How beautiful it is to enter into summer – still with Coronavirus concerns, but also with hope.  As we continue to pray for those impacted by the pandemic, especially globally – there is hope. Francis was a man of hope and could find it inn each situation, even experiencing difficult situations as perfect joy. We benefit by his example and in his way of so beautifully following in the footsteps of Christ. We feel his positive influence even today.

     Julia was an enthusiastic parishioner, a daily communicant, and became an active member of the Secular Franciscan Order starting in 1901.  Some called Julia a ‘one person St. Vincent de Paul Society" as she pulled her little red wagon full of items for the needy through Denver, CO - often visiting at night so that her recipients would not be embarrassed by being seen receiving charity, especially from an African-American woman.  Julia's story inspired Fr. Regis Scanlon, OFM,Cap. to found the Julia Greeley Home in Denver for homeless women. You can learn more about Julia’s story on the website of the Julia Greely Guild.  

    As fellow Secular Franciscans let us ask how we might serve others in and make a positive difference in our families, fraternity, Church, and the world.

Pace e Bene +
Laura Chun, OFS
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity

     The Franciscan family since the earliest of times has had many branches. The diversity of Franciscan communities seems to be part of our history and our DNA. One big, beautiful, ancient branch of the Franciscan Family is the Secular Franciscan Order. The Secular Franciscan Order was one of the three Orders founded directly by St. Francis of Assisi. There are about 350,000 active Secular Franciscans globally today.[1]  I especially like this Franciscan Family Map (below) that includes our Anglican brothers and sisters.[2]

     We’ve recently had guests joining us at our Fraternity gatherings including Fr. David Gaa, Fr. David Gaa OFM, the Minister Provincial of the Franciscan Province of St. Barbara and Sr. Kathy Warren OSF, the Director of Women Religious for the Diocese of San Diego. Both shared a similar message regarding Secular Franciscans, ‘Now is a GREAT time to be a Secular Franciscan; the world needs you!’ This Secular Franciscan vocation of ours is a beautiful gift, something for us to be continually unwrapping, cherishing, and putting it to service in a world that is so terribly in need of it.

Pace e Bene +
Laura Chun, OFS
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secular_Franciscan_Order
[2] https://franciscansinternational.org/about/franciscan-corner/