Regional Minister s Message

Transcription

1 Los Tres Companeros/The Three Companions Region Paz y Bien Newsletter Fall 2018 Regional Minister s Message Peace and every Blessing, dear Sisters and Brothers! What a joy it was to spend time with our brothers and sisters at our Regional Chapter in Rio Grande City and how blessed we were with the hospitality of our dear Benedictine Sisters. I am ever humbled by the love of God I experience in all of my brothers and sisters! Your love and presence is the epitome of the life-giving union our Rule calls us to live with one another. It seems hard to believe that a year ago we were preparing for our Regional Chapter in Dallas and had no idea that a major hurricane would cause so much damage to our great state. THANK YOU to all, for your generous contributions for people in the area that were impacted by the storm. Funds paid for food, medicine and building supplies in the wake of the storm. Donations were made to St. Peter s Parish in Rockport whose Church and Rectory were decimated. This, dear ones, is life-giving union. This is Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation for our world. This is how we continue to Rebuild the Church. May we continue to rebuild the Church, the Body of Christ, this fall as we immerse ourselves in opportunities for prayer: Our Blessed Mother s birthday, the Feasts of the Exaltation of the Cross / the Stigmata and the Transitus of St. Francis. And as we celebrate the 40 th anniversary of our Rule of Life, may we all pray for the help of our dearest spouse and Minister General, the Holy Spirit, to search us and guide us in a renewed commitment to this way of life. Patsy Cueva Philipps, ofs In this Issue: Spiritual Assistant s Corner - A REFLECTION ON THE STIGMATA OF OUR HOLY FATHER FRANCIS Pg. 2 From our Formation Director - Barba non facit philosophum Pg. 5 JPIC Corner The Role of JPIC Representatives Pg Weeks of Prayer LTC Website Pg. 7 Elections Pg. 8 Visitations Pg. 10 Anniversary Pg. 12 Calendar Pg. 12 Los Tres Companeros Regional Council Minister Patsy Cueva Philipps, OFS Vice-Minister Jorge Sosing, OFS Formation Director.. Tom Howard, OFS Secretary. Ron Martinez, OFS Treasurer Norma Patricia Carranza, OFS Regional Spiritual Assistants. Manuel Cortez, OFS Br. Tim Unser, OFM, Conv. Angelo Councilor & FY&YA Coordinator Teresa Adames, OFS Angelo Alternate Councilor.. TBD Leo Councilor Susan Bacak, OFS Leo Alternate Councilor... Janie Rios, OFS Rufino Councilor Dolores Boswell, OFS Rufino Alternate Azalia Perez, OFS Regional Canonist.. Fr. Jack Hopka, OFS JPIC Coordinator Lynn Freeman, OFS WEBSITE: lostrescompaneros.org ltcregion.ofs@gmail.com What would you like to see in the next Newsletter? Send us an at ltcregion.ofs@gmail.com by November 1, 2018 and we ll see what we can do! Upcoming Elections: Nov 24 th San Antonio de Padua Fraternity, Hebbronville Upcoming Visitations: Oct 27 th St. Angela Fraternity San Angelo

2 ORDO FRANCISCANUS SÆCULARIS LOS TRES COMPAÑEROS REGION TEXAS A REFLECTION ON THE STIGMATA OF OUR HOLY FATHER FRANCIS On September 17th Franciscans celebrate the Feast of The Stigmata of Our Holy Father Francis. In The Life of St. Francis of Assisi from the Legenda Sancti Francisci by St. Bonaventure in Chapter XIII, Of The Sacred Stigmata, St. Bonaventure describes in glorious detail this incredible miracle no where else documented as completely. REGIONAL SPIRITUAL ASSISTANTS Bro. Tim Unser, OFM Conv Manuel Cortez, ofs, President-In-Turn a long unedited passage, just as Bonaventure wrote it, other than my insertion of paragraphs to make reading it easier. Persevere and you will be rewarded. Find a quiet place where you can spend some uninterrupted time in prayer. Gently read the passage, maybe several times, and let your spirit be taken to Mount LaVerna alongside Francis and open your heart to God s love. Bonaventure s writing of Francis biography was a charge given to him by his superior which he initially was reluctant to accept, but did so in obedience. Francis had died not too many years before, but there were friars around who personally had known Francis and whom Bonaventure could access. It is said that because of this source his biography is very historically accurate. It is said that St. Thomas Aquinas, who knew and was a friend of Bonaventure, once attempted to visit him while Bonaventure was busy writing Francis biography. Seeing Bonaventure in a quiet rapture over his work, Aquinas silently left saying to his companion, Let us leave a Saint to work for a Saint. St. Bonaventure s biography is my favorite biography of St. Francis, although its long unstructured pages in continuous long paragraphs sometimes makes for difficult reading, but, as one of my dear brothers in fraternity once said, Bonaventure s biography is more a prayer than just a biography. I whole heartedly agree with this and will present some verbatim excerpts on the Stigmata from this document. My hope is that in reading this as a meditative prayer, and then reflecting on my commentaries, you will predispose yourself to enter by God s grace into a more contemplative experience of the Divine. And so we begin... It was the manner of this angelic man, Francis, never to rest from good works, but rather, like the heavenly spirits on Jacob s ladder, to be either ascending to God or descending to his neighbour. And he so prudently divided the time allotted him here for merit, that he spent the one part of it in labours for the good of his neighbour, and devoted the other to tranquil contemplation. Therefore, after descending to labour for salvation of men, according to the exigency of time and place, he would leave behind him the tumult of the multitude, and retiring into some secret place where he might wait freely upon God, he would endeavor to purify his spirit from any dust which might ve adhered to it in his conversation with men. Two years, therefore, before he gave up his spirit to God, he was led by Divine Providence, after manifold labors, into a mountainous place, which is called Mount Alvernia. Having there begun his fast, according to his wonted custom of keeping a Lent in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, being filled more abundantly than usual with divine sweetness by the contemplation of heavenly things, and enkindled by a more fervent desire of the things of God, he began to experience the gifts of the divine visitation more perfectly and abundantly than ever before. His spirit rose on high, not curiously to scrutinize the Divine Majesty, and so to be overwhelmed with its glory, but as a

