“What is Fraternity?”

Fraternity is Family — we come together to share our Franciscan hopes and dreams.

Fraternity is Relationship — God has chosen our relationship.  Each person who is in fraternity is brother or sister to us.

Fraternity is Allegiance — Our allegiance belongs to the fraternity, first and foremost, before any other commitment we have, outside of our own families.  Our International Fraternity reminded us that if there is a conflict between a parish ministry and our gathering, we are to choose the gathering.

Fraternity is Trust — It is necessary for the fraternity to survive.

Fraternity is Earnestness — that we be sincere with one another and with the world.  We are not to be Franciscan for the short time we spend together each month.  We are to be Franciscan in the world.  We come together to have our Franciscanism nourished so that we go out and share our Franciscan values in the world.

Fraternity is Reliance — asks us to be dependent on one another.  Francis reminded his brothers that they were to make their needs known to one another.  The fraternity cannot help us if we do not make our needs known. 

Fraternity is Necessary — for our way of life; fraternity is our way of life.  Who better to challenge us to live the gospel than our brothers and sisters who have promised the same?

Fraternity is Intimacy — we are not to be strangers to one another.  Do others recognize us as brothers and sisters?

Fraternity is Truthfulness — a necessary component, if any relationship is to grow.  We must al- ways speak the truth, with kindness, to each other.

Fraternity is You — without you, we have no Franciscan family, no Franciscan connection.  You are God’s gift to the Fraternity.