In the previous post, A Vocation Journey: Discovering Franciscans I recalled how I had first met the Franciscans. I had found a small brochure advertising a Vocations Day run by the Vocations team of the Society of St Francis. After reading the pamphlet I was keen to learn more about St Francis and the Society of St Francis. Shortly after reading the pamphlet I went off to the nearest Internet cafe to check out the Community’s website. I became more intrigued and interested in this man Francis and these Franciscans thus I emailed the contact on the pamphlet to get some more information. The person that replied was Br John-Francis. Read the rest of this entry »
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In the previous post A Vocation Journey: meeting St Francis I wrote about how my dear friend Wendy had taken me to visit the Chapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, AZ. I also wrote about how that place felt like a ‘place of presence’ and that I was particularly taken by a small figurine in the garden of a man holding birds in his hands.
As Wendy pointed out in a previous comment neither of us realized the magic that was occurring that day. It wasn’t until I continued my journey to the UK that the ‘next step in a journey of a thousand miles’ would reveal the next kairos moment in my vocation journey. Read the rest of this entry »
The Most Reverend Archbishop Philip Freier speaks about being a Franciscan Tertiary on ABC’s Religion Report (18th April 07). Philip Freier recently took up his appointment as Archbishop of Melbourne. Since then he has been keen to be ‘out and about’ in the public spaces of Melbourne; meeting people where they are at. In an interview with the Archbishop he was asked how much of this new initiative was related to his being a member of the Third Order of the Society of St Francis. Franciscan Spirituality is really… has inspired me to see something of a vision of Christianity that is passionately lived in the world (+ Freier). He goes on to speak about his concerns surrounding stem cell research.
It was interesting to hear him speak about how he sees a need for Christians to be present in the world, in the places where people are. I can very much relate to his passion. As anyone who knows me knows I believe that we rely too much on the assumption that the place for religious, deacons, and priests to be is in the bricks and mortar of the Church.
It is true that we need to be part of the established church commuities. However it is also true that our churches are no longer full and people sooner go to a sport game than attend a church service. Sundays and Churches no longer hold a significant place in society. And when people do enter our ‘walls’ we assume them to have been brought up with the same christian upbringing as we had, when a great deal of them have never seen inside a church, except perhaps for weddings, baptisms and funerals.
I have found that the more willing we are to enter the world of the ‘unchurched’ and preach without using words the more likely we are to have a hearing by those who have been lost or forgotten by the church, or have never been part of a Church community. I agree with + Freier when he intimates that it is very much a Franciscan trait to be out in the world meeting people where they are at and taking God’s love to them, rather than them waiting to come to us. There is a great need for the church to see the value and benefit of ‘mission’ deacons and priests who are not tied to the bricks and mortar but are out there preaching the gospel. I am reminded of the saying (I forget who its attributed to so if you know, let me know) you may be the only Gospel that someone will read today.
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