International Franciscan Conference of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular · IFC-TOR
International Franciscan Conference of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular · IFC-TOR
Latest Issue / 2024 N. 2
″Praised Be You, My Lord Care for Our Common Home‶
PRESS RELEASE
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
From May 11 – 15 2025, 68 General Ministers and/or their delegates gathered at Domus Pacis for the celebration of the 11th General Assembly of the International Franciscan Conference of the Institutes and Monasteries of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis with the president of IFC-TOR, Sister Frances Marie Duncan, presiding at the gathering.
The theme of the assembly, which celebrated the 800th Anniversary of the Canticle of Creation, had as its theme “Franciscans, Repair my World.”
Father David Couturier, OFM, Cap. and Jeffry Papia from the Padua Program, a Franciscan Mission-Based Leadership Training at St. Bonaventure University in New York, led the participants in reflection on this theme through a series of three lectures and discussions. The talks will soon be published on the website of the conference, www.ifc-tor.org
On the last day of the Assembly, the voting members elected the new council to lead the IFC-TOR for the next three years:
President
Sr. Daisy Kalamparamban – from India – living in Rome
General Minister of the Franciscan Handmaids of the Good Shepherd
Council Members
Sr. Lorella Chiaruzzi (Vice-President) – from Italy – living in Rimini
General Minister of the Franciscan Missionaries of Christ
Sr. Pacyfika Leman – from Poland – living in Rome
General Minister of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity
Sr. Georgette Ngom – from Senegal – living in Rome
General Councilor of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
Sr. Mary Elizabeth Imler – from the United States
General Minister of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart
Sr. Rute Almeida Guimarães – from Brazil
General Minister of the Franciscan Sisters of the Providence of God
A short film recalling the days of the Franciscans gathering in Assisi
The IFC-TOR congratulates our new pope, Pope Leo XIV
Being a former leader of his Augustinian order, serving as a missionary in Peru for many years and serving recently in the Dicastery for Bishops, we are confident that our new Pope born in the United States will wisely and compassionately shepherd the people of God.
We offer him our promise of prayers and support!
A letter from the General Ministers of the FRANCISCAN FAMILY / CFF
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Peace and good to all the brothers and sisters of the Franciscan Family.
With hearts filled with gratitude but also with deep sorrow, we, the General Ministers of the Franciscan Family, wish to share with you our farewell to Our Holy Father Pope Francis, who has returned to the house of the Father.
At this time, when our beloved Pope Francis has left us, we feel the urgency to reflect on the profound meaning that his presence had for us as sons and daughters of St. Francis of Assisi. It was not by chance that Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose the name of the Poverello of Assisi for his pontificate: this choice revealed from the very beginning a path of life and mission that he consistently followed until the end of his days. […]
Statement in mourning for His Holiness POPE FRANCIS
The IFC-TOR joins with all the Church and the world in mourning the death of Pope Francis.
The ideals promoted by Pope Francis and the witness of his life were the greatest witness of how followers of Christ are meant to live.
His taking the name Francis, on becoming Pope, reflected his love for the poor and marginalized and his commitment to serve them as did St. Francis of Assisi.
We pray that we, as Franciscans, can carry on his efforts to protect all people and all of God’s Creation.
May he rest in peace!
NEWS in the spotlight
Presentation of the Theme and Logo for the General Assembly 2025
In the midst of the 800 year anniversary of Francis’ Canticle of Creation, we will meet as the international Franciscan Conference of the Third Order Regular to look anew at Christ’s challenge to Francis to Repair His House.
Recalling Pope Francis’ challenge of Laudato Si’, we extend that message to include repairing the world.
Through reflection and sharing on the theme: “Franciscans, Repair my World” the General Assembly 2025 is an opportunity to come together as sisters and brothers of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis to deepen within us the basic Franciscan values as we are challenged to live them today.
Conceptual Description of the Logo
The main shape that makes up the logo for the IFC-TOR General Assembly 2025 is the San Damiano Crucifix, which is represented through a stylized design.
It lays on a brick base that recalls the mission of “reconstruction” that Franciscans are called by God to accomplish in the world.
The proposed arrangement is related to the message that St. Francis heard three times in front of the San Damiano Crucifix: “Francis, go and repair my house…”
In the disposition of the elements depicted in the logo, a few «key words» arranged around the globe to signify the world are highlighted. Those effuse into the earth’s circumference a message intended to be one of PEACE “for the world”, FRATERNITY “among all God’s sons and daughters”, “custody for the” CREATION, CARE “toward our brothers and sisters”, RESPECT “for other people”, and UNITY “in a world that is continually divided”.
Photo Gallery - Opening Centenary / 2025
© Sala Stampa Sacro Convento
In 2025 we celebrate the eighth centenary of the composition of the Canticle of Brother Sun.
Francis of Assisi, in the spring of 1225, a few months after his experience at La Verna, wanted to spend a period of fifty days at the monastery of San Damiano, where Clare and the first poor sisters lived.
During that stay at San Damiano, after a night troubled by the pains of his illnesses but also visited by the Lord, who had given him the certainty of his love and salvation, Francis composed that hymn of praise and thanksgiving to God, which we all know.
As with past centennials, this year there will be a celebration of the entire Franciscan Family to officially inaugurate the centennial.
Multimedia
Live Streaming - Opening Centenary
Tribute at the tomb of Saint Francis
Timeline of the Centenaries
The two parts of the celebration can be followed below online, while those who wish to be present in person can choose either place. At both shrines, the other part of the celebration will be projected on screen for those who are present.
The intention was to start at the place where Francis composed most of the Canticle and praised God for all creatures and conclude there where his mortal remains rest, to sing beside him and with him the last verse, composed shortly before his death, “Laudato si’ mi Signore, per sora nostra morte corporale.”
