Sao Paulo, October 4, 2006

Feast of St. Francis

Circ. 44/02-08

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

SFO and You.fra International Councillors

SFO and You.fra National Ministers and Councils

Peace and Good!

May the Lord’s Peace reign in our hearts so we can offer it to those around us: this is our wish for all our brothers and sisters.

In the last CIOFS Presidency Meeting, held in April of this year, we discussed the celebration of the 8th Centenary of the birth of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, patron of the Secular Franciscan Order and the Regular Third Order (TOR), males and females. It is an extraordinary event to which the SFO will dedicate two years (see Circ. 42/02-08).

Considering the difficult financial situation of the CIOFS (which we hope to settle in the near future thanks to a responsible and fraternal response from each National Fraternity), we have decided to ask all our brothers and sisters to make a concrete gesture, which we will call the “the mite of St. Elizabeth”, during the two years of the celebration of the centenary. With all due respect and consideration for the situation of each country, we are entrusting the promotion of this “mite” to the creativity of each National Council based on the reality of their country. For example, the brothers and sisters could offer a day’s work or other spontaneous donations if they are in a position to make a more generous offer.

Dear brothers and sisters, this circular is being sent out after careful reflection on the part of the CIOFS Presidency, taking into consideration, that:

ü Being an integrant part of the Franciscan Family and being represented in a greater number than the other components, it is our duty to respond in a concrete, actual and coherent manner to the Church and society as a secular dimension of the charism of Francis of Assisi.

ü As a public association of the Church, we must answer the expectations of those who know about the mission to which we are called.

ü As active members of an Order, we are responsible for its presence and conduct throughout the world.

ü As Franciscan Christians, we must give a coherent and courageous response to the challenges of today’s world.

ü As communicators of our vocation, we are responsible for divulging the Franciscan charism, in its secular version, and therefore must support the new realities of our Order, especially in Africa, Eastern Europe and Asia.

We need resources for this presence to be significant. For example, the financial upkeep of the General Secretariat, which serves the entire Order, has been in a deficit for the last few years despite the great effort of volunteers of the SFO Italy. Moreover, with great difficulty we are able to count on two people who offer us a very specialized service, in exchange of a small compensation, to ensure that the administrative work of our Order, in its four languages, is carried forth.

Moreover, as you know, from April of this year, we have our own Headquarters where the General Secretariat is located and where, for example, meetings of the international work commissions are held with considerable savings. But we still have to finalize our purchase contract. Although we have received generous contributions, we still need 165,000 euros to cancel our debt and we are asking ourselves if there might be 165 brothers or sisters in our Order who could offer 1,000 euros each for this cause or even 1,000 brothers or sisters who could offer 165 euros each. This does not mean that we are only counting on those who have greater resources and are called to share them with other brothers and sisters. We are making an appeal to the entire Order. And certainly those who offer the evangelic widow’s mite and give part of what they need to live on, will be even more appreciated by the Lord.

Dear brothers and sisters, we expect a dynamic, convinced and positive reaction from the members of each Fraternity depending on the possibilities of each reality which, through the intercession of Saint Elizabeth, could transform the day-to-day situation of our life and work in days full of enthusiasm, donation and love.

Donations to CIOFS should be made through the same bank accounts used for annual contributions, indicating “for the mite of St. Elizabeth” and informing the CIOFS Secretariat of each transfer.

On behalf of the CIOFS Presidency we send you a big fraternal hug on the feast of our seraphic father, St. Francis. This celebration reminds us of the total donation of Francis to Christ, poor and crucified, which, through the Lord’s mercy, led him to eternal happiness. He teaches us the way to reach this glory.

Your minor sisters,

Encarnación del Pozo Minister General SFO

Maria Aparecida Crepaldi, OFS Coordinator of the CIOFS Financial Commission