Kinship and Connection

How does contemplation reorient us toward kinship and connection in a fractured world? In April’s “We Conspire” series, Michele Dunne, Executive Director of the Franciscan Action Network (FAN), explores how Franciscan spirituality invites us to see all of creation—including people we fear or misunderstand—as sacred.  

Michele Dunne, Executive Director of the Franciscan Action Network (FAN), highlights the sense of kinship fostered by St. Francis as a profound gift to the world. “The spirituality of St. Francis teaches us to become aware of the divine life inside ourselves and inside everyone else and to be present in every moment of life. To be present to people,” Dunne continues, “is to stop seeing people and animals as objects.”  

As a young adult, St. Francis found it difficult to see people living with leprosy and would turn away from them when he passed by. One day, while riding near Assisi, Francis felt compelled to get off his horse and kiss a leper who waited along the side of the road. This transformative moment led Francis to say, “What was bitter to me became sweet.” [1]  

Is it possible to find kinship with someone or something you once found it hard to meet? How do we reorient ourselves to understand kinship when our formative education has been shaped by hierarchies of domination? Dunne says seeing oneself on the same level as all people and creatures requires a profound reorientation from everything we’ve learned and is a lifelong journey. 

This journey of reorientation is being explored in FAN’s Franciscan Justice Circles. With 30 local affinity groups in 23 states, these circles serve as hubs of mutual support and learning, intended to foster growth by taking action together. Rooted in principles of justice, peace, and creation, and centered around the idea of joining spirituality and action, Dunne identifies the network’s Justice Circles as the organization’s single most significant project.  

“We cannot make this spiritual journey alone,” says Dunne. “We need companions along the way. We need to be reminded of the inherent goodness of people. In community spaces where common interests transcend political or social affiliations, we naturally form constructive relationships with people who think differently from us.”  

Both St. Francis and Clare were renowned for their courtesy toward all people, even toward those with whom they strongly disagreed. Such deep courtesy, also a highly valued principle at FAN, invites us to consider: What does it mean to be in kinship with people with whom we don’t agree? 

Dunne offers a caution worthy of reflection: “By only gathering in spaces with like-minded individuals, we risk creating greater distance from those who think differently.”  

St. Francis and Clare felt called by God to step out of their comfort zones, leaving behind the confines of their social classes and the safety of the walled city to live in the forest. Similarly, the Franciscan Action Network encourages individuals to consider what it means to see themselves on the same level, in kinship, with those forced to migrate away from their home due to climate change or those suffering from intergenerational poverty.  

For FAN, being in relationship with people in difficult situations means taking action in solidarity with them. The work of FAN involves informing, inspiring, connecting, and mobilizing individuals for an intergenerational Franciscan movement focused on justice, peace, and creation. FAN offers a Franciscan perspective about public policy that addresses systemic causes of the profound suffering experienced by their fellow humans and the earth.  

As a part of their reorientation, FAN strives to create a continuum of care—from building relationships and seeking understanding to offering solidarity and taking action. Dunne acknowledges that participating in advocacy can push individuals beyond their comfort zone. “Advocacy,” she says, “doesn’t really fit into anyone’s day. Whether it’s going to your state capitol or to Washington, DC, to meet with your member of Congress, writing letters, making phone calls, or showing up for street actions, it’s a sacrifice.”  

Dunne concludes, “Engaging in solidarity actions that involve risk and sacrifice, not out of pity but presence, is a deeply contemplative experience.”  

References: 
[1] Jack Wintz, “St Francis Meets the Leper,” August 2018, St. Anthony Messenger Franciscan Media, accessed March 18, 2025, , https://www.franciscanmedia.org/st-anthony-messenger/st-francis-meets-the-leper. 

Reflect with Us  
In what ways has contemplation invited you to see sacredness in those you once misunderstood or feared? How have spiritual practices helped you move beyond comfort, toward kinship and courageous solidarity with others—especially those on the margins? Share your reflection with us.   

We Conspire is a series from the Center for Action and Contemplation featuring wisdom and stories from the growing Christian contemplative movement. Sign up for the monthly email series and receive a free invitation to practice each month.