Regional Chapter Reveals Vibrant Fraternities

“Active and vibrant.”

That’s how Regional Minister Carol Onuffer, OFS, described the fraternities and Secular Franciscans in the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Region during her state-of-the-region report at the annual Regional Chapter, held April 5-6 at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua.

That’s what Impressed her from reading the annual reports from local ministers which described their fraternities’ involvement in a variety of ministries, including outreach to those in need.

She noted that the region was made up of 17 local fraternities, with a total of 269 active professed members, 17 candidates and three aspirants.

Next year will be a chapter of elections, she added, so “start thinking and praying about nominations.”

 Regional Treasurer Craig Miller, OFS, reported on the state of the Regional Fraternity’s financial situation, and proposed a 2026 budget of $30,760, which was unanimously approved.

The increase in Fair Share contributions, which went into effect this year, helped keep the Regional Fraternity’s finances in good order, despite a decline in professed members – from 351 in 2021 to 270 in 2024.

He reminded the gathering of local ministers and delegates that Fair Share contributions from local fraternities ($57 per professed member and $37 per candidate) help fund the operations of higher-level fraternities – regional, national and international.

Fellowship and on-going formation sessions took up much of Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning. Topics included: the 800th Centenary of the Canticle of the Sun (present4ed by Regional Formation Director Layna Maher, OFS),; Justice Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) (by JPIC Coordinator Bernie Tomaso, OFS); Strengths and Struggles (working groups); highlights of last November’s General Chapter in Rome, Italy (presented by Mary Frances Charsky, OFS, the U.S. representative to the chapter) , and a discussion of the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope (by Regional Spiritual Assistants Mary Frances Charsky, OFS, and Franciscan Sister Pat Larkin, OSF).

Saturday afternoon culminated with Mass celebrated by Fr. Brendan Buckley, OFM Cap.

Then, following supper, came evening prayer, a Service of Remembrance for deceased Franciscans, and] a prayerful celebration of two people who completed the Spiritual Assistance Course. The new spiritual assistants are Sr. Anne Marie Saphara, OSF, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Neumann Communities, and Mary Stronach, OFS, a member of St. Joseph Fraternity in Utica and also vice general minister of the worldwide order.

With the Canticle of the Sun and JPIC sessions, there was much focus on creation and care for it.

St Francis was a troubadour, who sang about things around him, Layna said, adding that the canticle was not only a poem, but a song about God’s creation and our kinship with it.

Noted JPIC Chair Bernie Tomaso, OFS: “Creation is God’s first Bible.”