Engaging Franciscan Wisdom

About Engaging Franciscan Wisdom

Are you a wisdom seeker or looking for inspiration? Have you ever heard of Saints Francis and Clare? They lived 800 years ago, but the witness of their lives and values continue to inspire people of faith today. Twice a month Sister Michelle L'Allier, Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minnesota, will bring a guest, a story or a text for reflection and conversation, leading us to prayer, inspiration, or action.

Publisher

Michelle L'Allier

Category

education · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

5 Oct 2020

Latest episode

10 May 2023

Latest episodes

53 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 May 2023

   Crossing cultures & creating spaces for belonging in daily life - Episode 52

   Join Dr. Patty Jimenez as she shares the joys of being raised with Franciscan values, translates theological terms and teachings into everyday language, and the creates spaces of belonging for young Latina woman raised in the United States. For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/etFD7Z-4Vsw From Patty Jimenez’ interview: “When I returned to school I am reading Bonaventure, Scotus, and Francis and Clare's writings, I'm going, some of this stuff is pretty lofty.  But when I broke it down to the essentials of hospitality, of care for creation, this is what my family lived every day, especially the women in my family; it was really powerful to see that written theologically, to see that expressed and be like, oh yeah, this is us.” Regarding moving between cultures: “I think first is to not make assumptions. It's really important to ask a lot of questions. Oftentimes people just kind of jump in based on what is on the surface level, but they don't really know what's behind it. … I've seen that happen over and over again in so many situations, making assumptions about other people without taking consideration about what we are doing or not doing that is causing what's happening.” “When you deal with a lot of cross-cultural issues, oftentimes just feeling heard causes a shift. That's sometimes all people need, is to be heard.” “We all belong. If we've ever felt that we didn't, it's usually because we haven't been adequately provided for or cared for. That has resonated for me as a Latina that's been raised here in the United States. And so I take a huge responsibility now of how do I create belonging for US born and raised Latinas. At times we have to, if we feel like, ‘hey, I don't belong’, maybe it's the Spirit that's moving us to create spaces of belonging for others.” Vernacular theologian: “How do you translate really lofty theological terms or teachings into everyday terms so that anyone can understand it? And so for me it's translated in what we Latina theologians or pastor ministers speak of la vida cotidiana, our everyday life.  And so how do we integrate it and speak in a language that is accessible to most people nowadays?” For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: fslfpodcast@fslf.org (mailto:fslfpodcast@fslf.org). References: Brother Ed Dunn and las Posadas at the Border: read about the impact of the San Diego and Tijuana border experience in Patty’s life: http://www.ushispanicministry.com/la-posada-at-the-border/ Franciscan School of Theology: “There is a hidden treasure in Catholic Theology called the “Franciscan Tradition.” As Pope Francis reminds us, St. Francis of Assisi is a saint of peace, a saint of the poor, a saint respectful of each person’s God-given uniqueness, and a saint with a great love for all God’s creatures.” See: https://www.fst.edu/about/ Secular Franciscans: https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/ (https://www.secularfranciscansusa.org/) . You may also find it interesting to listen to Carolyn Townes’ reflections on being a Secular Franciscan in Episode 27, including links to further information at https://engagingfranciscanwisdom.org/walking-the-path-of-grief-and-loss-to-joy-as-a-lay-franciscan-episode-27 Francis and the Sultan: a contemporary telling of the story: https://cac.org/francis-and-the-sultan-2019-10-10/ . An original source: The Life of Saint Francis XX:57, by Thomas of Celano at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-saint/the-life-of-saint-francis-by-thomas-of-celano/672-fa-ed-1-page-231#ges:searchword%3Dsultan%26searchphrase%3Dall%26page%3D1 Wolf of Gubbio: read in The Deeds of Blessed Francis & His Companions XXIII, FA:ED, vol. 3, pp. 482-485 at: https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-assisi-early-documents/the-prophet/the-deeds-of-blessed-francis-and-his-companions-1328-1337/2386-fa-ed-3-page-485 Restorative Justice: there is much information online. A sample description: “The three core elements of restorative justice are the interconnected concepts of Encounter, Repair, and Transform. Each element is discrete and essential. Together they represent a journey toward wellbeing and wholeness that victims, offenders, and community members can experience. Encounter leads to repair, and repair leads to transformation.” See: https://restorativejustice.org/what-is-restorative-justice/ Recetas: This initiative, founded by Patty, is dedicated to empowering Latinas to live joyous, well-balanced lives while deepening connections with themselves, their community, and their culture. Consider seven areas of wellness: emotional, environmental, personal, physical, professional, psychological and spiritual. See: https://recetonas.com (https://recetonas.com) . To see their shop: https://shop.recetonas.com . Handles for all social media: @therecetonas Centering Prayer is a contemporary form of contemplative prayer. See: http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/ (http://www.contemplativeoutreach.org/). Consider also a smart phone app called “Centering Prayer,” offered by Contemplative Outreach. You will find many regional websites online listing area centering prayer groups. For those who live in Minnesota, see: https://www.minnesotacontemplativeoutreach.org/groups.html Vernacular Theology: “Bernard McGinn … coined the term Vernacular Theology. This form of theology focused on an audience of ordinary women and men who sought to find God in their daily experiences instead of the educated elite or the monks and nuns in the enclosure.”  Excerpt from Francis as Vernacular Theologian  by Dominic Monti, OFM: https://www.franciscantradition.org/images/stories/custodians/03_Francis_as_Vernacular_Theologian.pdf Patty Catholic School photo Patty Jimenez being confirmed in Mexico

2. 

