JPIC News -- September 2014

This month, I had many experiences which made me think about our common commitment to identify with the poor and marginalized. This seems to me to be the essence of our profession and of our way of life, solidarity with the poor and love of poverty as opposed to social climbing, status seeking and hobnobbing with the rich, the well-educated and the privileged classes.

When I wrote about the children at the borders last month, little did I know that I would soon meet them face to face living near to me in South Jersey. I now understand that tubing
Continue reading: JPIC News — September 2014

Fr. Francis; Reflections - September. 2014

(St. Francis of Assisi)

O truly the most Christian of men,

who strove by perfect imitation

to be conformed while living to Christ living,

dying to Christ dying, and dead to Christ dead,

and deserved to be adorned with an expressed likeness!

(Your) most holy soul was released from the flesh

and absorbed into the abyss of divine light …

You were borne aloft straight to heaven …

(you) merited to enter the place of light and peace

where (you)
Continue reading: Fr. Francis; Reflections – September. 2014

Fr. Francis' Greetings - September, 2014

Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,

The Lord give you his peace!

The world seems inundated with tragedies of all kinds. The Middle East and Africa are plagued by severe persecutions against Christians primarily but also other minority religious groups. Refugees in the Middle East, Africa, as well as at the border of the United States and Mexico arouse multi-national concern for their safety and well-being. Natural disasters are occurring more frequently around the world displacing or killing thousands of people. These occurrences are only a few signs of the sadness and suffering happening around our world.
Continue reading: Fr. Francis’ Greetings – September, 2014

Thoughts from your Regional Formation Director - September, 2014

Dear Brothers and Sister in Christ, Peace be with you!

Here we are in September which holds for us many feasts, beginning with The Nativity of Our Lady, the Holy Name of Mary, and Our Lady of Sorrows, as well as several Franciscan Saints. They gave up everything to rejoice in the treasures that awaited them in heaven.

Going back a couple of months ago, we read in Scripture, Matthew 13:44-52, another account of what the Kingdom of Heaven is like and that once one finds it, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. Francis from
Continue reading: Thoughts from your Regional Formation Director – September, 2014

From the Heart of Your Minister - September, 2014

Peace to each of your hearts, dear sisters and brothers in St. Francis!

And so we here we are … at that interim season of summerfall … when summer is not quite over and autumn is at our doorstep. Fr. Francis and our RFD, Rosie Viragh, OFS, have provided us with lots to think about as we approach the upcoming Franciscan season. I hope you will share what they have written with our sisters and brothers in fraternity.

In his letter this month, Fr. Francis reminds us that,

God’s Word and healing grace are made more apparent and
Continue reading: From the Heart of Your Minister – September, 2014