Franciscan Community of the Holy Cross

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Junipers

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The brothers and sisters who meet together as the Junipers are geographically the most spread out. Some come from Canada, while others are from Tupper Lake and Plattsburgh.

Gatherings are held every 1st or 2nd Saturday of each month at St. Mark's in Malone, NY. Gathering begins at 10:00am, Morning Prayer begins at 10:30am. After Morning Prayer there is "check-in" with one another on how things are going.

One of the members leads a discussion - usually on an aspect of the Rule or an issue in living the life of Faith as exemplified by Francis. They share a meal prepared by members, make a financial offereing, discuss any business they may have and plan for the next gathering.

They are planning to finish the St. Francis garden at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center in the Spring along with members from the Clares and San Damiano Communities.

Saint Clares - The Clares

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The Clares gather the 1st Saturday of every month at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Sidney, NY. Eucharist begins at 11:15am followed by a dish-to-pass lunch. Prayer and study begins after lunch under the direction of Jeanie Shevlin, FHC, Servant of the Clares (leader).

Ministries include:
Covers of Love, which is the making of sleeping bags for the homeless. Added to the sleeping bags are small food items, toiletries, clothing and the Holy Bible.

Touch of Love, a free clothing give-away held each Wednesday from 9:30am-11:30am.

Both ministries are carried out through St. Paul's Church in Sidney, NY. (Please see the "Ministires" page for more details)

San Damiano

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San Damiano Church in Assisi, Italy

The San Damiano community gathers on the 2nd Sunday of each month at 2:30pm, St. Andrews Church in Scotia, NY.

Upcoming mission work: Mission trip to Jos Nigeria May 23rd - June 3rd. Walton, NY sometime in June. Galveston, Texas, sometime in July. (Details to follow)

Rule of Life

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Our Charism and Rule of Life

A "Charism" expresses the particular character of one of the great spiritual familes or traditions of Christianity. The Charism of an Order carries the lived experiences of the Founder and members of that community as it is passed on throughout the ages.

The Franciscan Charism, centered on Jesus Christ, Crucified and risen, has been a powerful means of personal and social transformation from St. Francis' time down to our own.

The Rule of Life we share expresses and concretizes the essential nature of the Franciscan Charism in seven articles:

1) Conversion: deep change: "turning around" -- transformation by Grace.

2) Surrender: Self-emptying or dying to self in order to live in Jesus Christ.

3) Living the Gospel: meditation on Holy Scripture to be conformed to It.

4) Community: shared fellowshp in the commitment of a "Life Profession."

5) Prayer: use of the Daily Office in some form and also quiet contemplation.

6) Sacraments: centered on the Holy Eucharist in which we receive Christ's Body and Blood and also sharing Reconciliation and Healing.

7) Evangelical Outreach: real active apostolic work to spread the Gospel.

Taken from pamphlet, "An Evangelical Life in the Franciscan Way"

News & Upcoming Events

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The Rev'd Laura Miller, FHC, Deacon of St. Mary's Downsville goes nose-to-nose with a friendly ferret named Polly at the Blessing of the Animals in October 2008. Photo was taken by Patty Lollot and is courtesy of the Walton Reporter.

2011 News and Events
General Chapter, August 26-Aug. 28, 2011 to be held in Fonda.

Oct 1, 2011: Blessing of the Animals at 12:30pm at St. Paul's in Sidney.

Discerning the Call

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Reception of Members: The Franciscans of the Holy Cross are adult baptized Christians primarily, but not exclusively of the Anglican Communion. We are laity and clergy, male and female, married or celibate without distinction among us.

Those seeking to join our community should enter into a process of discernment with a spiritual director and with designated representatives our community in which they discover a call from God to follow Jesus Crucified in the way of St. Francis. They should be physically, morally, and spiritually prepared to begin entering into commitments described in our Rule. They should be able and willing to engage in some activities focused on "Rebuilding the Church" according to our community vocation. They should be free from any encumbrances which might prevent or curtail faithful living of the Rule or active participation in community life and activities.

