CCFMC News November 2009

We are the People

It was a moving celebration on the occasion of the 20^th Anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall on 9 November 2009. Politicians from all over Europe and also from non-European countries have triggered this turning point in history - not only for Germany and not only for Europe, but for the entire world. It was the ending point of the Cold War that hat split the world into two parts in a balance of terror: the Western bloc and the Eastern bloc, each manifested in the hegemonic powers of the USA and the Soviet Union. The rest of the world was split up into spheres of influence, allies, and sympathizers of both power blocks. This world tumbled down in 1989. It was the beginning of a world to show the advantages of the basic values of freedom and of human rights. It was especially impressive to see the playful “second fall of the Berlin wall“ where 1,000 dominoes, which had been designed by 15,000 pupils from all over the world, where brought to collapse. A message to the world: get rid of your walls, the walls of poverty, discrimination, racial differences, slavery etc.

We owe this miracle in Berlin to people who did no longer want to be muzzled. People that stood up to fight for their civil rights manifested in the UN Charta and who did this for many years and in very different places from 17 June 1953, the Hungarian national uprising in 1956 and Prague Spring of 1968 to the Solidarnosc Movement in Poland in 1980/81. The violent ends of these events made the non-violent end of the Communist regime in 1989/90 appear to be like a miracle for many contemporaries. The uproar in Eastern Europe had developed from small beginnings such as the famous Monday prayers in Leipzig and elsewhere into a mighty but non-violent movement “We are the People“ , confronting the ruling powers. Luckily there were responsible politicians in East and West who realized this and who prevented a possible global catastrophe through courageous decisions. The wall that had separated East and West for centuries came tumbling down – through the people.

This example should be encouraging. There are certainly even more areas where dedicated people were able to turn the world into a better place. Without the worldwide peace movement striking disarmament procedures would not have been possible. Without the social movements there would not be any social networks, without ATTAC and the World Social Forum there would not be any alternative plan against the neo-liberal globalization of the economy and finances. And without the many environmental initiatives and movements, the awareness that we will still be able to prevent an irreversible climate catastrophe, would still not be as widespread in politics and economy. Thus it is worthwhile to get involved in movements. When the people stand together and act courageously, we can change the world.

At the same time Franciscans should not forget that many of these movements have taken Francis as their spiritual example. He is a role model who still today is able to convincingly convey how we can change the world: that we should not claim and adopt what will bring harm to others; that we are not the masters of creation, yet that we are fellow creatures who can only feel well if all others feel well; and finally, that there may not be masters and servants in the human race of Sisters and Brothers, and thus entrusted administrative functions are not given to rule but to serve. This does not only apply to society by the way, it also applies to the Church. The Church represents the People of God that has the task to make it possible that the just, merciful, compassionate, and liberating God can be experienced in this world. More cannot be said about our Franciscan mission of today.

Andreas Müller OFM

Meeting of the International Board of the CCFMC

from 25 to 30 October 2009 in Frascati Rome, Italy

28 Sisters and Brothers, guests and experts from all over the world met at the Capuchin Education Center in Frascati. It was an extended Board Meeting to discuss important issues regarding the future of the CCFMC movement. For this reason, guests had been invited who had previously held important functions in the promotion of the course as well as those that had provided challenges to call attention to the special up-to-date status of Franciscan theology and spirituality in the light of today’s challenges. The topics show which conflict areas have been addressed:

·     Professor Mario Cayota, Ambassador of Uruguay to the Vatican, Rome
“Visions of lay Franciscans within the Church and around the World”
(in relation to the CCFMC and the conciliar church image)

·     Sr. Marlene Perera FMM, Sri Lanka
”Integrity of Creation – Eco-Justice, Franciscan challenge“

·     Prof. Bill Short OFM, California, USA
”Thoughts about the present economic crisis from a Franciscan perspective“

·     Prof. Elmar Klinger, Würzburg, Germany
”Franciscan Prophecy within the Church“

The consistently high-ranking and inspiring challenges were followed by discussions in alternating small groups and accompanied us throughout the week. We plan to publish them bit by bit in the coming months and make them available to everyone.

