Dear Minister
The National Council has asked that the Regional Executive gather together a collection of articles from Secular Franciscans throughout the Region. The purpose of this exercise is to provide material for inclusion in a SFO promotional brochure which will be assembled by the National Evangelisation Committee. Local Ministers are asked to assist in the gathering of suitable articles for inclusion in this promotional material.
The concept is, that articles should serve to raise awareness and understanding of the SFO by means of highlighting aspects of the rule, and its relevance in life in today’s society. The articles will be in the style of quotes, which will serve to illustrate how living the Franciscan Rule makes a difference in an individual’s approach to living in the world. Each quotation will be accompanied by a head and shoulders photograph of the author, in order that the reader is able to relate more fully to the article and the author.
The National Evangelisation Committee will review all material send to it by each Region for use in either the Catholic Weekly, or in the aforementioned promotional brochure, or both. Additional editorial text to introduce the SFO and to outline contact details etc. will be prepared by the Evangelisation Committee. It is hoped that the same material might be used in regional Catholic publications.
Suitable extracts from the Rule include:
Following is an example of a suitable article:
Rule 18 – They should respect all creatures, animate and inanimate, which "bear the imprint of the Most High", and they should strive to move from the temptation of exploiting creation…………
Mary Jones is a member of the
Quote from Mary Jones – "I believe that Saint Francis’ simple love of all created things – the care he showed for animals, his respect for fire, and his understanding that all things in the cosmos are part of a unity that is God’s creation – displays an understanding of nature far ahead of his time. It has a message for us today: our role in the world is not to dominate and exploit God’s creation, but to live in harmony with it. In my own life, I try to avoid waste and unnecessary consumption, and I teach my classes that the environment is a God- given gift for which we have responsibility as its temporary custodians."
Good Shepherd Fraternity in Sylvania Waters. [PHOTO]
She is a primary school teacher with
two school-aged children of her own.
Ministers are requested to explain this proposal to Fraternity members, and to encourage and assist them in preparing suitable articles for this project.
Articles should be submitted to the Regional Minister before mid May, in order
to meet the National Evangelisation Committee’s deadline. I apologise for the
short notice given. Please submit articles at your very earliest convenience to:
Sandie Tilley sfo
Regional Minister
25 Corunna Avenue
Leumeah NSW 2560
Phone: (02) 4628 0701
Fax: (02) 4625 4506
Contact: Jack Smith: phone 61-2-62583824 fax 61-2-62583151 jacksmth@ozemail.com.au