Dear Sisters and Brothers,         Peace and all good from all of us at IFC-TOR!         For all Minister Generals, please mark your calendars for the next General Assembly that will be held in Assisi from 16-22 May 2009. In the event that there will be a new General Minister please inform them of this important date. More news will be coming in the next year.         Many of you asked for information concerning Franciscans International (FI). What follows is a brief note sent by the President of the Board of Directors which explains the current situation. You will see that FI is in transition but is healthy as it prepares to expand its ministry.

Plan for the future of Franciscans International
ROME
 

     Representatives of the Conference of the Franciscan Family (CFF) and the Board of Directors of Franciscans International (FI) met in Rome on 22 October to discuss a range of FI-related issues. The CFF, composed of the general ministers of the Friars Minor, Conventuals, and Capuchins, as well as the international presidents of the Secular Franciscan Order (SFO), Sisters’ Federation and Third Order Regular (TOR), is the official sponsor of FI and appoints the members of the International Board of Directors (IBD). Franciscans International is the nongovernmental organization (NGO) that represents the Franciscan Family at the United Nations. FI has offices in New York and Geneva and will be opening a new office in Bangkok in early 2008. Representing the CFF were: Br. Mauro Jöhri, Minister General of the Capuchins and Past President of the CFF; Br. Michael Higgins, Minister General of the TORs; and Benedetto Lino, SFO, a member of the Secular Franciscans’ International Council. Attending on behalf of the IBD were: Attilio Galimberti, SFO; Sr. Denise Boyle, FMDM, Vice President of the Board; and Br. John Celichowski, OFM Cap., President of the Board. The meeting was held at the Capuchin General Curia. Franciscans International is in a time of transition following the decision to not renew the contract of Br. John Quigley, OFM who had been involved with the organization since its inception and had most recently served as FI’s Executive Director. To Br. John Quigley we wish to acknowledge our gratitude and recognition for his great and untiring work carried out during these years of dedicated service to FI.
     In addition, the current sponsor-board structure of FI is relatively recent; and the CFF and IBD are still trying to develop a working relationship that not only reflects what is written in the organization’s charter but, more critically, also reflects the Franciscan spirit of fraternity and collaboration that is at the heart of FI’s work. Besides addressing some specific personnel and financial matters, the group devoted time to developing the ministry description, list of qualifications and the announcement of the search for FI’s new Executive Director. They also devoted time to creating and implementing some structures to improve communications and to foster a greater partnership between the CFF and IBD in their shared stewardship of this important ministry—the only one fully shared by the six members of the CFF. One outcome of these discussions was the appointment of a CFF liaison to the Board, Br. Jon Kochichura, TOR Vicar General, who will regularly attend IBD meetings and provide a necessary communications link between the bodies. All those who participated believed that the meeting was very productive and set a good tone for further collaboration during this critical period of transition for FI and in the future. They also expressed gratitude for the wonderful hospitality provided by the friars at the Curia Generale.

John Celichowski, OFM Cap

        We want to thank all of the Sisters and Brothers for your generosity in supporting the St. Elizabeth Solidarity Fund. We will be asking for an accounting of how this fund was used by FI for the Jubilee year of St. Elizabeth. May the good Lord be generous with each of you for your generosity.
        The 8^th of December was the 25^th anniversary of the TOR Rule. I hope that you will send in news of how you celebrated this important event.
        Lastly, the IFC-TOR sponsored two successful Itinerant schools: one in India and one in Kenya. Below is a photo of the group of English speaking Africans who participated. Our thanks go to Sr. Ceelia Mankuriyil, Franciscan Clarist Congregation and to Sr. Pauline Mary Weisiko, Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, who organized these courses and to all of the those who helped to make this a worthwhile experience.
        From all of the Council and staff in Rome, we send our best wishes for a Blessed Christmas and grace filled New Year.

James F. Puglisi, SA     
Vice-President     

        From 11-14 May the Council of the International Franciscan Conference-TOR held its annual meeting at the Generalate of the Sisters of the Most Sorrowful Mother in Rome. Because of a health problem of our President, Sr. Anisia Schneider, I have been asked by her to assume the role of President until she is able to take up this position once again. Sr. Anisia is doing much better and we all wish her a speedy recovery.

        The full Council and Staff of the IFC-TOR was present at this important meeting. In addition the Conference has engaged the services of Sr. Violet Grennan, a Franciscan Missionary Sister of the Immaculate Conception, as our facilitator in planning and conducting the next General Assembly to be held in May 2009 at the Domus Pacis in Assisi. Once we have more precise details we will be announcing more details about this important meeting. Most of our meeting in May dealt with the organization of the General Assembly. The model that Sr. Violet used in her facilitation of this planning session was one of consensus which engaged the whole Council and IFC-TOR Staff assuming the responsibility of various aspects of the Assembly from the choice and development of the theme to envisioning hoped for outcomes for a successful and productive Assembly for all the participants. On Sunday, May 13^th we all went to Assisi to book the venue of the meeting at Domus Pacis and to study the logistics of carrying out of the Assembly to guarantee maximum participation by all the delegates and participants.

