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Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 1st, 2014 It is November 1st and I have to set the clocks back tonight so as not to be late for Sunday Mass tomorrow. The cold is here now and, on one hand, I reckon that it is five months til spring. Not too bad. Five out of Twelve months of good weather. Not so bad because today I will make a pot of soup and get some good bread. Last night was Halloween. Nicole dressed the two dogs up as Tigger and Eyore from Winnie the Pooh. There are bags of Reese’s Peanut Butter hidden (from me) in the Fridge to nibble on. Tonight after we do some chores, we will turn on the fireplace, maybe watch a movie. Grandma America will call from Florida to make sure that we are all right. Soon it will be Thanksgiving, then Christmas and Easter. We will all be together. We are not fighting. We like each other and get along. We love each other. We are a family.
But across the street, it is different. Joey will call his father in Florida tonight. Then he will call his Mom for the weekly phone call. Over the holidays, he will go to the casinos. He will get wasted on Christmas Eve since he has the next day off. » Click to continue reading “JPIC News — November 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 1st, 2014 MOST HIGH, GLORIOUS GOOD GOD
GIVE LIGHT TO THE DARKNESS OF MY HEART
GIVE ME
RIGHT FAITH
CERTAIN HOPE
PROFOUND HUMILITY AND
PERFECT CHARITY.
GIVE ME
INSIGHT and WISDOM
SO I MIGHT ALWAYS DISCERN YOUR HOLY AND TRUE WILL.
My dear sisters and brothers in Sts. Francis,
May God give to each of you peace of mind, heart, soul and spirit!
Of all of the prayers attributed to our Holy Father St. Francis, the one quoted above may be the most perfect of all because it provides us with a blueprint for a perfect life. This prayer is a prayer for TRANSFORMATION. Unfortunately, in its various translations, the request for profound humility has been omitted.
As Secular Franciscans, we have been all about FORMATION through the texts we have used and the manuals we have written. Good as these resources are, if we are not about transformation, then all of the texts and all of the manuals are useless to us.
Let us be about the business of renewing our hearts and healing broken relationships. Let us live our faith in certain hope and accept in profound humility that we are each embraced by a loving God and are called to embrace him back. Let us pray for that perfect charity which will help us, with the insight and wisdom received from our Glorious Good God, to discern his holy and true will and be faithful servants of God and one another.
T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T T
Our Annual Regional Gathering will be held on November 15th at St. Anthony’s Parish Hall in Trenton, NJ. We are very much looking forward to gathering with the Ministers and Formation Directors of our Region … and anyone else who would like to join us. All are MOST WELCOME!
Please don’t forget to consult the upcoming events section of our website, where dates of interest to your Fraternities are noted.
Know that we hold you in prayer and beg you to do likewise for us. If you have any thoughts or ideas you would like to share for the good of our Region, please let me, or any other member of our Council know. We are here to serve you!
Blessings, every good, and much love,
mattie♥
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 1st, 2014 Dear Sisters and Brothers,
PEACE and good to you! I am on the mend and am grateful to each of you for your prayers and good wishes. Thanks so much.
I’d like to focus this month on St. Elizabeth of Hungary who, in her short life, manifested great love for the poor and suffering and has become the patroness of Catholic charities and of our Secular Franciscan Order (OFS). She was the daughter of the King of Hungary. Elizabeth chose a life of penance and asceticism in place of luxury.
She was married to Louis of Thuringia at the age of 14. She had a great love for her husband and bore three children. A Franciscan friar became her spiritual director and this led Elizabeth to a life of prayer, sacrifice and service to the poor and sick. She also wanted to become poor and wore simple clothing. Daily she would bring bread to the poorest in the land, who would come to her gate. » Click to continue reading “Thoughts From Your Regional Formation Director – November, 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 1st, 2014 Most High, all-powerful, good Lord,
Yours are the praises, the glory, and the honor, and all blessing,
To you alone, Most High, do they belong, and no human is worthy to mention Your name.
Praised be You, my Lord, with all Your creatures, especially Sir Brother Sun, … Sister Moon and the stars, …Brother Wind, …
Sister Water, … Brother Fire, … our Sister Mother Earth, …
Praised be You, my Lord, through those who give pardon for Your love, …
Praised be you, my Lord, through our Sister Bodily Death, from whom no one living can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin.
Blessed are those whom death will find in Your most holy will, for the second death shall do them no harm.
Praise and bless my Lord and give Him thanks and serve Him with great humility. Amen.
(Canticle of the Creatures [abbreviated] by Saint Francis of Assisi)
Following are excerpts taken from The Admonitions; Daily reflections are taken from Days of Reflection of Pope Saint John XXIII, OFS
1
Our Lord Jesus Christ told his disciples, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me … He who sees me sees also the Father (John 13: 6-9). … Because God is a spirit he can be seen only in spirit; it is the spirit that gives life; the flesh profits nothing (John 6: 64). – It is more profitable for our souls to place ourselves in the presence of God … and to entrust ourselves to his grace.
2
It is really the Spirit of God who dwells in his faithful who receive the most holy Body and Blood of our Lord. Anyone who does not have the Spirit and presumes to receive him eats and drinks judgement to himself (1 Corinthians 11:29). – We are all bound to examine the past, reflect upon the failures ever to be found, and seek a remedy… » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Reflections – November, 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 1st, 2014 Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis, 
The Lord give you his peace!
