Franjevačka mladež (FRAMA)

je skupina mladih koji se okupljaju svakog petka u centru Sv. Nikole Tavelića od 7.30 - 9.30pm. Mladi sv Nikole Tavelića dolaze zajedno kako bi dobili i podijelili znanje o životu i duhovnost svetog Franje i raznih drugih svetaca naše Katoličke crkve. Tijekom susreta razgovaramo o određenim temama, dijelimo mišljenje o toj temi i fra Smiljan dijeli svoje znanje s nama. Nekad gledamo filmove, ili radimo praktične stvari.Međusobno dijelimo ono što se događa u našem svakodnevnom životu. 

FRAMA je među mladima hrvatske zajednice osobiti element, koji želi pomoći mladima susresti se s Gospodinom i jedni s drugima. FRAMA nastoji živjeti franjevački ideal - svakom stvorenju navijestiti Krista. Hrvatska se mladež može bolje upoznati znajući da dijele slične vrijednosti i kulturu. FRAMA je otvorena svima i nudi dobrodošlicu svima koji žele nešto novo i drugačije. Bilo bi lijepo vidjeti nova lica!

Franjevački svjetovni red

je ustanovljen po nadahnuću i djelovanju sv. Franje Asiškog (1182-1226). U samim počecima nakon svog obraćanja osnovao je bratstvo: "Pokornička braća i sestre", iz kojeg su nikla tri franjevačka reda: prvi muški (Manja Braća, Kapucini, Konventualci), drugi ženski (Klarise) i treći za ljude u svijetu (iz kojeg nastadoše i neki "Treći samostanski redovi").

FSR je organizirano zajedništvo koje se živi, kako na razini mjesne tako i na razini sveopće Crkve. Danas u svijetu ima oko 2 milijuna članova i kandidata koji žive franjevačko poslanje. Vodstvo Reda čini Internacionalno vijeće koje ima svoje sjedište u Rimu. Zakonito izabrani ministar (služitelj) Internacionalnog vijeća predstavlja FSR pred Crkvom i društvom. Svaki narod ima svoje Nacionalno vijeće s ministrom na čelu. Prema novim Konstitucijama organizacijska podjela FSR-a je slijedeća: mjesna, regionalna, nacionalna i internacionalna. Braca i sestre, tako se članovi FSR-a međusobno nazivaju, svoje zajedništvo najkonkretnije proživljavaju u malim bratstvima vezanim uz samostane i župe. Svako bratstvo ima svog duhovnog asistenta koji je najčešće redovnik - svećenik.

Po uzoru na svog utemeljitelja sv. Franju članovi FSR-a obavezuju se da će prednjačiti u promicanju mira, dostojanstva ljudske osobe i da će "više" raditi za humanije odnose u društvu. Surađuju sa svim pokretima koji promiču sveopće bratstvo među narodima i obavezuju se da će ostvarivati uvjete dostojne života za svakoga, te promicati slobodu svakog naroda. Nadahnuti evanđeoskim duhom radosno susreću braću i sestre, napose one koji su siromašni i na rubu društva. Zauzimaju se i podupiru pokrete koji se bore protiv svih oblika izrabljivanja, diskriminacije i siromaštva. Kao zajednica, iza koje stoji Crkva sa svojim autoritetom, služi toj istoj Crkvi u promicanju evanđeoske poruke preko raznih oblika evangelizacije. U načinu života i rada žele živjeti uzornim obiteljskim životom, jednostavni i pošteni u svakodnevnom ophođenju s ljudima, odgovorni i zauzeti u društvenim obavezama. Slijedeći primjer s. Franje, koji je imao poseban osjećaj za sva Božja stvorenja i koji je 1979. god. proglašen nebeskim zaštitnikom prijatelja ekologije, prednjače i podržavaju sve koji se bore protiv zagađenja prirode i ljudske okoline.

 U našim župnim zajednicima pogotovo Doma a sada i ovdje u St. Johns Parku bilo je mnogo vjernika koji su nastojali raditi, živjeti,djelovati u franjevačkom duhu, koji su u povezanosti sa svojim “ujacima” nastojali upoznati sv. Franju i živjeti u franjevačkom duhu.

Youth Group 

It is a great joy that in our Community we have so many young people who are „regulars“. Every Tuesday night after they finish their work, or studies, after 8pm they gather from all parts of Sydney at our Center for a meeting. You can call it fun night, Bible Studies night, talk, or something else... It is important that they like to come and they enjoy being here.

Some of them wrotte why:

A.S.: I enjoy spending time with other people attending this meeting, discussing religious issues, stories from the past and our stories being shared, it become a great learning experience. I started coming to the Youth Group at the age of 17 and the reason why is because I was going through a really tough time in my life and I was struggling with depression and anxiety, and I thought that spending time in a calm and quiet environment joining in spiritual talks would help. And it did. Those talks were quite soothing and took me away from from usual day to day routine, and I felt that I was coming closer to God and started to feel better about myself. So, I kept coming, I realise now how important is for me to have that spiritual experience I had at the Retreats we organized with other young people from our Community. There is also that social element, we were organizing some charity events, selling cookies and coffee, some time we have a party night cooking something, or just enjoying ourselves with a coup of coffee or tea. It would be great that other young people from our Croatian Community here at Sydney would join us.

A.G.: These meetings at St Johns Park are not only socially enjoyable, but more importantly they has strengthened my faith. It is six years already that I attend them, an my life has dramatically changed for better, it has opened my eyes to see God in my everyday life, to see God in every person I know and meet. That is one of the greatest gifts that I have received in my life. Through those years I have been able to share what I learnt with my family and friends and I have seen how it strengthen our relationships and our faith. We discuss current social issues, we learn how to understand the Bible, and how to apply that knowledge in our everyday life. It truly changes the way you live. Along with personal development, I have met many new people, learnt from their life stories and made many strong friendships that will last a life time. I wish that many young adults from our Community would join, so that they also could have that life changing experience.

J.A.: Initially, when I was browsing Facebook posts, I came across an advertisement for a Catholic Youth retreat organised by dedicated Croatian Catholic Youth. I decided that it would be great for my personal growth in spirituality and faith to join. It was also an opportunity to gather more information about how a young Catholic should live in this world, and to meet other young people with the same ideas. It made me realize that now I try to grow in my faith on everyday basis, and it helps me to deal with all daily challenges of my life.

S.A.: It is amazing to find people I can relate to and to find true friends that share the same passion for faith. I would strongly encourage all young people in our Croatian Community to attend, those who are looking to strengthen their faith to meet like-minded young Catholics and be truly free to express their feelings and thoughts. It can be hard to be a devout Catholic in this world, but by being around the people who feel the same and who don't want to conform to the pressures of society enables me to keep onto my faith and even grow stronger as I know these friends will support me every step of my life.