WASHINGTON — The empowering experiences of faith formation and mission service for laypeople will be at the heart of the Franciscan Mission Service’s 2014 World Care Benefit and Celebration.
The April 11 event will begin with a social hour and silent auction, followed by the presentation of the Ninth Annual Anselm Moons Award. This year’s recipient is Jack Jezreel, founder of JustFaith Ministries. He will be honored for more than 30 years of work with parishes and dioceses to encourage parishioners to engage in outreach and social change.
The evening will conclude with a keynote speech by Daniel Horan, OFM, who will speak on the evening’s theme, “Profoundly Changed: New Disciples for Peace, Justice and Hope.” Daniel will explore how missioners build comminutes for change amid contemporary realities and the effect that Pope Francis has had on the number of people working toward peace, justice and hope. In 2012, he spoke at the FMS salon-style “Sunday Souposium” on his book “Dating God.”
“We are honored to have such a thoughtful and engaging speaker joining us for our biggest fundraiser of the year,” said Kim Smolik, executive director of FMS. “As a Franciscan friar, Fr. Horan shares in the vision of our ministry to serve in solidarity with the poor and to collaborate with the laity in building up our Church and society.”
In a recent post in his blog Dating God, Dan described FMS as “a wonderful organization that provides training and support for lay missioners who serve from two to six years in various Franciscan places around the world: Bolivia, Kenya, Zambia and South Africa.”
Those interested in purchasing tickets for the benefit are asked to contact FMS at 202-832-1762 or info@franciscanmissionservice.org. More information is available on the organization’s website.
Previous recipients of the Anselm Moons Award include Joseph Nangle, OFM, Russell and Megeen Testa, Thomas P. and Margaret Melady and Sr. Pat Farrell, OSF, past president of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious.
In other news, FMS released two new T-shirt designs for the 2014 Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. Available online, one shirt pictures a friar’s habit with the words “Hanging out with Franciscans: Make it a habit.” The other features a cartoon image of Pope Francis with the phrase “The pope gives me hope.” Each design also includes the FMS logo. Shirts are available for $15, plus shipping and handling.
— Maria Hayes is communications coordinator for Holy Name Province.