{Friars welcome Caravan of Empathy to Siena University}
In early August, Franciscan friars from the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Siena University community welcomed the Caravan of Empathy to Loudonville, New York.
The caravan sought to raise awareness and appreciation for immigrants by highlighting their positive impact on the New York State’s economy. Its 1,000-mile trek began on Long Island on Aug. 2 and concluded in Buffalo six days later, traveling through more than 50 New York communities. It was organized by Rural & Migrant Ministry, a faith-led non-profit that provides support to immigrants working throughout New York State.
On Aug. 4, the caravan made a stop at Siena’s Grotto at the invitation of The Laudato Si' Center for Integral Ecology. The center is led by director Br. Michael Perry, OFM, and associate director Br. Jacek Orzechowski, OFM.
Nearly 40 friars and Siena community members gathered at the Grotto to greet the caravan. Br. Jacek shared the words of the late Pope Francis who, in the encyclical Laudato Si', underscored the link between migration and the climate crisis and urged humanity to act to restore dignity to the excluded.
"As we welcomed the Empathy Caravan at the Grotto, [Siena] Saints prayed for the more than 60,000 farmworkers in New York, many of whom are immigrants who help put food on our tables," said Br. Jacek. "We grieved over the fact that immigrant farmworkers live in fear of being torn apart from their families and uprooted from their communities."
The caravan hoped to broadcast a message to all corners of the state that New York communities are stronger when all residents are being cherished.
A video interview featuring key leaders of the caravan can be found at Instagram.
Information and photos for this article were provided by Siena University.
{Fraternidad Universal e Instituciones Globales, Kenneth Himes, OFM}
En esta entrega final de la serie Sabiduría Franciscana, el Hno. Ken Himes, OFM, teólogo y profesor emérito del Boston College, destaca el énfasis del fallecido Papa Francisco en una “policrisis” global que abarca guerras, el cambio climático y otros desafíos, subrayando la necesidad de instituciones globales eficaces y una fraternidad universal basada en la dignidad humana.
El Hno. Ken enfatiza que la Iglesia está llamada a encarnar la unidad afirmando la dignidad de cada persona y trascendiendo fronteras, inspirado en la parábola del Buen Samaritano. Desde la perspectiva Franciscana, concluye, esto implica involucrarse con organizaciones internacionales para promover la justicia estructural, reflejando la idea de fraternidad junto con la libertad y la igualdad.
{Universal Fraternity and Global Institutions, Kenneth Himes, OFM}
In this final installment of the Franciscan Wisdom series, Br. Ken Himes, OFM, a theologian and professor emeritus at Boston College, makes note of the late Pope Francis’ emphasis on a global "polycrisis" involving wars, climate change and other challenges, emphasizing the need for effective global institutions and universal fraternity rooted in human dignity.
Br. Ken emphasizes that the Church is called to embody unity by affirming the dignity of every person and transcending borders, inspired by the parable of the Good Samaritan. From the Franciscan perspective, he surmises, this entails engaging with international organizations to promote structural justice, reflecting the idea of fraternity alongside liberty and equality.
En el inicio de su mensaje a la Academia Pontificia de las Ciencias, escrito el 26 de febrero desde su habitación de hospital, el papa Francisco observó que estamos en medio de lo que llamó una "policrisis". Con este término hacía referencia a una "coyuntura histórica… en la que convergen las guerras, los cambios climáticos, los problemas energéticos, las epidemias, el fenómeno migratorio y la innovación técnica". Para él, es un momento de "crisis compleja y planetaria", que nos insta a "valorar los instrumentos con un alcance global"
>Por desgracia, como indicó, también hay una "irrelevancia progresiva de los organismos internacionales". Sin embargo, urgió Francisco, citándose a sí mismo de la encíclica Fratelli tutti, "debemos seguir comprometiéndonos con determinación por 'organizaciones mundiales más eficaces, dotadas de autoridad para asegurar el bien común mundial, la erradicación del hambre y la miseria, y la defensa cierta de los derechos humanos elementales'".1
En el Vaticano II, los obispos proclamaron que "la promoción de la unidad pertenece a la naturaleza más íntima de la Iglesia" y que esta sirve como un "signo sacramental" de "la unidad de toda la raza humana".2 El Papa Francisco tomó esa enseñanza en serio y la vinculó a su reflexión sobre la parábola del buen samaritano en Fratelli tutti. Esa parábola es la clave interpretativa de toda la encíclica, ya que Francisco vio en el samaritano a alguien capaz de trascender fronteras y límites para involucrarse con la víctima herida que yacía en el camino como un congénere con dignidad y valor.
Toda la encíclica procura ilustrar que la fraternidad en un sentido verdadero es universal; y "la fraternidad universal exige necesariamente el reconocimiento del valor de toda persona humana siempre y en todas partes".3 Esto es lo que se requiere para que la Iglesia sea una señal auténtica de la unidad de la raza humana. El Papa Francisco siguió en afirmar que tal fraternidad universal conlleva el compromiso de que "todo ser humano tiene derecho a vivir con dignidad y a desarrollarse integralmente." Tal compromiso no debe estar basado en la circunstancia de dónde uno reside, sino "en el valor intrínseco" de cada persona.4
Por supuesto, es imposible para nosotros dar testimonio de la fraternidad de igual forma con personas que están al otro lado del mundo que con un fraile compañero de la provincia. Pero Francisco, en su discurso a la Asamblea General de la ONU, indicó el camino para aproximarse al tema al estipular que "la justicia es una condición esencial para alcanzar el ideal de la fraternidad universal".5 Si afirmamos que alguien es nuestro hermano o hermana, como mínimo le debemos el respeto a su dignidad y promover los derechos humanos fundamentales que protegen la protegen.
Al pensar así, Francisco seguía un camino establecido por sus predecesores. Por ejemplo, Benedicto XVI dejó en claro que la acción social es el "camino institucional: podríamos llamarlo también el camino político de la caridad, no menos excelente y eficaz que el tipo de caridad que se encuentra con el prójimo de forma directa".6 La justicia se entiende como la expresión política de la caridad o la traducción de esta en los acuerdos institucionales de la sociedad.
Podríamos decir que las instituciones sociales se convierten en las mediadoras de la fraternidad universal al tratar con hermanos y hermanas lejanos con quienes no nos encontraremos personalmente.
Francisco dejó en claro que así es como debemos pensar en el ámbito de la política como hermanos menores de los demás; "la caridad no se expresa únicamente en las relaciones cercanas e íntimas, sino también en las 'macrorelaciones: sociales, económicas y políticas'".7
Por lo tanto, los frailes debemos preocuparnos por instituciones y estructuras internacionales como la ONU, el Banco Mundial, el Fondo Monetario Internacional, la Organización Mundial de la Salud y tratados y acuerdos internacionales diversos, porque la caridad o la justicia política es una "fuerza capaz de inspirar nuevas maneras de abordar los problemas del mundo actual, de renovar desde dentro las estructuras, las organizaciones sociales y los sistemas jurídicos en profundidad".8 Franciscans International y Franciscan Action Network son solo dos de los grupos que supervisan y participan con las instituciones políticas y económicas; hay muchas otras ONG que trabajan también en el campo de la justicia estructural e institucional.
