Dear John, I came to work at Franciscan Media in 2001. Born and raised Catholic, my spirituality languished in my young adult life. But it wasn’t long before I came to love the Franciscans. There are familial ties: My father was educated by Franciscans. His father was baptized by Franciscans. My parents were married at a Franciscan parish. I marveled—still do, really—at the humility of the Franciscans, their care for the poor and marginalized, and their deep devotion to the charism of their founder. Hi. I am Christopher Heffron, the editorial director at Franciscan Media and the co-executive editor of St. Anthony Messenger magazine. In 2009, eight years into my employment at Franciscan Media, I was selected to go to Assisi for a pilgrimage—and that is where the legacy of St. Francis struck me personally. I remember the moment it happened. When I touched the outer wall of the Porzioncula, the tiny church that St. Francis built by hand, I felt a twinge in my arm that reverberated throughout my body. Suddenly, when I stood back and looked at the humble little chapel, the legacy of Francis and Clare became real to me. It became tangible. And it fuels the work that I do. I believe that the spirituality of St. Francis is a remedy for many social ills. He was a 13th-century person to his core, but his struggles were not so medieval: a health scare, social and political unrest, and spiritual apathy. Francis understood something with total clarity: When we strip ourselves of all things worldly, God’s grace suffices. I know many of you understand this because you tell us as much. Recently, as I perused Franciscan Media’s Twitter account, a comment caught my attention: “Franciscan Media has the best articles and features. You’ve really helped me connect my faith with the broader world and I look forward to everything you publish. I feel closer to God. Thank you.” That tweet gave my heart a lift. But none of it is possible without your support. When you donate to our organization, your money is supporting materials such as Saint of the Day, Franciscan Spirit, and Faith and Family. It goes toward the production of our magazine—now in its 129th year of continuous publication. It goes toward sharing the charism of St. Francis with a wounded world. You are the lifeblood of our mission—the heartbeat of our work—and none of it would be possible without you. This is important work, and together we still have much to do. Please join me now. | 