Formation: Formation into full membership in the Franciscan Community of the Holy Cross consists of several stages;

1) Aspirant- Those who begin to sense a call from God to a deeper commitment in their Christian lives and who become aware of our community begin a process of meeting us, considering our vocation materials and discerning if they are hearing a genuine call from God. They may then be invited to a local monthly meeting and/or an inquirers' gathering. If the person himself, the local community and the Guardian are in agreement, the person is then invited to begin formation with us as a postulant.

2) Postulancy- Postulants are ordinarily received in Autumn, or at some other convenient time. For at least six months they meet together with the larger community and also for time specifically dedicated to formation at our monthly gatherings. They are responsible for reading the "Life of St. Francis" by Omar Englebert and for obtaining and beginning to read "The Writings of St. Francis and St. Clare" published by Paulist Press. During this time they will focus on discerning whether they have a genuine call to live a Franciscan way of life by examining our Rule and beginning to understand the elements of it. If the postulant, the community and the Guardian agree, the postulant will be received as a novice.

3) Novitiate- Novitiate begins with the ceremony of Reception which is ordinarily held in Spring. The Novitiate period normally lasts for eighteen months (or not more than 30 months). During this time, the novice continues to participate in monthly community gatherings and begins to grow in understanding and living our Rule. The novice continues to develop in living a Franciscan lifestyle in the spirit of the three vows of poverty, chastity and obedience and in service to the Church and to those who need to receive the Gospel. After a minimum of eighteen months, with the discernment and agreement of the novice, the whole Community and the Guardian, the novice may be admitted to Profession of vows.

4) Profession- Profession of vows is made by the novice ordinarily in the second October following Reception. Profession consists of vows to: "Live the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Rule of the Franciscan Community of the Holy Cross in the spirit Poverty, Chastity and Obedience according to my state in life." (i.e. either married or celibte. Those who make their profession while unmarried are free to marry at a later date.) At Profession, the Franciscan brother or sister of the Holy Cross is considered a "full member" of the Community according to Title III, canon 24, section 2 of the Constitutions and Canons of the Episcopal Church USA.

Community Symbol: At Reception into Novitiate, the novice is invested with a San Damiano Cross on a gray cord. At Profession of Vows the white cord with three knots is substituted for the gray cord. Franciscans of the Holy Cross should wear their Cross as a sign of their commitment. If circumstances require it, the large cross may be substituted with a smaller pendant cross or with a pin of the San Damiano Cross.

Taken from "Community Formation Guidelines "Constitutions"

About Saint Francis

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St. Francis was wildly in love with Jesus Christ. His whole life of Poverty and Joy was centered on Jesus crucified - God Who became Man in order to transform us by His Grace.

In 1206, Francis of Assisi was praying in front of the Crucifix in the small half-ruined church of San Damiano.

"All-highest most glorious God, cast Your light into the darkness of my heart: give me right Faith, firm Hope, perfect Charity and profound Humility with Wisdom and insight, O Lord, so that I may do what is truly Your holy Will. Amen"

To his surprise he heard Jesus speak to him: "Go, rebuild My House which you see is falling down in ruin." Francis threw away his old life in order to respond. This event marked the beginning of the Franciscan mission which includes in a vital way throughout the world to this day.

We are in a similar circumstance in our own time: in many ways the Church is falling down in ruin. We therefore seek to fulfill the command of Christ Crucified and Risen by allowing His Grace to transform our own hearts and to bring this Gospel of transformation to people everywhere.

While Francis began with stones and mortar to rebuild the little church, he soon realized that his real mission was the rebirth and renewal of human hearts to be built as living stones into the Body of Christ. Franciscans of all walks of life and many denominations continue to live, share and preach the Gospel of Christ in St. Francis' way.

Taken from the pamphlet"An Evangelical Life in the Franciscan Way"

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Term Paper: CH100 (On-Line) Spring Semester 2006
Student: Jim Shevlin (now Father Jim Shevlin-St. Paul's Sidney and St. Paul's Franklin)
Prof: Mark Stevenson, Ph.D.

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

St. Francis of Assisi was born in Italy in either 1181 or 1182AD. At his birth Francis was named Giovanni but afterwards his father renamed him Francesco. His father, Pietro Bernardone was a wealthy cloth merchant. His mother, Pica was supposedly from a noble family from Provence.

