Secular Franciscan Order

In the spring and summer of 1992 representatives from the 11 separate Secular Franciscan Provinces in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan began meeting with a representative of the National Fraternity to start exploring the process of regionalization. In July of that year a Steering Committee composed of Myrna Malabonga, S.F.O.; Judith Vander Laan, S.F.O.; Agnes Urbiel, S.F.O.; Jean Martin, S.F.O.; Marie Amore, S.F.O.; Cora Brodeur, S.F.O.; and Emile Alhaddad, S.F.O. began meeting with the Authorized Representative, Gloria Jean Staley, S.F.O.

By September, 1992 the group had received the approval of the National Fraternity to enter the Developmental Phase of Regionalization. At a Day of Deliberation and Discernment representatives from the local fraternities chose the name Divine Mercy for their proposed new region.

In a letter to the lower Michigan Secular Franciscans, National Minister Richard Morton, S.F.O. appointed the following people to the Executive Council of the Emerging Region: Gloria Jean Staley, S.F.O. of Lincoln Park, Minister Pro-Tem; Judith Vander Laan, S.F.O. of Grand Rapids, Vice Minister; Jean Martin, S.F.O. of St. Johns, Secretary; Richard Schultz, S.F.O. of Troy, Treasurer; Marie Amore, S.F.O. of Detroit, Formation Minister; and Cora Brodeur, S.F.O. of Cheboygan; Alyce Smrek, S.F.O. of Lansing; and Agnes Urbiel, S.F.O. of Detroit, Councilors.

In December, 1992 the new Executive Council held their first meeting at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. Plans were made for three upcoming general meetings.

Preliminary work was begun on the Mission Statement and Guidelines in February, 1993.

In 1993 spring Unity Days were held. Fraternities north of Lansing met at St. Isidore Parish in Grand Rapids on April 24. Fraternities in the southern portion of the Emerging Region met at St. Michael Parish in Southfield on May 15.

The Guidelines were approved, and a name was chosen for the newsletter at a meeting of the entire Regional Council for the Emerging Region on June 26, 1993.

In August, 1993 members of the local fraternities met together for a Day of Recollection at St. Francis Retreat Center in DeWitt. The speaker for the day was Fr. Lester Bach, OFM Cap.

The first edition of the Divine Mercy NEWSletter was published in September of 1993.

On October 31, 1993 all of the fraternities in lower Michigan and their brother and sister Secular Franciscans in Toledo, Ohio were officially joined as the Divine Mercy Region.