To the Editor:
On April 27, the Catholic Church will canonize Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli as St. John XXIII. The Secular Franciscan Order, OFS, takes particular delight in this as St. John XXIII was also a Secular Franciscan.
Members of the local Secular Franciscan Order fraternity in the Quad Cities and surrounding area are doubly joyous. Our fraternity, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, will now be known as St. John XXIII fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order, a member of the Franciscans of the Prairie Regional Fraternity.
In local fraternities around the world the brothers and sisters, led by the Spirit, strive for ongoing daily conversion, to turn away from sin and to be faithful to the Gospel. We seek, with God’s grace, perfect charity in our secular state, helping one another in this journey draw closer to Christ, following in the footsteps of Ss. Francis and Clare.
St. John XXIII fraternity has members and inquirers from two states, two dioceses and seven different parishes. The fraternity regularly meets on the first Sundays of the month at 2 p.m. at Trinity Hospital, Rock Island, Ill., meeting room 1. If you would like to learn more about the Order, please go to www.nafra-sfo.org or locally, contact Kent Ferris, OFS, at (563) 299-6107 or at ferris@davenportdiocese.org. Pax et Bonum! (Peace and all good!)
Kent Ferris, OFS,
Director of Social Action and of Catholic Charities, Diocese of Davenport
