out in the article, launched in 2022 by the U.S. bishops to increase devotion to Christ’s real presence in the Eucharist, the revival coincides with a sharp rise in anxiety, depression and other mental health issues among large segments of the nation’s population.

For Secular Franciscans, the Florida Catholic Media article may relate in may ways to a past article published in the National Catholic Reporter, by Franciscan Fr. Daniel P. Horan (Director of the Center for Spirituality and professor of philosophy, religious studies and theology at Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana), entitled Relationship leads us to peace: Three key Franciscan themes in ‘Fratelli Tutti’. In this article, Fr. Horan explains that St. Francis of Assisi, “saw himself as inherently related to all women, men, and even nonhuman creatures as part of God’s one family of creation,” and that “if we recognize that we are all sisters and brothers to one another, then we have an inherent bond with each other that demands something of us — our love, respect and care.” The Pope’s encyclical Fratelli Tutti is the focus of the article, and Fr. Horan highlight’s the words of the Holy Father:

“[F]or all the progress we have made, we are still ‘illiterate’ when it comes to accompanying, caring for, and supporting the most frail and vulnerable members of our developed societies. We have become accustomed to looking the other way, passing by, ignoring situations until they affect us directly…we, as a people, should be passionate about meeting others, seeking points of contact, building bridges, planning a project that includes everyone.”

Fr. Horan concludes, “My sense is that St. Francis would be very pleased with the message and content of Fratelli Tutti, but that he would be truly overjoyed if the people of the world actually took this teaching to heart and put it into practice.”

(art credit: mural of St. Francis of Assisi and the wolf of Gubbio, St. Francis Inn, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2010)

Are you feeling called by your Catholic faith to support ministry to persons or families facing behavioral health challenges, or communities in working effectively with behavioral health? Are you studying for or working in a profession of supporting persons or families with behavioral health challenges, or in supporting communities in preventing and responding to behavioral health concerns? Or maybe you find yourself in that role within your own community or family? Are you considering whether the Secular Franciscan Order (O.F.S.) would bring and grow the spiritual dimension in your daily life and work? We would love to hear from you! E-mail the St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans at mailbox@stcloudfranciscans.org.

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Church Celebrates Social Communications Media as God’s Gift to Humanity

/ Tom Delaney, O.F.S., M.A.Theo. / Leave a comment

The Central Minnesota Catholic published an article by Sr. Hosea Rupprecht, entitled Love well to speak well: Francis’ challenge for World Communications Day, explaining that this past Sunday was World Communications Day. Sr Rupprecht wrote:

“[T]he church celebrates social communications media as God’s gift to humanity, with great potential for evangelization. World Communications Day reminds the church to embrace media technologies for the proclamation of the Gospel and the spread of goodness, and serves to educate her sons and daughters to be critical thinkers when engaging media messages.”

Sr. Rupprecht also explains Pope Francis’ address on this day, and that Pope Franicis presented St. Francis de Sales as a model of communication that comes from love. as he was convinced that “in order to speak well, it is enough to love well.” and believed that “we are what we communicate.”

In the meeting of our St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans this past Sunday and World Communications Day, we looked at how digital media and communications has been important for encouraging the Holy Eucharist, and attention to the relationship of the Church to current environmental issues. In discussion, we noted that the United States Council of Catholic Bishops included the example of Carlos Acutis and his skill in using digital media to declare the Gospel, in their document The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church. We learned more about Carlos Acutis by reviewing the Catholic News Agency article Who is Carlo Acutis? 10 things you should know about him. As an example of how digital media can be used, we learned about the availability of the YouTube original film, A Message for Our Earth: The Pope, The Environmental Crisis, and Frontline Leaders (also entitled The Letter, or La Carta). This film supports the Pope’s encyclical Laudato Si with testimonials from leaders and representatives of people directly experiencing the impacts of environmental endangerment and destruction.

