Twenty Friars representing five Franciscan Orders gathered at the beautiful Franciscan Renewal Center in Scottsdale, AZ. The temperature has been hot but very pleasant. Getting up in the morning and walking the grounds as the sun comes up over the mountains is certainly conducive to prayer. The Center is operated by the Franciscans of Santa Barbara Province.

Dr. Jay Hammond from Saint Louis University is our main presenter this week. He has been working on a project to digitalized photos of the Basilica of Saint Francis in Assisi so that the frescoes can be viewed and studied. He explained the theology behind the frescoes; something about which many of us were unfamiliar. He is also working at on a project whereby the major Franciscan sources will be available in digital form on the web for research purposes. Dr. Hammond is a lay Franciscan theologian, one of many gracing our Franciscan world.

Besides learning from Dr. Hammond, the conference gives us a chance to meet new vocation directors and to renew friendships with those who have been in the ministry for a while. We get together every other year and share notes, learn, and support one another. I know that I look forward to these gatherings and come home refreshed.