Today me, tomorrow you. (This is a loose translation of the Latin inscription: Hodie mihi, cras tibi). This famous saying can often be seen sculpted or painted at the entrances of many cemeteries in Europe. It is a rather stark and macabre reminder that earthly life, as long as it can be, will eventually experience its transforming moment. The point of convergence of all life’s experiences – good, bad, and indifferent – will come together awaiting our call to timelessness; death calls and eternity awaits. It is not the end of everything, as too many people feel and believe. It is the moment of the ultimate transformation of who we are into who we were created to be.
We celebrate November, the month dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. They await transformation by God’s love and mercy. The Church asks us to pray for those who have gone before us into eternity and who still await the fullness of Life. The Church also reminds us that we ought to pray for ourselves who, still on journey, are subject to many challenges that can either threaten or strengthen our resolve to be faithful to the Gospel and live in the light of Eternal Life. The journey of life that is so wonderful because of the many challenges God offers us to grow in His love, is also very dangerous because of the many allurements and seductions that can entice us to deviate from the path marked out for us. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (cfr. John 14:16) If we follow His Way, listen to His Word of Truth, we can expect ultimately to share in the fullness of His Life. He Himself says: I came that they may have Life and have it in abundance. (John 10: 10) » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Greetings – November, 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on October 14th, 2014 PEACE to each of your hearts! In the name of Christ, Amen! It gives us great pleasure to announce the results of the Chapter of Elections held at Blessed Sacrament Fraternity on October 12, 2014:
- Minister – Bob Sievers, OFS (Former Vice-Minister)
- Vice-Minister – Stephen Williams, OFS (Former Councillor-at-Large)
- Formation Director – Bernice Crimaldi, OFS (newly-elected)
- Secretary – Lorry Marchetta, OFS (newly-elected)
- Treasurer – Kathleen Gambino, OFS (newly-elected)
- 1st Counckllor – Margaret Roberts (newly-elected)
- 2nd Councillor – Mary Ann Conlon, OFS (newly-elected)
Please hold this new Council in your prayers as they begin their term of service to their Fraternity. We are most grateful to the members of the former Council for their good work on behalf of their sisters and brothers and assure them of our prayers as well.
Blessings and every good,
mattie
Posted By Teresa Redder, on October 3rd, 2014 Greetings of peace, dear brothers and sisters!
I pray this finds you well and filled with the Lord’s peace!
Well, it is that time again! Time to pray for the peace of any and all! And wow, does our world need prayers for peace.
I attach the 12 Weeks of Franciscan Peace to begin on the Feast of the Blessed Transitus of our Seraphic Father Francis of Assisi. It is the same as last year with a few minor tweaks.
I would appreciate any stories you would like to share with me as to how you use the 12 Weeks and what impact it has made for you, your fraternity or your parish. I have received some wonderful stories from fraternities and I am very pleased that the 12 Weeks has been incorporated into formation materials.
I wish you all a blessed and peace-filled Solemnity of our Father Francis!
Wishing you blessings of peace and all good,
Carolyn
Posted By Teresa Redder, on October 1st, 2014 
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
“Buona Gente”
Our Holy Father Pope Francis in his special prayer intentions for this past September asked us to lift up the mentally disabled and also to pray as Christians inspired by the word of God to be compelled to serve those who are poor and suffering.
Article 13 of our Rule 13 describes how we as Franciscans should respond. We know that Christ was poor and suffered and He is for all people. The sense of equality is important. We are to work together as people of God in love and in harmony. » Click to continue reading “Thoughts from our Regional Formation Director – October 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on October 1st, 2014 
October 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.
(Saint Francis of Assisi)
The month of October celebrates the Holy Transitus and Glory of our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi. Following are excerpts taken from: A Letter on the Passing of Saint Francis (attributed to Elias of Assisi) Major Legend, Chapter 15 (Saint Bonaventure). Daily reflections are taken from various sources.
1
Before I begin to speak, I sigh, and rightly so… For what I feared has overtaken me and has overtaken you. What I dreaded has happened to me and to you. Our consoler has gone away from us and he who carried him in his arms like lambs has gone on a journey to a far off country. – God is with you, God is within you, dwell for a moment in God’s presence.
2
He who was beloved of God and of man, who taught Jacob the law of life and of discipline, and gave to Israel a covenant of peace has been received into the most resplendent of dwellings. We would rejoice exceedingly on his account, yet for our own part we must mourn, since in his absence darkness surrounds us and the shadow of death covers us. – Holiness is where we are. » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Reflections – October 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on October 1st, 2014 October 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters in St. Francis,
The Lord give you his peace!
The children of St. Francis of Assisi have always regarded Mary, the Mother of the Savior and Mother of God, as our Mother and Heavenly Queen. Her role in the History of our Salvation leaves no room to doubt why we Franciscans would consider her in such an exceptional and eminent way. In the spirit and filial love of our Seraphic Father for Mary we, his children, place our trust in Her prayers and almighty intercession before God as Mother of His Son and Spouse of the Holy Spirit.
The month of October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary of our Blessed Mother and also Respect for Human Life at all stages from conception to natural death. This is a yearly reminder and daily celebration of life throughout the whole the month. We celebrate Christ’s human life and the life of each one of us and of those who are yet to be. As the Church, God’s Family, we are asked to reflect upon human life as the God-given gift it is, and to accept the imperative for all human beings to value each life as a reflection of the One Who called that life into being and was not ashamed to celebrate it with us by becoming one of His own creation. » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Greetings – October 2014” »
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