At the time of Francis’ birth there were two classes of people in the feudal system; the majores (the nobility) and the minores (the common people). The nobility consisted of the lords, knights and nobles. The majores were the governing force in the area; a police force. The majores protected the minores from warring neighbors. There were two types of minores; villeins and serfs; the serfs were basically slaves. The villeins were farmers, craftsmen, merchants, and freemen that were obliged to pay taxes and sometimes to do forced labor. The nobility and the churches were not taxed at this time, only the poor.

This was the time of the Crusades and the Crusades transformed the feudal system. Until this time the castles and monasteries were the only support of the merchants and craftsmen but with the Crusades, new trade routes opened up to the people for industry and trade. Many of the merchants and craftsmen became rich at this time. They were still considered minores unless they became rich and then they were given economic privileges and were allowed to join the councils, becoming themselves majores. This was a time of war and towns would fight against each other, destroying crops, villages and the people were being tortured. It was a very cruel time.

Francis was born in a beautiful little village called Umbria in central Italy. "This region, full of contrast and beauty, affords a man’s spirit a variety of scenery which is truly captivating: solitary peaks and charming valleys, streams lazily meandering along the plain, torrents cascading down ravines, fields of wheat and unproductive volcanic soils, forests of ilex and fir, silver leaved olive trees, engarlanded vines running along the mulberry trees, and climbing of black cypress mounting guard at way-side chapels." (Englebert 8-9)

Francis’ father became rich at the time and traveled to France frequently to do business. So Francis had the privilege of coming from a wealthy family (majores). Francis was taught at St. Giorgio School for his elementary education, he learned to read and write, he was also taught Latin. Francis loved music; he listened to the Troubadours of the time who sang songs of chivalry. As a young man Francis was taught the cloth merchant business by his father Pietro. Francis would travel to the fairs in other villages and would work in his father’s shop. Francis loved to party with his friends; he loved fine clothes, signing, he was witty and very generous with his money, he was the favorite of the group. Because of his charm and affection his parents spoiled their son.

When Francis was approximately 20 years old he went off to fight the Perugians. He was captured and taken prisoner for about a year in Perugia. Francis was very ill on his arrival home and in his fever Francis began to think of his spiritual life however when Francis regained his health he still was dreaming of military glory. So, he became a knight and set out for Apulia to fight in the Crusades. "At Spoleto, where he stopped for the night, the mysterious voice spoke to him again in his sleep. Francis, it said to him, where are you going like this? I am going to fight in Apulia, replied the young man. Tell me, the voice continued, from whom can you expect most, the master or the servant? From the master of course! Then why follow the servant, instead of the master on whom he depends? Lord, what would you have me do? Return to your own country. There it shall be revealed to you what you are to do, and you will come to understand the meaning of the vision." (Englebert 26)

The next day Francis set out for home and knew he was still destined for something great; Francis was changing. At a party he gave for his friends he was struck with a feeling of great love; his friends asked him if he was considering marriage and Francis said yes he was, "the girl to whom I intend to plight my troth is so noble, so rich, and so good, that none of you ever saw her like!" (Englebert 27) The lady he was dreaming of was none other than Lady Poverty whom he had not yet met. Francis went on a pilgrimage to Rome, when he got to St. Peter’s tomb he saw how stingy the people were with their offerings and took out his purse and threw all the gold coins he had toward the altar. Francis went outside and asked a beggar to change clothes with him afterwards he went home and engrossed himself in prayer. God was urging Francis to despise and give up earthly things.

Francis had a deep fear of lepers and whenever he would come upon them he would hurry away and have someone else give them alms. But on this one particular day Francis was riding on a road when he ran into a man with leprosy, his first reaction was to turn away but instead he got off his horse and kissed the man and gave him money. When Francis does something he does it all the say; so he rode to San Lazaro d’ Arce (a leper colony) and give them all money, kissing each and every leper he found.

