The Canticle
February, 2004
Divine Mercy Secular Franciscan Fraternity
Vero Beach, Florida
 www.franciscan-sfo.org

We apologize for the poor formatting of this page. It looks great in MS-Frontpage, but once uploaded there are errors.

          Meetings 

Regular:     Sunday,   Feb. 8, 2004 - 2:00 pm, St. Helen's  Christian Living Center, Emmaus Rm.
Council:     Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004 - 9:15 am, Hibiscus Cafe, Vero Beach.

Agenda:
2:00 pm –  Opening Prayer
2:05 pm –  Secy/Treas./Commission Reports, Old and New Business
2:25 pm –   Ceremony of Introduction and Welcoming (See RITUAL p9-10) for Skip and
                        Hope Leet.
2:35 pm –   Ongoing Formation: RULE 16 “Let them esteem work both as a gift and as a
                         sharing in the creation,  redemption, and service of the human community.”
                         Sarah Hardy has generously agreed to  introduce the study materials for
                         this rule and to lead a discussion based upon it.
2:55 pm –   Mid-meeting Break and refreshments.
3:10 pm –   Rite of Admission for Pauline Pavlick (Chapel)
3:35 pm –   Liturgy of the Hours
4:00 pm –  Dismissal

Please Note:
▪ Refreshment Committee: Jim Catrambone - Soda or fruit juice. Jennie Donlin,
        Ed O’Donnell - Snacks
▪ As always, remember our fraternity apostolate, St. Helen's Food Pantry.  Non-perishable food
        items (no glass) and toiletries (small). Thanks!

 Remember to include in your prayers:
▪ All members of our fraternity, both living and deceased, especially Pauline Pavlick and Hope and Skip Leet. It is a
   real Franciscan tradition to pray for Franciscans all over the world and to pray for all deceased Franciscans as well.
   How comforting it is to know that we are in each others prayers every day! Please pray that Jerry Carey is healed and
   can return to our meetings. He is still in poor health due to a persistent infection following a hospital stay.

▪ Our Inquirers and Candidates: Hope, Skip, Ed, Pauline, and Kathleen
▪ Please continue to pray for the safety, the success and the safe return of our troops now stationed in so many
   troubled areas of our globe, and for wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit for world leaders.

 

From the Minister's Desk:
▪ ANNUAL DUES are due once more for all professed members and remain at $35.00. As you know this “per capita”
  amount is divided among the regional, national and international fraternities with the largest share funding the
  annual regional budget. Our Five Franciscan Martyrs Region is tireless in the support made available to each fra-
  ternity and in the spiritual and material benefits they provide. Each fraternity in the region has close contact with
  Fr. Tom, the Nagles and Carlos Calderon and other regional officers throughout the year.

Please make your check payable to the DIVINE MERCY SECULAR FRANCISCAN FRATERNITY. We will forward the
  dues from our members with one check to the regional Treasurer later in the Spring. If it is easier for you, do
  consider paying in installments – just arrange this with Sarah so she can keep her records straight.

Franciscan Saints and Blesseds in the month of February

01 Hi

To Live the Gospel in Life-Giving Union With All Franciscans
By Fr. Richard Trezza, O.F.M.
National Formation Spiritual Assistant

I am writing this column on September 11th, 2003. It is 9:26AM ... an hour ago, our friar community recited morning prayers and as we always do, we remembered those friars who shared our life and 'who died this day. Today, we remembered Mychal Judge, a friar from our province who was killed at the towers on that horrific day.

Today is a beautiful day ... exactly the same weather as 2 years ago. Although the intrepid New Yorkers seem to be going about their business, there is an eerie feeling in the air. "Time heals all wounds" goes the saying and it is evident that it will take a lot of time for the healing.

As with all moments of tragedy and crisis, people have been brought together in the knowledge and realization that all life is precious and fragile. Even though we may not act as if we are convinced, times like this tell us that we are indeed related.

Relationship is at the bottom of the injunction "to live the Gospel in lift-giving union with all Franciscans." The concept of relationship is nothing new to us followers of Jesus Christ, who have but to look at the Trinity in order to appreciate the mystery of the" relationship existing among Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Relationship was at the very core of Jesus' ministry among us - beginning with His own relationship to His Father. He insisted in bringing the Law to perfection, enabling the followers of the Law to become transformed into loving, merciful and compassionate people . . . with His most enduring characteristics.

It is evident, in Francis' imitation of Jesus, that Il Poverello drew all sorts of people into relationship with one another and ultimately with the Lord.

 

The "vital reciprocity" spoken of so eloquently in SFO documentation is pivotal in our understanding of who we are as Franciscans ... all of us ... in all branches of the Franciscan movement. It has a lot to do with how we live and preach the Gospel, which is the foundation of our Rule of life.

 

Although they are different vocations, perhaps too much is made of the distinction between Secular Franciscans, religious sisters and brothers and friars... all Franciscans. The realization that we belong to the same family will give us the strength to be bold and creative in living and doing the Gospel for the People of God. The need to live and work together is most keenly felt at this point in history...especially in our Church, which always needs "rebuilding".

 

The Seculars have the numbers and the worldly savvy (in the good sense). The Religious have the resources and the organization. It's time to minimize arbitrary differences, while still respecting each other's unique spiritualities, and pool our resources to take the Church by storm once again.

 

Our appreciation for each other's charisms must be dealt with in initial and ongoing formation in all branches of the Franciscan Order. We have a lot going for ourselves, as a force in today's Church. Let us ask the Spirit's assistance in making our relationships with each other both “vital” and “reciprocal.”

 

The Seculars have the numbers and the worldly savvy (in the good sense).

Please continue to pray for our brother, Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR*.
He was in a bad accident 2-3 weeks ago and in hospitalized, still in critical condition.

(* CFR = Franciscan Friars of the Renawal)

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