The event of the floral tribute at the tomb of Saint Francis and the conclusion of the inauguration celebration of the eighth centenary of the Canticle of the Creatures in the lower church of the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi will be broadcast live on the YouTube channel @BasilicaSanFrancescodAssisi
The Franciscan Centenary
The Franciscan centenary is a journey that we have decided to begin in order for the entire Franciscan family throughout the world to celebrate together the 800th anniversary of Saint Francis’ Easter and the culminating events of the last years of his life. Said Centenary has been divided into 4 Centenaries, respectively spread over 4 years where it will be possible to reflect and contemplate the Rule and Christmas in Greccio (1223-2023), the gift of the Stigmata (1224-2024), the Canticle of the Creatures (1225- 2025), the Easter of Francis of Assisi (1226-2026).
The website centenari francescani, commissioned by the Franciscan Family through a Commission of the Communication Offices, is the official site for disseminating reflections, themes, official documents and news that will give us the guidelines for experiencing this great Franciscan event together.
Save the DATE
Council LETTERS
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Pax et Bonum!
As we look at our world today, it is sometimes easy to forget that God is with us and it is even easier to lose hope. Yet this Holy Year of Jubilee encourages us to be “Pilgrims of Hope” and the Year of the 800th commemoration of the Canticle of Creation reminds us that we are called to be the countercultural signs of Gratitude, Hope and Joy today. In this Year of Jubilee, may the message of hope, given to us by the Resurrection inflame within us the burning desire to be Pilgrims of Hope to the world.
The year 2025 will be a year of challenges and blessings. Pope Francis calls us to be a “People of Hope” in this coming Jubilee Year, the 10th Anniversary of Laudato Si reminds us of the challenge to renew the earth and the 800th anniversary of St. Francis writing the Canticle of Creation beckons us to recognize our oneness with all Creation. The Season of Advent brings a needed message of hope for the present world in which we live. People on every continent are waiting again for someone to bring sanity to a world that seems to have gone wild with hatred, individuality and greed. Nations at war with each other and within themselves, disasters bringing devastation by fire and floods, nature crying out to be saved, all these things prey on our minds and form our intercessions in prayer as we await a time of peace and justice to reign.
Dear Sisters and Brothers, Pace e Bene!
Happy Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis! This Feast, for many of us in the Franciscan Family, signals the beginning of preparation for the Feast Day of our brother, St Francis. In this special year during which we remember the 800th anniversary of St. Francis receiving the Stigmata at LaVerna, we celebrate this reminder of how great the love of Francis was for Christ and how great the love of Christ was for St. Francis.
COMMUNICATIONS Members
Franciscans International Board of Directors meet twice a year: in the first half of the year in Geneva, Switzerland and the last half of the year in New York, USA, unless otherwise. The two countries are chosen because that is where Franciscans International have their offices respectively. This year from the 17th-19th April 2024, I attended a workshop organized by our staff of the Franciscans International on human rights concerns, in Santa Maria di Angeli in Assisi. This meeting in Assisi attracted religious brothers and sisters, and the laity who work with migrants as well as for the protection of the rights of people deprived of their liberty.
(Sr. Charity Katongo Nkandu)
Contribution for FRANCISCAN STUDY
Resource Manual for the Study of the TOR Rule
The TOR Manual as a study on the Rule, presents the essentials of a Story that can only be called a “chronicle of grace.” It is the response to the 2009 proposal from the IFC assembly that resources on the Rule “be updated and new ones created, published and made known for initial and ongoing formation.”
Introduction
SUMMARY
Penitential Movement
SUMMARY
History and Development
SUMMARY
Rule and Franciscan Spirituality
SUMMARY
Commentary on the 1982 Rule
SUMMARY
Ten and Twenty-Five Years Later
SUMMARY
CD — Four Values of the Rule with sheet music
SUMMARY
Comprehensive Bibliography
SUMMARY
Third Order Saints
SUMMARY
Appendix
SUMMARY
Franciscan Music — Four Values of TOR Rule
The CD Audio of the Manual TOR
Guide for the Study of the Encyclical FRATELLI TUTTI
The guide is a cooperative venture of several Franciscan organizations. It can be used with small or large groups and for personal reflection. You are free to print it for others who prefer a printed text and to share the URL where you found the guide. This guide is free and serves as an overview to the chapter featured but cannot in the space available do justice to the richness of each chapter.
AUTHOR
TITLE
Summary and quotes from the Encyclical
AUTHOR
TITLE
Dark Clouds A Closed World – Summary and quotes from the Encyclical
AUTHOR
TITLE
A Stranger on the Road
AUTHOR
TITLE
Envisaging and Engendering an Open World
AUTHOR
TITLE
A Heart Open to the Whole World
AUTHOR
TITLE
A Better Kind of Politics
AUTHOR
TITLE
Dialogue and Friendship in Society
AUTHOR
TITLE
Paths of Renewed Encounter
AUTHOR
TITLE
Religions at the Service of Fraternity in Our World
Periodical PROPOSITUM
Latest Issue / 2024 N. 2
″Praised Be You, My Lord Care for Our Common Home‶
Summary
TAU Series
Number and Theme of the Publication
Full List of Published Issues
FRANCISCAN FAMILY / CFF
ORGANIZATIONS / OFFICES
FRANCISCAN REFLECTION
Prayer before the Crucifix
“Most high, glorious God,
Enlighten the darkness of my heart
And give me righteous faith,
certain hope and perfect charity,
wisdom and ability to understand
And serve your will.
Amen.”
IFC-TOR
General Office
Piazza del Risorgimento, 14
00192 – Rome, ITALY
E-mail
secretary@ifc-tor.org
Telephone
(+39) 06 3972 3521
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