| Vocations
Associate Relationship
Who are Associates?
We are Christian women and men over 20, married or single who:
- want to deepen our relationship with God
- partner with the Sisters in their spirit, prayer, and Gospel
mission
- want to model a new vision of community in our lives
- strive to live Gospel values in our daily lives
Why?
We see our partnership with the Sisters as a way to make a positive difference as individuals. We're attracted by the Sisters' lives of simplicity and community.
What do Associates do?
We strive to recognize God in our daily activities. Faith becomes important in our family, professional and social life. We apply our faith to decisions such as how we spend our time and
resources. We try to maintain an intentional awareness of the Spirit.
Worship and prayer with each other and with the Sisters gives us a source of energy, passion, renewal and support.
We minister as teachers, business people, farmers, medical professionals, social workers, factory employees and in many other occupations.
We try to live our faith by active involvement in our parish and civic communities, and by participating in the Sisters' justice and peace efforts.
A recent development in Associate Relationship with the Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross has been to establish a two-tier relationship - active ministry and prayer ministry. Incoming Associates make a commitment to share the spirit, mission, and values of this Franciscan Community of Sisters. This is carried out in a variety of ways—active ministry with their families, with the Sisters in ministry and various projects, in their parish, in the civic community, and in volunteer work in the church and broader community.
However, as Associates embrace physical challenges that limit their active involvement, they still wish to continue this special relationship with the Sisters. An Associate can then transition from active to prayer ministry. In union with our Sisters engaged in the ministry of prayer and suffering, the Associate intentionally enters the same ministry, praying daily for the Church, the Community and personal intentions brought to their awareness. This spiritual strength is the foundation for the Sisters’ and Associates’ active ministry. Networking
We are part of the North American Conference of Associates and Religious (NACAR) and the Midwest Kindred Spirits (MKS).
To learn more about Associate Relationship,
contact Sister Francis Bangert
( 920-884-2729 ).
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