Franciscan Mission Fellows
Delve into Franciscan spirituality, community, and missions in the midst of daily life.
Our year-long formation program helps lay adults grow in understanding of Franciscan spirituality and the role of mission in the world today. Through community gatherings, classes, retreats, and opportunities for experiential learning in the Washington, DC area, participants are strengthened in their capacity to live out their own baptismal call to mission and to discern how to best to do this in the context of daily life.
Read on for more information, or contact Meghan Meros, Director of Mission Integration at meghan@franciscanmissionservice.org. We'd be happy to schedule a conversation to see if now is the right time to become a Fellow.
How to apply
Complete the electronic application by July 1, 2023. If you would prefer a paper application, contact Meghan Meros at meghan@franciscanmissionservice.org.
Program Goals
- Help lay people grow in awareness and understanding of their baptismal call to mission and the role of mission in the world today
- Equip lay people to be missioners who “give by going” or “go by giving” while being rooted in the Franciscan Charism
- Form lay people to live, share, and apply the Franciscan Charism in meaningful ways consistent with one's vocation
- Strengthen lay people's capacity to invite others into mission
- Provide a sense of Franciscan community and opportunities for faith sharing
- Increase opportunities for engagement with Franciscan Mission Service and its ministries
Expectations for Fellows
- Attendance at in-person, monthly Fellow gatherings, held on a weekday evening in Washington, DC
- Attendance at the opening day retreat and closing mass
- Participation in FMS events, as a Fellow's schedule allows
- Rotation of dinner responsibilities Fellow gatherings
- Commitment to make a commitment to mission, either by discerning a call to overseas mission or by remaining stateside and supporting missioners through prayers and financial support
- Openness to sharing about mission and FMS' ministries through participation in a mission appeal at a parish and the creation of a mission education project
- “Integration” meetings every 4-6 weeks with a spiritual director, pastoral counselor, or member of the FMS staff
- Engagement in the life of a parish or other spiritual community
Cost
- Participation in the Franciscan Mission Fellows program is free. However, Fellows are asked to discern how they might give in support of FMS' ministries through one or more of the following:
- Donating to quarterly appeals
- Becoming a monthly donor
- Supporting a missioner
- Attending the FMS World Care Benefit and Celebration
- Donating goods or services, such as landscaping or repair work at Casa San Salvador
- Organizing a fundraiser for FMS
- For participants who desire to meet with FMS staff for spiritual accompaniment, the cost is $40 per session.
Program Calendar
- September 2023 - Franciscan Beginnings and the Path of Minority
- Opening day retreat and reception
- Fellows invited to attend the FMS Welcome Potluck
- October 2023 - Franciscan Care for Creation
- Monthly Fellow gathering and formation class
- Fellows attend "Transitus" service with FMS family for the Feast of St. Francis
- November 2023 - Gratitude and Simplicity
- Monthly Fellow gathering and formation class
- Fellows invited to attend the Commissioning Mass for missioners going overseas
- December 2023 - A Franciscan Understanding of the Incarnation
- Monthly Fellow gathering and formation class
- Fellows invited to contribute to the Advent blog series and campaign
- January 2024 - Discernment and Vocation
- Monthly Fellow gathering and formation class
- Fellows invited to attend the Re-Commissioning mass and celebration for returning overseas missioners
- February 2024 - Interreligious Dialogue in the Franciscan Tradition
- Monthly Fellow gathering and formation class
- March 2024 - From Clare to Thea and Beyond: Franciscan Women in the World
- Monthly Fellows gathering and formation class
- Fellows who are feeling called to overseas mission are invited to apply
- April 2024 - Commitment and Spiritual Boldness
- Monthly Fellows gathering and formation class
- May 2024 - Sent Forth in the Spirit
- Monthly Fellows gathering and formation class
- Sending Forth Mass and Celebration with family, friends, and members of the FMS community
- June, July, August 2024
- Fellows prepare mission education projects and are invited to give a mission appeal
- Fall 2024
- Mission education projects launched
- Fellows who have discerned into the Lay Mission or DC Service Corps program begin Formation and orientation
- Fellow reunion at Casa San Salvador