|
|
Posted By Teresa Redder, on December 1st, 2014 
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
PEACE to each of your hearts!
The season of the sleeping seed seems to be in turmoil since the temperatures expected for this time of year are not what they should be – one day it’s warm, the next it’s cold, the next it’s tepid, the next it’s frigid – what’s a ground … or a weeping willow … supposed to do?!
I guess there are many theories in response to this question – far more sophisticated than I can come up with – but I would say that, like Mary, the ground is just expected to be available. Available as in being open to God and His will as opposed to our own. Sounds like a lofty aspiration, until we consider that all we really need do is be available to God by being available to one another.
There are those of us who this past year have endured unbearable sorrow. Likewise, there are those among us who have enjoyed indescribable blessing and outrageous joy – such is the way of our God! In each instance we have, hopefully, been available to one another to share in those joys and enter into those sorrows because we are family.
Our Holy Father, St. Francis, reminded us, through his desire to recreate the scene of the Incarnation at Greccio, that we are ONE in our Lord. The question for each of us to consider throughout this season of anticipation is, what can we, as sisters and brothers to one another, do to rekindle the spark of the Spirit’s fire and enthusiasm within each of us and within our Fraternities so that we may open our hearts to hearing, healthing and healing one another so that together, as family, we can journey into the new year with open minds and open hearts to the direction of Him who has called us? May the Spirit of the living God grant us the grace to be available as Mary was so that we may respond to His call to rekindle the fire within us not only individually but fraternally, thereby doing what is ours to do in this time and in this place.
≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈ ≈
How wonderful it was to gather at St. Anthony’s parish hall for our Annual Meeting last month and how grateful and thankful are we to our sisters and brothers of Spirit of St. Francis Fraternity or their gracious and generous hospitality! We are likewise grateful to our sisters Kathy Agosto, OFS, Kate Kleinert, OFS, Stephanie Wiecer, OFS, and our brother and technowizard, Lee Potts, OFS, for their outstanding presentations.
We are very much looking forward to hearing from each of you regarding how you will be able to participate with our Regional effort at the World Meeting of Families in 2015. Our sister, Kate Kleinert, OFS, is eager to set up a committee to assist with our regional participation and fundraising has already begun. Look for further information on our regional website, www.skdregion.org.
Please continue to hold us in prayer and know that we do likewise. If there is anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to let us know. We are here to serve you.
Peace, Advent blessings, and much love,
mattie♥
Posted By Teresa Redder, on December 1st, 2014 December 2014
Let us desire nothing else, let us wish for nothing else,
let nothing else please us and cause us delight,
except our Creator and Redeemer and Savior,
the one true God, Who is fullness of Good,
all Good, every Good, the true and Supreme Good,
Who alone is merciful and gentle, delectable and sweet,
Who alone is holy, just and true, holy and right,
Who alone is kind, innocent, pure,
from Whom and through Whom and in Whom
is all pardon, all grace, all glory … Therefore, let nothing hinder us,
nothing separate us or come between us.
Let us all, wherever we are … Glorify and exalt, magnify and give thanks
to the Most High and supreme eternal God … Amen.
(St. Francis of Assisi)
The month of December celebrates The Expectation and Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem of Judea. Following are excerpts taken from: A Collection of Sayings of the Companions of Blessed Francis (Late 13th – Early 14th Century). Daily reflections are taken from Walk With the Wise.
1
When St. Francis delivered the second Rule to the Lord Pope Honorius for confirmation at Christ’s command…he said to Blessed Francis: Blessed is he who, strengthened by the grace of God, will observe this Rule happily and devotedly, for all the things written in it are holy and Catholic and perfect. – Many find plenty of time to gossip about and/or criticize others, but so little time to spend and speak with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.
2
(When asked to modify certain aspects of the Rule) Blessed Francis answered: It was not I but Christ who put these words in the Rule. He knows best what is useful and necessary for the salvation of souls and of the brothers, and for the good state and preservation of the religion … – Separation from earthly things, ambitions, and even friendships at times, often is the mysterious material that cements a soul closer to God.
