A Vision For the Future
Approaching the 800th anniversary of the founding of the Franciscan Movement in Assisi, Italy, the Sisters, Friars, and their lay associates, who have been ministering within the city of Syracuse since 1850, believe it opportune to invite all persons of good will and shared values to collaborate in sommoning forth new, empowering relationships among all citizens of the city for the sake of radically altering the quality of human life and it's sustaining environments.
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Our invitation recalls:
• That Francis and Clare, both citizens of Assisi, radically impacted the social and economic structures of Assisi by focusing on relationships among all of its citizens.
• That the good will of the people of Assisi was energized by the modeling of Francis and Clare and through conversations and challenges they reversed the destructive cycles of exclusion from power and wealth with the embrace of peace and the ethic of compassion.
• That the City of Assisi remains singular as the contemporary gathering place of representatives of all world religions who prayed for peace in their own tongue and tradition.
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Our invitation acknowledges:
• That the founding conversations grounding this iniative involved the representatives of the Friars and Sisters, the Diocese of Syracuse, Catholic Charities, and St. Joseph's Hospital.
• That many persons of good will from the public and private sectors have and are laboring to positively impact the quality of life of our city.
• That the integrity and effectiveness of these institutions, projects, programs, and relationships require continuing and vigorous support.
• That the beliefs, convictions, and traditions of people of good will are splendid in diversity and powerful through collaboration.
• That all movements process through cycles of confused clarity toward effective realization and that respectful, ongoing clarifications are required.
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We Propose:
• That the first phase of the movement focus on the Northside of the City where the Franciscan Sisters and Friars have significant institutional presence through St. Joseph's Hospital, the Sisters of St. Francis on Courst St., and the Franciscan Church of the Assumption.
• That we network our invitation through existing sponsored programs, projects, and iniatives already sponsored through the mentioned institutions.
• That the organizational headquarters for the movement will be located at the Assisi Center at the corner of N. Salina St. and Catawba St.
• That the beliefs, convictions, and traditions of people of good will are splendid in diversity and powerful through collaboration.
• That the following principles guide the development of relationships within the assisi movement:
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We aspire:
• To engage and stimulate conversations which will identify and modify the cycles of exclusion in our society that deprive others of the ability to live with dignity and wholeness.
• To initiate, leverage, and sustain empowering relationships with those currently excluded from the societal arenas of power and wealth.
• To focus and magnify through collaboration the effectiveness of extend projects, programs, and initiatives directed toward systemic change.
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We anticipate:
• Welcoming participants committed to the truth of inclusion in and stewardship of the goods of creation.
• Being stimulated by creative concepts and practical "how-to's" for systemic change.
• Sustaining patterns of relationship grounded in the ethics of compassion.
• Making a difference.
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