Personnel decisions:

In order to safeguard the future of the CCFMC very important personnel decisions had to be made. Successors had to be found and elected for the manager of the CCFMC Center as well as for the President, who will both resign for reasons of age. This issue has been on the agenda for years, so far to no avail. Thus it was now time to make decisions.

1. A successor for the President Fr. Anton Rotzetter OFMCap, who will, however, be only available in three years, has been found. It will be the Swiss Capuchin Fr. Mario Dotta OFMCap.

2. For an interim period Ms. Patricia Hoffmann has been elected as Executive Director of the CCFMC Center in Würzburg. A final solution is being discussed, but will still need some time. Fr. Andreas Müller OFM was appointed Honorary President for life and he is prepared to collaborate on a voluntary basis, whenever and wherever needed.

Assisi Program:

On Thursday we took a field trip to Assisi. Fr. Anton had prepared the program and in four selective places (San Damiano, San Chiara, San Francesco, and S. Maria degli Angeli (Portiuncula) he gave us an understanding of the founding figures and their visions and basic decisions. In doing so, Fr. Anton demonstrated profound knowledge of the sources. It was a short seminar on Franciscan history and spirituality and an intensive invitation for joint action.

Future planning and action plans:

We used the entire Friday to draw conclusions from the reflections and challenges of the week together with the CCFMC Center responsibles. In an introduction Fr. Bill had pointed out that the example of St. Francis shows that plans and words only become alive if words turn into action.

The groups took this remark to heart and developed plans for their areas, which they want and have to realize now. In the months to come we will be reporting on what these plans will look like and how they will be approached.

Europe

Romania

In the footsteps of St. Francis – after 800 years

From 25 to 27 September we had the unique experience that we had expected for a long time. We met at the Monastery of the Friars Minor (OFM) in Sumuleu Ciuc (Miercurea Ciuc), 50 participants from twelve congregations of the Franciscan Family celebrated the 800^th Anniversary of the approbation of the Franciscan Rule.

In two lectures, Father Aurel Ilies OFMConv explained the origins of the Franciscan rule from its beginnings till the regula bullata of 1223. He put special emphasis on the special feature and the novelty within Church history using the following argumentation:

1.   The rule is not a wording of a law, but rather a spiritual document describing the identity of the Brother/the Sister.

2.   The Sisters and Brothers following this ideal are obligated to follow the footsteps of Jesus requiring a constant change of thinking.

3.   The categorical refusal of money outlasted for centuries - despite Pontifical exemption clauses.

4.   Francis admonished his Brothers to regard work as a kind of lifestyle with all talents that God had given.

5.   We are pilgrims on the way, serving God in poverty and humbleness and confidently asking for pittance at the table of the Lord, when it is necessary.

6.   Francis does not want high-ranking people in a position of leadership, but ministers (servants).

These ideas create a new lifestyle within the Church of Christ: the status of a mendicant order. Its rule is a variation from the IV Lateran Council (1215), where it had been decided not to approbate a new observance within the Church.

In small groups the Sisters and Brothers were able to deliberate and intensify what had been said. The goal was to find out to what extent the rule still affects the personal and collective lifestyle of today and what it means to be a lesser Brother, a lesser Sister.

The participants had dynamic and very intense discussions; during the introduction of the group discussions it was apparent that the participants were attempting to find honest answers. During the subsequent Eucharistic mass the Provincial Minister Fr. Szabolcs Orban OFM had once again pointed out the decisive encounters of St. Francis, which remain also quite important for us: the encounter with the leper, with the crucified, and with Christ.

On Sunday, Father Andreas Müller had the opportunity to introduce the “Comprehensive Course on Franciscan Missionary Charism“, which was accepted with great enthusiasm. The translation into Romanian is to be quickly completed so that we can work with it as soon as possible. This concluded the three-day program of getting acquainted and of celebrating together.

