We are a local fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO). We usually meet the second Sunday of each month at the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Springfield, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

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Day of Recollection Photos

We held our annual Day of Recollection last Saturday. Additional photos from the day can be found here.

October Meditation

This month, as we prepare for trick and treaters on All Hallowed Eve, let us be prepared for whoever shows up at our door, at any time.

All of us long for a sense of meaning and purpose. All over the world, people are starving for answers, and the Holy Spirit wants to direct them to us, just as he directed the magi to Mary and Joseph. Like these two, all we have to do is share from our hearts the ways God has moved in us.

In the spirit of St. Francis, trust that the Holy Spirit will take care of the rest.

(Paraphrased from The Word Among Us: Jan. 2001)

Pax et bono. Adele

September Meditation

Peace and blessings.

Hope everyone survived the earth quake and Hurricane Irene. As summer winds down, autumn turns leaves to gold; it is a fitting time to commemorate the Stigmata of St. Francis, Sep. 17.

Let us take this time to call to mind the rule and life of the Secular Franciscan: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St. Francis of Assisi who made Christ the inspiration and center of his life with God and with people.

May this too be our way of life as we see Christ in everyone we meet.

Pax et Bonum,
Adele

August Meditation

Peace and blessings.

As we approach August 15, the feast of Our Lady’s Assumption into Heaven, it seems a perfect time to revere and honor our Mother. Fitting, too, to consider her complete and total faith in Yahweh’s providence for her.

Are we ready and willing to follow Mary’s example in all things, saying, “Be it done unto me according to Your will,” just as the innocent Jewish maiden did more than two thousand years ago?

Let us try during the month of August to accept His will in all things as He reminds us, “Be still and know that I am God.”

Pax et Bonum for a happy summer,
Adele

July’s Meditation

Today is the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist as I ponder a meditation for our Fraternity Newsletter.

The priest who celebrated Mass this morning said in his homily that not only was John the precursor of Christ, he carries a message to all of us that we were knit in our mother’s wombs with an assignment from our Creator.

We each are a gift to one another charged with doing whatever God intends for us to do. As we go about our daily lives, we are called to live as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit expects of us, all without our realizing it. We each have a unique purpose that no one else can do. Out prayer is to recognize His will for us so that we may serve our brothers and sisters in the Lord’s will in the spirit of St. Francis.

Peace and blessings as you go about your blessed lives and works.

Pax et bonum,
Adele

January Meeting Has Been Cancelled

Just got an email from Kate:

Dear Brothers and Sisters, our meeting is being cancelled due to the weather.  I have asked Terry Ritter to start the phone chain, so if you could make your phone calls, I would greatly appreciate it.

Blessings,
kate

From the web: “Third Order a ‘path to sanctity’”

“His profession represents a new wave of renewed interest to a committed spiritual life among a younger generation, with several people in their 40s now professed in the Order, compared with most members who are over 50.”

You can read the entire article here.

2010 Christmas Gathering

Yesterday was our Annual Christmas Gathering and we commemorated the invention of the Christmas creche by St. Francis with a traditional dramatic rendition of the events. After that we enjoyed a potluck feast as well as a wonderful time of Franciscan fellowship. Photos can be found here.

June Newsletter

The June newsletter is now online and can be found here.

May 2010 Newsletter

The current newsletter is now online and can be found here.