(photo credit: Pope Francis in Philipines by Rolando Mailo, 2015)

Are you feeling called to use digital media or social media communication to bring a perspective of wisdom, Catholic faith, and love for humanity and creation in responding to society’s contemporary challenges? Are you studying for or working in a profession of bringing perspective to society’s contemporary challenges through digital media or social media communications? Or maybe you find yourself in that role within your community? Are you considering whether the Secular Franciscan Order (O.F.S.) would bring and grow the spiritual dimension in your daily life and work? We would love to hear from you! E-mail the St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans at mailbox@stcloudfranciscans.org.

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May is Mental Health Awareness Month: How is the Church at Work?

/ Tom Delaney, O.F.S., M.A.Theo. / Leave a comment

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and has been in the press in a number of ways that can help inform and encourage understanding of mental health issues in parishes and communities, as well as support focused efforts to better include and serve people who are challenged in their behavioral health. Here are a few highlights with linked resources.

On April 27, Bishop Neary published a column in the Central Minnesota Catholic explaining his diocesan initiative to develop a Mental Health Ministry.

On May 20, Florida Catholic News (attributed to OSV News) published the article Experts: Mental health ministry a dire need across the U.S. church, describing the advent of mental health ministry and resources available at the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers.

The Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers offers a variety of resources to support establishing mental health ministry at the parish or diocese level, including webinars, newsletters, courses, and implementation guides.

On May 22, the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) published a bulletin encouraging people to encourage each other, and to access their available resources including: Mental Health Awareness Month Toolkit; social media messaging tools; and other available events, online resources and online training.

If you want to know behavioral health statistics for your local community, you can access a wealth of data through Minnesota Compass, including the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System, Minnesota Student Survey, Substance Use in Minnesota. The Minnesota County Health Tables provide additional data, including behavioral health data. These data sets can help understand the salient and latent behavioral health issues in communities, and guide a focused response to better prevent behavioral health problems, and better include and support persons working through behavioral health challenges of their own or in their family.

(art credit: St. Anthony Heals the Sick by Fr. William Hart McNichols)

Are you feeling called by your Catholic faith to support ministry to persons or families facing behavioral health challenges, or communities in working effectively with behavioral health? Are you studying for or working in a profession of supporting persons or families with behavioral health challenges, or in supporting communities in preventing and responding to behavioral health concerns? Or maybe you find yourself in that role within your own community or family? Are you considering whether the Secular Franciscan Order (O.F.S.) would bring and grow the spiritual dimension in your daily life and work? We would love to hear from you! E-mail the St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans at mailbox@stcloudfranciscans.org.

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New Spring 2023 Edition of Franciscan Flame

/ Tom Delaney, O.F.S., M.A.Theo. / Leave a comment

A new edition of the Franciscan Flame (January, February, March, April 2023) is available for viewing or download and printing.

The Franciscan Flame is the quarterly newsletter of the St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans (O.F.S.) to fraternity members. Each issue includes timely information and communications from the fraternity’s Minister, Vice Minister, Formation Director, JPIC Coordinator, and other contributing authors. You can access the current and past issues of the Franciscan Flame with the below links. If you have any questions about the Franciscan Flame, please send us an e-mail at mailbox@stcloudfranciscans.org.

(art credit: The Vision by Sr. Mary Charles McGough, O.S.B., 1979)

Navajo Peacemaking: An Indigenous Restorative Justice Practice

/ Tom Delaney, O.F.S., M.A.Theo. / Leave a comment

Our Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order (#19) encourages each and every Secular Franciscan to be an agent of peace in the world:

Mindful that they are bearers of peace which must be built up unceasingly, they should seek out ways of unity and fraternal harmony through dialogue, trusting in the presence of the divine seed in everyone and in the transforming power of love and pardon.

St. Francis of Assisi customarily greeted everyone with the intentional words, “May the Lord give you peace!”

This month is American Indian Month in Minnesota, and brings with it an opportunity to learn about one approach to peacemaking from one of the indigenous peoples of our nation. You can learn about the philosophy and practice of Navajo Peacemaking as it is practiced on Diné Bikéyah. Navajo Peacemaking was used by Diné for millennia so that numerous beings could coexist in peace. Learn the process and components of Navajo Peacemaking and how it centers Diné knowledge and teachings. Navajo Peacemaking can be applied to resolve conflict, restore balance and wellness, respond to and heal trauma, and achieve Hózhó, the Diné philosophy of harmony, in various settings. Consider the use of Indigenous restorative justice practices with Indigenous populations to resolve conflict and maintain harmony.

