Rule 24

To foster communion among members, the council should organize regular and frequent meetings of the community as well as meeting with other Franciscan groups, especially with youth groups. It should adopt appropriate means for growth in Franciscan and ecclesial life and encourage everyone to a life of fraternity. This communion continues with deceased brothers and sisters through prayer for them.

In order to become a strong fraternity, it is important that councils hold meetings in a regular fashion, e.g. at least monthly, but it is equally important that fraternities organize frequent meetings involving other fraternities. St. Francis of Assisi sent his friars out two by two, rather than alone. Likewise, Franciscans know that it is wise to involve other Franciscans from other fraternities. Regional Fraternities have Annual Meetings. Within the framework of the Regional fraternities, there are often sub-regions. For example, Divine Mercy Fraternity is part of the East-Central group within the Region, and so members of Council sometimes meet with other Council members of different fraternities within such a group. Divine Mercy fraternity has a satellite community, St. Padre Pio Community, so we try to organize days of recollection or retreats for both groups together.

Sometimes fraternities meet in very large groups, such as Quinquennial Congresses. We learn from one another, and we rejoice together that we're privileged to be Professed followers of St. Francis of Assisi. All these various meetings are opportunities for growth and encourage all to be part of that ecclesial life of fraternity.

This fraternal spirit is a communion that also encompasses our deceased brothers and sisters. We remember them as a fraternity and pray for them, asking their intercession for us, individually. Fraternities that have deceased members are blessed with growth. I can't prove that statement, but it appears so in the fraternity I'm with.

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5-12-2008