About Jen Murphy

As we approach the end of this Year of St. Francis, the Ministers General of the Franciscan Order have declared the first week of November the “Week of the Poor” in conjunction with the World Day of the Poor on November 15. The Ministers General shared that this initiative will emphasize how “the preferential option for the poor is not an optional choice, but belongs to the very essence of our Franciscan charism and of being Christians.” We are all called to share in the Franciscan spirit of loving the poor.

The Vatican has announced that the theme for this year’s World Day of the Poor will be “The Lord is the refuge of the poor” (Psalm 14:6). This theme relates heavily to the spirit of St. Francis, whose mission was to help people, especially the poor, encounter the Gospel.

For generations, the Franciscan Friars Conventual, supported by you, our generous Companions, have lived out the mission of St. Francis through their service to the poor. The soup kitchens and food pantries work daily to remedy food insecurity in Baltimore and Syracuse, serving thousands each month. The Franciscan Mission Association allows friars to minister to the poor in over 60 countries, helping those in need access healthcare, education, food and water, and faith formation. FrancisCorps gives volunteers the opportunity to serve others and live in community with each other, fostering in them a spirit of service similar to that of St. Francis.

Friar Gary Johnson, OFM Conv., encouraged by the various missions of the order, reflects, “Every time I visit other friaries, I always see that no matter where we serve, our fraternity remains committed to living the Gospel.” For 800 years since St. Francis’s life, the friars have prioritized not only caring for the physical needs of the poor, but even more importantly, fostering encounters with Christ so that they may know the joy of the Gospel.

This year, especially as we celebrate the Week of the Poor, we thank you for your support of the friars, your prayers, and your personal service to the community.

This month, the newest facilities at St. Francis High School in Hamburg, New York were dedicated and blessed, and they are now being enjoyed by the young men studying there. More than $1.2 million was invested in these state-of-the-art spaces by generous donors.

The Russell and Paula Corigliano Family Student Center is a home-base for many student life opportunities, including student collaboration spaces, spots for individual studying, and a place to receive academic support. The Russo Family STEAM Center brings a scope of opportunities within the Academy of Science and Engineering, offering spaces for experimental learning, robotics, and more.

These new facilities reflect St. Francis High School’s community’s commitment to the future of their students. As they prepare for their 100th anniversary next year, these school updates exhibit their pledge of “Celebrating the Past, Securing the Future,” the theme of their $20.5 million capital campaign.

There was an unmistakable joy in the air at the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Maryland the first weekend of October. Throughout the weekend of St. Francis of Assisi’s feast day (October 4), the Shrine offered several opportunities for pilgrims to grow in relationship with this holy saint, Christ, and one another.

Perhaps the most poignant of these events was the Transitus of St. Francis, a Franciscan prayer service held on the evening of October 3, in remembrance of the 800^th anniversary of St. Francis’s passing.

Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, who preached at the Transitus, shared, “One of the most remarkable aspects of Francis’ life is his insistence on fraternity. He did not found an institution first – he formed brothers first.”

The Archbishop’s reflection emphasized how instrumental St. Francis was in changing the culture of the Gospel – that it is “lived together,” and not meant to be divisive. “The friars who gathered around Francis were not united by personality, politics, education, or social class. Many of them had little in common. What united them was Christ.”

The next morning, St. Francis’s feast day brought a new sense of hope and light which contrasted beautifully with the solemnity of the Transitus the prior evening. Through Mass and fellowship, the Franciscan spirit of fraternity was captured as visitors were drawn together to celebrate, worship, and be together.

At Sunday’s Mass, celebrant Fr. Albert Puliyadan, OFM Conv. echoed Archbishop Lori’s sentiments on the significance St. Francis put on living the Gospel out together. Fr. Albert described his experience of seeing the Lower Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Italy. As he looked around at the altar, he was “surprised to notice that the stones were not identical…but when all these different stones were put together, they created a beautiful harmony.” In a way, Fr. Albert pondered, we are like these stones. “We are not all the same…but we can all contribute to the building up of God’s kingdom.”

Every day, the Franciscan Friars who administer the Shrine of St. Anthony live out the fraternal faith that Archbishop Lori and Fr. Albert described. They imitate St. Francis’ love of the poor through their selfless dedication to serving the impoverished people of Baltimore. They minister to thousands of pilgrims each year at the Shrine through prayer and the sacraments, living out St. Francis’ call to bring people closer to Christ. They “[remind] the Church that simplicity is not weakness and that joy can coexist with sacrifice,” as Archbishop Lori so eloquently summarized.

As Companions of St. Anthony, we are invited to support the Friars in their ministries. Your generosity helps the Friars continue their work in the community and advances the Franciscan mission. St. Francis’s example invites us to choose compassion, humility, and service. May we be inspired by the Franciscan life to give of ourselves, care for creation, and pursue community.