One Small Step

As you are aware one small step was made last week for the Franciscans in Canada as we became a united OFM Franciscan Province in Canada. This small step means changes to our leadership and how we will go forth as Franciscans in Canada. I’ve been pondering this event over the past week and come back to the word ‘hopeful’ which is what I signed off with before the Chapter.

I continue to be hopeful because
-our new Provincial and his council have embraced their task of leadership and have begun to work towards new realities.

-our Chapter was full of life, fraternal sharing, vision and the challenge to begin again; not simply carry on.

-each of us Friars were encouraged to truly live out our vocation and preach the gospel with our lives.

-our times of prayer and our social times fostered a great joy.

-our discussions were spirit filled and passionate.

-we had the chance to listen to each other and get to know each other a bit more.

-the support we have received from friends, family, neighbours, benefactors and other religious communities continues to be a gift.

-our brotherhood became evident and the joy in which we share.

-we were encouraged to not be afraid and to make choices to strengthen our witness of gospel living an dour witness in our great country.

-we were challenged to not forget the poor and outcasts; to look at and challenge our living and ministry.

-we were called to reflect on our reality as a small Franciscan Province in a large country and to remember that we are still called to do great things.

-we were awakened time and again to the working of the Holy Spirit and reminded to continually bring our needs and concerns to the Holy Spirit and ask for guidance and inspiration.

-of the generosity and kindness of so many.

-of openness, willingness and the opportunities that await for us as we continue to, “Go Rebuild the Church.”

-this Chapter was indeed a time of grace.

Thank you for your prayers and support, 
we continue to rely on these for our mission to be strengthened. 

Come Holy Spirit,

awaken us,

move in us,

light the way to new paths,

inspire us in all we do,

strengthen our fraternity,

guide our new Franciscan Province.

Amen.

Change

We the Franciscans are on the edge of a new beginning! As Franciscans we are about to become one OFM Franciscan Province in Canada. There will be new leadership and new challenges as we become one bilingual province. It is an an exciting time and also a time for reflection, great change, new opportunities, new dreams and a chance for us to reflect on our chasrism and founder and live it for this time and place. 

This edge we stand on provides us with a choice. 

One option is not to allow the Holy Spirit in and then slide down the edge and fumble our way into our future.

The other option is to be open and to work with the patron of our new province; the Holy Spirit. This will mean soaring to new heights, a renewed vigor, a newness, a breath of fresh air and as Francis would say a chance to, "begin again for up until now we have done very little."

The difference is one option means we focus on our own desires. The other option is to focus on Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit united in the love of God. The choice should be obvious. Francis reminds us that we are spouses, brothers and mothers of Christ. This means we are constantly open to life - especially new life in Christ. This is a birthing moment, a life-giving moment, a new-life moment.

I am hopeful.

Come Holy Spirit and fill our Franciscan Province 

with your wisdom, your vision and your life 

in these days of Chapter 

and as we walk with the changes that will come. 

Be at our side as we stand on this edge.

Please pray for the Franciscans of Canada over these days ahead. Chapter is an important time of prayer, meetings and fraternity. We humbly ask your prayers.





I will be using this song by Jesse Manibusan in my personal prayer time over the next week. I invite you to do the same as you hold the Franciscans, your needs and loved ones in prayer.

Always With Me

Always with me

yes you are

when days are long

when tasks are great.

Always with me

yes you are

in quiet moments

in restful pauses.

Always with me

yes you are

when sorrow lingers

when hurts hold.

Always with me

yes you are

in joys shared

in celebrations enjoyed.

Always with me

yes you are

when standing up for truth

when serving another.

Always with me

yes you are

in the journey

in the pondering.

Always with me

yes you are

Creator God

Jesus Christ

Holy Spirit.

Always with me

yes you are

and so 'yes' I respond

when you beckon:

'come and follow me.'

Gratitude

 

Gratitude

 

A heart full of praise for:

Blessings upon blessings,

Light in the darkness,

Endless hope to build upon,

Skills, abilities, gifts and talents,

The call to holiness and sainthood,

Good people – great and small,

Hugs shared,

Forgiveness and understanding,

Tasks accomplished,

Lessons learned,

Deepening peace,

The challenge of gospel living,

Joy which words fail to describe,

Dreams, ideas and creativity,

A source greater than myself,

Creation that reminds me of beauty,

Surprises instilling awe in me,

Listening ears and gentle prodding,

Quiet prayer,

The Eucharist – a gift of love,

The senses calling me to life,

Measureless love,

Discipleship and companionship,

Whispers of the heart,

My heart beat striving to be in tune with God

and propelling me into this gift of life,

For all these and so much more I give you thanks O God.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Praying with St. Francis of Assisi

 

 

Most High, Glorious God,

enlighten the darkness of my heart

and give me true faith,

certain hope

and perfect charity,

sense and knowledge, Lord,

that I may carry out

your holy and true command.

This prayer of St. Francis of Assisi often passes through my lips, challenges my thoughts and causes me to reflect on my journey of faith and my life. The simplicity of this prayer and yet the depth that are in these few lines arose in St. Francis. They were one of his first prayers as he fixed his desire on Christ and vowed to live his life in tune with Christ. It is a prayer which many a Friar has prayed in both times of doubt and times of consolation. It is a prayer for each and every one of us who make the claim that we are Christian.
As we celebrate the Feast Day of our Brother Saint Francis of Assisi (October 4) I offer you some reflections based upon this prayer.

 

Most High, Glorious God

And yet in your might and glory you are so close to us. You draw near to us and enter into our lives. Your might and your glory are rooted in love and the power of love. Your glory is revealed to us each day from the littlest to the grandest. Open our eyes to your glory which is all around us.

 

Enlighten the darkness of my heart

When our hearts seem dark, when our hearts seem stone cold, when our hearts fill with doubt, remind us that at our core beating in our heart is your light, a flame which never can be extinguished because it is you Most High, Glorious God.

 

Give me true faith

Our faith is alive and personal and yet it can never be selfish. Our faith calls us to life. Faith is not a barrier rather it is a yearning to tear down walls so as to draw closer to God and build bridges with our neighbours and strangers for we all brothers and sisters.

 

Give me certain hope

Certain hope is the promise of God with us until the end of time. Certain hope allows us to dream, create, go deeper, know freedom, and remember the promises of Christ and to dwell in them. Certain hope means it is constant and we can raise our eyes and see Him – the one crucified and risen – who remains with us in our dark times as in the light.

 

Give me perfect charity

Although we will never reach perfect charity this side of heaven we continue to strive to be people of charity. We continue to let love in to each of our days and we desire more to focus on the love of Christ so we may love more like Him. Love, like hope, is Christ.

 

Give me sense and knowledge, Lord

To love like you, with the sense of compassion and generosity, with the knowledge of awareness and mercy. May our footsteps tread the path carved out for each of us, so we may build the kingdom and continually be aware of the sense and knowledge of God which is needed to live and love well each day.

 

That I may carry out your holy and true command.

Yes Most High God! Yes every day this is our prayer, for carrying out your holy and true command means we are dwelling in you, open to you, being a vessel formed by you, using every heartbeat and breath to draw closer to you, to reflect you, to embrace the goodness you have instilled in each of us and be our all for you. Your holy and true command is love in our words, actions and thoughts; as our way and life. Carrying your holy and true command is the joy of our being today, now and forever.

 

Amen.

Amen – indeed we believe.

 

St. Francis of Assisi – pray for us.

 

May the blessings of St. Francis of Assisi

fill you with peace and all good.