        In addition to the facilitation of the planning of the General Assembly, Council and Staff dealt with the on-going projects and its administration of the program given it at the last General Assembly. First, I need to give an up-date on the IFC-TOR’s participation in the centenary celebration of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Many of the Congregation have been sending in their donations either to us or directly to Franciscans International. Remember that we had suggested that we ask each member of our Congregations to make a symbolic donation, from their own pocket, of a basic unit of money used in our own countries (for example, 1€ or $1 or 100 peseta etc.) to be sent to FI for the St. Elizabeth Solidarity Fund that will support two projects (one in Africa and one in Asia) which incarnate the spirit of Elizabeth of Hungary. There still is time to participate in this project right up till the Feast in November 2007. FI will be sending us a report on the monies received and the projects supported at year’s end.

        For anyone who will be in Italy in November mark your calendars for the centenary celebrations. On Friday, 16 November 2007 at the basilica of S. Maria degli Angeli at 9:00 PM there will be a prayer vigil held. On the 17^th at S. Maria degli Angeli Archbishop Domenico Sorrentino, Bishop of Assisi, will preside a concelebrated Eucharist at 11:00 AM for the Feast. Finally the SFO have organized a cultural event in the upper basilica of St. Francis at 9:00 PM which will consist of a concert of religious music offered by the Hungarian Embassy. It would be wonderful to have a good representation of Superiors and members of our TOR Congregations if possible.

        We can also report that there will be two, three-week itinerant schools this year. One in North India organized by Sr. Ceelia Mankuriyil and one in Kenya for East Africa organized by Sr. Pauline Mary Weisiko. Because of the high expense for the school in Africa it was decided by the Council that there will not be an itinerant school in 2008. The Council wishes to thank the two council members who organized these courses. Full reports will be prepared for the General Assembly on these schools.

        As all are aware this year is also the 25^th anniversary of the publication of our TOR Rule. Fr. Jim has been attempting to find funds for the production of a DVD that will have Franciscan artists, poets, musicians etc expressing what the living of the Rule has meant to them and inviting the next generation of young Franciscans to take up the challenge of re-speaking this Rule and inviting others to live this with us as a particular form of Gospel living in the world today. We have been able to find some funds and now we will need to see if these are sufficient. You may be aware that various celebrations are going on to commemorate the Rule throughout the world.

        Hopefully, you all know about the new web page for the IFC-TOR which is now on line at the following address:
www.ifc-tor.org in 6 languages Italian, French, English, German, Spanish, Portuguese. On this web site you will find information about the activities of the Conference and important texts such as the TOR Rule (also in its original Latin), the Statutes of the IFC-TOR, Propositum, the directory of addresses and other. We would welcome your suggestions and observations. We hope that these means will also be a way of better communication with you and having you network with other Franciscans in the world.

        Our Treasurer, Sr. Santina was recently named provincial treasurer. Fortunately her superior has allowed her to stay on as IFC-TOR treasurer for which we are most grateful. It would be helpful for Sr. Santina if you could check to be sure that dues have been paid for the year 2007. If not she would appreciate that you send these as soon as possible to the office of the conference.

        Sr. Daria, responsible for the Spirit and Life office, has prepared an excellent number on the Rule for the 25th anniversary. This will be mailed shortly as well as being able to read it on line on our web site. Sister is working on the next issue which will deal with the question of fraternitas as a Franciscan value.

        Sr. Margherita, Secretary of the Conference has been doing a wonderful job of up dating the directory and trying to complete missing information. One of the elements which we would like to include is the web addresses of your institutes which will enable others to know more about you, your charism and your history. I would appreciate it if you could help her by sending your correct information which will include phone, fax, e-mail and web pages as well as the name of the current Minister General and the time of the mandate for service.

        There is nothing else to share with you except our wishes for a pleasant Summer and good 25th anniversary celebrations of the Rule. We would be very interested if you could send how you have celebrated this life giving event with others. We could put some of the activities on our web site if you allow us to share them with others. May God bless each one of your with Peace and all good,

Fraternally,

James F. Puglisi, SA     
Vice-President     

        The new web site of the International Conference of the Sisters and Brothers of the Third Order Regular was opened at the beginning of February 2007 (www.ifc-tor.org). The project - from the idea to planning phase - was begun in the 2nd semester of 2006 and the design of the main graphic layout was completed in 3 months.
        Once made public on the World Wide Web, the IFC-TOR site is initially to go through a period of testing in which it's contents will grow regularly (including the implementation of a search engine, the browsing of the IFC-TOR Members' list - directly from the last updated database maintained in the offices of the IFC-TOR, Rome).
        Therefore, some details of the layout may change as time goes by in order to improve the user friendly nature of our web site. Also your suggestions are welcomed during your use of this Franciscan resource. Please send us any comments and suggestions to the following address: webmaster@ifc-tor.org . The information provided on this web site is available in 6 languages - Italian, French, English, German, Spanish and Portuguese.
        As stated in the welcome message to the home page, our intent is to supply an instrument of collaboration for the Franciscan family in the world.

The Staff     
IFC-TOR General Office     
Rome