Wednesday night saw a special, socially distanced service at St Saviour’s – in fact it was our first service in the church since lockdown began in March – to commission the Young Franciscans, and mark the end of their residential community.
The community has been been together for the past two years, with six young men and women (three each year) living in the house behind the church under a simple Franciscan rule of life. They have followed daily prayer together, been involved in the life and worship of our church, supported the winter night shelter, offered hospitality, and engaged with the local community.
They have also received a weekly formation session in the spiritual life, and been on retreat three times a year, including a week in Assisi. Each of them has undertaken some paid work, which has enabled them to make a substantial contribution to their rent and living costs.
Rev Chris Lee, our vicar, spoke at the service and paid tribute to the six residential Franciscans. He said: ’All of them are on their way into some form of Christian ministry. Charlie is going to Ridley Hall for ordination training; Alex and Rachel have just got married and are missionaries in Northolt, living on an estate and doing prison ministry; Daniel is currently discerning a vocation to the religious life; Miriam is exploring a dual vocation as a GP and going into ordination training; and Lauren is ministering here to our children and families.’
The residential community was not the first group of Young Franciscans. There is also a ‘dispersed’ community, which is growing in numbers, with members in the UK, France, Northern Ireland, and the United States. Belonging to this wider community involves developing a personal rule of life and making a commitment to a pattern of prayer, shared once a week online, and a monthly gathering online for study and prayer.
The service on Wednesday included the commissioning of the dispersed Franciscans, which involved them accepting their rule of life, and concluded with a eucharist celebrated by Brother Sam SSF.
Rev Chris concluded by describing the Franciscan life as ‘a wonderful way to love and learn and grow together’. He said that while the residential community was taking a hiatus, the dispersed community would have a renewed focus. ‘It’s been amazing to see what God has done for us,’ he said, ‘and I’m excited to know what God will do as we look to the future.’