La famosa consigna de la Revolución Francesa de 1789 fue Liberté, Égalité et Fraternité. Desde entonces, en todo el mundo se implementaron diversos esquemas políticos liberales y socialistas que pretenden inspirarse en la libertad o la igualdad. En gran medida, se ha descuidado una política basada en la fraternidad. El papa Francisco, en consonancia con la amplia tradición del pensamiento social católico, izó el ideal de la fraternidad como una aspiración de los creyentes cristianos en respuesta a la policrisis de nuestro tiempo. Si nosotros, como franciscanos, la orden de los hermanos menores, no respondemos ante tal aspiración, ¿cómo no seremos vistos como quienes no aprovechamos el momento?
At the beginning of his message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, written from his hospital room on February 26, Pope Francis observed that we are in the midst of what he called a “polycrisis.” By the term he meant an “historical juncture . . . in which wars, climate changes, energy problems, epidemics, the migratory phenomenon and technical innovation converge.” To his mind it is a time of “complex and planetary crisis,” one that urges us “to value instruments with a global reach.
Unfortunately, as he noted, there is also a “progressive irrelevance of international bodies.” Yet, Francis urged, quoting himself from the encyclical Fratelli tutti, “we must continue to commit ourselves with determination for ‘more effective world organizations, equipped with the power to provide for the common good, the elimination of hunger and poverty, and the sure defense of fundamental human rights.
At Vatican II, the bishops proclaimed that “the promotion of unity belongs to the innermost nature of the Church” and that the Church serves as a “sacramental sign” of “the unity of the whole human race”2 Pope Francis took that teaching to heart and tied it to his reflection on the parable of the Good Samaritan in Fratelli tutti. That parable is the interpretive key to the entire encyclical as Francis saw in the Samaritan someone who could transcend borders and boundaries to engage the wounded victim lying on the road as a fellow human being with dignity and worth.
The entire encyclical is meant to illustrate that fraternity in the true sense is universal; and “universal fraternity necessarily calls for an acknowledgement of the worth of every human person always and everywhere.”3 That is what is required in order for the Church to be an authentic sign of the unity of the human race. Pope Francis went on to claim such universal fraternity entails the commitment that “every human being has the right to live with dignity and to develop integrally.” Such a commitment ought not be premised on the circumstance of where one lives, but “on the intrinsic worth” of each person.
Of course, it is impossible for us to witness to fraternity in the same way with people halfway around the world as we do with a fellow friar in the province. But Francis, in his address to the U.N. General Assembly, indicated the way to approach the matter when he stipulated that “justice is an essential condition for achieving the ideal of universal fraternity.”5 If we claim someone is our brother or sister the very least we owe them is to respect their dignity and promote those fundamental human rights that protect that dignity.
In thinking this way, Francis was continuing on a path laid out by his predecessors. For instance, Benedict XVI made clear that social action is the “institutional path – we might also call it the political path of charity, no less excellent and effective than the kind of charity which encounters the neighbor directly.”6 Justice is understood as the political expression of charity, or the translation of charity into the institutional arrangements of society.
We might say that social institutions become the mediators of universal fraternity when dealing with distant brothers and sisters who we will not encounter personally.
Francis made clear that is how we should think about the realm of politics as lesser brothers to others; “charity finds expression not only in close and intimate relationships but also in ‘macro-relationships: social, economic and political.
Hence, we friars ought to care for international institutions and structures such as the U.N., World Bank, International Monetary Fund, World Health Organization, and various international treaties and agreements, because political charity or justice is a “force capable of inspiring new ways of approaching the problems of today’s world, of profoundly renewing structures, social organizations and legal systems from within.”8 Franciscans International and the Franciscan Action Network are just two of the groups who monitor and engage with political and economic institutions; there are a host of other NGOs also laboring in the field of structural and institutional justice.
The famous slogan of the French Revolution of 1789 was Liberté, Égalité et Fraternité. Since then various liberal and socialist political schemes claiming inspiration based on liberty or equality have been implemented across the globe. What has been largely neglected is a politics founded on fraternity. Pope Francis, in keeping with the broad tradition of Catholic social thought, held up the ideal of fraternity as an aspiration for Christian believers in response to the polycrisis of our time. If we as Franciscans, the order of lesser brothers, do not act on such an aspiration, how could we not be seen as failing to seize the moment?
{Fr. Ignatius Smith, OFM, 94, passes away in Albany, New York}
Fr. Ignatius Smith, OFM, 94, passed away on Aug. 14, 2025, at Teresian House in Albany, New York. During his 74 years as a friar, Fr. Ignatius served as a missionary in Brazil, as a U.S. Navy chaplain, and as a pastor of parishes in New York and South Carolina.
A viewing and prayer service was held on Monday, Aug. 18, at the friary chapel at Siena University in Loudonville, New York. His body will be transferred to St. Anthony of Padua Church in Butler, New Jersey, where a viewing will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 19, at 11 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at noon. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Butler.
Fr. Ignatius was born on Nov. 8, 1930, and grew up near the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in northeast Washington, D.C. He was one of three children of Francis, a lawyer, and Mary L. Smith (née Russell), who became a homemaker after growing up on a farm. Ignatius attended St. Cecilia Grammar School and St. John’s High School, both located in Washington. During his senior year of high school, two college students who were friars encouraged him to pursue becoming a Franciscan, and he subsequently enrolled at St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, New York, that September. According to a 2013 article in the Anderson (S.C.) Independent, he credited these friars with influencing his decision to become a Franciscan priest.
He was received into the Order of Friars Minor on Aug. 12, 1950, in Paterson, New Jersey, and professed first vows there one year later. He made his solemn profession at Christ the King Seminary in Allegany, New York, on Aug. 13, 1954, and was ordained on Sept. 8, 1956, in Washington, D.C.
After a year of pastoral ministry at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, he embarked on a decade-long mission to Goiás, Brazil. In a parish that spanned more than 1,000 miles, Fr. Ignatius traveled by mule during the six-month dry season to minister in a land with no electricity. While there, he became fluent in Portuguese.
After returning to the United States in 1968, he spent one year updating this theological education following the Second Vatican Council before serving for 23 years as a Navy Chaplain Corps captain, offering the sacraments and providing counseling on bases and ships.
He was assigned to the U.S.S. Sanctuary, a hospital vessel and the first ship to carry female sailors, and the U.S.S. Nimitz, on which he met President Gerald Ford. He served in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and the Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. He also served at Virginia’s Naval Amphibious Base and was Senior Chaplain at Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s biggest naval base. He also served at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, Twentynine Palms in California's Mojave Desert, and as harbor captain at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. His final assignment was in Okinawa, Japan, with the Marine Corps.
After retiring from the military in 1992, Fr. Ignatius wrote in an online essay published by the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province that he embraced the challenge of Navy life and chaplaincy. “I was there, in this very secular environment, to help put God in his rightful place in their young lives. The Franciscan habit, when worn, was greatly respected and helped the formation of these young sailors and marines.”
From 1992 to 1993, Fr. Ignatius served as parochial vicar at St. Anne Parish in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, then in the same role at St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland, for three years. Between 1995 and 2012, he served as pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Callicoon, New York, where he revived the Catholic Youth Organization, hosted community events and engaged his congregation with memorable, story-focused sermons.
