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| Anne Mulqueen, OFS |
"Secular Franciscans are Christ in the world."
And "just do it".
That was how Quinquennial co-chair Clare McCluggage, OFS,
summed up the messages of some of the presenters at the 18th "Q". International Councilor Anne Mulqueen, OFS, spoke those words on
behalf of Clare, who was ill, during the morning session on Saturday, July 7, the
final full day of the conference.
She charged attendees to do some quiet prayer and reflection
and then meet in small "fraternities" to address such
thought-provoking questions as "what are we called to be as Secular
Franciscans" and "what would the order look like if we were doing
everything right".
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| Fr. Armando Trujillo-Cano, TOR, interpreted for General Minister Encarnita del Pozo. |
But before Anne discharged them to their assignment, General
Minister Encarnita del Pozo took to the podium to say goodbye and offer a few
thoughts of her own.
"I'm thankful for sharing these five days of my life
with you," she said… "You, my brothers and sisters, are the reason
for my service…I have experienced very strong moments" at the Q.
She noted: "Christ gave Francis a mission to rebuild
the church. In today's world the church is also falling apart." In our
secular state of life, "we are called to repair, to rebuild…in everything
we do." For example, "we rebuild the church when we accompany those
in pain and suffering… we rebuild the church when we listen to our brothers and
sisters."
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| Gen. Min. Encarnita del Pozo, OFS |
"His love for us should turn into love for Him, and for
one another."
"Who are we?" she asked. "We are for God. We
are for church. We are for society. We are for one another…"
"We are to live the Gospel in FRA-TER-NI-TY," she
emphasized, sparking rousing applause.
Then she sang a short Spanish ballad in which she said "goodbye
with her heart, but not with her soul," which is now with U.S. Secular
Franciscans.
She left the stage to a standing ovation.
