蜜桃交友

By Edoardo Giribaldi

Among the many insights Brother Gregory Cellini, O.S.F., Franciscan Brother of Brooklyn and Director of the Office of Mission, Ministry and Interfaith Dialogue at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, shares regarding the "Franciscan Month" a series of events at St. Francis College throughout October- he says, "It was a matter of getting away from the self, and people found the freedom to be wonderful." 

This, he continues,  resonates deeply with the heritage that the Italian saint from Assisi left to his brothers. 鈥淚 have done what was mine to do; may Christ now teach you what you are to do,鈥� recalls Brother Gregory (or simply 鈥淕reg,鈥� as every student calls him), quoting St. Francis. He explains how the saint wanted to 鈥渇ree his brothers so that they would not try to be him but, since God had a purpose for Francis and a different purpose for each of his brothers, they would be who they were meant to be.鈥�

Forming in the 鈥淔ranciscan way鈥�

Helping young people find their vocations and voices has been Brother Greg鈥檚 mission as a professor over the years. Now, as Director of the Office of Mission, Ministry, and Interfaith Dialogue, he continues this work by organizing, together with 鈥淔C Brooklyn 鈥� the Franciscan Team鈥�, a series of events at St. Francis College, centred on three main pillars.

"We want to celebrate St. Francis and the great Franciscan movement," he explains, "but we also want to educate about Francis and the movement. Most importantly, we want to help form our students, faculty, and staff in the Franciscan way."

Br Greg and the students from the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish, in Brooklyn Heights

The Month鈥檚 initiatives

Franciscan Month 2024 began with a Peace Run on September 30th. College students from all over the world, each representing their country and saying the word 鈥減eace鈥� in their native language, lit and passed a torch around the block. The choice of 鈥榩eace鈥� as this year鈥檚 theme is intentional.

鈥淕iven the conditions of the world, it makes sense,鈥� notes Brother Greg.

He goes on to describe other events in Brooklyn Heights: a feast day Mass, a rosary procession and, very notably, a 鈥渃ellphone freedom hour鈥� to encourage students to detach from what he calls a 鈥渄isordered love鈥� relationship with their devices.

Board games were set up, while the chapel and interfaith prayer space were open to anyone seeking 鈥淔ranciscan solitude.鈥� Some students opted for quiet reflection, while others chose to take a walk with someone and rekindle relationships. Another major event was a march in the Columbus Day Parade in Manhattan, where students carried a banner spreading awareness about Franciscan Month.

Enthusiastic feedback

Feedback from students and faculty has been overwhelmingly positive. 鈥淥ne of our students who participated in the rosary procession shared that he hadn鈥檛 prayed in four months,鈥� Brother Greg recalls. Ironically, the student had a tutoring session scheduled that overlapped with the event. 鈥淗e cancelled the tutoring, came, and played an active role in the procession.鈥� This is a perfect example of how Franciscan Month events help ease the anxieties and pressures of college life, offering students a space to connect spiritually, regardless of their faith backgrounds. 

It really has yielded precious fruits, he says, noting that  students, regardless of their religious affiliation, have deepened 鈥渢heir relationship with God. And that鈥檚 probably the greatest achievement you can have."

The power of relationships

The Franciscan way is rooted in relationships鈥攔elationships with God, with others, with oneself, and with creation. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all about,鈥� affirms Brother Greg, pointing out that  鈥淪t. Francis called everyone and everything his brother or sister鈥擝rother Sun, Sister Moon, Sister Water, Brother Fire.鈥�

Going national and global

In addition to his roles as a professor and Director, Brother Greg also hosts a radio show called Thank God for Monday, where he invites guests to share insights on maximizing professional satisfaction and contribution. 鈥淔or the past five years, we鈥檝e themed some of our shows around different months鈥擯ride Month in June, Black History Month in February, Women鈥檚 History Month in March.

About two years ago, the idea came to me: what about a Franciscan Month?鈥� This was the genesis of the initiative. In addition to events, a blog called All Good Things was created to share daily reflections throughout October.  In 2024, collaborations were established with three dioceses in the New York City area and three in New Jersey.

Looking ahead, Brother Greg hopes to expand. 鈥淚n 2025, we aim to go national, and in 2026, for the 800th anniversary of St. Francis going to Paradise, we hope to take it global.鈥�

The Franciscan Month at the Saint Francis College in Brooklyn

Francis鈥� peace prayer

Brother Greg鈥檚 deep connection to St. Francis stems from childhood. A statue of the saint, part of a birdbath, adorned the garden of his family鈥檚 home in Clifton, New Jersey. 鈥淕rowing up, I always thought Francis was just the saint of the birds,鈥� Brother Greg admits. He initially worked in the pharmaceutical industry, attending church regularly but without fully understanding the Franciscan story.

鈥淚 thought Francis was just there to protect gardens.鈥� It wasn鈥檛 until he became a Franciscan Brother that he grasped the saint鈥檚 profound conversion and mission, epitomized by the peace prayer attributed to him: 鈥渨ords of hope, faith, giving, sharing, loving, and forgiving.鈥�

Transform the world, in need of repair

Franciscan Month aims to reach people who may not know the saint鈥檚 full story.

鈥淗e is really for everyone, not just Catholics. Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, even people with no religious belief at all鈥擣rancis is indeed for everyone.鈥� Brother Greg believes that if more people embrace the Franciscan way of life, the world would be a much better place.

He reflects on the call St. Francis received in 1206 before the San Damiano crucifix: 鈥淔rancis rebuild my Church, which you see is in need of repair.鈥� Today, in 2024, Brother Greg feels that same crucifix is challenging everyone, especially the younger generation, to, 鈥淭ransform the world, which you see is in need of repair.鈥