Franciscans International
Encyclopedia
Franciscans International (FI) is a non-governmental organization
(NGO) with general Consultative Status
at the United Nations
. The organization operates under the sponsorship of the Conference of the Franciscan Family (CFF) and serves all members of the Franciscan
family, as well as the global community by bringing spiritual, ethical, and Franciscan values to the United Nations and international organizations". The organization has headquarters in New York
, Geneva
, and Bangkok
.
FI closely follows the tradition of Saint Francis and Saint Clare
, attempting to put Franciscan ideals into practice at the international level. The organization is guided by the Saints' proclaimed concern for the poor, care of creation, and peacemaking.
Franciscans around the world run schools, hospitals, Justice and Peace offices, shelters, and specialise in many services for the poor. The programmes at FI bring grassroots Franciscans to the United Nations forums in New York and Geneva, influencing international human rights
standards and bringing witness to human rights violations.
Franciscans International is supported by the freewill offerings of Franciscan communities and their partners. A large part of the organization's funding comes from individuals who support Franciscan work for human rights, care for creation, and peacemaking. FI's advocacy programmes are designed in response to Franciscan needs worldwide.
and a friar
from Malta
, suggest to their respective Justice and Peace Committees the possibilities of having a Franciscan presence at the United Nations.
1984-1988 - The idea of Franciscans at the UN grows into a common project for members of the Franciscan Family and an interfamilial Preparatory Committee is organized for this future ministry within the United Nations. The Committee prepares a Vision Statement, focusing on three areas of Franciscan work: peacemaking, concern for the poor, and care of creation. The Vision Statement is circulated among major superiors in Rome for their endorsement.
1989 - The United Nations Department of Public Information
(DPI) officially recognizes Franciscans International as an NGO.
1990 - Franciscans International (FI) opens an office in New York and the Committee further develops FI statutes, an organizational structure and a plan for membership.
1991 - The Preparatory Committee now serves as the Executive Committee for FI and it begins the process of application for consultative status (Category 1) with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN.
1995 - FI is approved for NGO Category 1 Status (later called General Consultative Status) with ECOSOC, allowing it to participate through oral interventions and written statements in the activities of ECOSOC. These include: UN World Conferences and their Preparatory Committees, General Assembly special sessions, the UN Commission and Sub-Commission on Human Rights and the committees that monitor states’ compliance with specific international treaties. This status gives FI the responsibility to serve as technical experts, advisors and consultants to governments and the UN Secretariat.
1996 - To clarify the structures, membership and fundraising of FI, the Conference of the Franciscan Family (CFF) in Rome, including the Ministers General of Friar Minors, Capuchins, Conventuals, Third Order Regular and Secular Franciscan Order and the President of the Inter-Franciscan Conference Third Order Regular, appoints a Working Group to prepare a new organizational “Charter” for FI.
1997 - FI, with Dominicans for Justice and Peace, opens an office at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland to focus on the promotion and protection of human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.
1999 - The Conference of the Franciscan Family approves the new “FI Charter” and assumes its role as Sponsor. The CFF appoints thirteen men and women to the new FI Board of Directors.
2000 - The FI Board meets twice, in January and November, and it begins to align FI with its new “FI Charter."
2001 - The CFF writes a letter to the international Franciscan Family, asking them to participate in and to contribute to the support of FI.
2004 - In November, John Quigley, OFM is appointed Executive Director with Michael Joyce as Chief Financial Officer. The two offices in New York and Geneva are thus brought under a single management structure.
2005 - FI establishes an Africa Desk, working under the direction of Mike Perry, OFM with Yao Agbetse of Togo
, to address issues of HIV and AIDS, peacemaking and conflict resolution.
A partnership with the Marist Brothers
is established, and the First and Third Order Anglican Franciscans
formally join the CFF as FI sponsors.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
(NGO) with general Consultative Status
Consultative Status
Consultative Status is a phrase whose use can be traced to the founding of the United Nations and is used within the UN community to refer to "Non-governmental organizations in Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council." Also some international organizations could...
at the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. The organization operates under the sponsorship of the Conference of the Franciscan Family (CFF) and serves all members of the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
family, as well as the global community by bringing spiritual, ethical, and Franciscan values to the United Nations and international organizations". The organization has headquarters in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, and Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
.
FI closely follows the tradition of Saint Francis and Saint Clare
Saint Clare
Saint Clare may refer to:*Saint Clare of Assisi, founder of the Poor Clares and companion of Saint Francis of Assisi*Saint Clare of the Cross or Clare of Montefalco, 13th-century Italian abbess...
