I am Deborah Lockwood, a Franciscan Sister from Redwood City, California, and began my term on the Franciscan Federation Board in August, 2026. What is this new beginning for me?
There is a story in Chapter XI of the Fioretti that tells of Masseo, twirling like a child as instructed, for Francis to understand the next step God intended for his journey. Granted this can have dizzying effects and decisions usually have many things swirling around in our minds. There is a parallel in this for my decision to follow a call to become engaged in the Franciscan Federation Board.
The primary lure is Francis himself – his being, his relationship with all of creation, his simplicity, his peace, his love. I have been steeped in that grace since my youth, such a blessing! My eyes have been opened and my heart widened, both of which I consider graces.
This journey with Francis and Clare calls me and twirls me around, setting me in a direction of seeing and responding in love to those whom I encounter. My experience: people yearn for the message of Francis (which primarily is the message of Jesus) and we followers of Francis, formally or informally, have the blessing to be it and invite others to the twirling.
Franciscan Federation is a way for all of us to come together to be that for our world and I am excited to be a part of a growing and evolving awareness of the Franciscan charism some 800 years strong. The Piazza is alive and well with all sorts of twirling in pondering newness, expressing opinions, uniting in causes, wondering together, planting seeds, praising as one – twirling to know the next step of the journey as Francis did.
We don’t have Masseo — we have each other as support on this journey as we learn and envision the next steps together. This energizes me to twirl with you, my sisters and brothers of the Franciscan Federation, for what and how we will be called, perched as we are, on the cusp of the ninth centenary of being the Franciscan charism for our world.
Deborah Lockwood, OFS