The Presenter is Dr. Paulina Whitehat, PhD, a Diné, a citizen of the Navajo Nation of northern Arizona. She is a Research Associate in the Center for Equity Promotion (CEQP) in the College of Education at the University of Oregon, where she earned a Ph.D. in Special Education and Clinical Sciences. She worked with the Northwest Indian Languages Institute (NILI) to develop and provide professional development for classroom teachers and school administrators regarding educational policy and Native language revitalization. Her research is focused on redressing the effects of adverse events so that individuals with/out disabilities have opportunities to experience academic, professional, and personal success and positively contribute to their community. The primary focus of her work is on effecting educational policies and countering the effects of poverty, disabilities, and trauma experienced by Indigenous students and other individuals who are historically underrepresented in school settings.

This is an online event on May 24th, from 2:00 – 3:30 PM, and requires registration.

There is much shared history between the Navajo Dine’ people and the Franciscan friars. Franciscan friars supported the Navajo Dine’ nation in establishing their tribal government, expanding the reservation land base, starting the first tribal census records, creating a written Navajo language, educating Navajo children, and sharing the Catholic faith. You can read more about this history, and the recent controversy regarding the “Navajo Cathedral” that is St, Michael’s Mission, in a recent National Catholic Reporter article, Navajo Catholics upset after Franciscans transfer historic mission to local diocese.

(art credit: Navajo Beauty Way Teachings by Dine’ Navajo “Wayne”, 2015)

Are you feeling called by your Catholic faith to be a maker of peace in communities, families, or in individual persons? Are you studying for or working in a profession of dialogue, conflict resolution, or peacemaking? Or maybe you find yourself in that role within your own community or family? Are you considering whether the Secular Franciscan Order (O.F.S.) would bring and grow the spiritual dimension in your daily life and work? We would love to hear from you! E-mail the St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans at mailbox@stcloudfranciscans.org.

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May is American Indian Month in Minnesota

/ Tom Delaney, O.F.S., M.A.Theo. / Leave a comment

By declaration of the Governor, May is American Indian month in Minnesota. Our St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans shares history with Minnesota’s tribal communities. St. Cloud Fraternity members have worked in various ways with our state’s tribal communities, including teaching in schools on the White Earth Reservation, developing and facilitating Dakota and Ojibwe language revitalization with Native American youth, working in and across state and federal agencies to support resiliency of Native American youth, and in leadership of a current statewide initiative to better support Native American students with disabilities toward high school graduation, as well as postsecondary education and employment. In Minnesota, there are seven Anishinaabe (Chippewa, Ojibwe) reservations and four Dakota (Sioux) communities. The Minnesota Department of Health provides excellent basic information about our state’s tribal communities and history. CBS News has a list and information about American Indian Month events in Minnesota. The Minnesota Native News is an excellent podcast for keeping up on news and issues in our state’s tribal communities. In addition, the podcast Native Lights profiles cultural leaders in Minnesota’s tribal communities. (photo: Anishinaabe or Dakota dance blanket, c. 1840-1850, Minneapolis Institute of Art)

Are you feeling called by your Catholic faith to find ways to support indigenous communities and families? Are you studying for or working in a profession to support indigenous communities and families? Or maybe you find yourself in that role within your own community or family? Are you considering whether the Secular Franciscan Order (O.F.S.) would bring and grow the spiritual dimension in your daily life and work? We would love to hear from you! E-mail the St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans at mailbox@stcloudfranciscans.org.

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Episode #52 of Engaging Franciscan Wisdom: Crossing Cultures & Creating Spaces for Belonging in Daily Life

/ Tom Delaney, O.F.S., M.A.Theo. / Leave a comment

Engaging Franciscan Wisdom is a locally produced podcast hosted by Sr. Michelle L’Allier at the Franciscan Welcoming House (St. Cloud, Minnesota), with the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls. Episode #52 is now available, and features guest Dr. Patty Jimenez, as she shares the joys of being raised with Franciscan values, translates theological terms and teachings into everyday language, and the creates spaces of belonging for young Latina woman raised in the United States. The episode is also available as a video.