He retired for three months before requesting a new assignment, relocating to Anderson, South Carolina, where he was pastor and interim administrator of St. Joseph Catholic Church. At age 82, he led a parish of 650 families and served as a pastoral counselor.
“Every place I’ve gone, the people have been great,” Fr. Ignatius told the Independent in 2013. “I try to bring people closer to God, to help them realize their spiritual potential.”
He ministered at St. Francis Chapel in Albany, New York, from 2015 to 2019 and lived at St. Bernadine of Siena Friary in Loudonville, New York, until 2022, when he moved to the Teresian House in Albany.
Fr. Ignatius was determined to serve for as long as he could, saying “I’d rather wear out than rust away.” He was treasured for his self-deprecating humor, which often emerged in his homilies.
Fr. Ignatius is survived by his nephews and nieces: retired Col. Christopher G. Wright, USMCR, Michael A. Smith, Dr. Mary E. Wright, Kathleen S. Smith and Todd E. Smith, as well as many grandnephews and nieces, and his friar brothers of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
{Br. Michael Madden, OFM, 91, passes away in St. Petersburg, Florida}
Br. Michael Madden, OFM, 91, passed away on Aug. 4 in St. Petersburg, Florida. For 62 years as a Franciscan friar, he worked as a cook, maintained facilities and cared for sick and elderly friars along the East Coast.
Visitation will be Monday, Aug. 11, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Mary, Our Lady of Grace Church, 515 4th Street South, St. Petersburg, Florida, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery. Lunch will be at the friary following the interment.
Br. Michael was born on Dec. 13, 1933, in Baltimore to William and Grace Mary (née Manning) Madden, one of 11 children. His brother. Br. Charles Ramond Madden, OFM Conv., passed away in 2023. Br. Michael attended St. Dominic grammar school and Gompers Vocations High School, both in Baltimore. He professed simple vows on July 15, 1963, in Lafayette, New Jersey, and solemn vows on Aug. 22, 1966, at Christ the King Seminary in Allegany, New York.
Br. Michael began his ministry as a cook and as a member of the maintenance team during his formation from 1963 to 1966 at St. Francis Retreat Center in Rye Beach, New Hampshire. He worked in the infirmary at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, New York, from 1966 to 1967. For the next two years, he returned to maintenance work in Washington, D.C., before rejoining the St. Bonaventure infirmary from 1968 to 1969.
He returned to maintenance work for the rest of his ministry, back to Washington, D.C. (1969 to 1971), then Brookline, Massachusetts (1971 to 1983) and in Silver Spring, Maryland (1983 to 1986). He moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, in 1986 to work in maintenance and continued that job after his retirement in 2012.
His ministry was always nurturing the life of the fraternity. Br. Michael enjoyed caring for the brothers and lived and worked in houses of formation for many years. Although he was not formally part of formation teams, he guided and encouraged many men seeking Franciscan life. His wit and insight were a gift.
He is survived by a sister, Catherine Plantholt, nieces and nephews, and his brother friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
{Animated short brings story of Saint Clare of Assisi to life}
One incredible woman’s story is still inspiring young audiences more than eight centuries after her birth.
Following the premiere of the animated short “The Story of Saint Francis of Assisi” at the 2025 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe has released “The Story of Saint Clare of Assisi,” a three-minute short about one of St. Francis's close supporters and the foundress of the Order of St. Clare. The video, with editing and animation work by Jorge Martins and Danilo Vargas, is premiering on Aug. 11, the feast of St. Clare.
This animated video tells the inspiring story of St. Clare of Assisi – a woman of profound courage, humility, and unwavering faith – in a way that audiences young and old can appreciate. Following her journey through childhood to the founding of the Order, the video portrays St. Clare’s determination and devotion to Christ using enchanting modern animation, creating an enduring image for young audiences.
Produced by the province’s vocations ministry, this is a resource for parents, teachers and directors of religious education to use when sharing the Franciscan charism with children.
This initiative is a direct response to the Franciscan Provincial Synod’s call to “deepen our ongoing formation in the Franciscan charism, both for ourselves and with the larger Franciscan family.”
It is hoped that the resources – available in English and Spanish – will assist educators as they shape a new generation of Franciscan leaders.
Follow the Province of Guadalupe’s social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X) to see the video when it premieres. In the meantime, you can watch the trailer below:
The third video in the series is scheduled for a late 2025 release, showcasing the story of St. Francis and the first crèche at Greccio.
{Siena awards honorary degree to UN Secretary General}
A world leader in the fight to address the climate crisis has been awarded an honorary degree from Siena University in Loudonville, New York.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres was named an honorary doctor of humane letters at a July 15 reception, hosted by friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Siena President Chuck Seifert, Ph.D. and Board of Trustees Chairman Tom Baldwin ‘81 presented the degree, along with Br. Michael Perry, OFM, director of Siena’s Laudato Si’ Center for Integral Ecology.
Antonio delivered the keynote address at last fall’s “Earth’s Cry, Humanity’s Call” symposium, hosted by Siena, where he encouraged young people everywhere “to play a vital role on the front lines for bold climate action.”
In his introductory remarks at the degree presentation, Chuck referenced the moral call that Antonio issued to Saints last October: “You challenged our students to respond with compassion, courage and resolve to challenges related to peace, pursuit of justice and care for our common home.”
Br. Michael shared that Siena’s board wanted to recognize the secretary general for “his tireless efforts to promote values central to the Franciscan charism – respect for human dignity and human rights, promotion of dialogue and peace, and care for creation – values that align with the mission and vision of Siena University.”
Siena’s board adopted “Our Resolution on Sustainability” in March 2024, outlining their commitment to supporting “both morally and materially” the University’s efforts to address climate change.
{Three ways to celebrate the Season of Creation}
As the Franciscan family continues to mark the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures, and the enduring truth they proclaim, here are some ways you can more fully embrace care for creation in your life and community:
Celebrate Creation Day and the Season of Creation – Sept. 1 is “Creation Day,” the first day in the Season of Creation, which ends on the feast of St. Francis on Oct. 4. Spread the word about Creation Day on social media with these resources from the Order of Friars Minor. The Order also offers ideas for liturgical enhancements, aligning with the new Mass for the Care of Creation, first celebrated by Pope Leo on July 9. The Mass incorporates some of the main positions of Laudato Si’ and “calls us to be faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to us – not only in daily choices and public policies, but also in our prayer, our worship, and our way of living in the world,” noted Cardinal Michael Czerny, prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, during the press conference announcing the new liturgical text.
Learn more about the Canticle of Creation and integral ecology — Franciscan scholar Br. Bill Short, OFM, has developed a video presentation to help deepen our spirituality regarding care for creation and recognize the connection between the Canticle and integral theology. The video is accompanied by a reflection guide for use in group settings.
Join a Pilgrimage of Hope for Creation — The Pilgrimages of Hope for Creation initiative offers local opportunities to draw closer to God and nature. During the Season of Creation, communities are encouraged to organize events that contribute to the Church’s mission of ecological conversion. Pilgrimages may be as simple or complex as organizers wish, from a rosary walk on parish grounds to a multi-day trek through a mountain range. Visit CatholicPilgrimsOfHope.org to learn more and find a pilgrimage near you.
The Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe's Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation will continue to offer additional resources as they become available.
