Monday, January 15, 2018 Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity officially welcomed Hilda Concepcion Medina as a Postulant in an afternoon Insignia of St. Francis Ceremony prayer service. This is the first step in her becoming a Franciscan Sister. Hilda is from Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish, Midland, Texas of the Diocese of San Angelo. During her early years, she lived in nearby Clovis, New Mexico.
The Insignia of St. Francis was explained during the ceremony in a quote taken from Thomas Celano’s first book on St. Francis. It reads that “Francis made for himself a tunic showing the image of the Tau cross so as to remind himself of his call to imitate Christ”. Community Director Sister Natalie Binversie bestowed the insignia, a tau with the hand of Jesus covering that of St. Francis, to remind Hilda of her call to follow Christ with all of us Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. Worn on a chain, it becomes the formal witness to all of being a Postulant.
John 1:35-39 was an important Gospel text for the ritual.
“The next day John was there again with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” The two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.
Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about four in the afternoon.”
Does this Scripture text speak to you as you discern your own call from God? We invite you to our coming March 16-18, 2018 Franciscan Retreat Weekend or check out our other discernment options offered in the coming months. Click here.
