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

Franciscan Scholar Sr Ilea Delio

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

Contact Person: Sr Pauline Robinson mfic. Phone: (07) 3350 5117 E:mail probinson@mficaust.org.au

Sunday May 10 (2.30 pm - 8.30 pm)
1357 Logan Road
(cnr Mountain Street)
Mt. Gravatt 4122

(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

Program Details:

A “Taizé Service”, or more correctly a contemplative prayer service using Songs of Prayer from the Taizé Community, comes from, and reflects, a deeply powerful witness of reconciliation and Christian unity. The Community began to offer shelter and refuge to those fleeing war or inprisoned because of war. Later, tens of thousands of young people began to come together in the village of Taizé; today during peak summer periods the Community weclomes several thousands of young people each week from all walks of life and stages of spiritual and faith journeys. The form of Common Prayer used in the Taizé Community was born out of the need to find a way for Christians of all denominations, languages and cultures to come together to worship God in Spirit and in Truth.

The message and gift of the Taizé Community is greater than the sum of its music. Thus, the workshop has been structured to provide participants with an understanding of the context in which the Songs of Prayer from Taizé emerged. The concept of prayer is explored; particularly in relation to Song as Prayer. There will be opportunity to explore the structure of Common Prayer as used in the Taizé community, and ways of adapting this in a local situation. There will be opportunity for both ‘singers’ and ‘instrumentalists’ to explore Songs as Prayer with their own respective ‘instrument’. Participants will then put together all the information that has been discussed by preparing and participating in a contemplative prayer service using the Songs of Prayer from the Taizé Community.

[Musicians are encouraged to bring along their instruments]

For further information contact Rev Cheryl Selvage 07 3849 4411 or email Cheryl.

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

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.

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.

You can view the video at YouTube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhfkeAj37fU

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 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.

Download Br William’s paper. Australian Aboriginal Religion

For other reflections by Br William visit his blog The Divine Universe

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.