State of Region

Minister Reports on Numbers,
Gives Plans for Future

The region now has 28 fraternities, down from 32 last year, Regional Minister Mary Frances Charsky, SFO, said in her State of the Region report April 17.

Four fraternities completed the process of deactivation basically due to decreased size, she said, and members have transferred to five other fraternities.

The number of professed members stands at 438, down from 464. Plus, there are 33 candidates and 21 inquirers. Sixteen Secular Franciscans have died in the past year, along with two active spiritual assistants and a retired regional spiritual assistant.

Twenty one fraternities currently have spiritual assistants, and seven are seeking to replace or acquire spiritual assistants. The spiritual assistants include 12 friars, three sisters, three diocesan priests, one Secular Franciscan, one deacon/Secular Franciscan. (One friar serves two fraternities.)

She said she has received annual reports from all 28 fraternities, which makes her job easier in compiling and submitting a regional report to the national fraternity.

The outgoing council recommends that the new council conduct visitations over the next two years so that the third year could devoted solely to elections, she reported.

Mary Frances also announced:

• a Regional Formation Workshop would feature Teresa Baker, SFO, author and past chair of the National Formation Commission. It takes place Oct. 8-10 at Stella Maris Retreat Center, Skaneateles, NY. All local formation directors are expected to attend, so fraternities should budget for the expense. Other fraternity members are also welcome.
  
  
• the 2011 Regional Chapter would feature Sr. Mary Beth Ingham, CSJ, PhD, a Duns Scotus scholar, speaking on the topic, “The Gospels Through a Franciscan Lens.” The chapter takes place April 8-10 at Stella Maris Retreat Center in Skaneateles, NY.

Then Mary Frances was greeted by applause as she proposed a series of workshops, rotating around the region, every spring and fall. The region would conduct the workshops at no charge, with local fraternities hosting and providing refreshments.