Wednesday is SFO Prayer Day

Every Wednesday I make a special effort to pray for the Secular Franciscan Order and in particular the intentions of my St. Lawrence of Brandisi Fraternity located in Patchogue NY.  I dedicate the intentions of my Rosary, Mass, LOTH and Divine Mercy Chaplet for the needs of our Franciscan sisters and brothers.

I really enjoy the people in my fraternity.  They are slightly older than me but I'm glad to tell you that we have been getting new people that are a little closer to my age.  I think the fraternity shows the demographics I find in well established groups such as SFO and say the Catholic Daughters.  We have widows and widowers, employed and unemployed, men and women of various ages.  Some people are grandparents and some are single folk who never had children.  Then I find I'm in company with people who have young children and teenagers like me.  Also, we are a nice size group who attend the monthly Fraternity meetings.  We pray for lots of people who can't attend because they are home-bound or in nursing homes.  But what is important to me is that we are growing.  Stagnation is not a good thing for any group.

I take formation classes as an Inquirer the way I did as I began this profession process when I was in Orientation.  I read a book-binder that is helping me to learn how to be a Franciscan.  One of the passages I read last night was a vision that Holy Father Francis had of how many brothers and sisters he would have in his Orders.  As long as someone comes through our doors and becomes one of us, Francis' vision continues to expand and be fruitful.

Anyway, I wanted to share this "National Prayer for SFO Vocations" that I pray occasionally:

O good and gracious God,

God of mercy, compassion, generosity, and love,

As we live our lives today in the model of St. Francis,

          choosing daily to live the Gospel life,

Help us to help others hear your call.

Help us to help others recognize their vocation

          as a Secular Franciscan

that You have already planted in their heart.

Help us, so that together we all may work

to bring the Gospel to life.  

                                                Amen!

(Composed by Marian R. Crosby, SFO, at the 2010 NAFRA gathering in Scottsdale, AZ)

Please see http://www.nafraformation.org/ for the source of the above prayer.