Ellen Ferrone, OFS

BSSF

Regional Minister

The following is the State of the Region Address delivered at the Annual Regional Gathering Aug. 8, 2025

Welcome

It is such a joy to gather today.

Welcome, my sisters and brothers, our national visitors Fr. Jerome Wolbert, OFM, and Josh Molidor, OFS, and our special guests, Sr. Nancy Shively, OSC, and Sr. Bernedette Cappola, OSC, from Travelers Rest. How blessed we are to be here as a true Franciscan family, with all three orders represented.

Though not with us today, we also celebrate the blessing of three friars from Our Lady of Guadalupe Province who have recently moved to Charlotte. We look forward to walking alongside them in faith, service, and partnership.

State of the Region

Professed Members: 501

Candidates: 62

Inquirers: 16

Aspirants: 20

Total in Region: ~600

Fraternities: 26, plus 2 emerging

With Spiritual Assistants: 14 fraternities

Without Spiritual Assistants: 14 fraternities

Since our last gathering, 18 of our sisters and brothers have been welcomed home by Sister Death. Each was a unique and precious gift of God. We remember them with love and thanksgiving, especially Deacon Tom Shaver, who gave so many years of service as a Secular Franciscan, fraternity member, spiritual assistant, and regional spiritual assistant. His life was a true example of servant leadership.

Our Life Together

We are grateful for the retreats, Transitus celebrations, and other joint fraternity activities that continue to bring us together. Please keep fostering these beautiful family events.

In April, our Regional Fraternity Council meeting gathered Spiritual Assistants, those in spiritual assistant formation, new ministers, and the Regional Executive Council for a weekend of prayer, learning, fellowship, and business in Anderson, SC, right in the heart of our region. With Fr. Jerome leading formation, the weekend was deeply enriching. Thanks to the Duns Scotus Grant from national and your generous contributions, nearly half of the costs were covered. This meeting was truly a blessing.

We give thanks for our spiritual assistants, who serve tirelessly in their fraternities, in elections, and in visitations. Please keep them in your prayers and, if you are able, thank them personally for their servant leadership.

Special gratitude goes to the St. Clare Fraternity in Aiken, SC, for their support of the St. Padre Pio Group in Indian Land, SC. After the visitation in February, the REC recommended, and Fr. Jerome approved, their move from a newly forming group to an emerging fraternity. Let us now recognize the members of St. Padre Pio and their sponsors from St. Clare. Fr. Jerome will present John Myers, leader of the St. Padre Pio Emerging Fraternity, with their establishment documents.

Formation & Visits

Bi-monthly formation meetings, led by Lynn Oeser, OFS, continue to serve formation directors, spiritual assistants, and all professed who are part of this vital ministry.

Travel this year has included:

St. John Vianney, Lithia Springs, GA – Profession of 3 members

Immaculate Conception, Jonesboro, GA – Visitation

St. Thomas More, Wilmington, NC – Profession

Visit with the Poor Clares in Travelers Rest – A time of grace and joy

YouFra Outreach

St. Clare, Winston-Salem, continues reaching out to Wake Forest University Catholic Center—thank you, Elizabeth and Sandy, for your leadership.

St. Maximilian Kolbe is building connections at UNC Charlotte with the campus ministry and our new OLG friars, thanks to Fran Acosta’s dedication.

We were also blessed with visits to Bishop Martin (Charlotte Diocese) with JC Lui, OFS, and Bishop Luis Raphael (Raleigh Diocese) with Rachel Bongiorno, OFS. These conversations about vocations and fraternity life were uplifting and full of hope.

Ongoing Regional Work

REC continues to host “Meet & Greet” Zoom calls with newly elected councils.

Updates to the visitation process are underway to strengthen relationships and better support all fraternities.

Gratitude

A heartfelt thank you to all who helped make this gathering possible:

Our planning committees

Registration – St. John Vianney and Lee Cunningham, OFS

Bookstore – Franciscan Family, Greensboro, Jeanne Kiley, OFS

T-shirts – Betti Longinotti, OFS

Closing

Thank you, my sisters and brothers, for the many ways you live out your Franciscan vocation. Each of you is a blessing, and together we are building up the Kingdom of God in the spirit of St. Francis and St. Clare.

With gratitude and joy,

Ellen