December 2008 - Volume 1, Issue 3
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Peace and All Good!
, year's end is always a good time to take stock of where one has been and where one is going in the next year.
With the Franciscan Action Network (FAN), we have come a long way in a relatively short time. Since March of this year, when we launched at Ecumenical Advocacy Days, we have:
- Taken public advocacy action on: the economy, Zimbabwe, and peacemaking
- Added more than 1200 persons to our mailing list
- Developed a leading website
- Formed a clearer identity of ourselves for our public work
- Much more...
Next year has even more in store for FAN as we attempt to bring our Franciscan-inspired message of social transformation to a new Congress and a New Presidential Administration.
FAN has made these strides because you and the many other Franciscans and Franciscan-hearted people have embraced the work of FAN in the hopes of making a better world. FAN is only as effective as the people who are a part of it; right now, that is each one of you. Please continue to hold our collective efforts in prayer this Advent and Christmas season so that next year we can enter it refreshed, ready and, hopefully, with even more standing with us.
Have a blessed Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
~ Russell Testa
FAN Executive Director |
FAN Develops Franciscan Agenda to Economic Recovery
Meetings with Franciscans, representatives from Speaker Pelosi's Office, help set organizational agenda for 2009
Above & Below: FAN Executive Director Russell Testa, Issue Advocate Larry Janezic, OFM, Director of Development & Communications Peter Sloan (not pictured), and Intern Joseph Macaluso, OFM discuss economic legislation for the new Congress with Reva Price, advisor to Speaker of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
On December 2, 2008, the staff of FAN convened a conversation to develop an economic recovery agenda rooted in our Franciscan tradition. Holy Name College in Silver Spring played host to the exchange of ideas. In addition to FAN representatives, the participants included Joe Rozansky, OFM, of the OFM Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Office in Rome; Richelle Friedman of the Coalition on Human Needs; Thom Shellabarger of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB); Tom Nairn, OFM, of the Catholic Heath Association; and David Couturier, OFM, Cap. of St. Mary's Seminary & University.
Participants shared perspectives on the current state of the economy and ways that our Franciscan tradition can respond to it. Later in the day the staff of FAN met with Ms. Reva Price, advisor to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) at the Capitol in Washington, DC. FAN expressed hope for an economic recovery effort that addresses the problems of those who are struggling and most in need. Ms. Price spoke of the Speaker's efforts "in process" and of developing and passing economic stimulus legislation in anticipation of a new Congress and a new president.
For an additional reflection on Francis and Economy, click here to read a short piece by FAN Director of Development and Communications, Peter Sloan.
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COMING SOON!
Ecumenical Advocacy Days
Join us for Ecumenical Advocacy Days (March 13-16, 2009), in Washington, DC, to advocate for climate change legislation.
The 2009 theme, Enough for All Creation, offers us an opportunity to more effectively live out our call to be stewards of creation, a clear Franciscan priority.
Drawing from the theme, this year's legislative "ask" will center on climate change. In March 2009, the legislative focus most likely will be on energy, although it also may include some climate change policy prescriptions. With a new Congress and a new Presidential Administration, we have a real opportunity to move forward some good legislation to help the environment and be supportive of persons who are poor. FAN will be using EAD as a venue to kick off our own climate change legislative campaign.
This year at Ecumenical Advocacy Days, since Franciscans have been such an integral part of the EAD effort and since 2009 marks the 800th anniversary of the recognition of the Franciscan movement, EAD will be giving special tribute to Franciscans in the prayer component of the event. In addition, Francisco O'Conaire, OFM, formerly of the Rome OFM-JPIC Office, will be offering the opening keynote address, linking faith to climate change. Obviously, there will be a strong Franciscan feel to the event, so the more Franciscan friars, sisters, seculars, and ecumenical partners we have in attendance, the stronger the spirit will be. In addition, on Saturday, March 14, 2009, we will celebrate the one year anniversary of FAN and offer some training and planning resources to help build on our movement's momentum.
Our goal is to have at least 2-3 persons from each FAN member congregation, province, region and organization participate. (Of course more than 2 or 3 are welcome!)
When thinking of people to invite, consider Franciscans and Franciscan-hearted partners who might want to take a more active role in building advocacy action. People who participate in EAD have a first-hand experience with the legislative advocacy process, which is invaluable for building local, provincial, congregational and/or regional interest and excitement. In 2009, FAN will begin an intensive effort to build the capacity for locally-based Franciscan advocacy action. EAD participants will be integral to the success of this process.
Go to http://www.advocacydays.org to sign-up today. Remember, if you sign up before February 13th, you get the "early bird" conference rate!
