How are we called to live the gospel life in the Franciscan Tradition in our modern world? While we do not have all the answers, we know that understanding and growth require dialogue. In this podcast series, brought to you by the Franciscan Action Network, we discuss and reflect on the societal issues that are near and dear to Franciscan-hearted people so that we can contemplate and respond intentionally and compassionately. St. Francis may not have exactly said, “preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words,” but he certainly lived it, and he invites us to live it in our own way in our own time.
Episode 4
The fourth and final episode of this limited series welcomes Sr. Andrea Koverman, SC, who helps illuminate the creative and generative tension between direct service and advocacy, especially in terms of poverty and racism in the educational space. If direct service is where we get our fire and our knowledge of an issue, advocacy is how we show up to create lasting change around its root causes.
Find Advocacy Resources HERE
Learn more about Proyecto Santo Niño HERE
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The Generative Power of Advocacy and Direct Service
Episode 3
“If creation itself is not a sacramental reality, then what are we doing here?” – Br. Cristofer Fernandez.
Care for creation is one of those issues that can truly make us feel overwhelmed by the enormity of it. What can any of us do when the challenges seem too big for us to make any difference? Br. Cristofer reminds us that it comes back to our spirituality and our relationships. “We protect what we love,” according to Br. Cristofer, who encourages us to embrace the positive impact we can have in our own various ways.
Check our work on Care for Creation.
Our work for Environmental Justice.
The Call to Ecological Conversion
Episode 2
“We don’t just engage in nonviolent peacemaking because it is morally good, we also do it because it works!” – Russ Testa. In an age, where polarization feels like the norm, how can we reclaim our desire to know the “other?” In this episode, Russ reminds us that active nonviolence is both a spirituality and a practice that can have a profound impact on our own lives and our larger culture. Peacemaking is at the heart of all nonviolent action and lasting change.
Learn more about our work on peacemaking.
Get involved in our Christians for Ceasefire campaign.
The Two Hands of Active Nonviolence
Episode 1
What if I told you there was already a Franciscan nonprofit organization advocating for just public policy decisions here in the United States? Come along and learn about how the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) got started in the mid 2000s, what has guided it in its development, and hear from our current Executive Director on where FAN is today and where it is heading into the future.
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Who is the Franciscan Action Network?
Introduction
Welcome to the first season of the Acting Franciscan Podcast. This season includes four episodes focused on creating a shared beginning. We will discuss the history and focus of the Franciscan Action Network along with discussing the four main areas of focus, which include Peacebuilding, Care for Creation, Care for the Poor and Vulnerable, and Human Dignity.
Acting Franciscan Introduction
Music rights for all episodes:
Crossed Path – by Kjartan Abel.
Visit https://kjartan-abel.com/library to find free music for your next project.
This work is licensed under the following: CC BY-SA 4.0 Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International.
Liked Acting Franciscan?
Here are more Franciscan Podcasts:
“Messy Jesus Business” – Sr. Julia Walsh, FSPA
“Learning how to See” – Brian McClaren
“Everything Belongs” – Richard Rohr, Center for Action and Contemplation
“Following Francis” Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land
“Franciscan Voice” – Conventual Franciscan Friars
“Breaking in the Habit / Everyday Liminality” – Fr. Casey Cole, OFM