{From mechanics to ministry: Br. Maynard Tetreault's 70 years as a friar}
Many years ago, in inner city Detroit, a curious and mechanically inclined teenager worked at a local gas station and occasionally took parts from abandoned vehicles to learn about their operation.
That boy, now Br. Maynard Tetreault, OFM, has found immense joy in sharing his technical skills and God’s love during his 70 years as a friar.
Br. Maynard’s family lived near the Franciscans’ Dun Scotus College in Southfield, Michigan, where he saw a brochure featuring “a brown-robed friar holding a crucifix and the message to ‘Go and preach to all nations. Come join us.’”
Inspired and intrigued, he applied to the Order of Friars Minor. The young man attended the former St. Francis Seminary in Cincinnati from 1947 to 1951, where, he said, “The other seminarians called me ‘Doc’ because I was always fixing things.”
He made his first profession in 1952, professed final vows in 1955, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1960.
Impacting young lives
One of Br. Maynard’s early assignments was at the Franciscans’ Roger Bacon High School, teaching basic electronics and physics courses to the then all-male student population. “I really loved that,” he said. “Some of the boys went on to pursue medical vocations, and I was so proud of them.”
From 1968 to 1981, while serving as executive director of Cincinnati’s Friars Club, which provides athletic, educational and leadership programming for children, Br. Maynard took a chance on a young woman that changed her life. Annie Timmons was only 18 when she applied for a position as the Girls Club director.
“He believed in me and hired me. The rest is history,” said Annie, who now serves as president of Friars Club. “Br. Maynard saw my gifts and potential and set me on the path that was God’s plan. He is so kind and generous and has been a great role model for me. He really exemplifies the values of St. Francis.”
Br. Maynard Tetreault, OFM, center, poses with Br. Larry Dunham, OFM, and Annie Timmons, Friars Club president, during a celebration. (Photo by Br. Frank Jasper, OFM)
Helping in the hills
In 1987, Br. Maynard joined the pastoral ministry team at Mother of Good Counsel Church in Hazard, Kentucky. The people in the hills of eastern Kentucky quickly captured his heart, and he became involved in the struggle of local landowners against large mineral holding companies.
From the late 1800s until World War II, land speculators and company representatives traveled through Appalachian coal fields buying mineral rights, leaving landowners with surface rights, Br. Maynard explained.
Disputes arose in the 1950s when coal companies arrived, often unexpectedly, to strip mine the coal, claiming deeds allowed them to extract minerals by any means — even if it meant permanently destroying farmland or displacing families.
Landowners argued that they had only sold deep mining rights, not the right to destroy the surface. Despite numerous lawsuits, Kentucky courts sided with the companies.
“This was outright exploitation of the landowners, and there was environmental degradation due to all of the strip mining,” said Br. Maynard.
He joined Kentuckians for the Commonwealth to help residents organize to restrict the abuses by the mineral companies. He eventually became secretary/treasurer of KFTC, and in 1988, thanks to the group’s efforts, Kentucky voters responded “yes” to amending the state’s constitution so that companies could no longer begin strip mining without a landowner’s permission.
“The people were empowered,” said Br. Maynard. “That was a very rewarding experience.”
Friar in a hard hat
Amid his varied ministries, Br. Maynard served for decades as the building coordinator for legacy St. John the Baptist Province, eagerly donning a hard hat to supervise a multitude of projects and put his training in electronics and engineering to use.
He oversaw the construction of additions to Roger Bacon High School, the province’s college seminaries and a retreat center in Easton, Pennsylvania, and remodeling efforts at several Franciscan facilities.
Br. Maynard moved to Galveston, Texas, in 2010 to serve as associate pastor at Holy Family Parish. Several years after Hurricane Ike hammered the island, there was still unresolved damage to tackle and hastily made repairs to correct among the five church plants.
“I loved every minute of it,” Br. Maynard said. “It was very rewarding to be so hands on and represent the province on every job.”
Back to his roots
In 2017, Br. Maynard returned to Detroit, joining Brothers Alex Kratz, OFM, and Louie Zant, OFM, at St. Benedict the Black Friary, where the brothers sought to bring new life to a neighborhood marked by boarded-up houses and abandoned businesses. It was a homecoming of sorts for Br. Maynard.
“My parish growing up was a mile from there, and it was significant to return to my old haunts,” he said. “I was keenly aware of the injustice, racism and poverty in the community, and it was a privilege to serve there.”
Today Br. Maynard lives in a senior living community in Cincinnati, where he enjoys praying, reading, keeping up with current events and engaging in conversation with others. When asked what his many years as a friar mean to him, his response is simple: “Joy.”
“The Franciscans are a fraternity that’s over 800 years old. We have a great theology and philosophy,” he said. “We’re a joyous outfit. When you get into the theology of joy, its foundation is gratitude. I’m joyful and grateful and thank God for my life as a Franciscan every day.”
{5 friars to profess vows, 3 to be ordained in August}
Eight Franciscan friars from the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe will celebrate significant milestones in their Franciscan journey this August.
Three friars will be ordained on Aug. 22 and five friars will profess solemn vows on Aug. 23 at Holy Family Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico. With support from fellow friars, family, friends and lay partners-in-ministry, they will commit to their next step in Franciscan religious life.
Solemn profession candidates
After completing initial formation, a friar can seek approval from the Provincial Minister to take lifelong vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the Order of Friars Minor. The following friars (pictured above from left to right) will profess solemn vows:
Br. Edgar Alberto, OFM, of El Salvador, started evangelizing with the Apostoles de la Palabra before moving to California at 19.
Br. Daniel Cruz, OFM, from Blythewood, South Carolina, decided to join the Franciscans after meeting friars at the Catholic Center at the University of Georgia in Athens.
Br. Jimmy Kernan, OFM, from Syracuse, New York, began postulancy in 2019 after meeting friars at St. Bonaventure University and Mt. Irenaeus in Western New York.
Br. Adolfo R. Mercado, OFM, from Sacramento, California, began his education and advocacy work in 1998 and became a friar in 2018.
Br. Joshua Richter, OFM, from Hamilton, Ohio, chose to become a Franciscan at age 12 after meeting friars from the legacy St. John the Baptist Province who served Spanish-speaking parishioners.
Br. Edgar’s call to religious life was strengthened during his year serving with the Franciscan Volunteer Ministry at St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia.
“I saw the way friars interact with people and the power of solidarity, hospitality and compassion for others,” he said. “Friars and volunteers help others with hot meals, and welcome back those who have been marginalized by society.”
“When I saw the good the friars do for others, I heard the call more clearly and I decided to respond to that call and serve others as a Franciscan friar.”
Initial formation provided Br. Adolfo new perspectives on sacrifice and service, informed by his experience growing up in a poor immigrant family.
“Life has always been a mix of sacrifice and joy. There have been times when I have felt a bit depleted, but then a note, message, comment, or observation helps me re-orient myself and the relationship with God,” he said. “I enjoy living life and engaging with the world as a friar in service, open to the work of the Holy Spirit and prioritizing prayer to keep the relationship with God at the center. God is good!”
Candidates for ordination
After professing solemn vows, some friars feel called to serve as priests. The following are to be ordained (pictured above from left to right):
Rev. Br. Noe Alfaro Casas, OFM, from San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, has a brother who is a postulant with the Franciscan Province of Sts. Francis and James, and another relative who serves as a diocesan priest in their hometown.
