The 2019 Spring Issue of the Communio Newletter is now available for download:
All available back issues are available as well on our newsletter webpage.
Category Archives: Announcements
Summer Issue of TAU-USA
The Summer Issue of TAU-USA is now on the web. See https://www.nafra-sfo.org/tau-usa/tau_newarticles.html as well as the Spanish version and several Korean articles.
From Gospel To Life Videos
The English and bilingual versions of the “From Gospel To Life” videos presented at the 2014 Annual Regional Gathering are now available on this website. Y0u can see both on the video page and below:
Brothers & Sisters of St. Francis T-Shirts
Orders can now be sent in for the Brothers & Sisters of St. Francis Region T-shirts. For full details please visit: https://www.bssfsfo.org/tshirts
HHS Mandate Response – Deacon Tom Bello, OFS, National Minister
Beloved National Family,
A Blessed First Friday and First Saturday in February to all of you. May our Lord's Sacred Heart and our Mother's Immaculate Heart intercede for all of us!
Please permit me to make the three following requests.
First, it doesn't take a great deal of attention to notice that we live in an increasingly pluralistic and irreligious society, and democratically elected governments may increasingly reflect that reality. My first request from all of you and your fraternities is that we pray for this great land and its elected officials that we all may serve as instruments of the Lord's peace and justice, doing the Lord's will as best we can. "Pray without ceasing," as St. Paul urged (1 Thessalonians 5: 17).
My second request is that all of you not only support, as many of our Regional Ministers and National Executive Council have already done, but also share, publicize and distribute the following statement drafted by our JPIC Chair Kent Ferris:
“The National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order of the United States of America joins the United States Catholic bishops in their strong condemnation of the “Preventive Services” mandate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. All thirty national regions, representing over 13,000 individual members, support that condemnation.
Catholic organizations that provide health care insurance to their members will have their long established conscience rights violated by the mandate to make available, and use organizational funds to procure insurance plans covering sterilization and contraceptive drugs, including those which are abortifacient. This mandate preempts individual and organizational choices in conformance with the Church’s sanctity of life teachings.
It is an abuse of religious freedom, as it subordinates traditional religious beliefs of Catholics and many others to the will of the State. While the Church has a responsibility to participate in society, that participation must be conditioned by the beliefs and practices of the Church. We live in a pluralistic society in which only when the rights of all members are respected is the common good attained. The Church’s beliefs in the sanctity of life permeate its charitable works, its outreach to the world. These beliefs make many contributions to our society, helping, nursing, feeding and caring, all without trampling on the religious rights of others.