The SFO in the year 2000

World-wide SFO

From France : Franciscan Fraternities work at the roots of exclusion

National Elective Chapters : Philippines - Chile

We entered the year 2000 with anguished images of war, pain, tears, devastation and death before our eyes.

Images of men and women exhausted and desperate repeated in refugees seeking help crowded together in long, endless human caravans.

And these are our brothers, sons and daughters of the same Father, and each one has the suffering face of Christ. Our brothers who seem to be resigned to being nothing, neither to be respected nor considered, together with no love, no life.

And there is the word of God which declares, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice", (Mt 5, 6). Words certainly not destined for the war victims who, because of their terrible condition, certainly cannot feel themselves to be blessed.

But these words are directed towards us so that their needs become our needs ; so that we feel them to be brothers in respect of their being God's children ; because even if they are different from us in language, country and culture we should not stop at these apparent differences.

To thirst and hunger for justice is a great gift to ask of God, a gift that brings with it precious fruits, not because of the strength of reason, because of the strength of our faith and in as much as it permits grace and purity of heart.

We know by experience that when spiritual tension weakens, compassion towards our brothers and also the thirst and hunger for justice is diminished, which is dangerous.

So :
-- if countries are the result of what men do within their little sphere of interest ;
-- if justice and charity are the verification of our faith ;
-- if the search for the Kingdom of God is expressed in every act of love towards others ;
-- if Jesus is identified in the hungry, thirsty and in the sick and in the foreigner ;
-- if we should look for the living and working person of Christ in each brother and sister ;
-- if we believe in the divine seed which is in mankind and in the transforming power of love (Rule 19) ;

Then, what is in us and depends on us should be offered to others to alleviate pain, to dry tears and to give some hope.

At the same time may our prayers rise to heaven continually so that God, in His infinite mercy, may still have pity on mankind and free us from such a scourge.

From France : Franciscan Fraternities work at the roots of exclusion

Dominique Delaage from "La Croix" March 20, 1998

Just following the days of the presentation of a proposed law against ostracism, the Secular Fraternity of St. Francis organised at Bordeaux a national meeting on training in this field. A coincidence which Fr. Lucien Converset, who was present to testify his experience at Dole, took to emphasise the role of politics. "Pius XI said that the best expression of charity is a political expression. "Linking your being Franciscan to working in politics would be a good combination," he declared as a sort of encouragement. Effectively, Christians feel at ease with their personal dedication towards the poor rather than facing a political debate even when this deals with the exclusion of others.

"For Franciscan Fraternities, politics has long remained a taboo" answered Mimi Def, former member of the CIOFS. Franciscans saw it as a risk of division. We have changed profoundly in the last 20 years. And the fundamental text of our effort, rewritten at the beginning of the nineties says that we should collaborate to prepare good laws and regulations.

Somewhat later, working in a group, Fr. Nicolas, who worked in a poor part of Bordeaux, said, "According to St. Francis it isn't a question of correcting, but of sharing, living with..." However, to be solidly behind someone means to support him in everything, including his political battles.

"Instead of policemen we rather need people who have time to admire what is beautiful, for example, a dawn for children who live in the city...." Fr. Converset remarked. Underlining at the same time the fact that "political matters are better when there are more women involved."

Sharing in prayers and study groups, Mimi Def expressed her opinion right away on the proposed law. "Access to medical help, decent living quarters and work....How could we not applaud these objectives. I myself ask also about the financing of all this. And it is unfortunate that concepts such as responsibility, support of initiative and acceptance of risk have not been more developed. Because, I think that one of the dangers of our society is found in the abyss that separates those who must work harder from those who are assisted or are better protected in the public work environment."

At any rate, in the work groups less attention was given to projects in the proposed law than to the attitudes within one's heart : "Meeting the leper, Francis looked for the leprosy within himself in his heart. And in this way he was able to recognise his own scars", Fr. Florent Nibel reminded us.

National Elective Chapters

Philippines: from May 7-9, 1999, presided over by the International Councillor Peter Keogh (Australia), at the presence of G.A. P. Ben Brevoort, OFMCap.
Lucy Almirañez was elected National Minister.

Chile: from May 21-23, 1999, presided over by the International Councillor Elda Damonte (Argentina), at the presence of G.A. P. Nils Thompson, OFM.
Zulema Cordero was confirmed National Minister.

The CIOFS Presidency presents to the new national responsibles of the SFO its congratulations, asks the Lord to bless them and to help them in accomplishing the service they have been called to render.