Rev. Br. Raphael Nnabuikem Ozoude III, OFM, was born in Los Angeles, raised Catholic in Nigeria, and first considered joining the Franciscans while a sophomore at Baylor University in 2013.
Rev. Br. Matthew Thomas Ryan, OFM, of Covington, Kentucky, earned a law degree from the University of Cincinnati in 2001 and spent 13 years as a public defender. Inspired by the Franciscans he met at St. Monica and St. George Parish during law school, he pursued his vocation.
“I pray that I will be a good priest using my gifts for the greater glory of our God who loves us all for who we are,” Br. Matt said. “I hope to continue being with people who seek and inspire others to deeper relationship with God and that my sacramental ministry nurtures such sacred encounters.”
Br. Raphael says he is open to all ministries, especially those in evangelization, education, sacraments and outreach.
Next steps in following Francis
Friars, friends and lay partners-in-ministry will celebrate with the candidates. For Br. Noe, ordination is an opportunity to reunite with his parents and fellow friars from formation.
“I have met many families and good people, and I hope to see some of them at my upcoming ordination,” he said.
Br. Edgar once questioned his strength and worthiness to embrace the vows. “Those questions were in my head and heart,” he said. He then saw vows as a way of life, he said.
“Formation was the beginning of something positive and holy,” he said. “I am beginning to understand it will take a life commitment to live and fully understand my vows.”
{Fr. Maury Smith, OFM, 88, passes away in Memphis, Tennessee}
Fr. Maury Smith, OFM, 88, passed away on July 22, 2025, in his hometown of Memphis, Tennessee. He had a diverse ministry, serving as a retreat director, college educator, columnist and pastor, as well as in provincial administration, during his 66 years as a Franciscan friar.
Visitation will be held Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, at 10 a.m., at St. Mary’s Church, 155 Market Street, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery, 1663 Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee 38106.
Fr. Maury was born to Thomas Smith and Rose Stupnesky on April 20, 1937, in Memphis. He was received into the Franciscan Order on June 21, 1958, and made simple vows on June 22, 1959, both in Teutopolis, Illinois. He professed solemn vows on June 22, 1962, in Cleveland, Ohio, and was ordained to the priesthood on Jan. 9, 1966, in Teutopolis.
After ordination, Fr. Maury continued his pastoral formation at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Cleveland in 1966. He then spent a year as parochial vicar at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in St. Louis before studying for two years at Divine Word International in London, Ontario, Canada. From 1968 to 1980, he served at Alverna Retreat House in Indianapolis, as vicar and retreat director from 1968 to 1974, and director of the English-speaking Conference Plan for Franciscan Living from 1974 to 1980. During this time, he received a Doctor of Ministry in pastoral counseling.
For seven years, Fr. Maury served on the formation team responsible for training young friars, first at St. Paschal Friary in Oak Brook, Illinois, as director of formation (novice master) and guardian (1981 to 1983), and then at St. Francis of Assisi Friary in Franklin, Indiana, where he served as novice master and praeses (1983 to 1984) and guardian (1984 to 1987). From 1987 to 1991, he lived in San Antonio, providing lay minister training at the Oblate School of Theology and serving as director of theological field education.
Fr. Maury returned to his native Memphis in 1991 as pastor of St. Mary Parish and guardian of the local friary from 1996 to 1998. He went back to San Antonio in 1998, taking a sabbatical year for language studies at Mexican American Catholic College before working on the Southeastern Deanery Pastoral Resources team from 1999 to 2009. He returned to Memphis in 2009 and was chaplain for the Christian Brothers Community and Christian Brothers High School.
In 2010, Fr. Maury moved to St. Germain Friary in Dittmer, Missouri, spending a year in residence, two in spiritual direction as assistant at Il Ritiro Franciscan Retreat Center as well as supply ministry for local priests. He served as the legacy Sacred Heart Province’s director of friar life and justice, peace and integrity of creation while living in Dittmer (2011 to 2017) and St. Louis (2016 to 2017).
In 2017, he returned to San Antonio to serve the archdiocese as a spiritual director while contributing biweekly articles to the archdiocesan newspaper, Today’s Catholic. In 2022, he returned to St. Anthony Friary in St. Louis, where, although semi-retired, he continued to help with local Masses as a supply priest and offer confessions at St. Anthony of Padua Parish. During the COVID-19 quarantine, he maintained his writing contributions to Today’s Catholic and provided in-person and online spiritual direction. He enjoyed spending fall Saturday afternoons watching Notre Dame football.
Fr. Maury was diagnosed with cancer in June 2025 and entered hospice care shortly afterward, moving to the Jewish Rehabilitation Center in Memphis to be near loved ones. He is survived by his brother friars in the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
{Franciscan 360: A safe place for comprehensive compassion}
“There are 8 million stories in the naked city,” a line from a 1950s police TV show, captures New York City's perception of exposure and vulnerability, where people's struggles are evident only to those who choose to help.
Each New York City resident has their own story and needs. For some at the St. Francis Breadline, nourishment is only one of many challenges they face.
Franciscan 360, just blocks from the Breadline, gives comprehensive support daily in their day room from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. for people in need.
Guests referred by the St. Francis Breadline or social service agencies are welcomed by a friar or staffer with social work experience, who introduces 360's services and builds trust while maintaining guest dignity.
Guests can use one of six computers there, access the internet and get a cup of coffee.
“When people come through our door, they're welcomed in,” Br. Paul O'Keeffe, Franciscan 360's Managing Director, said. “There is no pressure to share or engage in conversation. This is a sound approach, especially when we meet those who are long-term homeless.”
A nook worth looking for: They say that a cup of hot coffee is like a caress for the soul, enveloping you with warmth and comfort – a perfect match for Franciscan 360! (Photo courtesy of Franciscan 360)
‘This is their haven’
Trust building begins with providing a private place to talk and lend a kind, listening ear.
“Many people who come to 360 have commented that we're the nicest around,” Br. Paul said. “It's not just about providing a service. This is their haven while they're here. They know that we’re looking out for them, that they're in a place that respects them.”
Once guests are comfortable, they can use all 360 services through case management with a qualified social worker, who assists them to obtain:
Temporary and permanent housing placement
Help with IDs (birth certificates, state IDs)
Detox, rehab and medical referrals
Shower and laundry vouchers
Clothing
Enrichment programs: guitar, painting, knitting
Clients awaiting housing can use 360’s mailing address, though processing may be held up by document requirements.
“A lot of people don't have identification,” Br. Paul said. “If you're trying to establish residency, you need a place to have documents mailed and kept safe. We also sign people up for different kinds of housing vouchers.”
Here, finding help is a piece of cake. 360 guest Larry (left) celebrates his birthday with Br. Paul O’Keeffe, OFM, Managing Director of Franciscan 360. The artwork on the wall behind Larry, from 360’s first art exhibition, is by artist Joseph “Khari” Richardson. (Photo courtesy of Franciscan 360)
Helping find better accommodation
A housing voucher (Section 8) is a federal program that helps low-income, elderly or disabled individuals pay for private rent.
“Sometimes, we welcome guests who have housing vouchers and are in irregular situations,” Br. Paul said. “For example, their landlord has cut off the hot water, their electricity doesn't work right, or something else is wrong with their apartment.
