The Franciscan friars first arrived in Durham, in the north of England, in the late 1230s. It seems the friars weren’t made very welcome and by 1241 they were on the road again, eventually settling down some miles away in Hartlepool. The friary at Hartlepool survived for several centuries until Henry VIII supressed all the religious communities and monastic houses in his kingdom. But times have changed!
Durham has become a very welcoming city for Franciscans in recent years. About three years ago the Capuchin Franciscans founded a friary there. In 2019 the Centre for Catholic Studies hosted the first international Franciscan conference in Durham University. This was by way of marking the eighth centenary of the visit of St. Francis to the Sultan, al-malik al-kamil.
The conference was so well received that it was decided to hold an international Franciscan conference in Durham every two years. However, as we know, the Covid pandemic was just around the corner.
Five years later and the Franciscans were, at last, back in Durham! The Second International Conference took place from 12th to 14th March and, once again, there was more demand for places than the organizers could supply. Speakers from all over the world addressed aspects of Franciscan philosophy and theology, literature, prayer and mysticism, art, folklore, politics, ecology, fraternity, and many other topics.
The keynote lecture was given by Sr. Mary Beth Ingham, an internationally recognized scholar of the work of Blessed John Duns Scotus. Sr. Mary Beth told the conference participants about a conversation she once had with another great Franciscan scholar, Fr. Allen Wolter. In the course of a conversation she reminded him that “not everyone thinks like you Franciscans!” In other words, the great Franciscan vision of life can seem obvious to those who have been living within the Franciscan family for decades. To those outside, the great majority of people, it needs to be teased out and explained. How true!
Even we Franciscans are, at times, unaware of how rich in wisdom and learning is our Franciscan story. That is what our conference in Durham was all about; retrieving and building on this great tradition of piety, learning, fraternity, and compassion.
In the Gospel of St. Matthew Jesus speaks about the good scribe of the Kingdom of God who, like a wise householder, brings forth from the storeroom things both old and new (Mt 13: 52). This week in Durham the riches of our Franciscan storeroom, both old and new, were generously shared and celebrated. And wherever Franciscans gather the family atmosphere comes too!
We left the historic city of Durham this week with renewed hearts and minds. And, God willing, we will be back again in 2026.
If you are interested in the Franciscan way of life please contact:
Friar Liam Kelly OFM
Phone: 087 396 0262
irishfranciscansofm@gmail.com
Postal address: Franciscan Friary, Ennis, Co Clare.
