LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending St. Joseph Fraternity of the Secular
Franciscan Order upon the occasion of celebrating their 150th Anniver-
sary on June 6, 2010

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is moved to recognize and pay tribute to
those organizations and individuals of firm belief and commitment who
have devoted their purposeful lives to the service of faith and communi-
ty; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
St. Joseph Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order upon the occasion
of celebrating their 150th Anniversary at a Mass to be followed by
dinner at Radisson Hotel-Utica Center on Sunday, June 6, 2010; and
WHEREAS, The dinner speaker will be Friar Adam Keltos, OFM Conv., who
ministers at the Franciscan Place, a chapel at Carousel Center Mall in
Syracuse, New York; another highlight of the celebration will be the
presentation of the inaugural Mother Marianne Cope Award to West Side
Kitchen and the Rescue Mission of Utica; and
WHEREAS, The St. Joseph Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order was
founded in 1859 after Franciscan Friars officially took over what is now
known as St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church on March 13 of that year; the
first person entered in the fraternity records was Barbara Bopp (reli-
gious name of St. Clare); she began her journey on April 1, 1859, and
was professed a year and a day later on April 2, 1860; and
WHEREAS, When it was first established, the fraternity focused on
supporting the work of the Franciscan Friars, raising money for the
missions and assisting in the parish; they also focused on personal
sanctity and were known as the Penitent Brothers and Sisters; and
WHEREAS, In 1978, a new rule changed the direction of the order,
focusing more on apostolic works; the new rule was encouraged and
approved by the Vatican; it became recognized as its own self-governing
world-wide order; from then on, it became known as the Secular Francis-
can Order; and
WHEREAS, Through the direction of one of its members, Betty Frank, St.
Joseph Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order helped to establish
the only Perpetual Adoration Chapel run by lay people in the Mohawk
Valley in 1992; for the past 18 years the chapel has been totally
supported by a lay volunteer force of 300+ adorers who pray in the chap-
el round the clock 365 days a year; and
WHEREAS, Through its member, Betty Frank, and the support of other
members of the order, St. Joseph Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan
Order helped spearhead the erection of the shrine to Blessed Marianne
Cope at St. Joseph/St. Patrick Church; and
WHEREAS, In March 2008, five members of the St. Joseph Fraternity of
the Secular Franciscan Order helped establish Mother Marianne's West
Side Kitchen at St. Joseph/St. Patrick Church, which has served 50,000
meals throughout its distinguished history; and
WHEREAS, St. Joseph Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order is an
active supporter of the Secular Franciscan-run Amazon Relief ministry to
the lepers and poor of Brazil; and
WHEREAS, Through its members, St. Joseph Fraternity of the Secular
Franciscan Order is also involved in the regional, national and interna-
tional levels of the Order; internationally, the Order has 400,000
members in about 70 countries with ministries to the poor and marginal-
ized of society; and
WHEREAS, The members of St. Joseph Fraternity of the Secular Francis-
can Order are involved in a variety of ministries including: religious

education, Eucharistic ministers, soup kitchens, animal shelters, nurs-
ing homes, and ringing the bells for The Salvation Army; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention, it
is appropriate to publicly and jubilantly proclaim and commend that
individual for the edification of others; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend St. Joseph Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order upon the
occasion of celebrating their 150th Anniversary on June 6, 2010; and be
it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to St. Joseph Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order.