A Franciscan Response to the Gulf Oil Disaster
Franciscans and Franciscan-hearted from Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia
gather at St. Camillus Franciscan Parish in Silver Spring, MD to pray, do penance,
and resolve to live the Gospel in response to the Gulf Oil Spill.
FAN dedicated the month of June 2010 to prayers and deeds in response to the economic and ecological disaster unfolding in the Gulf of Mexico. As we enter hurricane season, we continue to intercede for the region and seek transformation. The webpage features resources for personal and community reflection, prayer, education, and action. We welcome your input and will update this page as the response continues. Please join us and others at this critical time. We cannot remain silent.
Praying in penance and perseverance
We encourage all Franciscan communities to gather for prayer and reflection. Please contact us to let us know if you are planning a service so that we can invite others to join you.
For example, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Durham is hosting an interfaith prayer service (PDF) on Wednesday, July 7.
Reflecting on the Readings & Reality
Wonderful Witnesses: Praying with the Franciscan Fellowship
- In addition to Independence Day, July 4th marks the memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal, a Third Order Franciscan whose fidelity to the Divine Office testified to the importance of prayer and whom we call “the peacemaker” for her perseverance in reconciling family members. As we work collaboratively, St. Elizabeth of Portugal, pray for us!
- On July 10th, we remember St. Veronica Giuliani, a Capuchin Poor Clare whose vision of her heart of steel transformed her religious practice from dictatorial scrupulosity to compassionate devotion to the Cross. As we embrace the suffering of the Gulf, St. Veronica Giuliani, pray for us!
- On July 15th, we celebrate St. Bonaventure, the great Franciscan Doctor who committed his scholastic gifts to the service of the Gospel and whose deeds manifested Divine Love. As we seek creative solutions to present challenges, St. Bonaventure, pray for us!
Other Prayer Resources
Examples of Recent Prayer Services:
(Note: Member login may be required to view some services.)
- Prayer service for the Gulf (June 9, 2010) from St. Camillus Franciscan Church in Silver Spring, MD
- Prayer service for the Gulf (June 21, 2010) program and script from All Saints Parish and the Sisters of St. Francis Neumann Communities in Syracuse, NY
Acting for conversion and renewal
 FAN's Lenten reflection series featured six care for creation themes, from packaging and waste to local agriculture. Each of these themes highlights our dependence on petroleum, and the suggested fasting practices reduce our consumption. Continuing to reflect and act on these themes is an important way to respond to the current crisis.
FAN Interim Executive Director, Rev. Larry Janezic, OFM recently wrote a letter (PDF) to Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar reflecting on the importance of a Franciscan approach to care for creation.
The following websites offer further information and opportunities for action:
Proclaiming a Franciscan Response
Along with our prayer and action, we are called to share our message with the world. Several news stories have featured the Franciscan response to the Gulf oil disaster. Please let us know how your Franciscan community is proclaiming the good news of caring for our neighbors and creation in the midst of this catastrophe.
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FAN-sponsored prayer service in Religion and Ethics Newsweekly video
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