“In these instances, they can take that voucher and go anywhere within the city. We do a fair amount of helping people find better accommodation.”
Guests might not have vouchers or time to get documents.
“If we meet people who need to be off the street immediately, like people with minors or those who are vulnerable because of age or mental capacity, we work with an agency that will get them off the street within 24 hours,” Br. Paul said.
Something to smile about! Guest John C. posing near Franciscan 360’s welcoming doorway. (Photo courtesy of Franciscan 360)
Space for creative activities
“Franciscan 360 offers a path out of the harsh realities of street life,” said Adam Cross, Director of 360’s Enrichment Programs. “Providing avenues for escape while simultaneously nurturing creativity and personal growth through love and support.”
Franciscan 360 offers a space for creative activities and encourages input from participants. It also intends to add recliners for guests to use for rest, addressing conveyed needs. They’re also considering grants to hire a part-time therapist this year.
“Caseworkers know their stuff, but they don't always know how to approach people who may have mental health issues,” Br. Paul said. “A lot of people just want to talk.”
A bright future for Franciscan 360 means a bright future for its guests.
“Our most prominent feeder source is people from Breadline, but word of mouth through other agencies and the unhoused themselves is bringing people to us, too,” Br. Paul said. “People are beginning to realize they can come here and get the help they need.”
Franciscan 360's mission is to uplift the disempowered and unhoused by creating a supportive community that honors the dignity of every person. Franciscan 360 stands in solidarity with the poor and marginalized, guided by the Franciscan values of service to others, reverence for all creation, and peacemaking.
To support the St. Francis Breadline / Franciscan Bread for the Poor, Inc. and Franciscan 360, please visit this site.
{An update from the friars in the Holy Land}
Br. Ponciano Macabalo, OFM, is a Franciscan friar of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe who is serving in the Galilean region of Israel. He recently shared this update from the friars in the Holy Land:
In this present Israeli-Palestinian conflict started two years ago on Oct. 7, 2023, the friars here in the Holy Land are on alert. Those who experienced previous wars have learned a lot about how to cope with this kind of conflict.
We are grateful for the iron dome that protects our cities. But the last 12 days war with Iran scared us as their missiles and drones penetrated the air space of crowded cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa, destroying buildings, killing around 30 and injuring 3,200 people. A hospital in Beersheba was hit by a big bomb right after the patients were transferred to a safe ward. We are relieved that in the 12 days war with Iran, we here in Nazareth got only warnings two to three times a day and heard bomb explosions far from us. We continue to pray for God’s protection for our people and our shrines.
I am assigned to the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth, a major shrine of the Holy Land where the Angel Gabriel declared to Mary that she would become the mother of our Savior. Recognized as a house of Mary, we maintain the prayerfulness of this place for pilgrims to pray, to celebrate the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation in their own language, and to admire the artwork presenting Mary in the cultures of different nations. We also maintain the Church Shrine of St. Joseph, his house where the Holy Family lived and where Jesus grew up.
The Basilica of the Annunciation is situated within the Galilean region of Israel. The friaries within this territory with its shrines are bonded together as one regional entity of the Custody of the Holy Land. This region is blessed the with 24 friars, priests and lay brothers, from different countries. A couple of them came from the region of Galilee. The diversity is amazing. They are 12 friars from 11 countries. With two Argentinians, the rest came from Poland, Ghana, Syria, Egypt, India, Japan, Brazil, USA, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Other friaries belonging to this region are Cana (with 3 friars), Mount Tabor (3), Tabgha - Primacy of Peter and Capernaum (4), Magdalla and Mujeidin with one friar each attached to Nazareth. In this region, religious sisters collaborate with the friars in their work.
The friars in other regions (Jaffa, Judea, Samaria) and other countries (Jordan, Cyprus, Lebanon, Egypt and Syria) under the Custody are mostly foreigners from countries like Iraq, Lebanon, Cyprus, Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Jordan, China, Ukraine, Italy, Spain, Germany, Croatia, Nigeria, Madagascar and other nationalities. Most of the friars speak Italian, the common language of the Custody, and little English or French. While many friars’ native tongue is Arabic, many friars learn it as part of their studies together with Hebrew and Greek.
The population of Israel speaks Hebrew, Arabic, Russian and English. The liturgy in most parishes is in Arabic/Hebrew while big feasts and Custodial celebrations are in multiple languages. In Nazareth, the Mass in the parish is in Arabic and in Italian at the grotto of the Annunciation during the week and Sunday Mass at St. Joseph. The migrant communities are celebrating Mass in Filipino, English, Eritrean, Ukrainian, Russian, Sri Lankan and two Indian languages.
On June 24, the feast of St. John the Baptist, the Vatican approved the nomination of the new Custos of the Holy Land: Friar Francesco Ielpo, OFM, from Italy. The Custodial Chapter scheduled for July 1 is transferred to July 27, 2025 due to the war.
Take action for peace
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza grows more dire each day. The United Nations reports that Gaza’s population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity and malnutrition, resulting in starvation and death.
After a recent visit to Gaza with Patriarch Theophilos III of the Orthodox Church of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, OFM, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, shared his reaction to the human suffering within the midst of the devastation, saying:
“Humanitarian aid is not only necessary — it is a matter of life and death. Refusing it is not a delay, but a sentence. Every hour without food, water, medicine and shelter causes deep harm.
“We have seen it: Men holding out in the sun for hours in the hope of a simple meal. This is a humiliation that is hard to bear when you see it with your own eyes. It is morally unacceptable and unjustifiable.”
“I renew my appeal to the international community to observe humanitarian law and to respect the obligation to protect civilians, as well as the prohibition of collective punishment, the indiscriminate use of force and the forced displacement of the population.”
We call on people of goodwill to help end the suffering in the following ways:
Prayer – We continue to pray for peace. As Br. Francesco Patton, OFM, former Custos of the Holy Land, said in an appeal for peace in June, “Prayer is the only weapon we are permitted to use. It is a weapon that causes no destruction, no death and no bloodshed. Instead, it fosters goodness in human hearts.”
Advocacy – Contact your representatives and ask them to support full, unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and an immediate halt to the bombardment of civilians.
Education – Learn how Catholic and Christian communities in the Holy Land are responding to the challenges of life under occupation and conflict in a three-part webinar from Churches for Middle East Peace. The webinar highlights how faith-based institutions are providing critical support and shares stories from the front line of humanitarian and justice efforts.
{Refugee finds refuge, brotherhood among American Franciscans}
It’s difficult to imagine the challenge of arriving in the United States as a legal refugee, in a land where you have no money and don’t know the language.
It’s also inspiring to consider what faith and perseverance nurtured the discernment that carried you here despite it all.
Br. Vincent Nguyen, OFM, knows both. Although he is the man at the narthex, smiling and shaking hands with a line of parishioners hoping to have a moment with the priest they see and trust, he once struggled even to communicate in English.
Why, they ask, did you become a friar?
“When I was discerning my vocation, I hadn’t heard of ‘Franciscan friars,’” he said. “In my mind, a priest is he who wears a black shirt and a white collar.”
The way to ordination was fraught with confusion, rejected applications and near desertion of the dream. Just as easily as other orders said no, a befriended Franciscan, Br. Hoang Trinh, OFM, postulated: “Join us!”
