The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia

Sister Kathy Ganiel hugs her prayer partner for the coming year. In addition to providing support for one another, these prayer partners encourage connections between Companions and sisters from different parts of the country.

David Spackman is awakened each morning around 4:30 A.M. to the sound of roosters crowing. The farm where he lives with his wife and four daughters is a half-hour commute to his job as a high school science teacher but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He actually savors the silence of his car time and feels blessed to be surrounded by God’s beauty—despite the after-hour demands of sharing his life and land with chickens, pigs, and horses.

Given his love of the land and animals and his choice to pursue what many in this day and age would consider a lifestyle from a somewhat simpler time, it is not surprising that David feels a particular connection to the spirituality of St. Francis. That connection, along with an invitation from a friend, led David to become a Companion of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia.

David’s experience with the Companion relationship began in August of 2002 when he attended the first meeting of the Portland, Oregon, Companions’ faith-sharing group. The group, which meets every six weeks, consists of an equal number of sisters and lay Companions. “My grandmother was a secular Franciscan and I was raised with Franciscan spirituality,” said David. “I had a hunger to go more deeply into that spirituality and this Companion faith-sharing group has helped give me roots and direction in the Franciscan way. Being part of a group of people who are seeking the same thing helps me focus.”

Companions on the Journey

The Sisters of St. Francis began the Companion in Mission program in 1989 after recognizing the universal desire of many people to cultivate and share their spiritual life with others. The Companion relationship allows laity to share in and live out the Franciscan spirit and mission within the context of their own vocation and lifestyle. “For the sisters, it was a natural way to continue the congregation’s charism,” said Sister Mary Peter Kerner, who is part of the Philadelphia faith-sharing group. “Helping people to live Franciscan spirituality wherever they are is rewarding for the Companions and for us.”

Today there are more than 500 Companions across the country—from Walpole, Massachusetts to Rancho Cucamonga, California. Some are Companions in Prayer who share in the spirit and mission of the sisters through their commitment to pray daily for the congregation and its mission. Some are Companions in Ministry—working side by side with sisters in their ministries, including sponsored institutions. For a great number of Companions—Companions in Faith—faith-sharing groups are the primary focus of the experience. Twenty-eight such groups have emerged across the country—some with as few as four members and others with as many as twenty-three. These groups allow lay people to participate in the spirit and mission of the sisters through ongoing Franciscan education and faith sharing. Although each group does things in its own way, all provide an opportunity to learn about Franciscan spirituality, pray with and for one another, and explore the many different experiences of the divine.

“For me and for many others, being a Companion helps in the journey to find and experience God,” said Kathy Boehm, Director of the Companion program and herself a Companion since the program’s inception. “I find the faith-sharing component particularly life giving. Just coming together and hearing how God has touched other people’s lives reminds me that God is always journeying with me. It helps re-energize me and makes me better able to move forward.”

A highlight of the Companions’ Gathering Day was the celebration of the Liturgy which was attended by a large number of Companions and sisters.

Reconnecting

For Fran Hollon, involvement with the Companion program came after reconnecting with the sisters nearly thirty years after graduating from The Catholic High School in Baltimore, Maryland, where she says the Franciscan sisters were a major influence in her life. Fran and her daughter, who graduated from the same school years later, were at a reunion together when an auction item caught Fran’s eye. It was a gift certificate for a weekend retreat at the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Aston, Pennsylvania. Before the night was over, the certificate was going home with Fran. “I didn’t know what I was getting into but I went,” said Fran.

While at the retreat, Fran met up with Sister Corda Marie Bergbauer, one of her former teachers. By the end of the weekend, Sister Corda Marie was thinking that Fran might make a good Companion and figured Kathy Boehm, the current Companion director, could send her some information. “When I got the material, I realized the Companion program was just what I was looking for,” said Fran. “I had made a commitment at the retreat to reconnect with and promote the Franciscan way. This seemed like the perfect chance to do that.”

Because there was no Companion group in the Baltimore area where she lived, Fran organized one herself with Kathy’s help and guidance. Less than a year later, the group that started with just Fran and two of her friends is beginning to branch out and welcome new members. “This is something I want to pass along to others,” said Fran. “Being a Companion has contributed to my spiritual well-being. It has made me pray differently and has made God, Jesus, and Francis part of my everyday experience.”

But it is not only the Companions who are growing through the Companion relationship. The sisters who are involved say they, too, have gained much from sharing their spirituality with this very special group. “I see myself growing in my own spirituality,” said Sister Mary Peter. “The sharing of spirituality between the laity and religious is something that didn’t happen in the past but it is very worthwhile. It has helped me to deepen my own experience of God.”

Many Facets

In addition to the prayer and faith-sharing aspects of the Companion relationship, for many there are social and ministry components as well. A number of the groups share a meal or snack after faith sharing and some even meet on separate occasions for picnics or other get-togethers. “We take time after each faith-sharing experience just to share refreshments and visit with one another,” said Tacoma, Washington Companion Mary Sprague. “It is like having another extended family.”

For Mary, the Companion relationship encompasses prayer, faith sharing, and ministry. Mary got to know the sisters through her job as medical staff coordinator at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma where she has worked for the past twenty-five years. She had always found sharing ministry with the sisters rewarding, and when she heard about the Companion relationship, she knew it was something she wanted to explore further. Today she is part of a faith-sharing group that meets every other month. She continues her work at the hospital and even joined a group of sisters when they traveled to Nicaragua to help rebuild after Hurricane Mitch devastated the area several years ago. “It is nice to be with other people who share the same ideas as I do,” said Mary. “I never could have predicted how much the people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had as a Companion would enrich my life.”

Real Impact

In fact, the almost surprising degree of impact the relationship seems to have on their everyday lives is a sentiment repeated by many Companions and sisters involved in the program. In addition to interacting in faith-sharing groups and ministry settings, the sisters have actually welcomed Companions into the congregation’s Area Chapters—small governance groups that meet to address congregational issues, to pray together, and to share fellowship. “The Companions discuss issues right along with the sisters,” said Sister Mary Peter. “I believe they have given the congregation a broader perspective because of their experience of living in their families and their workplaces. I think their presence has made it a richer experience for all of us.”

Similarly, the Companion relationship has enriched the everyday lives of the lay people involved. David, for example, believes that the relationship has been life giving on a number of levels. “For me, sharing this relationship with the sisters is really inspirational because they are living the calling in a very committed way,” said David. “They are deeply spiritual and prayerful and that brings encouragement and support for the rest of us.”

David also recently participated in a silent hermitage retreat that he heard about through the faith-sharing group. “It was very powerful,” said David. “I came to a new understanding of Francis’ love for the cross. It seeped into my spirit, as well as my mind, for the first time. It wove a thread through my entire life that helped me make sense of things in my own life and come to terms with my own piece of the cross. In fact, internalizing the Franciscan way of being has helped me become a more peaceful person in every aspect of my life. It has been a wonderful gift.”

According to Kathy, David’s feelings are quite common. “I am always hearing from Companions who are so grateful to be part of this,” said Kathy. “It is a blessing for so many who hunger for a more meaningful spiritual life and a community of people with whom to share it.”