Our annual Commissions mini-workshop is Saturday, May 7, 2005. It begins with the 8:00 a.m. mass and ends with our annual Fraternity Luncheon at Scorpio’s Restaurant. Why, you may wonder, are we focusing on Commissions? We have a wonderful fraternity. We’re studying a great book during on-going formation and we pray together and for each other every month. There’s a spirit that revives and renews us during our meeting and encourages us to continue on our Franciscan paths. Why do we have to talk about Commissions?
The way I see it, Commissions are meant to direct us toward an outward _expression of our inward spirituality. While our relationship with God…our personal relationship with God…is private, we do share it within our community. However, a one-on-one relationship or a fraternal relationship is not enough. God isn’t meant to be private. We need to take our charism and live it out in the world. We chose to be Secular Franciscans. We are not enclosed. We are not separated from the world.
Many people wail about the “secular world.” Yes, there is evil. But rather than hide from it or boycott it, think of it as an opportunity to be the hand of God touching His people…Abba wanting His children to live in peace, with warm clothes and a full stomach, sure of His love for them. Francis said that we should go about preaching and, if necessary, to use words. The Commissions are Ecology, Peace and Justice, Work, Family, Youth and Young Adult, and Formation: six directed opportunities to preach without using words.
Please join us for the Commissions Workshop. We made a good start this past year but much work still needs to be done. We need all of your talents and spirituality to make a difference.
