I vividly remember the first time I stood by the deathbed of someone I knew, the grandfather of one of our students. His daughter met me in the corridor of the small cottage hospital in Australia and invited me to pray with the family as they awaited his death. He died very peacefully, after hanging on for days for the arrival of his youngest son from overseas.  Later in hushed tones the son spoke about his father’s joy when he saw him walk into his room and then through tears, he shared the last words his father spoke to him.

Within the Christian tradition, there is a history of remembering the ‘Seven Last Words of Jesus’ during Lent.  In these words or more accurately phrases, we get a strong sense of Jesus the man, who embraces the final part of his life’s journey with love, a forgiving spirit and fear. The pathos of Jesus calling out: ‘my God, my God why have you forsaken me?’ has echoed down the centuries. FI has prepared a Lenten booklet for prayer and reflection on the ‘Seven Last Words’ for use in groups or by individuals. An example from our ministry, accompanies each phrase, to help us link the time of Jesus with the suffering and systemic injustice that is still part of the human condition today.  Let us pray that reflecting on the ‘Seven Last Words’ of Jesus this Lent will draw us deeper into his self-emptying love and the profound mystery which is the Easter event.  

Sr. Denise Boyle fmdm
FI Executive Director

Download your copy of the FI ‘Seven Last Words of Jesus’ booklet for prayer and reflection during Lent.

Fr. Elias Moses OFM, of St. Thomas the Apostle’s Province, India, was recently appointed as the new Regional Director for the FI Asia Pacific Programme. Fr. Elias has a Masters in Sociology and Philosophy plus an MBA in Human Resources and Development. Most recently he was employed by the National Centre of the Church in India (NBCLI), under the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) working in the areas of leadership training, programming and organisational development. 

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Access to food, water, and other natural resources are just some of the human rights issues affecting Indigenous Peoples (IP) in the Asia Pacific region.  FI is working with Franciscans and other NGOs at the grassroots to advocate for positive change. 

As part of this work, FI organised a ‘Regional Workshop on Indigenous Peoples Rights and Advocacy’ in Bangkok in February. Over five days, the 38 participants from  10 countries, heard representatives from UN agencies, FI and Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) speak about international and regional policies and their experiences of advocating for the rights of IPs in Asia Pacific. 

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The NGO, UPR-Info released the Mid-term Implementation Assessment (MIA) on Cameroon in January. FI and Franciscans working at the grassroots submitted information on the current situation of certain human rights issues including: street children; child labour, detention conditions for children, right to primary and secondary education for all children; better health care for children and Indigenous Peoples; initiatives to fight HIV/AIDS; rights for disabled people.

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Ms. Micheline Calmy-Rey, former President of Switzerland and Member of the High-level Panel on Global Sustainability (GSP), participated in a panel discussion at the UN to share their views regarding the GSP report, “Resilient people, Resilient planet”.  This was an important opportunity for stakeholders in Geneva, including FI, to learn more about the work of the High-level Panel and consider how to take its recommendations forward.

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Addressing the urgent needs of marginalised people and the environment across the Americas was the focus of a five-day OFM Conventual Conference  in Tegucigalpa, Honduras in early January. 

Franciscans shared their experiences of missionary work for justice, peace and integrity of creation across the continent.  FI Regional Director for the Americas, Fr. Michael Lasky OFM Conv. gave presentations about the advocacy work of FI at the UN in relation to Catholic Social Teaching.  

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