CHANGE ... CHANGING THE RULES

OUR RULE: The Rule and life of the Friars Minor is this, namely, to observe the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. OUR RULE CHANGES EVERTHING - BECOME A FRANCISCAN

Why Franciscans???
Over the ages the Franciscans have turned their hands to the many needs of the world. We are called to serve the poor, the marginalized, and the outcasts. As we have come into the new millennium the needs of the world and the Church are still to be met.

God bestows natural talents to all people, and gifts. Both talents and gifts can be used for the glory of God. Simply having the gift is wondrous indeed, but acceptance and use of the gift is a matter of personal choice. BECOME CHRIST FOR OTHERS, BECOME ALL YOU WERE MEANT TO BE. When our gifts are embraced and employed in their fullness, some rather wonderful things will happen. God gave your gifts to you, and He wants you to use them for His glory by helping others. The Bible says God gave spiritual gifts to us "to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up" (Ephesians 4:12). Ask God to use you to help others in their spiritual journey — and He will.

Today, over 800 years after the Franciscan movement was recognized by the Church, I believe the message from our poor Assisi brother and sister, Francis and Clare, still has meaning and appeal. Their message is one that invites us to enter more deeply into a relationship with God by entering more deeply into relationships with one another, especially with those who are poor, and with the larger created reality. Many Catholics and Christians, and even non-religious of good will, share this aspiration. However, the Franciscan approach presents the hope in a way that continues to have value, purpose and draw in our time. Francis and Clare, and those who follow in their footsteps in an attempt to follow Jesus, share an especially compelling message that is inviting to others.

People in our world hunger for this message; it is our responsibility to invite them to this pathway to a deeper relationship with God. We know and are happy that other paths exist, but we are ecstatic that the Franciscan pathway is a good fit for so many. This Franciscan pathway is one that combines prayer, direct action with persons on the margins, a commitment to a simple way of life, balanced relationships with creation (both human and non-human), and binds them together with a deep love. This bond of love is what keeps the movement alive. It is the very source of our energy for action since we know that it comes from God.

When you follow the media in the world these days, one can notice that more and more reports are broadcast about violence and injustice. These kinds of things occur in ‘big’ everywhere in the world, but also in ‘small’ in our own surroundings. We as members of the Order of friars minor believe that it is the duty of every human being to do whatever is in his/her possibility to strive for peace, justice and wholeness of Creation. In this way we try to find solutions for conflicts that occur in these days. But above all we try to work on a change of attitude in society to prevent these kinds of conflicts: To work on real brother- and sisterhood between all people. This is very important in our time. Now more than ever Lord make me an instrument of your peace.