K O I N Ō N I A
_ ...together on the journey
THE CONFERENCE OF GENERAL SPIRITUAL ASSISTANTS OFS-YOUFRA
2018 - 3 year 25 N. 99
AS YOU SENT ME INTO THE WORLD,
SO I SENT THEM INTO THE WORLD (Jn 17, 18)
40 years after the Seraphicus Patriarcha
THE “ECOLOGICAL CONVERSION” AS VOCATION AND MISSION
Fr. Pedro Zitha, OFM
INTRODUCTION
The most appropriate way to present valid arguments about the theme of ecological conversion is not only to say how and when man must change his attitude towards Creation but also to invite him to observe carefully the environmental changes we are witnessing and through which it seems that Mother Earth is inviting the heart of man to question the sense of belonging to Creation and the interdependence of all creatures.
K O I N Ō N I A
_ ...together on the journey
THE CONFERENCE OF GENERAL SPIRITUAL ASSISTANTS OFS-YOUFRA
2018 - 2 Year 25 N. 98
AS YOU SENT ME INTO THE WORLD,
SO I SENT THEM INTO THE WORLD (Jn 17, 18)
40 years after the Seraphicus Patriarcha
WORK AS VOCATION AND MISSION
Fr. Francis Bongajum Dor, OFMCap
Introduction
In early 2008, a Symposium was held in Assisi on the theme “Economy: from instrument to idol”. One of the facilitators who presented the deep change in the European society after the second world war, was particularly touching. He showed how, after the devastating effects of the war, the society had hoped to find salvation in work since it seemed the only way to rebuild a devastated economy. It functioned for a while. Barely fifty years after the economic dream, the frustration of millions of jobless persons and cry of millions of persons under new forms of slavery is rising to heaven. As brothers and sisters who “Strive for perfect charity in their own secular state” (Rule 2), it is important today that Secular Franciscans take time to reflect, pray and share on their relationship to work in the light of Divine Revelation, the Social teachings of the Church and their proper Rule.
K O I N Ō N I A
...together on the journey
CONFERENCE OF GENERAL SPIRITUAL ASSISTANTS OFS – YOUFRA
2017 - 4 Year 24 n. 96
LIVING THE FRANCISCAN CHARISM IN TODAY'S WORLD
40 years after the Seraphicus Patriarcha
“GO WITH THE GOSPEL IN THE HEART AND IN THE HANDS” [1]:
Franciscan Youth in the World
Fr. Pedro Zitha, OFM
INTRODUCTION
By looking at what is happening in today's world it is easy to understand that people need courageous believers who seriously take up their identity as followers of Christ who lives and is present in the life of everyone. Even the emergence of so many Christian movements is a confirmation that many are thirsty for the Word of God. And it is true that people alone and without the help of God are unable to quench this thirst. But people must cooperate effectively and this happens through the contemplation of the Word of God in the Gospel.
K O I N Ō N I A
...together on the journey
CONFERENCE OF GENERAL SPIRITUAL ASSISTANTS OFS – YOUFRA
2018 - 1 Year 25 n. 97
AS YOU SENT ME INTO THE WORLD,
SO I SENT THEM INTO THE WORLD (Jn 17, 18)
40 years after the SeraphicusPatriarcha
THE FAMILY AS VOCATION AND MISSION
Fr. Alfred Parambakathu OFMConv
General Introduction
In this year Secular Franciscans all over the world are commemorating the 40th anniversary of the promulgation of their present Rule by Pope Paul VI with the apostolic letter “SeraphicusPatriarcha” dated 24th June 1978. On this occasion the recently concluded XV General Chapter of OFS (Seraphicum, Rome, on November 4-11, 2017) invited all its members to reflect on the application of this Rule and how it is to be lived in concrete situations. The Conference of general Assistants (CAS), in the light of the theme of the General Chapter, “As you sent me into the world, so I sent them into the world” (Jn 17,18), has decided to dedicate the Koinonia of this year to four related topics:
K O I N Ō N I A
...together on the journey
CONFERENCE OF GENERAL SPIRITUAL ASSISTANTS OFS – YOUFRA
2017 - 3 Year 24 n. 95
LIVING THE FRANCISCAN CHARISM IN TODAY'S WORLD
40 years after the Seraphicus Patriarcha
“go forth as witnesses and instruments” (cf. OFS Rule 6)
The Secular Franciscans in the Church and in the world
Fr. Francis Bongajum Dor, OFMCap.
Introduction
St. Francis of Assisi so wanted to insert in the Rule a chapter on mission, “for those who go among the Saracens and other Nonbelievers”. The Rule stipulates that: “As for the brothers who go, they can live spiritually among the Saracens and nonbelievers in two ways. One way is not to engage in arguments or disputes but to be subject to every human creature for God’s sake and to acknowledge that they are Christians”[1]. So, Francis saw in the simple testimony of Christian life an act of evangelization. The present Rule of life of the Secular Franciscan Order (OFS), recovers the Franciscan spirit of the power of witnessing and wants that the preferred apostolate of the Secular Franciscans be “personal witness in the environment in which they live and service for building up the Kingdom of God within the situations of this world”[2].
