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Living the Commitment Statements
Associate relationship flourishes in Ecuador

Who are the Franciscan Associates?
Franciscan Associates are women, men and families who proclaim their call from God to live the spirit, charism and mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota. They commit to a formally recognized mutual relationship and live the commitment within their own lifestyle.
[Click here to learn more about becoming an Associate]

History of the Associate Movement
Since Vatican Council II in the early 1960s, there has been a worldwide movement by laity in response to the call of God’s Spirit in their lives. Lay people have always been attracted to religious orders for help with spiritual growth. Associates are lay men, women and sometimes families who desire to live out the charism of a particular religious order while remaining in their own lifestyle. Other names used for associates include consociates, co-journers and affiliates, depending on the religious order. What is central to all is that they share the charism of the religious order with whom they are connected.

The Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota responded to this movement in the early 1980s. The first formalized associate commitments were made in 1986 at the Sacred Heart Chapel. Over the years, more than 225 persons have made their commitment in many locations both in the United States and in South America.

Project ALL
Becoming multicultural in vision and experience.

The purpose of Project ALL is to bridge the diversity gap and build relationships amoung various countries and cultures.

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Living the Commitment Statements
by Associates Dorothy Chizek, Dorothy Sayre and Joanne Hagstrom

When our Morris Franciscan Life Community was deciding which commitment statement to choose, we deliberated between embracing those who are marginalized or taking care of Mother Earth’s wounds. After much discussion, our group decided on the marginalized. It was very challenging and difficult for us to actually determine exactly who the marginalized are and who it included. As a group, we decided that everyone is marginalized at some point in their lives. We recognized the greater need of not just ourselves, but of a larger group of individuals in our community who are marginalized--the Hispanics who come here for employment. We saw a need for aiding the Hispanic ministry in our parish community here at Assumption Church. Hence, we decided to sponsor a Sunday morning brunch on February 10, 2008. We served egg bake, muffins, juice and coffee to about 50 people and we raised over $300.

There was a question and answer period during which individuals asked about the associates and our relationship with the Franciscan Sisters: what our purpose is and what we do. That was an interesting time for us, because that was the first time we have ever had to explain ourselves and what our role is in the Franciscan community.

This fund raiser was our first action as Franciscan Associates and we feel it was successful and very rewarding. We encourage other Franciscan Life Communities to take action!! We realize this is just a beginning of helping the marginalized! Our task at hand is an everyday effort.