CEDAR LAKE – What does it mean to be a Franciscan?
Those “striving to live the Gospel influenced by the spirit of St. Francis” gathered at Holy Name of Jesus on Oct.3, the eve of his feast day, to celebrate the life and death of the man they seek to emulate through devotion to God and in service to others.
The annual Transitus of St. Francis service, explained presider Father Tony Janik, O.F.M., director of spiritual care at Franciscan Health Crown Point, is held by “brothers and sisters who call themselves Franciscans (to) gather in chapels and churches, in cities, villages and desert places, on this same night to remember Francis, the inspiration of their lives.”
To Father Janik, who joined the Franciscan order as a seminarian 63 years ago and was ordained 54 years ago, being a Franciscan “is all my life. It is about meeting the challenges, probably the same as Francis did, of dealing with the world in which we find ourselves.
“Our unique spirit comes from living in fraternity and everything flows from that, how we live together,” he said. “It is how we show compassion and love for one another. God called me to a prayer life that is very important, and to action. He called me to a ministry.”
As an example of St. Francis’ devotion to his religious community, Father Janik told the story of the saint, who was fasting along with his fellow friars, but broke that fast when a fellow community member cried out in hunger. “He took a piece of bread, cut it up and shared it with the others, breaking his fast for them,” said the priest.
For Father Patrick Gawrylewski, O.F.M., administrator of Holy Name of Jesus, being a Franciscan is about “being a member of a community, living with my brothers and striving to live the Gospel influenced by the spirit of St. Francis.” That spirit, he added, “is about being open to the Holy Spirit to live out the values that include respect for all creation, seeing the presence of God in all of creation, but with a sense of letting go, not being in control or seeking power.
“I live that out by being in community, loving one another and ministering to people with the recognition that they are part of God’s creation and the presence of God.”
Sister Ruth Luthman, O.S.F., who lives in a religious community of healthcare professionals in Dyer, agreed that “living in community” is at the core of their purpose. “We take vows of poverty, chastity and obedience,” she noted.
“Francis had a special love for the Lord and saw the Lord’s love present especially in the least (people). We are ministering to people and advocating for our patients,” said the vice president of mission integration at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields in Illinois. “For new immigrants, we want them to feel safe to come for health care.
“Francis believed that every person is loved by God, and didn’t distinguish in his care for them, and to the extent we can do that in today’s world, we do, although it can be a challenge,” said Sister Ruth. “Francis also had a joy about him – singing the canticle as he was dying and believed in the dignity of every person and advocating for them.”
Another member of the Franciscan community in Dyer, Sister Rachel Dinet, O.S.F., said she tries to emulate St. Francis’ “passion about what he was doing” as a palliative care nurse at Franciscan Health Olympia Fields. “Francis was about simplicity, poverty and self-giving. He was someone who never sought glory for himself.”
Sister Ruth admitted that she had never heard about St. Francis when she entered the religious order named after him 61 years ago. “I wanted to be a nurse and to wear a simple habit, and a friend of my family said, ‘You must be a Franciscan.’ She began reading about her new patron saint as a novice and realized that, “I couldn’t have picked a better saint to follow … He gave all of his treasure.”
Two members of the Our Lady of Lourdes Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans who helped organize the Transitus of St. Francis service also praised the life of their patron.
“My parents were Secular Franciscans, but I didn’t think much about it until I got older,” said Mary Jo Biscan O.F.S. “I felt I needed direction, and this fraternity keeps me on a path to the Lord with monthly meetings, annual retreats and by sharing a meal and serving others.”
Treasurer of the fraternity and a volunteer on the staff of St. Clare’s Kitchen at Holy Name of Jesus, Biscan strives to follow the example of St. Francis. “He went through a huge transition in his life, and I love his joy and service to others,” she said.
Joy McCullough, O.F.S., said raising seven children with her husband, Bill McCullough, led her to the Secular Franciscans. “We struggled (financially) and had to live a simple life, and that attracted me to the fraternity,” she said. “When I was a young Italian, I was drawn to the culture of St. Francis when I read ‘The Journey and the Dream’ by Murray Bodo.
“I wanted to follow Jesus like St. Francis and St. Clare followed him,” added Biscan, who believes the lives of service now led by her children can be attributed to their “simple religious education and volunteering at soup kitchens and the former Carmelite Home” as a family.
“St. Francis, by his example, has enriched the lives of myself and my family, leading my children to be open to reaching out to the world in service.”
Caption: Carrying the bier with St. Francis’ habit to the altar during the Transitus of St. Francis service on Oct. 3 at Holy Name of Jesus in Cedar Lake are (from left) young parishioners Matthew Linas, Anthony Linas, Jonathan Marquez and Melany Marquez. The prayer service was hosted by Franciscans “to remember Francis, the inspiration of their lives,” on the eve of his feast day. (Marlene A. Zloza photo)
