The Society of St Francis: Australia

Br Clark Berge SFF Visits FI Geneva

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.

During his visit Br. Clark had meetings with members of the FI Advocacy team, where they explored possible opportunities for further collaboration. Mr. Onandia Zarrabe, who leads the Advocacy Department of FI, commented “The visit of Br. Clark was a fantastic opportunity to strengthen the links between the Anglican Franciscans and FI and to discuss specific joint advocacy initiatives, such as the Universal Periodic Review of the Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.”

Ms. Elin Martinez, responsible for the Asia Pacific (AP) Programme of FI, engaged in a brainstorming session with Br. Clark about ways to concretise the day’s discussions into a collaborative project between the SSF and FI. “Working with Anglican Franciscan in the AP region could be a very interesting ecumenical initiative. The Anglican friars are engaged in diverse social justice activities and I am confident about the possibility of initiating a dynamic advocacy project, tailored to their concerns”.
Sr. Denise Boyle fmdm, the Executive Director of FI, said that she was delighted Br. Clarke had come to visit the FI office in Geneva. “Spending time with Br. Clarke proved to be inspirational in terms of learning more about the ministry of the SSF brothers worldwide and the challenges they are facing in being true to their call, within the worldwide Anglican Family.” Sr. Denise said “she hoped that FI and the SSF would strengthen their collaboration through a combined training programme in the near future.”
FI is enthusiastic about the possibility of working more closely with our Anglican brothers and sisters. The common ministry of Franciscans International and the SSF Brothers is to address injustice, to promote human rights and to work with the most vulnerable, throughout the world.

This news article was sent from the web interface at http://www.franciscansinternational.org/news/article.php?id=1607