“That was it,” Br. Vincent said. “He hooked me on the Franciscans.”
Br. Vincent Nguyen, OFM, speaks with parishioners at the Sts. Simon and Jude Parish auction in Huntington Beach, California. It was the first parish where he served after ordination. (Photo courtesy of Br. Vincent Nguyen, OFM).
How did he get here?
Br. Vincent serves at the Conventual Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Scottsdale, Arizona. The church offers all sacraments and welcomes individuals who may have felt unwelcome elsewhere.
Significant events marked his journey from refugee to priest: a chapel visit with friars, a bus encounter with a woman and a transformational talk with a Franciscan about Jesus.
Br. Vincent Nguyen, OFM, greets military personnel on Veterans Day. (Photo courtesy of Br. Vincent Nguyen, OFM)
‘Jesus, brother’
Br. Vincent met other Conventual friars in their chapel. They chatted. He shushed them, thinking that silent reverence was best in that setting. He pointed at the tabernacle.
They smiled and reminded him, “Jesus is our brother.”
“It was eye-opening,” Br. Vincent said. “I had never thought of Jesus as my brother.”
As a friar, he has a distinctive vantage point for ministry. He calls God's children “holy people of God,” which surprises them. "I'm not holy,” they say.
“I convince them they are loved,” he said. “People feel good when they are greeted this way. They can see that God is love. They can see they are loved.
“Franciscans are good at that.”
Br. Vincent Nguyen, OFM, is a man of many talents. Here, he gives Br. Franklin Fong, OFM, a fresh haircut. (Photo courtesy of Br. Vincent Nguyen, OFM)
On the bus
A gesture to him on a bus, after wrestling with language barriers, exemplified Christ's love. Br. Vincent boarded in Orange County, California. He asked a Hispanic woman how much the fare was. His limited Spanish and hand gestures were unsuccessful in conveying that.
The woman opened her purse and handed him money. Her compassion in a moment of confusion touched him.
“It spoke to my mind,” he said. “It could have been a funny story, but it was also a very painful story.”
Br. Vincent frequently faced negative perceptions as a poor refugee who couldn't speak English. Such dialogue did not anger him; rather, he considered others who similarly suffered in unfamiliar worlds.
Through learning iconography, the study of symbols, themes and subject matters in visual arts, Br. Vincent Nguyen, OFM, discovered how to blend his childhood perceptions of Christ with the idea of the resurrected savior, enriching his artistic expression. Here, he paints a 9-foot San Damiano Cross for Saint Luis Rey Parish in Oceanside, California. It is the second of three he has painted. (Photo courtesy of Br. Vincent)
The resurrected Christ
Br. Vincent studied iconography, a subject unfamiliar to him, in formation, at the order’s suggestion. His family could not afford classes or supplies in Vietnam. With talent and training, he created art that captured the reverence and divinity of saints.
Br. Franklin Fong, OFM, who was the vocations director, asked to see his art. Br. Vincent proudly shared images of holy figures. “Where is the resurrected Christ?” Br. Franklin asked. “I see only the suffering Christ.”
His art depicted Christ's agony on Good Friday, the suffering in his final hours.
"Certain cultures portray Jesus as full of blood, beaten up, and that resonates with them,” Br. Vincent said. “It was ingrained in my mind that Jesus was only that.”
Br. Franklin invited Br. Vincent to merge his childhood image of Christ with the concept of the risen savior.
“I needed to see Jesus as both suffering and resurrected,” he said. “It was a valuable lesson. I took it, and it helped me so much to do my artwork.”
Br. Vincent Nguyen, OFM, painted his third San Damiano cross for the Conventual Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is smaller and modified at the bottom to feature Our Lady of the Angels. (Photo courtesy of Br. Vincent)
'Those who hunger for love’
Br. Vincent participated in the regional synodal assembly in Scottsdale and the national Franciscan Synod in Kansas City, offering insights on poverty that aligned with a major focus of the discernment process.
“When we think of the poor, we sometimes think only of the homeless, of those waiting in line for food,” he said. “Poverty can be those who hunger for love and spiritual aid. They might look fancy, beautiful and wealthy, but they are poor.
“If we focus on only one group, how can the others be ministered to by friars?”
Br. Vincent Nguyen, OFM, developed his gift for art by learning iconography in school. This is St. Francis at Greccio, delighting in the baby Jesus. (Photo courtesy of Br. Vincent Nguyen, OFM)
'They raised me up’
It's noteworthy that this cheerful priest overcame significant hardships. Joining the friars profoundly altered his life.
“Franciscans are a little bit of everything,” Br. Vincent said. “We live a monastic life wearing habits, praying together, but we are still active outside, with people.”
His self-assessment is honest; his judgment is notable.
“I was like trash,” he said. “I can say that. Since I joined the friars, they raised me up and strengthened my dignity. They didn’t look at me as badly because I didn’t speak English. They tried to help me. They challenge me on the one hand and help me on the other.
“All the pieces that formed me came from the friars.”
La esperanza es una experiencia comunitaria más que individual, que nos llama a la fraternidad y al apoyo mutuo en tiempos difíciles. El camino Franciscano implica fomentar la esperanza y la sanación a través del encuentro, la cercanía y las relaciones.
En la próxima entrega de nuestra serie Sabiduría Franciscana, el hermano Murray Bodo, OFM—sacerdote, autor y poeta—destaca que la esperanza es una actitud fundamental que florece en comunidad, donde las personas encuentran fortaleza e identidad dentro de la experiencia colectiva de la fraternitas. Señala que la fraternitas es una fuente de sanación y menciona el concepto de “misericordia activa” vivida en conjunto. Tal como lo ejemplificó San Francisco, se crea así una relación recíproca que genera esperanza y alegría, incluso en medio de la crisis. Esta interacción puede convertirse en una fuerza transformadora que invita a otros a unirse a una experiencia compartida de amor y apoyo.
En la próxima entrega de nuestra serie Sabiduría Franciscana, el hermano Thomas Nairn, OFM—educador, autor, teólogo moral y experto en ética del cuidado de la salud—aborda los conceptos de esperanza y solidaridad tal como los han enfatizado los papas modernos, especialmente en el contexto de un mundo cada vez más interconectado.
Destaca la importancia de la comunidad y del amor mutuo como elementos esenciales para fomentar la esperanza y la solidaridad entre las personas, especialmente entre quienes se encuentran marginados.
La visión Franciscana enfatiza un lenguaje familiar, presentando a todas las criaturas como hermanos y hermanas dentro de la comunidad de Dios, lo cual promueve una comprensión más cercana y humana de la solidaridad. Reforzando la importancia de estar presentes los unos para los otros, el hermano Thomas nos anima a todos a comprometernos activamente en mostrar solidaridad y esperanza a quienes enfrentan la oscuridad y la marginación.
Hope is a communal experience rather than being an individual one, calling us to fraternity and mutual support during challenging times. The Franciscan way entails fostering hope and healing through encounter, outreach and relationships.
