How St. Francis Created the First Christmas Crèche
A depiction of the first Christmas
Crèche
Every December, Christians across the globe decorate Christmas trees in preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. When all the baubles are hung, the lights are twinkling, and strands of silvery tinsel run the length of the tree, many of us set up a Crècheor Nativity scene either under the tree or somewhere nearby. Certain parishes even hold Nativity pageants where in a real stable with animals, actors play the roles of Mary, Joseph, Jesus and the Three Kings bearing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
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A Franciscan Works to Keep Florida Beautiful
 Beachgoers leave tons of trash on the beaches of Florida every year
Jeff Majewski is a Secular Franciscan from Florida. Jeff’s home state is blessed with a subtropical climate, the gently moving swamp rivers of the Everglades, and hundreds of miles of breathtaking beaches along the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Jeff – keeping true to his Franciscan beliefs – feels privileged to live in such a wonderful environment. He holds himself responsible for its wellbeing.Read further...
Bringing Comfort to the Poor
Haiti is in the Caribbean
Sister Ann Pitsenberger is the chairperson of the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis Mission Outreach Program. Her mission along with that of her fellow sisters is to help those in need. Such a broad mission statement might seem overwhelming at first, but Sister Ann knows that the work has to start somewhere. In its six years of existence the Mission Outreach Program has provided more than $2 million worth of hospital equipment to needy institutions in more than 25 countries.
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Basketball Superstar Michael Jordan Supports Franciscan Education and Empowerment
Michael Jordan believes that everyone has a right to good education
In the 1990s when Michael Jordan played basketball for the Chicago Bulls the audience watched him in awe. His talent and passion for the game were visible in every move he made on the court. But to get to the peak of his profession, Mr. Jordan continuously worked on his skills. He believed that one has to dedicate oneself to the pursuit of a dream, working hard to achieve it and learning from mistakes. This sort of ethic and his natural talent have made Michael Jordan the man that he is today.
The Life of a Franciscan Behind the Iron Curtain
Romania was once part of the Soviet-dominated Eastern Bloc
Soviet-backed Communism took hold of many countries in Central and Eastern Europe after World War II. The new Communist governments ruled through force and intimidation. Opposition was never tolerated. Romania had a particularly brutal version of this sort of regime, which stifled even the smallest gulp for freedom. The Conventual Franciscan Friars could not function in Romania at all. After the regime nationalized all religious schools, the Order effectively went underground. Read further...
Franciscan High School Honors Veterans
Most of us are lucky enough never to have experienced war. Sometimes, however, war is inevitable, especially when the freedom and peace that we enjoy is threatened. Some of those individuals who have fought for our freedom were honored on Veterans Day by the students of Roger Bacon High School at the Annual Veterans’ Breakfast. Roger Bacon High is in Cincinnati, Ohio. Its namesake – Roger Bacon - was a 13th century Franciscan Friar and philosopher. Read further...
We welcome your feedback and encourage you to send us stories
about Franciscan action and where you see the spirit of St. Francis at work in the world. You
can email your comments and stories to Peter Rajchert at peter@franciscans.org. |