Francesca Wigle, TSSF

email Francesca

What is your connection to the Franciscan Family?
Episcopal Secular Franciscan (Third Order Society of St.Francis) – 21 years
TSSF Chaplain for the state of Texas; TSSF Formation Counselor
FAN Action Commissioner (at large) representing all Franciscans who are not Catholic.

How have you been involved in justice, peace, and care for creation, and for how long?
I have been involved in justice, peace and care for creation since my early 20's. I servedin the American Peace Corps in India in 1966-68. I lived on a subsistence farm inArkansas in the mid1970's to learn to live close to nature and grow our own food.I am a retired teacher of 30 years and started a program for older students on probation,on parole, with children of their own, in crisis, or homeless. It was a full-day workprogram geared to help students navigate their way through the criminal justice system,become successfully employed, learn good parenting skills, and become good citizenswho understood that they, too, had gifts to offer.

Why did you join FAN?
Joining FAN and working as an Action Commissioner was a “dream-come-true” for me.It is pure joy to work with other Franciscans for justice, peace, and care for creation.We bring our energy together to work for change in the spirit of Francis and Clare in ourlocal communities, in our country, and around the world.

What are you working for in your area?
I am working with Chris Hickman, SFO, to run Canticle Campus, an online FranciscanUniversity which offers courses to Franciscans and “Franciscan-hearted” people aroundthe world. I am also working to form a FAN Action Circle in Texas. I am very involved incare for creation, immigration, and I want to begin working with women in prison.