The Society of St Francis: Province of the Divine Compassion

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.


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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.

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

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.

Download Br William’s paper. Australian Aboriginal Religion

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

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.

Recently, on the feast of St John the Baptist, Br Joseph ssf made his first profession in vows at the Monastery, Stroud NSW. The brothers will be celebrating another first profession in vows in September. Br James Andrew ssf will make his first profession in vows on the feast of St Michael and All Angels at 7pm on Monday the 29th September, 2008 at St Philips Anglican Church. Please pray for both Joseph and James Andrew as they continue to discern their vocation in religious life in the Society of St Francis.

Download Franciscan Angles August 2008

In this issue:

Bringing a Franciscan Presence to Justice and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka: After 13 years in the Australian and New Zealand Province Br Lionel will return home to bring a Franciscan presence to justice and reconciliation work in Sri Lanka. Br Lionel leaves for his mission in Sri Lanka on the 1st August. Please keep him in your prayers as he begins this vital work.

Honest to God: 45 years after the controversial book Br William revisits Bishop John Robinson’s work Honest to God. Br William discusses Robinson’s work in a contemporary context.

A Sermon Preached at the Profession of Br Joseph: Br Joseph made his first profession in vows on the feast of St John the Baptist 2008. Br Nathan-James shares his reflection on Br Joseph’s call to Franciscan life and the challenge faced by all called to live out their baptismal vows.

SSF and other Religious offer Chaplaincy at Lambeth Conference: Br Daniel and Br Brian have been in Lambeth for this year’s conference. They, along with religious from all over the world went to offer a ministry of chaplaincy to participants of the conference. Pictures from their time at the conference are in this issue.

frangles-lent-2008-email.pdf

The way of the cross: a universal reflection on Christ’s dying and rising.

Contemplating the San Damiano Crucifix.

An introduction to prayer, what it is and is not.

Lectio Divina, the art of praying with the scriptures.

The Jesus Prayer, praying the prayer of the heart.

Anglican Prayer Beads, rediscovering an ancient tradition.

For information and bookings please email Br Nathan-James or phone 0429 646427

For a full description of the content of the various sessions please see the Prayer School website.