Article and photo submitted by the Friary community in recognition of Religious Life Sunday, which takes place this Sunday, January 26
The San Damiano Friary community of brothers of the Society of St. Francis, Province of the Americas continues to thrive in the Diocese of California. We have long enjoyed a good relationship with the diocese, serving here for 55 years. For a time, we had the care of The Bishop’s Ranch, and we have also offered a large variety of ministries with the homeless, with the sick in hospitals, and with students in schools, from our friary in the Mission District on Dolores Street. All brothers have been active in serving parishes throughout the diocese, the ordained offering support as supply priests, and lay brothers joining in parish life.
We are part of a diverse collection of people in The Episcopal Church who feel called to live under religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. For over 100 years, the Society of St Francis has been an integral part of the witness of The Episcopal Church to this Gospel life. Among the religious orders of The Episcopal Church, community life is a many-splendored thing. The brothers of the First Order of the Society of St. Francis live together in friaries. Members of other religious communities and orders live singly. But the bonds of community for all are real and maintained chiefly through our prayer and corporate sense of mission or community charism. The Society of St. Francis, inspired by St. Francis and the movement he began over 800 years ago, has since 1919 had a special Franciscan care for supporting The Episcopal Church through hospitality and preaching, working among and with the poor for social justice, and care for the environment. Central to our purpose, our prayer life continues with the praying of the four-fold daily office and daily Eucharist. Two brothers are active in the ministry of spiritual direction and are also engaged in continuing education for spiritual direction.
Photo Caption: From left to right: Br. Thomas (studying in New York), Br. Dwayne Fernandes, Br. Ambrose Cristóbal, Br. Desmond Alban, Br. Antonio, Br. Clark Berge, Br. Finnian Shannon. Seated: Br. Robert Hugh