In the spring of 1206 Francis was at a fallen down church of San Damiano when in front of a Byzantine Crucifix, Jesus on this cross spoke to Francis saying; "Francis, go repair my house, which is falling in ruins." (Englebert 33) Well, Francis thought God was calling him to literally rebuild the church so Francis went home took material from his father’s shop, sold it and proceeded to build the church. Needless to say Pietro was not happy with his son; called him crazy, beat him and chained Francis in the dungeon. Francis’ mother freed him and he again went to San Damiano. When his father returned home he was furious and wanted Francis arrested. Francis refused to obey because he said he was now in God’s service and not obligated to attend court. So Pietro had to then go to the Bishop of Assisi, Lord Guido for help.

Francis appeared before the bishop at the Piazza of Santa Maria Maggiore who told Francis to give back what belonged to his father, so Francis took off his clothes and placed them before his father stating; "up to now, I have called Pietro Bernardone my father! But now that I purpose to serve God, I give him back not only this money that he wants so much, but all the clothes I have from him! With this Francis threw everything on the ground. From now on, he added, I can advance naked before the Lord, saying in truth no longer: my father, Pietro Bernardone, but: Our Father who art in Heaven!" (Englebert 36-37) The bishop took off his mantle and put it around Francis. It is not mentioned whether Francis ever saw his parents again. He went and found old clothing to put on and marked it in chalk with a cross. He had found his Lady Poverty and embraced her with great joy and peace.

Francis went to stay at a Benedictine Monastery at Gubbio where at first he was treated horribly and as the monks saw the character of Francis they became sorry for the way they had treated him. They gave him a tunic with a leather belt, sandals and a staff. After he left the monastery he lived with lepers, tending to their sores, giving them loving care for the love of God. He then went back to San Damiano to rebuild the church. He begged in the streets for supplies and food, singing and praising God all the way. Everything that had repulsed him in his old life now filled him with great joy.

Francis went on to rebuild at least two more churches; San Pietro della Spina, west of San Damiano and Portiuncula, where it is enclosed within the walls today of the Basicilia of St. Mary of the Angels. It was there at Portiuncula that Francis finally realized what God meant when He said for Francis to rebuild His Church. During Mass at the reading of the Gospel, the reading was; "Go, said the savior, and peach the message, the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand….freely you have received, freely give….do not keep gold, or silver, or money in your girdles, no wallet for your journey, nor two tunics, nor sandals, nor staff, for the laborer deserves his living. And whatever town or village you enter, inquire who in it is worthy; and stay there until you leave; as you enter the house, salute it, saying, Peace to this house." (Englebert 43)

Francis now had all the pieces of the puzzle to his life now; he lived a life of penance and love and now he was to us Christ’s disciple; he was to go out and preach repentance everywhere, and to take nothing with him; so he took off his sandals, wore only his tunic and replaced the leather belt with a cord. Francis later said it was a day to be remembered, in which; "the Most High personally revealed to me that I ought to live according to the Holy Gospel." (Englebert 43) And one of Francis’ famous quotes is; "Go out and preach the Gospel and if you have to you can even use words."

Francis began his work preaching everywhere. Francis began receiving brothers; Bernard was the first to join Francis with Peter Catanii then Giles of Assisi and by April of 1209 the number of followers had reached eleven. Some took their beggars bag and went into the streets begging and some hired themselves out to do work, but never for pay, only for food or necessities. Francis decided that with the number of followers steadily increasing he needed to follow a Rule of Life. So he wrote down a few rules with Holy Scripture to back them up. Francis and his brothers went to Rome to see the Pope for his on the order. On April 16, 1209 Pope Innocent III approved the Oral Rule Francis had made; the Original Rule is no longer in existence but this is the scholarly reconstruction:

"Preamble. Francis and his successors promise obedience to Innocent III and to succeeding popes, and the Brethren were to obey Brother Francis and his successors.

What the Rule is. It obliges the friars to conform to the kind of life imposed by Christ on His Apostles, i.e., the integral practice of the Gospel. In this lay its great and complete novelty, for never before had a monastic rule made the Gospel taken literally the foundation of the religious state.

Certain of these rules, by imposing the vow of stability on the monk and diverting him from preaching, even prevented him from leading the apostolic life. How new Brethren are to be received. All those whom God shall induce to enter the brotherhood are to be affectionately received; but they are to be admitted only after they have abandoned all their goods, and, if possible, distributed them to the poor.