3
(St. Francis continued): All that will happen in the future to the religion and to the Church is clear and present to Him (Christ). I must not and cannot change the words of Christ … – Do not be concerned what place you hold but how you hold that place. (St. Therese of Lisieux) » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Reflections – December, 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on December 1st, 2014  December 2014
Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,
May the Infant Jesus grant your heart the Peace you desire.
May His Star enlighten your mind with the splendor of His Truth.
May His Love consume your heart so that it beats solely for Him.
God’s Word for the first Sunday in Advent speaks of the Lord’s unexpected return to close the experience of time and opens for us the reality of eternity. The Scripture passages for this Sunday may have different effects on those who read them. Some may feel that the words are only figurative, intended to convey the need for people to change their lives or be responsible for the consequences of their choices in this life. Others may read the words and see in them a warning about a real event to take place in the immediate future, thus instilling a sense of fear, trembling and a “forced” changed of heart… (Can any heart be changed by force!?)…Then there are those who read the words as they have been read for centuries. These read them as a reminder and a loving warning of what will come about for all human beings created to share in eternal life. This is a reminder and a warning to be heeded but not feared for those who have striven to be faithful to God. » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Greetings – December, 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on December 1st, 2014 
“THE JOY OF SAYING YES”
Servant Leadership In the Secular Franciscan Order
Brothers and Sisters, after reading the article in TAU USA written by our National Minister Tom Bello, OFS, I could not help but think of my journey and also others who have served for a long time.
When you think of those who say “No” to leadership in fraternity election after election, I ask where is the Holy Spirit if we by our faith, at our Baptism, have been called to Holiness – a deeper relationship with God and the realization that we are called to be a community of love and loyal to our Bishop and our Holy Father. All of these are components to living the Franciscan way of life in joy and in service. Some say they are not worthy to serve for they are not as educated as some of those who serve. There is no statement farther from the truth than this. I completed 12 years of High School. As far as my calling to the Secular Order I prayed that the Lord would direct me where He wanted me to go and what He wanted me to do. Through discernment, with the aid of the Holy Spirit. I was led to the Secular Franciscan Order and this is where I have found my peace and my joy.
I think it is exciting and a joy when, after completing the process of initial formation, you reach the day of your Profession day and proclaim the words, Yes this is what I want in response to the questions asked of you. I did not have the privilege of an Initial formation program as it is structured today. I was asked to read the Secular Franciscan Catechism, answer the questions at the end of the chapters and live by my means. With joy I did so. I especially loved to meet other brothers and sisters from Saint Ladislaus Fraternity in New Brunswick, New Jersey. The first time I saw The Liturgy of the Hours and the current Ritual was at St. Peter Fraternity in Riverside, when I had been invited to a Day of Recollection. A year later after my profession I was asked to be Prefect of my Fraternity and, through the grace of God, have continued to serve our Order in many capacities since that time. At each step, I could feel the joy of the presence of God in my life more than I ever had before. Of course, I did not walk this journey alone. I was inspired by members of my family – my mother and grandmother – Sr. Clare Andre, OSC, and many sisters and brothers in Fraternity who have accompanied me on this journey. I specifically recall Kay Sirak, OFS, who enhanced my inspiration to live my Franciscan call.
I do not regret serving our Order for up to now I have done nothing. If you feel are truly called to serve then pray to the Holy Spirit for guidance and direction. He will show you how to prioritize and organize what you are to do. Have no fear, since you will not walk this path alone. If called to service, you will have the help of the outgoing council members which will enable you to put your gifts into action. How many times have we heard these words, Do not be afraid.
God Bless you All in the Holy Season of Advent and may the Infant Jesus bless you abundantly in this coming year.
May I just share my most beautiful Christmas Hymn with you,” Lo How a Rose Ere Blooming”
May the darkness of our hearts be enlightened when we hear the beautiful words of this hymn and may we be formed into His likeness.
Love,
Rosie
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 18th, 2014 
[The following is the text of a talk given by Kathleen Agosto, our regional JPIC Coordinator, at the SKD Region’s annual gathering on November 15, 2014]
Listen to the prayer of Francis on the CD The Geste of the Great King.
