Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Blog

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Annette Kurey tells about her experience as a Presider and Formation Director with the Order of Franciscans Secular at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Greenwood, MS. ( If you are confused right now about what to call this Franciscan order of the laity, you are not alone! The new translating that has just this year been voted on in Brazil, that is accepted is OFS – Order of Franciscan Seculars. The Order feels it is a more correct translation. It will take some time for this to all get switched because the previous letters are on emails, license plates stationary etc…)

How did you come to be involved with the OFS in Greenwood?
Mrs. Hollie kindly commandeered my assistance in reactivating the former OFS here at St. Francis Greenwood. She was quite confident that I could do the job as all I needed was a knowledge of St. Francis and St. Clare. I didn’t immediately accept her “invitation” but told her I would pray about it and asked her to do the same. The next nudge or push by the Holy Spirit came in the form of a tap on the shoulder from Father Greg, our pastor. This resulted in a rather timid “Yes”. I agreed to be the Spiritual Assistant so that someone else would be in charge. A few months later the Regional Minister and the Regional Formation Director came here to guide our beginning steps.

What exactly is your role in the OFS?
I am the Presider and the Formation Director. Despite my own plans to avoid being in charge, God had other plans and acting as the Presider basically means I’m in charge. As Formation Director I am to explain to the OFS members what it means to be a Secular Franciscan. In a nutshell I am to lead and form them in living and moving “from the Gospel to life and life to the Gospel”.

How does the OFS differ from our own life as Sisters in the Third Order Regular of St. Francis?
Our group is Third Order Secular. They originate from lay people who wished to follow St. Francis during his own time. We Sisters share the Third Order with them. We have chosen to live our life as vowed religious. They profess to live the Gospel life in the way of St. Francis for the whole time of their life as lay people in the world.

What is the history of the OFS here at St. Francis?
The Friars arrived in Greenwood in 1948. The parish was established in 1951. The mission of this parish was to serve the spiritual needs of Black Catholics who had no church that would accept them. In 1954 the Secular Franciscan Order was erected here as part of the growth of the spiritual life of the parish. In 1957 there were 28 professed Secular Franciscans here at St. Francis. In 1975 St. Francis OFS was listed as inactive. Today 2 professed members remain from this group. They have been joined by 12 prospective members who are in the Orientation stage of formation.

What is included in the actual formation of an individual in the OFS and how does it compare to formation in our community?
OFS formation is very similar to formation in any religious order in that there is a lot of discernment involved at the beginning. Prayer is the first required “skill” needed and the first topic of instruction. They are first introduced to the expectations and requirements. There is a formal interview and faith inventory. This would mirror our application process and acceptance into the community. Our postulancy would parallel the inquiry stage of the OSF. The OFS Candidacy would resemble our Novitiate in that this stage includes more focused discernment and leads to a request for either temporary or perpetual profession.

What do you find most inspiring about your involvement with the group?
The sincerity of the individuals who long to grow closer to the Lord and believe that this is the vocation that God has called them to follow has made me appreciate my own vocation so much more. I have learned so much more about St. Francis and St. Clare and their order. This whole journey has and continues to enrich my prayer life and challenge my level of trust in God.

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In sharing images from this year’s Franciscan Sisters’ of Christian Charity Motherhouse May Crowning, it seems very appropriate to look to St. Clare during her 800th year of celebration for words of inspiration on Mary, our Mother and Queen of the Seraphic Order.

Specifically, we quote from The Testament of St. Clare near the end of the document.

Therefore, as we have set out on the path of the Lord, let us take care that we do not turn away from it by our own fault or negligence or ignorance nor that we offend so great a Lord and His Virgin Mother, and our Father, the blessed Francis, and the Church Triumphant and, indeed, the Church Militant. For it is written: “Cursed are those who turn away from Your commandments (Ps 118:21).

For that reason I bend my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Eph 3:14), that through the prayers and merits of the glorious and holy Virgin Mary, His Mother, and of our most blessed Father Francis and all the Saints, the Lord Himself Who has given us a good beginning will [also] give the increase and constant perseverence to the end. Amen

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In this month of mothers and Mary, Jesus’ mother, Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy completes the academic year of  reviewing liturgical songs with Mary, Woman of the Promise.

Our year has rounded to the month of May, the month of Mary.  We may honor our Blessed Mother with the prayerful singing of Mary, Woman of the Promise.  The very title calls to mind the longed for Kingdom, the world of promise that is the object of our yearning.  Mary can lead us and help us to bring this Kingdom of Promise to birth.

We sing of Mary’s willing and open spirit as a channel filled with God’s goodness.  That which is most human in us can also be this hollow reed, this open channel bringing the water’s of God’s goodness to those thirsting for it.  Mary is called “holy wisdom”.  In this role Mary is proclaimed as remaining faithful to the Word within.  We are capable of the same.

We name Mary as morning star of justice, mirror of the radiant light and beacon.  Sometimes we become so hyper-aware of the darkness in our world that we forget not only our calling, but our very identity as Children of Light.  Our words, prayer, and action all have the potential to be light to the world that we touch.

Mary is called model of compassion and woman of the Gospel.  Let us ask Mary to deepen our own sense of compassion for all who suffer.  We pray that we will not save our empathy for those we know, or for those whose anguish comes from an “acceptable disorder”.  Rather, may we be pilgrims with Mary on the road to a justice based on the Gospel.

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