The final festive Eucharistic mass was celebrated by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Alba Julia, Msgr. Tamas Jozsef. In his sermon he encouraged to follow our calling and invited us to unwaveringly follow our spirituality. The jubilee should remind us of two aspects:

·     The problem of poverty, which he associated with the simile of Jesus and the rich young man: poverty not as misery but as liberation from the chains greed.

·     Loyalty to a rule in a world that is determined by change and by  transformation according to its own standards.

These thoughts and his blessing concluded the three days of grace and the brotherly/sisterly get-together. We want to meet again next year in Moldavia. Affluently endowed we returned to our communities. But we do not want to forget all those that have supported us financially and spiritually during those days. May God reward them for what they have done for us. We would like to especially thank the Convent of the Friars Minor for their hospitality and availability that they showed to us during the three days.

A heartfelt Pace e bene! - Sr. M. Lydia, Caransebeş, Romania

Asia

Peoples Republic of China

Second Seminar on Franciscan Spirituality: Prayer

A second basic seminar on Franciscan spirituality was attended by 23 Franciscan Brothers and Sisters from different congregations in mid-September 2009 in Shaanxi in the Peoples Republic of China. The writings of Francis and Clare, the history of the Franciscan movement and especially Franciscan prayers were the main topics of this three-day seminar prepared and conducted by Father Leonard Chen OFM.

This seminar mainly focused on the issue of prayer, one of Francis’ profound religious experiences. In order to share this experience, the participants went to pray on top of a mountain to become one with nature and to commune with God. The main goal of this seminar was to provide continuous Franciscan formation to the Brothers and Sisters. The 25 CCFMC lesson units serve as the main basis for this formation.

The seminar participants emphasized that they are interested in the inter-Franciscan movements as well as further programs to study the Franciscan mission charism. The participants especially valued the lectures by Father Joseph Ha OFM as well as his personal discussions with some of the seminar participants. There is vivid desire to invite further resource persons from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Philippines

The Franciscan Family celebrates St. Francis

The celebration of the Transitus on 3 October 2009 marked the culmination of the festivities of the 800th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Franciscan movement and the Franciscan charism in the Philippines. More than 800 Franciscan from the different branches of the Franciscan Family gathered at the Mater-Dei-Auditorium of St. Joseph’s College in Quezon City to participate in this memorial event.

The theme of the celebration was “Commitment and Celebration“- which included a PowerPoint presentation on the “History of Franciscan Presence in the Philippines“ as well as on the impact of the Franciscan movement on the Church and around the world in the past 800 years.

The highlight of the celebration was the Eucharistic mass, which was celebrated by no less than the Papal Nuncio, Bishop Edward Adams.” Yes, we are grateful to God for the precious gift that you, the family of Francis, are for the Christian people, “the Nuncio emphasized in his sermon. The small stream flowing from Mount Subasio has turned into a huge river and it is an important contribution to spreading the Gospel around the world. Bishop Adams also reminded of the mission „to repair the house. “ “Like Francis”, he added, “We begin this repair with ourselves. “

The entire year 2009 was marked by a series of other events of the Franciscan Family in the Philippines on the occasion of the Anniversary of the Franciscan charism: A Greccio Experience in January; a Carceri Hermitage Experience in March as well as a Common Franciscan Reflection on the new formula of the religious vow.

Newslet

New President of the Franciscan Family of Brazil (FFB)

The Franciscan Family of Brazil has elected a new leadership during its General Assembly from 21 to 25 October 2009 in Salvador. The new President is Sr. Maria Petronila de S. Soares (Sr. Nila) of the Mission Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. Sr. Nila was born in Canindé in Ceará State and grew up surrounded by Franciscan spirituality in this big place of pilgrimage. In addition she was quite sensitive for all the hardship in the northeastern part of Brazil, which she then focused on in her pastoral and social work. Today she lives and works as provincial superior in Belem, the provincial center of her congregation. The CCFMC Team in Würzburg sends God’s Blessings to her for this important task in the FFB and hope that the continued good cooperation will continue to prosper.

Bare-footed in the Foot-prints of Jesus - The Christ-Experience of Francis and how he followed Him Br. Niklaus Kuster OFMCap

6. “Pleasing Christ and following his footsteps"