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Organizational Efforts in the Southwest
Tackle Immigration
Franciscans Demonstrate Compassion;Strive for Justice
by Larry Janezic, OFM
FAN Issue Advocate On the day after the national election, 20 or so Franciscans who minister along the Border gathered in El Paso, Texas to share their experiences, concerns, challenges, and joys. I was inspired to listen to the active concerns of these Franciscan ministers in caring for immigrants who are commonly written off and abused in a system that is oppressive and inhumane. I will share a secret with you: those who minister to the immigrant population and to those who cross the border have found a profound joy in simply providing an array of services. Those who minister on the border advocate for people whose human rights are violated. These are "Franciscans with their sleeves rolled up" who meet their basic human needs in the face of hostile opposition.
Click on the image below to read more and view additional pictures from the conference.
FAN Issue Advocate Larry Janezic, OFM (second from left) and Action Commission Member Pio Jackson, OFM (second from right) with participants at the Franciscans on the Border Conference in El Paso, Texas in November. |
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FRANCISCAN INSPIRATION
Francis' Full Circle
Advent for Franciscans always a coincidence of opposites
by Peter Sloan
Director of Development & Communications
"Struggling in his last agony of dying, FrancisIs aware that the axe has been put to the roots of the tree,And aware that the advent of Christ knocking on the door,He begs to be brought to Assisi, not out of love for
His native place, but in order that he might leave
This earth from the spot where he relinquished earthly things, And make his way towards Christ whence first he clung to Christ."
(from The Versified Life of St. Francis by Henri d'Avranches)
One could say that Francis didn't die so much as his life came full circle. Dying, he made his way towards Christ "whence first he clung to Christ" Francis's poetic desire to return to a particular place points us to the coincidence of earthly death with eternal life. Francis's desire was Simple. He wanted to be found by the Lord standing in the same place where first he encountered Him.
Circling back to someplace familiar is something we all do. Advent, a time of prescient waiting, allows the ghosts of our Christmas past to circle back in order to enliven our Christmas present and Christmas future. Christmas thus always lives on in our memories during Advent. We remember trimming the tree with loved ones no longer here, or the joy of a gift that was particularly well received. We remember putting up the lights, or watching a favorite Christmas show on TV. We remember Christ at midnight Mass.
Death is never a morbid subject for Franciscans; it is not off limits during the Christmas season. No, as incarnational people gathered under the cross, we wait for Christ understanding that even the Christmas tree had "the axe put to its roots." When the opposites of earthly death and eternal life coincide as they always did for Francis in Assisi, the advent of eternal life can be heard knocking at our door.
Merry Christmas!
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TAKE ACTION!
President-elect Obama: Make U.S. an Instrument of Peace
In the Third week of Advent, FAN launched a campaign to call for peacemaking policies with President-elect Obama.
In the seasons when we anticipate and celebrate the "Prince of Peace," Advent and Christmas, it is most appropriate that we as Franciscans do our part to help make the U.S. an Instrument of Peace.
This campaign is organized in coordination with the Holy Name Province of the OFM's Advent "Peace Made Flesh" reflection process. The aligning of prayerful contemplation and advocacy action to incarnate peace strikes us as what's best about our Franciscan tradition.
Please take action for peace today (member login required) and invite others to participate in our email action encouraging the next Presidential Administration to work more ardently for peace.
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TAKE ACTION!
Membership Campaign Update
A little less than a month ago, FAN embarked on a membership drive inviting others to join us and strengthen our voice for social transformation.
From the time of FAN's launch in March 2008, 1000 people registered with the network. Since the recent drive started, in just 3 short weeks, the members of FAN have invited more than 200 new Franciscans and Franciscan-hearted people to join the cause.
While this is great progress, we still need everyone to do their part. We ask each of you to invite 3 or more persons to be a part of our efforts to bring a Franciscan-inspired moral vision to the work of social change. Inviting others is very easy; it takes less than five minutes.
The value of your action is immeasurable; the more people we have as a part of FAN, the greater the opportunity for significant social impact.
Please continue this effort -- we are well on our way.
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OTHER NEWS
Marc DelMonico, FAN's Web Outreach coordinator, recently had an article published in Ecumenical Trends entitled "Their Message Goes Forth to All the Earth: Towards a Franciscan-Ecumenical Approach to the Ecological Crisis." To read more about the article and download it in PDF format, click here.
Joseph Macaluso, OFM, a brother from FAN member organization Holy Name Province, joined the FAN Action Center as an intern in ministry. We are grateful to have him as part of our team! |
QUICK LINKS
NOTE: Please use ONLY this link to forward this message to others.
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The Staff of the Franciscan Action Network Action Center wishes all of our members and supporters a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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