OUR BROTHERS
"And when the Lord gave me some brothers, no one showed me what I ought to do, but the Most High Himself revealed to me that I should live according to the form of the holy Gospel... And those who came to take this life upon themselves gave to the poor all that they might have and they were content with one tunic, patched within and without ... with a cord and breeches, and we wished for no more."
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The Testament of St. Francis
Ambrose Cristóbal SSF
Brother Ambrose was born and grew up in Osaka, Japan. He came to San Francisco and entered SSF in 2007. After living in Los Angeles for 12 years (he was a bookkeeper at Church of the Epiphany and has been a sexton in residence of St. Paul’s Common, Episcopal Diocese of Los Angeles since 2018) he moved back to San Francisco in 2022. Brother Ambrose currently attends St. John the Evangelist Church and volunteers at the Open Cathedral on Thursday evenings. He’s a classical music lover, a bookworm, and interested in studying ancient languages like Classical Ethiopic, Syriac, and Nabatean.
Antonio SSF
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A priest from the diocese of Tokyo, Antonio made his first profession in 1975 in the European Province. He transferred to the Province of the Americas in 1981 and served in San Francisco, San Paulo, Brazil, Long Island, and Los Angeles before returning in May 2022 to San Damiano Friary in San Francisco. The priority of his life is "prayer and contemplation" and "simplicity of life.” As a senior himself, he visits the Castro Senior Center, and "Little Brothers-Friends of the Elderly,” reaching out to the seniors in the city. Antonio attends St John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in the Mission District and his special concerns and prayers are for peace and justice of the whole world.
Clark Berge SSF
Brother Clark, a native of Snohomish, Washington, is a priest canonically resident in the Diocese of Olympia. He joined SSF in 1989 and has served many places, most recently as Guardian of Hilfield Friary in Dorset, UK from 2017-2023. He moved to San Damiano in December 2023 and is actively involved with St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church in the Mission District of San Francisco as well as doing supply work around the diocese of California. Clark cares for creation by volunteering with the National Park Service cleaning Ocean Beach and as a volunteer gardener at the San Francisco Botanical Gardens. He’s the author of two books, The Vows Book (Vest Pocket Publications), and Running to Resurrection: A Soul-making Chronicle (Canterbury Press, Norwich, UK).
Desmond Alban SSF
Des joined SSF in the European Province in 1993 and served as the Province’s Novice Guardian and Provincial Secretary before coming to the US in 2016. He’s currently engaged in more intentional training as a Spiritual Director, following many years of informal experience and is a qualified “3Practice Circle” referee, helping to bring people together for conversation across differences. Des enjoys music, particularly liturgical singing, occasionally writes hymns or poems, and makes candles and prayer ropes.
Dwayne Fernandes (Novice)
Dwayne joined the Society of Saint Francis in 2023. He has a Master of Divinity from Newman Theological College, Canada, a Graduate Certificate in Spiritual Direction Studies from Washington Theological Union, Washington, D.C., and has completed five units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). He has served as a missionary in Peru and El Salvador. His pastoral experience includes hospital and prison chaplaincy, parish ministry, spiritual direction, retreat preaching, and writing and speaking on biblical topics. Dwayne grew up playing jazz and gospel piano, and revels in the joy of bringing these genres to liturgical music. As a certified scuba Rescue Diver, Dwayne has logged over seventy-five dives in oceans and lakes. Dwayne is as comfortable backpacking on mountain trails as firing up a meal in the kitchen, and being from India, he is rarely separated from his suitcase of spices.
Finnian Shannon (Novice)
Originally from the Adirondacks in Upstate New York, Finnian Shannon moved to San Damiano in September 2023. He’s a musician with a background in playing trumpet, French horn, piano and guitar, has sung with community choirs, barbershop competition choirs and church choirs in multiple states, and currently sings with the Queer Chorus of San Francisco. Finnian Shannon has a passion for working with people from all walks of life and has extensive experience in youth ministry and organizing and leading missions, retreats, and workshops. With a background in social work, adult mental health, and youth services, he looks forward to seeing where God may lead him on his journey with SSF.
Robert Hugh SSF
Robert was ordained a deacon in the Church of England in 1954 and after being ordained a priest in 1955, he spent 10 years in parishes around England. He joined SSF in1964 and often reminds us that he came to the US in 1967 for a “short-term exchange visit of a year or so!’” Robert’s served as Novice Guardian and Minister Provincial and in a teaching and retreat ministry that’s taken him to all 50 states as well as Australia, New Zealand, the West Indies, and England.
Thomas SSF
A native Californian, Thomas joined SSF in 2016. He’s a writer, artist, formator, and spiritual director, currently living in New York City while he completes training as a Jungian analyst at the C.G. Jung Institute of NYC. Thomas has an active spiritual direction practice, is the acting chaplain for the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan, and a member of St Mary the Virgin Episcopal church in New York City. As a life-professed member of SSF, Thomas is part of the leadership team and is also one of the co-facilitators within the Formation program.
LEADERSHIP
Provincial Leadership Team
The Province of the Americas is currently using a leadership by the whole model.
A steering committee of three brothers manages day to day functions.
Christopher John SSF
Minister General
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Christopher John was elected Minister General for SSF in 2017. As Minister General, he has leadership responsibilities for the First Order Brothers worldwide. Christopher John hails from New Zealand, and lives in Australia when he's not traveling the world. The Minister General is elected for a term of six years, and may be re-elected for an additional four years.
Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick
Bishop Protector
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Bishop Robert has served as Diocesan of the Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii since 2007. He was elected Protector for the Province of the Americas in 2017. As Protector, he serves as a consultant to the Society, and as a liaison between the community and the Episcopal Church USA. The Bishop Protector is elected to a term of six years, and may serve an unlimited number of terms.