A plaintive prayer of a man in dire straits. Whereas initially, I was enamored of the Francis in Brother Sun, Sister Moon, with Donavon singing in the background as Francis romps through a field of flowers, later I came to love Mickey Rourke’s movie “Francesco” with multiple scenes of Francis cold and shivering in the rain, Francis hiding in a cave. The movie with the cave and Francis out in all the elements feels more accurate and seems to resonate with my own Secular Franciscan journey.
Two summers ago, I attended a Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Conference on your behalf and for our Region. The theme of that convocation was “Be the Bridge. Accept all people as a gift of God”. Today I want to link the two ideas of the cave and reconciliation and how that relates to us today as followers of Francis. » Click to continue reading “Be the Bridge” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 11th, 2014 The Handbook for JPIC Animators, developed by the National JPIC Commission, is now available on the site. A link to the document has been added to the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) section of the menu on the right. Here’s a sample:
As Secular Franciscans, we commit ourselves to live the Gospel according to Franciscan spirituality in our secular state. We are called to make our own contribution, inspired by the person and message of our Seraphic Father Francis, towards a world in which the dignity of the human person, shared responsibility, and peace and love may be living realities.
. . . .
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation is simply the Rule of the Secular Franciscan in action. Our Rule is based on the Gospels; JPIC is a lso based on the Gospels. It bubbles up from the Gospels. It is lived out from the Gospels. JPIC is not just something we do, it is who we are, as followers of Jesus in the way of Saint Francis of Assisi. It is an attitude that influences what we do and how we minister, with God, with ourselves, with other people and with creation.
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 9th, 2014 A link to the national JPIC website, which our sister and National JPIC Animatrix, Carolyn Townes OFS, put together, has been added to the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) section of the menu on the right.
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 7th, 2014 In the name of Christ. Amen.
We are pleased to announce that the members of the newly-elected Council of San Damiano Fraternityare:
- Teresa Carisio, OFS Minister
- Deacon Tommy Watts, OFS, Vice-Minister
- Justin Carisio, OFS, Formation Director
- Edyth Kurzweil, OFS, Secretary
- Pat Drake, OFS, Treasurer
Please be sure to keep them in your prayers.
 Deacon Tommy Watts, OFS; Justin Carisio, OFS; Teresa Carisio, OFS; Pat Drake, OFS; Edyth Kurzwell, OFS; and Sr. Elise Betz, OSF
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 7th, 2014 Peace to each of your hearts!
Through the kindness of our International Councillor, Mary Stronach, OFS, we have learned the results of the Chapter of Elections for our International Fraternity held in Assisi:
Our new General Minister is Tibor Kauser, OFS, from Hungary.
Our new Vice General Minister is Maria Consuelo De Nunez (Chelito), OFS, from Venezuela.
The remaining Councillors are:
- Ana Fruk, OFS, from Croatia
- Ana Maria Raffo Laos, OFS, from Peru
- Attilio Galimberti, OFS, from Italy
- Michel Janian, OFS, from Lebanon
- Diana Silva Noemi, OFS, from Argentina
- Jenny Harrington, OFS, from South Africa
- Augustine Young Hak Yoon, OFS, from Korea
Please hold them in prayer as they begin their term of service to each of us.
Blessings,
mattie
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 3rd, 2014 The Order’s General Chapter is now taking place through Saturday, November 8th.
The General Minister of the OFS (Secular Franciscan Order), Encarnita del Pozo, has officially opened the XIVth General Chapter of the OFS (its sixth elective Chapter), taking place in Assisi, Italy, until November 8.
The 85 voting members of the Chapter will discuss these coming days important aspects of the life of the Secular Franciscan Order and take decisions about its future. They will also elect the new leadership team of the OFS for the next six years.
You can follow the news on the CIOFS website here.
There is also a Twitter account set up where news is also being posted: @GeneralChapterOFS
Please be sure to keep our international brothers and sisters in your prayers during this important gathering.
|
|
Comments are closed 
