PORTIUNCULA
(port-see-UNcle-uh), Latin for little portion, was the nickname of a little church that St. Francis rebuilt with his early followers. St. Francis loved and cherished this church because it symbolized both the simplicity of lifestyle he wanted to model for his followers, as well as the healing power of shared work and community.  In the work of rebuilding this little church, Francis and his brother discerned a direction for a new way of seeing life and faith.

CORE VALUES
Hospitality rooted in Openness and Inclusiveness
 
Beauty rooted in the Experience, Sacred Stories, and Social Action
 
Awareness rooted in Shared Work, Shared Leadership, and Shared Responsibility
 
Simplicity rooted in Evangelical Poverty, Detachment, and Sustainability

Portiuncula Guild is a faith-based association of creative folks and spiritual seekers working at the intersections of faith, craftsmanship, and creative expression. The intent of the guild is to build mutually supportive creative relationships, foster conversations around the connection between art and faith, as well as seek out artistic collaborations in which art can engage the entire community in the spirituality of the art making process.
 
Giving the medieval idea of an artist guild a modern twist, members of the Portiuncula Guild seek to not only support one another in life, faith, work, and mission, guild members also promote each other’s vision to a wider world for the use, and benefit of, and in service to the entire community. Core activities of the guild are providing opportunities for retreat, meditation, and prayer, and occasional festival gatherings for creative seekers of all denominations and all faiths, offering hospitality and providing occasions for dialogue and conversation for all seeking a deeper spiritual, religious, imaginative experience within community.  In addition, guild members are committed to exploring and experimenting with the creation and celebration of innovative and inclusive opportunities for gathering, contemplation, prayer, life cycle rituals, meaningful learning, community building and social change. 

The Portiuncula Guild is nonprofit religious organization coordinated and overseen by a Board of Trustees.  Guild members commit themselves to monthly gatherings for worship, a spiritual practice, or mission opportunity.  Every day members offer themselves the chance to engage in creativity, prayer, and reflection.  Members are open to every creative encounter as an opportunity to grow community, foster social change, and experience the divine.