What's The Difference

Community service is great. Everybody can do it. Everyone does. However, what is the difference between an atheist, agnostic, Protestant, Catholic, and a Secular Franciscan (a Franciscan Catholic) performing community service? How do you tell the difference?

Unless there is some outward sign, you can't tell the difference. What to do? A Secular Franciscan could wear their Tau Cross and offer to lead everyone in prayer before and after performing community service.

Ken Ogorek, the director of catechesis for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, wrote these two prayers for parents performing community service with the teenagers. The prayers could be used with adults, too. Modify and use the prayers as you see fit.

And, at the end of each prayer, add these words: "Saint Francis and Saint Clare pray for us."

That's how you can tell the difference.