Building a More Fraternal and Evangelical World...One Cookie at a Time

Don Watkins, OFS, describes how the Secular Franciscans of the St. Irenaeus Fraternity sent a powerful message about gun violence.

What does it mean to build a more fraternal and evangelical world? How do Secular Franciscans respond to everyday problems and situations that arise in our lives? 

John and Anita Dutcher are both professed Secular Franciscans of the St. Irenaeus Fraternity in West Clarksville, N.Y. At a recent fraternity gathering they shared how deeply they had been affected by the Sandy Hook tragedy a year ago, especially because they had lost a close relative to a gun death. At the time the two of them were making gingerbread cookies. When former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, also a victim of gun violence, asked everyone to “do something,” they decided to share the cookies, decorated as children either killed or affected by the violence, with their legislators along with a message calling for responsible handling of guns and gun safety.

On Feb. 16, at Mt. Irenaeus, after Mass and brunch, Secular Franciscans gathered to make cookies and decorate them for this purpose.

Cookies provide the perfect metaphor for articulating a pro-life issue as sensitive as gun violence has become in our society. These boy and girl cookies represent the many children who have been exposed to misuse of firearms, those whose lives were lost and those who were able to survive.            

The boys and girls with the black sashes represent those children who have survived. They grieve for their friends who will never again play or open their eyes. The little girl is trimmed in green for life, hope and joy. The boys and girls with closed eyes are trimmed in red, white and blue. Their right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness has been denied. They are now with God.

Boxes of six such cookies are mailed to federal and state officials reminding them of their responsibility for action concerning the sale of weapons. Cookies have traveled as far as Denver, Colo., California, Florida and New York City. 

Decorating the cookies turned out to be a community event as students from nearby Houghton College, St. Bonaventure University, and visitors to Mt. Irenaeus all participated in the decoration and packaging of the cookies. 

Each gingerbread cookie, after trimming, is zipped into a clear plastic bag with a note tucked into the reverse side, encouraging owners to abide by their responsibility to keep their weapons locked away, with ammunition locked away elsewhere. In addition, to make sure that only healthy and stable people are given access to those weapons. A serious right-to-life issue was brought to light, lives were changed and conversion took place around this powerful issue in a way that invited everyone to think of how they could help families and children.

More information about how you can share this ministry can be obtained by contacting John and Anita by email at AnitaDutcher@earthlink.net or by writing a letter to Mt. Irenaeus, PO Box 100, West Clarksville, New York 14786.