   1 Mar 2023

   Christmas in February: A Journey through Latin America – Bonus Episode 1

   Join Franciscan Associate Arlen Casco as she narrates in video form what we’re calling “Christmas in February: a journey through Latin America.” It will be an exploration by several Associates of how Christmas, that is, the coming of Jesus among us as a human being, is celebrated in their respective countries of Mexico, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Columbia and Venezuela. The video is spoken in Spanish and subtitled in English, while the audio is in Spanish. For the original video version with English subtitles, see: https://youtu.be/3X6kH4YLhME (https://youtu.be/3X6kH4YLhME) We hope you find a welcome in this bonus episode of word, song and visuals. You will be led on this journey by Franciscan Associate Arlen Casco in Nicaragua who interviews Sol, Beni, Estrella, Camilo and Maria José, and has produced this lovely window into cultural expressions and traditions across Latin America. This episode is the first of an occasional series called TAO, an acronym for “Testimonios Actuales y Ordinarios” which in English means “Current and Ordinary Testimonies.” While these episodes will continue to be produced in Latin America especially for Spanish-speaking Associates, they will be shared with subtitles in English as bonus episodes on Engaging Franciscan Wisdom. Special Note: If you speak Spanish, you may want to look up the Spanish versions of each Engaging Franciscan Wisdom podcast. The same Franciscan Associate Arlen Casco coordinates the Spanish version; see Sabiduria Franciscana  (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQJOAsfdXQ87mzggpHRi1_w/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0) For further information, please email: fslfpodcast@fslf.org.

3. 

   9 Feb 2023

   Hospitality opens doors to pioneering inclusion & education – Episode 51

   Join Franciscan Sister Callista Robinson as she breaks open her experience as an African American woman of faith, rooted in her own culture. A life-long learner and teacher, her hospitality and compassion serve to build bridges of relationships across cultures. For a video version of this episode, see: https://youtu.be/x9N0uDm-A_E From Sister Callista’s interview: “Franciscan values  of compassion, serving the very poor and underserved,  have really influenced me as a Franciscan Sister.  And peacemaking and social justice, those are Franciscan values. It seems to me you cannot talk to a Franciscan without hearing that person say something about social justice and how we have to go out to those who are not served. … Another Franciscan value that we have is we’re very hospitable.” Wisdom to share: “Have a conversation with God, which we call prayer, an open and honest conversation where you let God do the talking and you do the listening. And from there each person will receive the wisdom that they need, whether that is to be more trustful, to be more compassionate, to be more accepting of others from a different culture, whatever that might be. Listening and talking with God – but more listening rather than talking.” For a full transcript, please include episode number and email: fslfpodcast@fslf.org (mailto:fslfpodcast@fslf.org). References: Sr. Callista Robinson, OSF – 35th Annual Black Excellence Awards Honoree: https://milwaukeetimesnews.com/35th-annual-black-excellence-awards/honorees/sr-callista-robinson-osf School Sisters of Saint Francis: https://www.sssf.org/ (https://www.sssf.org/) Loretto Academy, Chicago, an integrated high school for girls: https://www.preservationchicago.org/loretto-academy-institute-of-the-blessed-virgin/ Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, founded by Saint Katharine Drexel; their mission was to evangelize and educate African Americans and Native Americans:https://www.katharinedrexel.org/st_katharine_drexel_overview/founding-of-the-sisters-of-the-blessed-sacrament/ Saint Anselm Catholic School, Chicago: https://stanselmchicago.com/?page_id=7 Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota, history: https://www.fslf.org/aboutus (https://www.fslf.org/aboutus); Sister Thomasine Schmolke: https://thecentralminnesotacatholic.org/little-falls-franciscan-sister-writes-new-history-of-her-community Vatican Council II: a five-minute video about the Council by Franciscan friar Casey Cole: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jyVq1hnxAqg .To hear other podcast guests references as well as to see show note links (click on ‘Read More’), type ‘Vatican’ into the search bar of this website, and several options will come up to explore. National Black Sisters Conference (NBSC), founded to support each other as African Americans: https://www.nbsc68.com/ (https://www.nbsc68.com/) LCWR (Leadership Conference of Women Religious): https://lcwr.org/ (https://lcwr.org/) Center for Consecrated Religious, at CTU (Chicago Theological Union): https://ctu.edu/cscl/ (https://ctu.edu/cscl/) Network: https://networklobby.org/about/catholicsocialjustice/ Saint Francis of Assisi Parish, Milwaukee: https://www.stfrancismil.org/ (https://www.stfrancismil.org/) Brother Booker Ashe Lay Ministry Program, Milwaukee: https://blackandindianmission.org/news/congrats-brother-booker-ash-lay-ministry-graduates Adult Learning Center, Milwaukee: https://www.alcmke.org/ (https://www.alcmke.org/) Black History Month: https://asalh.org/about-us/origins-of-black-history-month  - also see: https://blackhistorymonth.gov/ (https://blackhistorymonth.gov/) Saint Francis de Sales Seminary, Archdiocese of Milwaukee: https://www.sfs.edu/SFSHome Dr. Antoinette Mensah, MD, Director of Archdiocesan Office for World Mission and the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, Archdiocese of Milwaukee: https://cx.uwp.edu/antoinette-mensah.html Sister Callista with students from Harambee Community School in Milwaukee

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