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Springtime Bee Hiving

/ Tom Delaney, O.F.S., M.A.Theo. / Leave a comment

While he was staying in a poor place the holy man used to drink from a clay cup. After his departure, with wonderful skill bees had constructed the little cells of their honeycomb in it, wonderfully indicating the divine contemplation he drank in at that place.

~ Treatise on the Miracles of Saint Francis of Assisi, 28

Sharing a few photos from springtime hiving of honeybees in Sherburne County. These are Italian honeybees (Apis mellifera ligustica). St. Francis of Assisi lived in the Italian region of Umbria, famous for its honeybees and savory varieties of honey. It is no surprise that there is a miraculous tale of St. Francis of Assisi and honeybees, as honeybees and their transformation of nectar into honey is certainly a wonder in and of itself. These are amazing gentle creatures, good companions, that can teach an attentive and observant person a great deal of wisdom. An old compilation of tales of St. Francis of Assisi and the early Franciscans is entitled I Fioretti di San Francesco, or The Little Flowers of Saint Francis. The honeybee can teach us to visit these tales and accounts as the little flowers they are, and turn them into our own human honey of good kindness and healing care toward others: “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and healthful to the body” (Proverbs 16:24).

Moreover the 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 of the Order of Secular Franciscans, 18

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Being Franciscan at the Crossroads: Artificial Intelligence & Climate Change

/ Tom Delaney, O.F.S., M.A.Theo. / Leave a comment

Sharing a recent editorial from the New York Times (and distributed in the Pioneer Press) today concerning the crucial and pivotal power and social relevance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and climate change in our current times. By way of introduction, a few observations of our Secular Franciscan Rule will help the reader understand the connection between Franciscan tradition, and contemporary social issues like Artificial Intelligence and climate change.

Secular Franciscan Rule #11 states:

Let them be mindful that according to the gospel they are stewards of the goods received for the benefit of God’s children.

Secular Franciscan Rule #15 states:

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

Secular Franciscan Rule # 18 states:

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 creatures to the Franciscan concept of universal kinship.

The editorial by Thomas Friedman is entitled, We Are Opening the Lids on Two Giant Pandora’s Boxes, and invites the reader to consider the immense benevolent and malevolent potential of Artificial Intelligence, as well as the power of climate change to determine humanity’s future. Challenging and compelling statements in the editorial include:

I have a simple rule: The faster the pace of change and the more godlike powers we humans develop, the more everything old and slow matters more than ever — the more everything you learned in Sunday school, or from wherever you draw ethical inspiration, matters more than ever.

Because the wider we scale artificial intelligence, the more the golden rule needs to scale: Do unto others as you would wish them to do unto you. Because given the increasingly godlike powers we’re endowing ourselves with, we can all now do unto each other faster, cheaper and deeper than ever before.

Bottom line: These two big Pandora’s boxes are being opened. God save us if we acquire godlike powers to part the Red Sea but fail to scale the Ten Commandments.

Keith Warner, O.F.M. has done some scholarly writing on Franciscan social philosophy and ethics that may help further illuminate the Franciscan way in these contemporary issues and challenges. For example, see his paper, Retrieving Franciscan Philosophy for Social Engagement.

(art credit: Epimethius Opening Pandora’s Jar, Giulio Bonasone, 1531-1576)

Are you feeling called to bring a perspective of wisdom, Catholic faith, and love for humanity and creation in responding to society’s contemporary challenges? Are you studying for or working in a profession of bringing perspective to society’s contemporary challenges? Or maybe you find yourself in that role within your community or family? Are you considering whether the Secular Franciscan Order (O.F.S.) would bring and grow the spiritual dimension in your daily life and work? We would love to hear from you! E-mail the St. Cloud Fraternity of Secular Franciscans at mailbox@stcloudfranciscans.org.

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