The habit. They are to wear a tunic with hood, a cord and trousers. The place for men in rich clothing being, according to the Gospel, in kings’ palaces, the Brethren are to wear mean clothing, which they can mend by sewing on course pieces, with God’s blessing.

Of precedence. Our Lord having declared that it is for heads of State to act as masters and for the great to give orders, the Brethren, for their part, are not to have any authority over one another; and he among them who would be first, shall place himself in the lowest place, making himself servant of all.

Of charity and humility. Let no Brother cause pain to another. Let all avoid anger, calumny, detraction, and murmuring. Rather than dispute with any man, they will keep silent or else humbly reply, ‘We are useless servants.’ Instead of judging or condemning anyone, let them rather consider their own faults. let them show great condescension and meekness toward all men, and let even thieves and robbers be kindly received by them. If a Brother fall ill, the others shall take care of him; and all shall show the same love and care toward on e another as a mother has for her child.

Of work and poverty. If possible, the Brethren shall follow their former trade. If they are in the service of others, they shall not fill the position of treasurer or of other employment of a nature to harm their soul or scandalize their neighbor. In exchange for their labor, they shall be content with food and clothing. if necessary, they will beg alms, but they are never to receive money. It is forbidden for them to have animals for hire or anything else whatever save their tools. They shall not even appropriate their hermitages for themselves, or defend them against anyone to keep them.

How they are to behave in the world. The Brethren are to carry nothing with them for the road, neither sack nor provisions. Their greatest joy shall be to mingle with victims of leprosy, beggars, and other wretches. When they enter a house, they shall say: ‘Peace be to this house!’ and shall eat whatever is set before them.

Of preaching. The Rule inserts here the little penitential exhortation that we quoted above, and which Francis bids the Brethren to address on occasion to the people.

Orthodoxy. Let the Brethren, under pain of being expelled from the fraternity, always conduct themselves as good Catholics. let them follow the customs and usages of the Church of Rome, and defer to the teachings of the secular and regular clergy in everything that is not contrary to their Rule; and if they go to confession, let it be to whatever priest is approved by the Church. (Englebert 64-65)

So began the Franciscan Order at the Portiuncula. The Brothers unlike the Benedictines who owned property and stayed in one place, traveled about preaching to the people and the Order continued to grow. It was about six years after Francis’ conversion that a lady from Assisi named Clare (which is a whole story of its own) came to Francis to join in his journey to the Cross of Christ. Because Clare was a woman Francis set her and her followers up at San Damiano where the Second Franciscan Order called the Poor Clares flourished.

People from near and far joined the Orders and people who were householders who for reasons could not leave their homes but wanted to follow Francis were joining also. They lived in their homes and worked in the world but followed a simple rule that Francis gave them and this became known as the Third Order of the Franciscans. The Rule that Francis presented to the Pope in 1209 was written down in 1221 but "because its regulations were not sufficiently precise" (Habig 54) the Rule was rewritten and in 1223 was; "preserved with the Papal Bull in the sacristy of the Sacro Convento in Assisi." (Habig 54) It was not a new Rule just an improved longer version.

God spoke to and taught Francis all through the years of his life. Francis suffered physically, a lot, from neglecting his body in penance. He was a holy and devout man; in my opinion probably the most like Christ ever to walk on this earth. God blessed Francis daily for his devotion.

One time when Francis and Clare had met to pray together and share a meal (with others present) people from the area came running, they thought the building was on fire – when entering they found the room filled with incredible light and the Franciscans in a state of ecstasy surrounded and totally filled with the Holy Spirit. There were many, many miracles that the Lord performed during Francis’ ministry.

