Welcome!
Chapter/Convocation 2013 in Detroit
"May God give you Peace"
With this traditional Franciscan greeting we welcome you as you explore a little bit about who we are as sisters and brothers in the Order of Ecumenical Franciscans. As you check us out here on our website, you will discover two essential characteristics of our order. First you will discover that we are indeed Franciscans who strive to follow the poor Christ in the footsteps of Saints Francis and Clare. And second, you will discover that we are ecumenical. By being ecumenical we are committed to practicing the Franciscan charism as sisters and brothers from a vast variety of Christian communities. The membership of our order is represented by numerous Protestant denominations, independent Christian churches, and Catholic communions.
The Three Knots: Chaplain's Corner
The Three Knots: Chaplain’s Corner Greetings, siblings! It has been just over a month since you have asked me to serve as your chaplain. Since then, I have been contemplating what I have gotten myself into! More accurately, I have been contemplating where this community is leading me to serve in that role. Two questions are coming to the surface as I contemplate the reality of how to live into this role of chaplain. 1) What is the gift of the community? And 2) Wherein lies our collective “shadow”? This is one of those “both/and” rather than “either/or” kind of questions. Gift and shadow are really the same. Each will present itself. Just in a different guise. Considering the Franciscan life?
Many of our visitors to this web site are drawn because of some fascination with Francis and Clare. Perhaps they simply want to know more about the thirteenth-century saints whose vision of the Gospel life turned their world on its head. Maybe those who stop by are trying to figure out why twenty-first century people would spend their time and energy on such nonsense. Perhaps they are simply intrigued by the romantic image of Francis after watching Fratello Sole, Sorella Luna (Brother Sun, Sister Moon). But for some reason, they come. |
