Franciscans International (FI) was very pleased to welcome Br. Clark Berge, SSF to its Geneva office, 27-29th April. Br Clark is the Minister General of the Society of Saint Francis (SSF), an Anglican Franciscan community of first order Brothers. The SSF has five provinces around the world, with missions in Zimbabwe, USA, England, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, and the Solomon Islands. They pursue their ministry through a variety of programmes that include interfaith dialogue, eco-sustainability, migrant issues and development.
“I am here to get to know FI, meet you all, and see your operation. I want to discover ways in which we can collaborate more deeply and how I, as an Anglican Franciscan, can help to facilitate the Anglican voice through FI” said Br. Clark. “There are so many places around the world where we have unique experience, particularly in Melanesia. What we have to offer is important and timely and yet, given the constraints and the circumstances of communication and education, it is very difficult to tap it. Consequently, I am trying to learn how FI works and how I can unlock what my brothers and sisters have to offer” he continued.
The Franciscan Federation of Australia cordially invites you to attend the following workshops by visiting Franciscan Scholar Sr Ilia Delio.
Ilia Delio is a Franciscan Sister of Washington, DC. She holds a doctorate in Pharmacology from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and a doctorate in Historical Theology from Fordham University. She has written extensively in the area of Franciscan theology, with a particular emphasis on the theology of Bonaventure. Her books include The Humility of God, Care for Creation and Christ in Evolution. She lectures nationally and internationally in Franciscan theology/spirituality with a particular focus on integrating Franciscan theology and contemporary questions. As Director of the Franciscan Center at the Union, she organizes the Franciscan lecture series and the annual Franciscan symposium. She is a member of the Commission for the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition that is sponsored by the English Speaking Conference of Friars Minor.
Brisbane Seminars with Sr Ilea.
Saturday, 9 May 2009. Kedron Parish Hall Turner Road, Kedron.
Morning tea provided at 10.00am
10.30am – 12.15 Franciscan Christology and Bonaventure (including question time)
BYO LUNCH – Tea and coffee provided
1.15 – 2.45pm Franciscan Women Mystics: Clare and Angelia of Foligno (including question time)
Monday, 11 May 2009. Mt Alvernia College, “Assisi Room” Cremorne Road Kedron.
3.30.pm-5.00pm What does it mean to live the Gospel in the 21st Century World?
Tuesday, 12 May 2009. Padua College Auditorium. Turner Road, Kedron.
3.30pm – 5.00pm Contemplation in a World of Action: The Franciscan Way
Br Nathan-James and the Community of St Bartholomew’s Anglican Church Mt Gravatt invite you to attend a workshop and service on Praying with Songs of Prayer from Taizé.
(you are invited to attend all or part of the program)
2.30 – 5.30 pm: Worskhop
5.30 pm – 6.30 pm: Meal Fellowship (RSVPs would be appreciated for catering purposes)
7 pm Contemplative Prayer Service using Songs of Prayer from Taizé
Br James Andrew made his first profession in vows on the Feast of St Michael & All Angels, 29th September 2008.
Jesus heard his unique vocation declared to him through a voice from heaven at his baptism, but I think most people find their vocation in life more often through human contacts than through voices from heaven.
Brothers from Brisbane, Stroud and Sydney, gathered to celebrate with Br James Andrew as he made his first profession in vows within the Society of St Francis.
The community of St Philip’s and friends of brother James Andrew gathered for the celebration on the Feast of St Michael and All Angels.
Br Bruce-Paul (novice guardian) presided at the Mass with Br Alfred-BoonKong (minister provincial) officiating the profession. Br William offered a stiring and reflective sermon.
Br William spoke of his own sense of vocation into the Franciscan community. He said that vocation is not always a great epiphany; often it is through simple contact with others. He reminded us that all are called by God, through the Holy Spirit to our own unique life in Christ. He added that this is not often in the context of religious life, that most people have made some form of commitment to God and are stepping out in faith. Read the rest of Br William’s sermon. james-profession
I have created a very simple online shopping cart which can be used to purchase items made by the brothers. So far it has a few Anglican Rosaries for purchase as well as Holding Crosses. Visit http://www.anglicanrosary.net/shop-online/ to see what is available. At present it is only set up to take $AUD cheques. More payment facilities will come soon, along with some more products - watch the space.
St Philip’s Annerley, the parish church of the brothers of the Society of St Francis in Brisbane Australia
Are we one step closer to Geroge Orwell’s “Big Brother”. Google Maps now allows us to type in most addresses and see a photo of the place. Perhaps handy if you are going somewhere you have never been before and want to see what the place is you are looking for, or you might have a friend you’ve never actually met and want to see what their place looks like, or perhaps you want to see what the house you once lived in looks like. I Google Mapped the address of our Friary and Church, we can even see who was at Church on the day the picture was taken. Who knows who is out there taking our pictures. I wonder how many Google Map snaps caught people in places they should not have been.
I have uploaded my first attempt at doing a video to give people a brief overview of our community onto Youtube. Please visist YouTube and comment, rate, the video. Also if you use social networking site such as MySpace, Facebook etc, or have a website or blog, please consider either embedding the video in your site or linking to the site at YouTube. If you’re not sure how to link or embed the video to your website, blog, MySpace, Facebook etc, or to link to it at YouTube please email me and I’ll try and help.
Please feel free to send comments, thoughts suggestions to me also if you don’t want to post to this site, or YouTube. Email Br Nathan-James.
After numerous workshops on the Anglican Rosary and fielding countless questions on the use of prayer beads or rosaries in the Anglican communion I have decided it is time to start collecting the valuable insights and resources that have come out of these workshops and discussions.
The result has been a blog which is dedicated solely to the discussion of the use of rosaries or prayer beads in the Anglican Communion. More specifically it provides background material, examplar of prayers which can be used with the Anglican Rosary, anecdotes of how people use and experience praying with the Anglican Rosary as well a details regarding workshops on making and using Anglican Prayer Beads or Anglican Rosaries.
Please visit the Anglican Rosary Blog and join in on the discussion and sharing of resources on the use of Anglican Prayer Beads or Anglican Rosaries for personal or group prayer and devotion. I look forward to seeing you there.
Br William and Br Gabriel are presently undertaking studies through Open University Australia in studies of other religions. Br William shares his reflections on Australian indigenous religion from a paper he wrote for this course.
Br William writes:
With the emergence of nature-focussed spirituality among searchers for meaning today, I think we could say that Aboriginal religion reflects not only the deep past of Western religion; it may reflect its future also.
Over 60 people from various Franciscan communities came together to celebrate the Transitus of St Clare at St Philips Anglican Church, the parish community of the Society of St Francis. The service, lead by fmic and fmm sisters, was a great tribute to the life of Clare of Assisi.
The service celebrated the life of Clare through interweaving readings about her life, with songs based on Clare’s letters and the bringing forward of symbols of Clare’s religious life.
It was wonderful to see so many members, Catholic and Anglican come together to honour the woman has been an inspiration to many.
After numerous workshops on the Anglican Rosary and fielding countless questions on the use of prayer beads or rosaries in the Anglican communion I have decided it is time to start collecting the valuable insights and resources that have come out of these workshops and discussions.
Over 60 people from various Franciscan communities came together to celebrate the Transitus of St Clare at St Philips Anglican Church, the parish community of the Society of St Francis. The service, lead by fmic and fmm sisters, was a great tribute to the life of Clare of Assisi.
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