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INDIAN FRANCISCANS RESPOND TO THE CURRENT CHALLENGES WITH THEIR HISTORICAL ROOTS

The Indian Franciscan Major Superiors, ninety seven of them from all over India gathered together in the Orlong Hada hill area in Mehalaya in North Eastern India to spend four days (from 17th to 20th Feb., 2020) of deep personal and collective reflection on their life and their various apostolates to the society, especially to the least and the last. Their spirituality, based on Francis of Assisi is based on listening to God’s call, preaching the good news, serving the poorest.

The Congregation of the Missionaries of St. Francis (CMSF) popularly known as Borivily Brothers, have developed people of North East by their Socio-pastoral and educational apostolates. They focus on the character formation of young boys and girls through Franciscan Youth Federation (FYF) through their outreach programmes. This Franciscan Congregation has developed a Hill in Orlong Hada into a Franciscan Pilgrim Centre by rebuilding important places connected to St. Francis for spiritual revival with transformation.

The group spent long duration with input sessions, listening to the primary Franciscan sources from 13th century, and visiting the prominent replica buildings constructed in this area.

They began with San Damiano Chapel where a replica of the Cross that spoke to St. Francis, “Go and repair my house/ Church which is in ruins”. The participants spent time praying for the whole church that is challenged by the scandals of money, power etc. They spent quality time at the Portiuncula, the cradle of Franciscan heritage, where Francis and Companions lived in solidarity with the lepers, beggars and the unwanted people over there. The participants listened to the original sources on how Francis lived his radical prophetism against the Assisian mentality that preferred materialism and comfort. Their Visit to Fonte Colombo, where he wrote the Rule of the Order even though his own followers wanted a carefree life without any bindings. This visit enabled them to get rooted into the demands of the Rule and Life of every Franciscan to choose a disciplined and principle centred life.

The pilgrimage to the Crib at Greccio at an early morning prayerful meditation was an invitation to relive the Humility of Jesus’ incarnation that calls for a prophetic witness against the worldly pomp and glory. They climbed to the Mount La Verna, where St. Francis got the stigmata, offered to him by Jesus as he longed to participate in his sufferings. This strengthened the participants to face the challenges and sufferings that come on their way while they stand for principles based on Gospel values and accept the wisdom of the cross. Br. Scaria Varanath OFM animated the group by leading them to interpret these Franciscan spots for an effective evangelization. Bishop Victor Lingdoh of Jowai diocese invigorated the participants to revive the Franciscan roots amidst their service to the poorest of the poor.

They spent enough time also to revive their life and mission in keeping with the vision of St. Francis. This has led them to focus on the forgotten people in the society in our country.

This led them to give topmost priority to the poorest and marginalized for their socio-economic, political and cultural welfare. They also revived their Franciscan Constitutional duty to be for the poor, of the poor and by the poor and ultimately to be voluntarily poor amidst the poor with whom, God the Daridranarayan, resides.

The Indian Franciscan Network of around fifty thousand Religious members, come under the umbrella of the Association of Franciscan Families in India - popularly known as AFFI. It has 56 Franciscan Religious Congregations and 165 provinces serving the country through Schools, colleges, hospitals and social welfare activities, to all people, irrespective of caste, creed or region but with special focus on the poorest and the unwanted.

This AFFI nationwide network gives trainings and seminars for formators, administrators, superiors and social workers to enhance their potentials and update them for better commitment.

Annually the major superiors (Generals and Provincials) gather together in February, to review their life and apostolate and to update themselves on current concerns. This is the 19th consecutive year. For the year 2020, the major superiors planned both at the National and Regional level with special focus on the following:

1. Focus on imparting an indepth understanding of the life of Francis in the formation
2. Enable the formees to live in solidarity with the poorest and the marginalized
3. Guide the Franciscans for an effective commitment especially those in their Mid-life.
4. Update the members with regular communications and networking with others.
5. Revamp the youth to be committed to the social welfare through Franciscan Peace Club.

- Br. Nithiya ofm.cap, (nithiyas@gmail.com)
- National Coordinator, AFFI

 

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