There are many writings by St. Francis; The Canticle of Brother Sun, Letters to Clare and Her Sisters, Letters to the Brothers, Prayers and Praises to the Lord, just to name a few. A good example of Praise to the Lord is as follows; "All powerful, most holy, most high, and supreme God; all good, supreme good, totally good, you who alone are good; may we give you all praise, all glory. All thanks, all honor; all blessings, and all good things. So be it. So be it. Amen" (Armstrong, Brady 102)

Of all the Feast Days, Francis loved Christmas the best. One day when he and the friars were talking about Christmas and one of the friars started describing the birth of Jesus, Francis got up from the table and crying ate his meal sitting on the bare ground in honor of their "royal poverty." For he explained; "is not this virtue of which Christ the King and the Virgin Queen wished to give us an example of royal virtue." (Englebert 231) And it is because of Francis that we have the Crech in our homes and churches at Christmas. Francis and his friars set up a live manger scene on a hill near Greccio, where they celebrated Mass with Francis performing duties as a deacon. It was said that at that first manger scene at Greccio one of the friars saw the Baby Jesus asleep in the empty crib and there was a moment when he saw Jesus open His eyes and smile at Francis. Many people were healed at that Christmas Mass.

It was about two years before Francis death that Francis received the stigmata. Francis traveled with some of the Brothers to the Summit of LaVerna. There, after a long time of fasting and prayer Francis asked the Lord that before he die to let him feel the pain that the Lord suffered at the Passion and to feel the love for Christ that made Jesus sacrifice Himself for our sins. "Then suddenly, writes St. Bonaventure, from the heights of Heaven seraphim with six wings of flame flew swiftly down. He bore the likeness of a man nailed to a cross. Two of his wings covered his face, with two others he flew, and the last two covered his body. It was Christ Himself, who had assumed this form to manifest Himself to the Saint. He fixed his gaze upon Francis, then left him, after imprinting the miraculous stigmata of the crucifixion on his flesh. From the moment Francis was marked with the wounds of the Divine Redeemer his hands and feet appeared as though pierced with nails, with round black heads on the palm of the hands and on the feet and with bent points extruding from the back of the hands and the soles of his feet. In addition, there was a wound in the right side, as if made by a lance, from which blood frequently flowed, moistening his drawers and tunic!" (Englebert 242-243) Many Brothers saw the wounds and heard Francis’ testimony as to what happened. Even Pope Alexander IV had seen the marks even though Francis tried to keep them covered.

Francis wrote his Last Will and Testament and sent it to the General Chapter of 1226; a yearly Franciscan gathering and meeting, because he was to sick to attend. Francis was now blind and suffered terribly. He asked to be moved to the Portiuncula because he was sensing death and felt that this was a very holy place. Francis said; "for it is here that the Lord has increased our number, illumined us with His light, and set our hearts on fire with His love." (Englebert 270) Francis lying naked on the ground for a time (honoring Lady Poverty) said to the friars; "my work is done. May Christ teach you to do yours!" (Englebert 270) Then the Guardian crying loaned Francis a tunic and hood and placed Francis back in bed. Everyone present went to Francis and asked him his forgiveness; Francis forgave and blessed them all, and he did not forget Clare who was ill and could not attend and her Ladies in his blessing.

It was on October 4, 1226 that Francis went to be with the Lord. He died singing the One Hundred and Forty First Psalm! "As for Francis’ body, it was though transformed. His limbs, which had been long contracted by suffering, became supple like those of a child; his face was as beautiful as an angel; the wound in his side appeared rosy red hue; and on his once swarthy flesh – now white as milk – the stigmata of his hands and feet stood out like black stones on white marble. One might have thought, as Brother Leo said later, that it was the Divine Crucified taken down from His Cross who lay there!" (Englebert 273-274) The body of Francis was carried down to San Damiano (as Francis had wished) so Clare and the Ladies could see "their beloved Father Francis once more." (Englebert 274) Francis body was then carried on to San Giorgio in a procession of friars and laity with the chanting of Psalms. Four years later in 1230 Francis’ remains were transferred to a crypt at the Basilica.

"Francis was canonized at St. George’s by Gregory IX, 16 July 1228. His Feast is kept throughout the church on 4 October, and the impression of the stigmata on his body is celebrated on 17 September." (Catholic Encyclopedia)

For almost 800 years now men and women have been following in the way of The Little Poor Man of Assisi into a deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, including my wife and I who are professed members of The Franciscan Community of the Holy Cross.