, attempting to put Franciscan ideals into practice at the international level. The organization is guided by the Saints' proclaimed concern for the poor, care of creation, and peacemaking.
Franciscans around the world run schools, hospitals, Justice and Peace offices, shelters, and specialise in many services for the poor. The programmes at FI bring grassroots Franciscans to the United Nations forums in New York and Geneva, influencing international human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
standards and bringing witness to human rights violations.
Franciscans International is supported by the freewill offerings of Franciscan communities and their partners. A large part of the organization's funding comes from individuals who support Franciscan work for human rights, care for creation, and peacemaking. FI's advocacy programmes are designed in response to Franciscan needs worldwide.
Vision statement
We are men and women who are committed to the ideals of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. As St. Francis once addressed the social leaders of his time with the challenge of peace, so today we are called to engage policy makers and world leaders at the United Nations for the work of justice, peace, the care of creation, and the promotion of human rights.History
1982 - Two Franciscans, a sister from the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and a friar
Friar
A friar is a member of one of the mendicant orders.-Friars and monks:...
from Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, suggest to their respective Justice and Peace Committees the possibilities of having a Franciscan presence at the United Nations.
1984-1988 - The idea of Franciscans at the UN grows into a common project for members of the Franciscan Family and an interfamilial Preparatory Committee is organized for this future ministry within the United Nations. The Committee prepares a Vision Statement, focusing on three areas of Franciscan work: peacemaking, concern for the poor, and care of creation. The Vision Statement is circulated among major superiors in Rome for their endorsement.
1989 - The United Nations Department of Public Information
United Nations Department of Public Information
The United Nations Department of Public Information helps non-governmental organizations gain access to and disseminate information about United Nations issues so the public can better understand the aims and objectives of the organizations...
(DPI) officially recognizes Franciscans International as an NGO.
1990 - Franciscans International (FI) opens an office in New York and the Committee further develops FI statutes, an organizational structure and a plan for membership.
1991 - The Preparatory Committee now serves as the Executive Committee for FI and it begins the process of application for consultative status (Category 1) with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the UN.
1995 - FI is approved for NGO Category 1 Status (later called General Consultative Status) with ECOSOC, allowing it to participate through oral interventions and written statements in the activities of ECOSOC. These include: UN World Conferences and their Preparatory Committees, General Assembly special sessions, the UN Commission and Sub-Commission on Human Rights and the committees that monitor states’ compliance with specific international treaties. This status gives FI the responsibility to serve as technical experts, advisors and consultants to governments and the UN Secretariat.
1996 - To clarify the structures, membership and fundraising of FI, the Conference of the Franciscan Family (CFF) in Rome, including the Ministers General of Friar Minors, Capuchins, Conventuals, Third Order Regular and Secular Franciscan Order and the President of the Inter-Franciscan Conference Third Order Regular, appoints a Working Group to prepare a new organizational “Charter” for FI.
1997 - FI, with Dominicans for Justice and Peace, opens an office at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland to focus on the promotion and protection of human rights: civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights.
1999 - The Conference of the Franciscan Family approves the new “FI Charter” and assumes its role as Sponsor. The CFF appoints thirteen men and women to the new FI Board of Directors.
2000 - The FI Board meets twice, in January and November, and it begins to align FI with its new “FI Charter."
2001 - The CFF writes a letter to the international Franciscan Family, asking them to participate in and to contribute to the support of FI.
2004 - In November, John Quigley, OFM is appointed Executive Director with Michael Joyce as Chief Financial Officer. The two offices in New York and Geneva are thus brought under a single management structure.
2005 - FI establishes an Africa Desk, working under the direction of Mike Perry, OFM with Yao Agbetse of Togo
Togo
Togo, officially the Togolese Republic , is a country in West Africa bordered by Ghana to the west, Benin to the east and Burkina Faso to the north. It extends south to the Gulf of Guinea, on which the capital Lomé is located. Togo covers an area of approximately with a population of approximately...
, to address issues of HIV and AIDS, peacemaking and conflict resolution.
A partnership with the Marist Brothers
Marist Brothers
The Marist Brothers, or Little Brothers of Mary, are a Catholic religious order of brothers and affiliated lay people. The order was founded in France, at La Valla-en-Gier near Lyon in 1817 by Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a young French priest of the Society of Mary...
is established, and the First and Third Order Anglican Franciscans
Society of Saint Francis
The Society of Saint Francis is a Franciscan religious order within the Anglican Communion.The Society of Saint Francis comprises: The Brothers of the First Order; The Sisters of the First Order; The Sisters of the Second Order; The Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order...
formally join the CFF as FI sponsors.