How Do We Esteem Work? National Work Commission June 17-20, 2004 (Denver, Colorado)

What to Expect… Why a National Work Commission? Church’s social teaching Practical applications of the Work Commission at any level of fraternity

Article 16 of the SFO Rule ESTEEM Let them ESTEEM work both as a GIFT and as a SHARING in the CREATION, REDEMPTION, and SERVICE of the human community.

Over the Past Five Years… (Since June 1999 at St. Bonaventure’s University) National Work Commission activities Promulgate our commission Quarterly “TAU USA” articles Identify uses of our Work Resource Manual Be a resource link to the regions INFORMATION (SEE) FORMATION (JUDGE) TRAN SFO RMATION (ACT)

QUINQUENNIAL CONGRESS 2002 Called to Build a More Fraternal & Evangelical World… T ransformationA postleship U nity

Mission Statement (Work) 2003 The Work Commission of the National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States of America has as its mission to remind the sisters and brothers of our commitment to embody our lives of prayer by bringing to the workplace an experience of participation in the work of God who creates, redeems, and inspires. In our manner of working and in our hopes and aspirations for material success, Secular Franciscans should mirror the work of the Holy Trinity in the garden of this world, the laboratory of life, and the classroom of human endeavor as mandated by our Rule.

Going from Gospel to Life and Life to Gospel… SFO Rule General Constitutions National Statutes Franciscan sources Work Commission Manual What do we VALUE? (N.B. “Esteem” means to place value)

Catholic Social Teaching (SEE – Information) Life & Dignity of the Human Person Call to Family, Community, & Participation Right & Responsibilities Option for the Poor & Vulnerable Dignity of Work & the Rights of Workers Solidarity Caring for God’s Creation

Faith-Based Sources (SEE – Information) Rich treasury of Gospel-values… Papal statements, encyclicals, messages Current global Church information from Rome US Bishops’ statements & guides for small groups

Practical Applications (JUDGE - Formation) Meaningful ongoing formation at all levels of fraternity Commitment to study our Rule through the lenses of the commissions Unifying communal prayer Apostolic activities that link directly to Kingdom values Respectful DIALOGUE! Baptism calls the faithful to holiness…

What Choices Will We Make? (ACT - Transformation) “Resistance is futile!” Philosophy of the Borg on “Star Trek: Next Generation” “Surrender to God, and He will do everything for you!” (Antiphon from The Liturgy of the Hours’ Office of Readings) A Hubbel telescope view called “the Eye of God”

Turning Up the Flame… If SFO’s truly ESTEEM work as a gift… then how shall we further the WORK of the reign of God?