Laity, clergy are drawn by the charism of St. Francis of Assisi
TACOMABy Jennifer Sokol
Shirley Hainse is the mother of six, but she has another vocation, as a Secular Franciscan.
Living St. Francis of Assisi’s Gospel values of humility, poverty and simplicity has helped Hainse get more in touch with herself. “I’ve learned to accept challenges, and not to focus on me,” she said. “I’ve learned to be more understanding of other people’s cares and worries.”
On Dec. 7, Hainse and fellow members of the St. Frances Cabrini Fraternity will celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Secular Franciscans in the archdiocese, with a special Mass at St. Leo the Great Church in Tacoma.
“We are one among many in the Franciscan order,” explained Deacon Juan Lezcano of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Federal Way, who made his profession as a Secular Franciscan in 1986. Numbering more than 400,000 worldwide, Secular Franciscans interconnect with Franciscan priests, brothers and sisters. Secular Franciscans can be married or single members of the laity, as well as diocesan bishops, priests and deacons.
“What attracts people to the Secular Franciscans is the way of life,” Deacon Lezcano said. “It’s a life of simplicity in which we are called to be in the world, living the Gospel each day in our work, our families, and with the environment.”
Secular Franciscans gather monthly for common prayer, formation and fellowship according to the rule of St. Francis, he explained. The Tacoma fraternity has 29 professed members and 20 others in formation.
Penelope Walsh, who has been a professed member for three years and acts as “minister” of the Tacoma fraternity, receives much encouragement at the monthly gatherings. “I really come away refreshed and challenged to grow in my faith in different aspects,” she said.
Walsh said she is challenged in her work as a caregiver. “I often become short-tempered with the man I care for,” she said. “But then I hear the Lord saying, ‘Calm down. This is my son.’ And I continue to take care of him in a much more compassionate way.”
For Hainse, the Franciscan spirituality of her longtime vocation provided inspiration when she worked as a department store clerk. “I came into contact with all kinds of people there, and learned to have empathy with those who shared their problems,” she said.
For everyone in the fraternity, the support drawn from monthly gatherings is worth any inconvenience.
Lucy Soldan, who transferred from Spokane to the Tacoma fraternity in 2006, travels 65 miles from Toledo to the gatherings, but she never minds the drive. “Our Franciscan fraternity is very much family to us,” she said. “When we get together, we hear what’s going on, and encourage one another in our faith journeys.”
As the St. Frances Cabrini Fraternity enters its second century here, members continue to be guided by the words of St. Francis of Assisi: “We are the minstrels of the Lord, whose work it is to lift up people’s hearts and move them to spiritual gladness.”
Anniversary celebration Join the St. Frances Cabrini Fraternity of Secular Franciscans for its 100th anniversary Mass at 11 a.m. Dec. 7 at St. Leo the Great Church, 710 S. 13th St., Tacoma. Father James A. Williams will be the celebrant. A reception will follow. For more information about the St. Frances Cabrini Fraternity, contact Penelope Walsh at 253-460-9469 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. document.getElementById('cloakd373aa1d02a45bb00ea007a20ca0b2f1').innerHTML = ''; var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; var path = 'hr' + 'ef' + '='; var addyd373aa1d02a45bb00ea007a20ca0b2f1 = 'penelope55' + '@'; addyd373aa1d02a45bb00ea007a20ca0b2f1 = addyd373aa1d02a45bb00ea007a20ca0b2f1 + 'q' + '.' + 'com'; var addy_textd373aa1d02a45bb00ea007a20ca0b2f1 = 'penelope55' + '@' + 'q' + '.' + 'com';document.getElementById('cloakd373aa1d02a45bb00ea007a20ca0b2f1').innerHTML += ''+addy_textd373aa1d02a45bb00ea007a20ca0b2f1+''; Secular Franciscans History Dec. 8, 1913: Father Joseph McGrath establishes a fraternity in Tacoma at the request of some local women.1933: After the Tacoma fraternity is disbanded, members participate in the Seattle fraternity.1956: A Tacoma branch of the Seattle fraternity is established.1975: St. Frances Cabrini is established in Tacoma as an independent fraternity.
December 04, 2013