Franciscan Action Network Intergenerational Habitat for Humanity Activity
On April 2, 2025, Social Justice students from St. Anthony High School joined Secular Franciscans from St. Josaphat Fraternity and St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity, as well as the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, at Milwaukee's Habitat for Humanity for a Franciscan Action Network Intergenerational activity. Morning sessions explored the history of housing racism and segregation in Milwaukee, and together students and Franciscan adults discussed causes and possible solutions to housing equity.
Students led the meal prayer for lunch. During lunch, students and Franciscan adults discussed how Catholic Social Teaching and our Franciscan values shed light on the injustice of housing insecurity and systemic racism, and pondered what our own personal call to action might be.
The afternoon was spent visiting the warehouse where donated construction materials and tools are kept, and then travelled to the sites of houses under construction as well as completed houses in Milwaukee's harambee neighborhood. A warm invitation was offered to the students, as well as the adults, to volunteer their time on site to participate in the construction of a house.
"Whatsoever you do for the least of my people, you do for me." (Matthew 25:40)
On April 2, 2025, Social Justice students from St. Anthony High School joined Secular Franciscans from St. Josaphat Fraternity and St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity, as well as the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, at Milwaukee's Habitat for Humanity for a Franciscan Action Network Intergenerational activity. Morning sessions explored the history of housing racism and segregation in Milwaukee, and together students and Franciscan adults discussed causes and possible solutions to housing equity.
Students led the meal prayer for lunch. During lunch, students and Franciscan adults discussed how Catholic Social Teaching and our Franciscan values shed light on the injustice of housing insecurity and systemic racism, and pondered what our own personal call to action might be.
The afternoon was spent visiting the warehouse where donated construction materials and tools are kept, and then travelled to the sites of houses under construction as well as completed houses in Milwaukee's harambee neighborhood. A warm invitation was offered to the students, as well as the adults, to volunteer their time on site to participate in the construction of a house.
"Whatsoever you do for the least of my people, you do for me." (Matthew 25:40)
FEBRUARY FRATERNITY GATHERING (2/8/25): Pastoral Vistation by Sharon Dale OFS, LaVerna Region councilor. Spiritual Assistant, Kurt Keidl OFS led a discussion about how our fraternity will will implement the 3 national goals. We decided to adopt the following goals for our fraternity to work on during 2025: 1) Vocations – every member must invite as least one person to “come and see” our fraternity in person during a gathering. 2) Communications – we appointed a volunteer Reach Out Committee (John Wolfe OFS, Cheri Woelfl, Amy Rivera) to foster greater communication among our members by checking in with absent or ill members, sending birthday wishes, celebrating profession anniversaries, forming a prayer tree. 3) Relationships – every gathering will include a “Who Am I?” session during which two members will spend 2-3 minutes each telling the fraternity a little bit about themselves, their backgrounds, hobbies, what is new in their lives, what apostolates or ministries they enjoy, etc in an attempt to get to know one another better and offer options for collaborating on projects/interests/ apostolates outside of monthly gathering time.
