On Wednesday, August 11th, the Catholic Diocese of La Crosse will install it's 10th bishop. Bishop-designate William Callahan is a Conventional Franciscan. The first from that order to lead the La Crosse Diocese. But members of the Franciscan family have had a strong presence in the La Crosse Diocese for more than 100 years. The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration explain how Bishop Callahan's Franciscan values will benefit the church and the La Crosse community.WXOW
Members of the Franciscan family live by four core values: contemplation, humility, poverty, and most importantly, conversion. [Let us pray for the last!]
Sister Jean Moore describes conversion as "To always be trying to align oneself to always be in communication with others and god[sic]." In layman's terms, to be a people person. [That is idiotic. Someone tell me St. Jerome was a people person. There are many of Catholic saints with choleric temperaments. And Francis would not have called himself a people person. He chose to be DESPISED by people. Being despised was his GOAL!]
Sister Jean is a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration. She says Franciscans believe in preaching by example and listening, not only to God and their secular peers, but to the lay people of the church as well. "I think having him come will be a wonderful experience of rebuilding and reforming our church." [LOL, ummm, reform of the reform I think it has been called]
Sister Jean believes the faith of some Catholics is wavering over recent accusations of misconduct by priests. She says Bishop Callahan's Franciscan background, combined with his leadership will help La Crosse's catholic community move forward together. "The healing has to come from within. But I'm sure that his stance of being in relationship with others and honoring and valuing people will help bring some of that healing that people so disparately need right now."
Sister Jean has yet to meet Bishop Callahan but has faith her Franciscan brother will lead the La Crosse diocese in the right direction.
Be sure to watch Bishop Callahan's installation mass right here on WXOW TV-19 as well as on-line at wxow dot com. We will broadcast that mass live on Wednesday, August 11th beginning at 2 o'clock. We will also air an encore broadcast on Sunday, August 15th at noon.
Bishop Callahan should certainly have more sway with the FSPA and their sinking order. I think most in this area seriously doubt the order can be salvaged. But if any bishop could help them, I think Bishop Callahan would fit the bill. He's not only (truly) Franciscan, but pastoral and can meet people where they are(even if that is outside the Catholic Faith). Quite frankly, some of the sisters in that order simply need to be removed, particularly in their leadership. There are faithful sisters in the FSPA but they are persecuted at every step.... Remind me to share a story when this hectic August has settled down.
1 comment:
Let us pray.
The FSPA's have a very wonderful history; the past thirty years have been, however, "the pits".
I had the pleasure and privilege of offering Holy Mass and working with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, a "break-off" of the FSPAs.
These consecrated women love the Church, are faithful to Her, provide such important apostolates and have not succumbed to the dissent and secularization seen in many communities of apostolic women religious.
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