Assisi
The Journey After the Journey
Editor’s Note: DC Service Corps alumna Cecilia Gillis shares this reflection following her pilgrimage to Rome for the Jubilee of Youth. My year with FMS may have concluded, but my adventures with the Franciscans have only just begun. Just after finishing my year of service, I went on a pilgrimage with my brothers to Italy…
Day 1: Invited
Editor’s Note: To begin our Advent series “The Day of Joy Drew Near,” Associate Director Rose Hardwick shares an experience from her pilgrimage to Assisi and shows how God invited her to go deeper into a beloved Christmas tradition. “How would you like to go on a pilgrimage to Assisi as your professional development for…
Faith Calls Us to be Neighbors: Finding Peace
Editor’s note: Pat Maloney is the Principal Director for Joint Operational Programs for Aerospace at the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and one of FMS’ Board members. As a guest blogger for FMS’ Advent blog series, Pat reflects on her recent trip to Rome and Assisi and shares the opportunities she had to live out…
Tapping into Potential at the Portiuncula
As the Feast of the Portiuncula approaches, I find myself reflecting on my own visit there this past May. It was my fourth day in Assisi, and I finally felt like I was through the worst of the jet lag and fogginess that comes with it. The day before had been mostly spent in silent…
A Journey of Love
Editor’s Note: The following is part of our daily holiday series celebrating “The Shared World.” Akisha Townsend Eaton is a friend of FMS and Candidate for the Secular Franciscan Order. Shortly after getting married this past summer, my husband Jack and I set off for what would be a European honeymoon adventure of a lifetime. Despite…
Franciscan Feast Day: St. Clare, Franciscan co-founder
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Clare, deepest friend of Saint Francis and co-founder of the Franciscan movement. Soon her sister St. Agnes joined her, as well as other young women who wanted to imitate Christ in living a life of radical poverty in solidarity with the poor. St. Clare and her sisters wore…
Franciscan Friday: Former Volunteer Releases Album
During Anna Robinson’s time as a volunteer communications associate with Franciscan Mission Service, her community and coworkers were blessed by her many gifts. From dining room jam sessions, to music for Mass, to recordings of original arrangements for our YouTube videos, it was her musical talent in particular that blew us away. Suffice it to say…
FMS Podcasts: History of the Church and Franciscanism
Franciscan Mission Service is making resources from our mission formation available to the public, including podcasts from the classes. Our missioners get to learn some interesting subjects while in formation: history, theology, geography, environmentalism, social justice issues, cross-cultural communication… the list goes on! Now you can also be enriched and inspired by these same lessons…
Recommended Reads – Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi
For today’s book review, Domestic Volunteer Anna Robinson shares a title that inspired the first steps of her Franciscan journey. Cover art of Spoto’s Book In 2010 I was selected to go with a group of students from my university to Italy on a Franciscan Pilgrimage. At the time I knew little about Italy and…
Franciscan Friday: St. Francis of Assisi – The Young Man
After writing Getting To Know the “Real” St. Francis of Assisi, Fr. George Corrigan, OFM. continues to bring to light the kind of person St. Francis was in context of his time, his upbringing, and his faith. St. Francis of Assisi – by dawnzy58 Even in Francis’ day Assisi was a small town, but it…
Franciscan Friday: Not The Only Fool In The Square
This past week our missioner candidates and domestic volunteers took a day retreat to reflect on the theme of Simplicity and Authenticity. Domestic Volunteer Anna Robinson shares her take on the group discussions and the “Discipline of Simplicity.” Assisi’s town square – by Peter Gutierrez When you think of St. Francis, what is the first…
Feast of St. Clare: Reflecting on Her Journey
Communications associate Anna Robinson reflects on walking in the footsteps of Clare in Assisi. In one of my speech classes I had heard how St. Clare (Clara) was a leader, an initiator, how she took things upon herself to see them done, and how she was confidant in her faith. This resonated with me and…
