Welcome to St Agnes' Spiritual Director, +Brother Jack Isbell, Provincial Minister for The Franciscan Order of the Holy Cross
We have the ecumenically linked support of bishop Jack Isbell, a Franciscan and deeply spiritual man. He prefers to call himself 'Brother' as he has no need for status, titles or people bowing and scraping to him. He is a bishop without an inflated ego who has accepted the role as Spiritual Director of the Society of St Agnes and we are deeply honoured to have his expression and wisdom. He is a rare thing indeed; a male feminist! We are overjoyed to have this affiliation and thank God for blessing us with such an experienced and holy man. One of the things we find so touching is he uses sign language throughout worship. It evokes the gentle warmth of Christ's Holy presence. We cannot wait to meet with him either again in Hawaii where he lives, preaches and teaches or as our honoured guest in the UK. If you ever celebrate mass with him you will understand fully what the Roman Catholic term In Persona Christi means. Maybe it takes a Franciscan to get the true beauty of Catholicism right!
A message from +Brother Jack:
"I believe using inclusive language leads to inclusive action. We need to be a church that draws the circle wider and wider! Women need to be supported by language and action. St. Mary Magdalene was the first witness to the Resurrection of Christ by one Gospel account - and the Eastern Church proclaims her to be an Apostle! Rome is still lead by a bunch of old and often very conservative men who refuse to allow some 51% of humanity to be included in the church. Womens' religious orders in the Roman church make some wonderful noise for change in the Roman Curia. Unfortunately Benedict XVI is trying to get rid of the changes brought in the Roman Church and take Rome back to Vatican I and away with Vatican II's wonderful changes in Liturgy and Action. If the current Pope succeeds in this attempt, it is even more important for churches, catholic to keep the actions and changes of Vatican II alive. The Society of St. Agnes (and all our women in ministry) will help keep such changes alive and well in the church. 'The hand that rocks the Cradle does rule the world!' This statement is truer than prejudiced men know. The Society of St. Agnes will be a major movement for change in the Church in the way that Catholic women of Spirit are able to bring about such change! I am with you all the way!"
Love and Peace,
+Jack, your brother in the Movement of St. Agnes!