REFERENCES
Englebert, Omer St. Francis of Assisi, A Biography, St. Anthony Messenger Press, Cincinnati, OH, 1965, First Servant Books Edition 1979
Habig, Marion A., Editor, St. Francis of Assisi, Writings and Early Biographies, English Omnibus of the Sources for the Life of St. Francis, Franciscan Press, Quincy, IL, 1991
Armstrong, Regis J., O.F.M. CAP., Brady, Ignatius C., O.F.M., Francis and Clare, The Complete Works, Paulist Press, Mahwah, NJ, 1982
Knight, K., Catholic Encyclopedia, On-Line Edition, New York, N.Y., 2003

Communities

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San Damiano

Junipers

Saint Clares

The Community and local communities: The Franciscan Community of the Holy Cross is one unified Community consisting of sisters and brothers living in various locations. We support one another in living according to our Rule; we meet together in local communities at least once a month; and, we engage in "Rebuilding the Church" through active service together with other members of our community and/or individually in spreading the Gospel. Community gathering and mission activity are essential parts of our life.

Leadership: The Community as a whole makes decisions through a process of discernment together in prayer and open discussion. The whole Community designates a Guardian whose responsibilities are to provide for the needs of the Community and its members, to carry out Community decisions and to foster zeal in living a faithful Franciscan lifestyle according to our Rule. The Guardian is aided in these tasks by 2-4 Community Servants who are designated by the Community to help with formation, communication and logistics needed for activities. The Guardian and Servants will ordinarily serve for four years and may have their tenure renewed at the discernment of the Community.

Local Communities: Local communities may be formed according to our Rule and Constitutions with full membership in the Franciscan Community of the Holy Cross with the discernment and agreement of the full Community. Local communities may begin with no fewer than 5 members who will gather monthly in their local area to begin the formation process as described in "Discerning the Call." The local community prayerfully discerns and designates at least one and up to three Community Servants to provide leadership as described above. The Servants designated must be accepted as such by the full Community and its Guardian.

Chapters: A "Chapter" is a general gathering of the entire Franciscan Community of the Holy Cross. A Chapter is to be held yearly; all novices and professed members should make every possible effort to attend, and postulants are also encouraged to attend. The Chapter provides time for fellowship, mutual encouragement, spiritual growth together and prayful discernment for community decisions. Professed members are responsible for the actual decision making process. Novices have voice in this process, but are not involved in final discernment decisions. The Guardian may be designated by the prayerful discernment of all professed members every four years at the Chapter gathering. In addition, a yearly Community Retreat specifically focused on spiritual growth should be held either at the time of the Chapter or at a second date during the year chosen as convenient.

Taken from "Community Formation Guidelines "Constitutions"

Ministries and Missions

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Ministry News from the Clares:
Covers of Love: We make sleeping bags for the homeless. We put a coat, hat, gloves, scarf, small towel, washcloth, soap, shampoo, lotion, packaged tuna fish, peanut butter and/or cheese crackers. Each sleeping bag has a Bible included and then rolled. Donated men's ties are used to hold the bags together which also doubles as handles so the bags can be carried in a backpack style. A prayer team prays over each bag before it is given out. The sleeping bags are then distributed directly to the homeless people in the surrounding area.

Touch of Love: We have a clothing give-a-way every Wednesday at St. Paul's Church, Sidney from 9:30am - 11:30am. We have men, women and children's clothing plus blankets, sheets, curtins, towels and if you need other items we try to find them for you. We are there to minister to the people's spiritual needs also. Sometimes we laugh, sometimes we cry, most of the time we pray, sometimes just a warm smile and a Blesssing. We are there to minister in any way we are needed. Saint Francis told his brothers; 'Go out and preach the Gospel, and if you have to, you can even use words.'

A ministry message from a member of the Clares living and working at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center in Greenwich, NY:
"The people coming to church at the Spiritual Life Center on Sundays came up with an idea for outreach at the beginning of winter. We decided to collect new jackets, gloves, mittens and hats for the under privileged local school children who have either lost or needed an item necessary to keep warm. Orginally this was to be only a month long project but I began knitting hats again and I suggested we keep it up all winter. The local Greenwich schools have been very thankful for our donations.

During December, we also added the ministry of buying newborn baby outfits to be donated to the local hospitals for needy families.

I also make Anglican prayer beads which I give out when the Spirit moves and I feel called."

Josie Meeker