"Ask and you shall receive; seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be opened." - Matthew 7:7
These words from Matthew's gospel aptly describe my journey as a companion. For several years, the call to live the gospel and pursue a more intimate relationship with Christ brought me much consternation. My Franciscan heart floundered, searching for direction, desiring answers, always looking, wondering in a vacuum. Where was God leading me?
 |
| Cristina Dixon and Sr. Mary Jo Chaves |
While on a pilgrimage in Assisi, Italy, I met a Sister of St. Francis of Philadelphia who resides in Portland, Oregon, where I also live. She introduced me to the companions group in Portland, which was just barely in its beginning stages. I joined that companions group almost six years ago and realized my intention to live as a lay Franciscan. I have learned that at the heart of anything Franciscan, is RELATIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP, RELATIONSHIP, and my relationships with my sister and brother companions have burgeoned a growth in my love of service to them and others. Under the direction of Sister Mary Jo Chaves, the companions form a strong group dedicated to prayer, faith sharing, and social ministry. We meet once amonth at the Franciscan Spiritual Center in Milwaukie, Oregon, a nurturing haven of contemplation and tranquility.
Our prayer life consists of worship through song, music, contemplative meditation, and group liturgies. Many of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia in the Portland area are also members of companions faith-sharing groups and support and provide for us by offering retreats, hermitages, spiritual direction, workshops, classes, and meditation, thus furthering a closer intimacy with Christ and the gospel. Our prayer life lives within each one of us.
We study Franciscan formation and probe into the lives of Francis and Clare and their vision for our own lives today. Recently, I have only just begun to touch the surface of our deep legacy with Mother Mary Francis Bachmann and St. John Neumann, CSSR. Such glimpses into our Franciscan heritage are examples of direction and motivation designed to increase our faith and love for God.
 |
| (left to right) Sr. Carmel Gregg, Mary Erickson, Cristina and husband Bruce, Tony Pliska, Sr. Guadalupe Medina, Sr. Emma Holdener, Sr. Mary Lonergan, Joy Wallace. |
Many social ministries are active within our group. We engage in providing food, clothing, and shelter for the many people in our parishes and cities who are poor and homeless. We support homeless shelters such as Our Peaceful Place and Rose Haven and volunteer our time and talents on a regular basis. I have experienced the greatest peace and contentment in serving those who are less unfortunate.
Reflecting back on the words of Matthew's gospel, I find that I asked and received much indirection and guidance. I searched and found the Sisters of St. Francis. I knocked and the door opened to the companions. My life has been enriched a hundredfold.
In June, I shall be moving to Arizona. There are no companions or Sisters of St. Francis ministering there at the present time, but there are many Franciscans active in the area. My connection to the sisters is solid as I minister as a companion in another state. My mission to live the gospel is my witness as I strive to bring "the humility of the Incarnation" and "the love of the Passion" to people everywhere. The unity of my mutual commitment is no longer a question of what I do, but of who I am, and I shall always be a companion of the Sisters of St.Francis of Philadelphia—one in prayer, faith, and ministry. The journey continues.
