The Tau Cross Region, Secular Franciscan Order (SFO), held their Annual Fall Gathering on November 11, at St Joseph’s Parish Center, Babylon, NY. A Franciscan Friar and 99 SFO brothers and sisters, representing 27 fraternities, gathered at St Joseph’s Parish Center, Babylon NY. In addition, about 12 guests attended. The Tau Cross Region is comprised of 42 fraternities located in The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk. There are currently about 950 professed brothers and sisters.

Guest Speaker Lori Pieper

Regional Family Award Jim & MaryLou Hughes, with Regional Minister Barbara O’Neill

Regional Peace Award Joan & John DeRiso

This year’s Guest Speaker was Lori Pieper SFO, from Mother of God Fraternity in The Bronx. Lori’s topic was St Elizabeth of Hungary, Patroness of the SFO. A 2-year celebration of the 800th birth of St Elizabeth will begin on her Feast Day (11/17). The 1st year will be dedicated to learning more about the life of St Elizabeth; the 2nd year will concentrate on her significance for SFO spirituality. St Elizabeth’s motto was: “Give God whatever you have cheerfully and gladly.” Elizabeth was a wife, mother, queen and Secular Franciscan. She died at the age of 24. Lori called her “the original multi-tasker.” Lori mentioned St Elizabeth’s importance for Seculars: (1) Attracting youth: her idealism and heroism, and her acceptance of responsibility at an early age will appeal to youth, (2) opposing the “culture of death”: Elizabeth was a pro-life saint. She will be a model for pregnant women, the poor who are dying, and those with serious illness; (3) a proponent of social justice. Lori closed with the statement: “Like St Elizabeth, Seculars are called to abandon worldliness, but not the world.”

At 11:11 am, on 11/11, a moment of silence was observed for peace throughout the world.

Following Mass and lunch, Regional Minister Barbara O'Neill presented the Regional Family Award to MaryLou and Jim Hughes, from Il Poverello Fraternity (East Islip) and the Regional Peace Award to Joan and John DeRiso, from St Helen Fraternity (Howard Beach).