Month: January 2014
Franciscan Friday: Returned Missioner Lorraine Kelley on Mission and Reconciliation Pt. I
This is part of a three part series by Lorraine Kelley: “Mission and Reconciliation” Part I Part II Part III Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, returned missioner Lorraine Kelley (Bolivia, 1994-2002) writes about her faith’s relationship to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and experiences on mission. My work as a…
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Short-Film: Reconciliation and Mother Earth
Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, today we share a short film titled “El litio: La Siguiente Batalla de Bolivia” or (roughly translated) “Lithium: The Next Battle of Bolivia”. “Care for Creation” is hugely important in Franciscan Spirituality. This film is about concrete political realities, but it also is…
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Mission Monday: Reconciliation as Mission
Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, current missioner Valerie Ellis writes today about her faith’s relationship to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and her call to mission. Every time I come out of confession, I feel completely cleansed and at peace. What a beautiful gift we have from God to go…
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Franciscan Friday: On Mission with Nora Pfeiffer
Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, Communications Associate Michael Carlson interviews Nora Pfeiffer about her faith’s relationship to Confirmation, the Holy Spirit, and her response to God through her mission service. Nora served in Bolivia as a Franciscan missioner and subsequently joined the staff of Franciscans International. 1. The sacrament of Confirmation is a…
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Confirmation as Mission: Gifts I Didn’t Ask For
Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, full-time volunteer Michael Carlson writes today about his faith’s relationship to Confirmation, the Holy Spirit, and Franciscan mission. . “When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from…
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Sacraments and Social Mission: The Holy Spirit at Work
Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, current missioner Hady Mendez writes today about her faith’s relationship to Confirmation, the Holy Spirit, and her response to God through her mission service. When I was sitting in my JustFaith class back in late 2012, the spirit truly moved me to give…
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On Mission with Fr. John Swope
Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, full-time volunteer and communications associate Michael Carlson interviews Fr. John Swope, S.J., President of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Baltimore, MD where Michael used to teach. Fr. Swope has been a Jesuit for 38 years and served in Chile from 1980-1983 and from 1991-2000. 1. During…
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“Necesitamos menos ciencia y más Pachamama”
Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, current missioner Annemarie Barrett writes about her relationship with the Earth, its presence in her life, and her ongoing conversion. When I am in Santa Rosa, time is relative. We spend less energy worrying about what time it is or when we need…
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“Blackberry Picking”: St. Francis would love it
Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, full-time volunteer Michael Carlson writes about his experience reading Seamus Heaney’s poetry with St. Francis in mind. Reading Annemarie’s writings this week about the Eucharist and creation (another post is coming tomorrow!) reminded me of one of my favorite poets, Seamus Heaney. Every…
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Spirit, Body, and Earth: A Missioner’s Transformation
Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, current missioner Annemarie Barrett writes about her relationship with the Earth, its presence in her life, and her ongoing conversion. I did not grow up gardening. I never got much into my science classes. I preferred reading and writing and making art to…
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Sacraments and Social Mission: The Eucharist as Mystery
Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, current missioner Annemarie Barrett writes about her relationship with the Earth, its presence in her life, and her ongoing conversion. As a Catholic, my faith has taught me to reverence the mystery in myself, in others and in all of creation, to honor…
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Sacraments and Social Mission: Baptism’s Call to Mission
Continuing our series Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples, Bro. Tony LoGalbo (OFM) reflects on Mission and Baptism in Franciscan Spirituality. Baptism makes us members of one another by initiating us into the community of the people of God. In this community we are united in Jesus Christ, as Paul says: “…neither…
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Baptism and Social Mission: 6 Not-so-Easy Reflection Questions to Ask Yourself About Baptism and Social Mission:
Inspired by Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples–United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Franciscan Mission Service presents a blog series about the connection between our faith and our actions. Sacraments and Social Mission focuses on the fulfillment of each sacrament as a call to mission. 1. In Baptism, the “one Spirit” makes us members…
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Short-Term Mission and Global Awareness Trip Announcement!
Associate Director Mariam Kaldas tells you everything you need to know about the upcoming Short-Term Mission and Global Awareness Trip. Several weeks ago, executive director Kim Smolik and I returned from establishing a trip to Bolivia, and we are very excited to share with the itinerary with you. The trip is May 2-11, 2014 (both…
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Report: Kim and Mariam Visit Missioners in Bolivia
On December 4, Franciscan Mission Service Director Kim Smolik and Associate Director Mariam Kaldas traveled to Bolivia for twelve days to visit the current missioners and provide a retreat for them. Annemarie Barrett, Kitzi Hendricks, and Jeff Sved are the current missioners serving in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Annemarie works in a parish garden with local women and…
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Sacraments and Social Mission: Baptism’s Dignity in the Jails of Bolivia
Today in Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples: Jeff Sved writes below about his ministry to bring dignity to prisoners as fulfilling the sacrament of baptism’s call to human dignity. “Prison reform would most likely come in dead last for any social justice popularity contest in the US. “Jailed Christ” Much of that is…
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New Series: Sacraments and Social Mission
Franciscan Mission Service is beginning a new blog series: Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples. Inspired by Sacraments and Social Mission: Living the Gospel, Being Disciples written by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, this series focuses on the seamless connection between the Sacraments and Mission. Each week will focus on a specific sacrament…
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Franciscan Friday: 5 Reasons Epiphany Matters
public domain Fr. Jason Welle (OFM) breaks it down: 1. Nature obeys Christ from before his birth and speaks a message of hope. – By the light of a star, those who worshipped the stars learned to worship the Sun of Justice and to know the Dawn from on High. 2. The magi come to…
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The Light Remains: 2013 in Review
public domain Many thanks to the Advent reflection series contributors. Below are reflections our readers particularly enjoyed, listed again in case you missed them: The Light of One: The Gift of Yourself by Hady Mendez The Light of One: Confessions of a Bad Listener by Sarah Hoffeditz The Light of One: Preparing to Be Overwhelmed…
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