Workshop and Ecumenical Prayer Service lead by brothers of the Taizé Community, France.

Workshop: venue and time TBA

Ecumenical Evening Prayer: Saturday 17 Sept 2011, 7 pm, St John’s Cathedral Anne St Brisbane.

Every week thousands of young people flock to the tiny village of Taizé in France to spend a week with a small community of brothers founded by Br Roger. Br Roger founded a community of hope, reconciliation and hospitality to all regardless of creed, culture or language. The brothers welcomed refugees and prisoners of war as well as orphaned children to their small community during WW2. Later many people visited the tiny community of brothers. The brothers responded by developing a style of contemplative prayer which would aid people from all denominations, and none, to meet and worship God together. Taizé has been visited by Popes, Ecumenical Patriarchs of the Eastern Churches, Archbishops of Canterbury, and leaders of many Protestant denominations. The music from Taizé is used in worship in many countries around the world and has inspired many to see God for the first time or in a new and personal way. This Ecumenical prayer service will be led by Br Ghislain and Br Matthew from the Taizé community. Come and experience this beautiful style of worship and meet God in a new and embracing way through prayer and song.

For further information contact Br Nathan-James SSF

Over the last few years the province has expanded with brothers now living and ministering in Korea and Sri Lanka. The former Korean Franciscan Brotherhood was recently received into membership in the Society of St Francis – now with two life professed brothers and two novices. Br Lionel returned to his home in Sri Lanka and is nurturing interest in Franciscan charism there.

The name change was needed to reflect the growth in the province outside of Australia and New Zealand. The choice of Divine Compassion has its links back to the early days of the formation of Anglican Franciscan religious life. One of the communities that formed the Society of St Francis as the Society of the Divine Compassion.

Br Stephen David n/ssf - Compass: Late Vocations

The ABC Compass programme recently aired a piece on late (or perhaps rather delayed) vocations. Br Stephen David n/ssf who recently joined us as a novice was one of the people interviewed for the programme. The following programme summary is taken from the Compass website.

Compass explores the modern day appeal of religious life by following the personal journeys of three Australians who take up a vocation later in life.

A late vocation is a trend that harks back to medieval times when special religious orders were established for widows, men returning from battle and older people wishing to devote their later years to a spiritual life. Today, many people follow a calling after they have lived out a career-based vocation. In this program Compass meets a former Catholic nun who has just been ordained an Anglican priest; a former naval officer training to be a Franciscan brother; and, a former lawyer and federal politician who is now a Catholic priest. While maturity gives them some advantages, they also face unique challenges.

Story producer: Dina Volaric

You can view the programme on the Compass website

The Life Profession will take place at the St Philip’s Anglican Church, 115 Cornwall St , Annerley.

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