Doug Clorey, sfo

On May 27, 2007, the feast of Pentecost, Fr. Michael Higgins was elected General Minister of the Third Order Regular (TOR). Fr. Michael had previously completed a six-year term as General Assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO), during which time he had served as a member of the International Presidency and ministered to Secular Franciscans throughout the world. Members of the Secular Franciscan Order rejoiced at the news of Fr. Michael’s election.

"The Franciscan family … unites all members of the people of God – laity, religious and priests – who recognize that they are called to follow Christ in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi." (SFO Rule 1) As a sign of the vital life-giving reciprocity between the religious and the secular members of the Franciscan Family, the Secular Franciscan Order was invited to address the General Chapter of the Third Order Regular, held at Saint Francis University in Loretto, Pennsylvania, U. S. A. On May 31, 2007, Doug Clorey, International Presidency Councillor, visited with the TOR capitulars and addressed them on behalf of the General Minister of the SFO. This exchange served to highlight our common sense of belonging to the Franciscan Family and to demonstrate how each of us is not complete without the other.

Warm greetings were extended to the Third Order Regular capitulars on behalf of the General Minister, Encarnacion del Pozo, as well as on behalf of Secular Franciscans from around the world. During his address, Doug provided an overview of the Secular Franciscan Order and reflected on the words of John Paul II to the SFO during its General Chapter of 2002, "The Church expects from you, Secular Franciscans, a courageous and consistent testimony of Christian and Franciscan life, leaning towards the construction of a more fraternal and gospel world for the realization of the Kingdom of God." Doug pointed out that this mission of building a more fraternal and gospel world is shared by the entire Franciscan family. During the course of his presentation, Doug also provided some demographic information on the International Fraternity as well as the key priorities of the Secular Franciscan Order and how these are being addressed.

In closing, Doug expressed his sincere thanks to the brothers of the Third Order Regular for providing spiritual assistance to the Secular Franciscan Order at all levels: local, regional, national and international. He pointed out that their assistance to the SFO was not just a "nice to have", but was in fact essential or, as is indicated in the SFO General Constitutions, "vital". He also took advantage of the opportunity to thank Fr. Michael, in particular, for his assistance to the International Presidency over the past six years as General Assistant. Doug pointed out that Fr. Michael had server the SFO well and that the SFO was most grateful to the Third Order Regular for having allowed him to provide such a valuable service. And, finally, Fr. Michael and the General Curia of the TOR were assured of the Secular Franciscan Order’s prayerful support as they go about animating the life of their Order in living the Franciscan life to the fullest.