In the next installment in our Franciscan Wisdom series, Br. Murray Bodo, OFM, priest, author and poet, emphasizes that hope is a fundamental attitude that thrives in community, where individuals find strength and identity within the collective experience of fraternitas. He notes that fraternitas is a source of healing and mentions the concept of “working mercy” together. As exemplified by St. Francis, a reciprocal relationship that fosters hope and joy, even amid crisis, is thus created. This interaction can be a transformative force that invites others to join in a shared experience of love and support.
In the next installment of our Franciscan Wisdom series, Br. Thomas Nairn, OFM, an educator, author, moral theologian and expert in health care ethics, discusses the concepts of hope and solidarity as emphasized by modern popes, particularly in the context of a more interconnected world. He highlights the significance of community and mutual love as essential elements in fostering hope and solidarity among individuals, especially the marginalized.
The Franciscan vision emphasizes familial language, portraying all creatures as siblings in God’s community, which encourages a more relatable understanding of solidarity. Reinforcing the importance of being present for one another, Br. Thomas encourages all of us to actively engage in showing solidarity and hope to those facing darkness and marginalization.
“Hope is the fundamental attitude that supports us on the journey. It does not consist of waiting with resignation, but of striving with zeal toward true life, which leads well beyond the narrow individual perimeter. As Pope Benedict XVI reminded us, hope “is linked to a lived union with a ‘people,’ and for each individual it can only be attained within this ‘we.’”
Pope Francis, “The End of the World? Crises, Responsibilities, Hopes”
This is precisely the time When artists go to work. There is no time for despair, No place for self-pity, No need for silence, No room for fear. We speak, we write, We do language. That’s how imagination heals. ~Toni Morrison
“Hope” is a very important Franciscan word that becomes so much more than a word when I begin to meditate on it—especially in a context like this so-called time of “polycrisis.” I quickly realize that I am helpless and alone without the “we” of what Pope Benedict calls “a people,” and what we Franciscans call a “fraternitas.”
Age, and playing with words for ages, has convinced me that THE gift of Franciscans for the world today is our own interrelating as brothers, our “fraternitas.” In our “fraternitas” we find our own identities defined and clarified and thereby find the hope that carries us on as well. And to the extent that we open that ever-expanding circle of “fraternitas” to others—and let them in, let them, too, experience a joyful place of hope—to that extent we jointly create what St. Francis called “fraternitas.” In “fraternitas,” there emerges a “we” that is defined and focused by those separate individuals who together are becoming a “we.”
St. Francis rejected other founders’ definitions of who we, as religious, become through the faithful keeping of the Rule. Instead, he embraced the descriptive definition God gave to him, and by extension to the brothers: that they were to become new kinds of fools in the world, wisdom figures who emerge strangely sane and full of hope as they open their arms to those who would join them in the mad dance of love--even in the midst of war, climate change, energy problems, epidemics, the migratory phenomenon, and technological innovation, all erupting simultaneously.
As God did with St. Francis and the lepers, God now asks us to open our arms and “work mercy” with one another and with those who would join us on our mad pilgrimage here on earth.
Fraternitas seems to happen when we begin to “work mercy with one another,” not when we have compassion or have pity, both attitudes dripping condescension and self-importance. Francis says instead that the Lord led him among lepers, “et feci misericordiam cum ipsis” (“and I made mercy with them”). He and the lepers were mutually working mercy with one another; it was a reciprocal gesture.
Fraternitas is a redeemed and redeeming interaction that shines like the sun of justice and calls others to want to be a part of that reciprocal relatedness. Call it hope or joy or re-birth. It unites and heals, and that is a big part of what we believe. We believe further that if we put this belief into practice, then new kinds of fools start healing the world. Hope is the witness that foolish wisdom is alive and well and living wherever making mercy is still happening.
{Esperanza: Mucho más que una palabra Franciscana}
“La esperanza es la actitud fundamental que nos sostiene en el camino. No consiste en esperar con resignación, sino en esforzarse con fervor hacia la vida verdadera, que lleva el estrecho perímetro individual mucho más allá. Como el papa Benedicto XVI nos hizo recordar, la esperanza "está ligada a la unión vivida con un 'pueblo', y para cada persona solo puede alcanzarse dentro de este 'nosotros'".
Papa Francisco, "¿El fin del mundo? Crisis, responsabilidades, esperanzas".
Este es precisamente el momento Cuando los artistas van a trabajar. No hay tiempo para la desesperación, No hay lugar para la autocompasión, No hay necesidad de silencio, No hay espacio para el miedo. Hablamos, escribimos, Trabajamos el lenguaje. Así es como la imaginación cura. ~Toni Morrison
"Esperanza" es una palabra franciscana muy importante que pasa a ser mucho más que una palabra cuando comienzo a meditar sobre ella, en especial en un contexto como este supuesto tiempo de "policrisis". Con celeridad me doy cuenta de que me encuentro indefenso y solo sin el "nosotros" de lo que el papa Benedicto llama "un pueblo", y lo que los franciscanos llamamos una "fraternitas".
La edad, y el jugar con las palabras durante años, me ha convencido de que EL regalo de los franciscanos para el mundo hoy es nuestra propia interrelación como hermanos, nuestra "fraternitas". En nuestra "fraternitas" encontramos definidas y clarificadas nuestras propias identidades y, con ello, encontramos también la esperanza que nos anima. Y en la medida en que abrimos ese círculo cada vez más amplio de "fraternitas" a los demás (y les permitimos entrar, dejamos, también, que experimenten un lugar alegre de esperanza), en esa medida creamos en conjunto lo que San Francisco llamaba "fraternitas". En la "fraternitas" surge un "nosotros" que es definido y centrado por aquellas personas separadas que, juntas, se convierten en un "nosotros".
San Francisco rechazó las definiciones de otros fundadores sobre en quiénes nos convertimos, como religiosos, mediante la fiel observancia de la Regla. En su lugar, abrazó la definición descriptiva que Dios le entregó y, por extensión, a los hermanos: que debían convertirse en nuevas especies de locos en el mundo, figuras de sabiduría que surgen extrañamente cuerdas y llenas de esperanza mientras abren los brazos a aquellos que quisieran unírseles en la loca danza del amor, incluso en medio de la guerra, el cambio climático, los problemas energéticos, las epidemias, el fenómeno migratorio y la innovación tecnológica, todos en erupción de forma simultánea.
Como Dios hizo con San Francisco y los leprosos, Dios nos pide ahora que abramos los brazos y "obremos la misericordia" unos con otros y con quienes se unan a nosotros en nuestra loca peregrinación aquí en la tierra.
La fraternitas parece darse cuando empezamos a "obrar la misericordia unos con otros", no cuando tenemos compasión o lástima, actitudes ambas que gotean condescendencia y arrogancia. En cambio, Francisco dice que el Señor lo condujo entre los leprosos, "et feci misericordiam cum ipsis" ("y obré la misericordia con ellos"). Él y los leprosos se obraban la misericordia mutuamente; era un gesto recíproco.
Fraternitas es una interacción redimida y redentora que brilla como el sol de la justicia y llama a los demás a querer formar parte de esa relación recíproca. Llámenla esperanza, alegría o renacimiento. Une y cura, y eso es gran parte de lo que creemos. Creemos además que, si ponemos en práctica esta creencia, entonces nuevas especies de locos empezarán a sanar el mundo. La esperanza es el testimonio de que la sabiduría ingenua se encuentra viva y bien, y vive allí donde todavía se obra la misericordia.
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