3 faithful and prudent servant seeking out the good pleasure of God, to which with the utmost ardor of love he desired to conform himself. It was infused, therefore, into his mind by divine inspiration that it should be revealed to him by Christ, on opening the Book of the Gospels, what in him, or from him should be most acceptable to God. Having first prayed with great devotion, he therefore took the holy Book of the Gospels from the altar, and caused his companion, a devout and holy man, to open it thrice in the name of the Holy Trinity. Seeing that the book opened each time at the Passion of our Lord, the man of God understood that, as he had imitated Christ in the actions of his life, so, before he should depart from this world, he was to be conformed to Him likewise in the sufferings and pains of His Passion. And although, by the great austerity of his past life and his continual bearing of the Cross of Christ, he had become very feeble in body, yet was he not terrified, but prepared himself with good courage to endure the martyrdom set before him. For there grew in him an invincible fire of the love of his good Jesus, even a flame of burning charity, which many waters could not quench. Being thus raised to God by the ardor of seraphical love, and wholly transformed by the sweetness of compassion into Him, Who, of His excelling charity, was pleased to be crucified for us; early in the morning of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, as he was praying in a secret and solitary place on the mountain, he beheld a seraph, having six wings, all on fire, descending to him from the height of heaven. And as he flew with great swiftness towards the man of God, there appeared between the wings the form of One crucified, having His hands and feet stretched out and fixed to the Cross. Two wings rose above the head, two were stretched forth in flight, and two veiled the whole body. When he beheld this, he marveled greatly, and his heart was filled with mingled joy and sorrow. For he rejoiced at the gracious aspect with which Christ, under the form of the Seraph, looked upon him; yet to behold Him thus fastened to the Cross pierced his soul like a sword of compassion and grief. He wondered greatly at the appearance of so new and marvelous a vision, knowing that the infirmity of the Passion could in no wise way agree with the immortality of the seraphical spirit. Lastly, he understood, by the revelation of the Lord, that this vision had been presented to his eyes by Divine Providence, that the friend of Christ might know that he was to be into Christ crucified, not by the martyrdom of the flesh, but by the fire of the spirit. transformed The vision, disappearing, left behind it a marvelous fire in his heart, and a no less wonderful sign impressed on his flesh. For there began immediately to appear in his hands and in his feet the appearance of nails, as he had now seen them in the vision of the Crucified. His hand and his feet appeared pierced through the midst with nails, the heads of the nails being seen in the insides of the hands and the upper part of the feet and the points on the reverse side. The heads of the nails in the hands and feet were round and black, and the points somewhat long and bent, as if they had been turned back. On the right side, as if it had been pierced by a lance, was the mark of a red wound, from which the sacred blood often flowed and stained his tunic. The servant of God, seeing the Stigmata thus deeply impressed on his flesh, so that he could not conceal them from his familiar companions, and yet fearing to discover the secret of the Lord, was in great trouble and perplexity whether he should declare or conceal what he had seen.

4 Spiritual Assistant s Corner Commentaries: Paz y Bien Newsletter Fall 2018 Reflect on our Mission as Secular Franciscans... we are to be active-contemplatives. Notice how St. Francis ascends to God in tranquil contemplation. We, as Franciscans, engage with fervor in our apostolic ministries and spend a good part of our time in service, as well we should. Let us not forget our other side, the contemplative aspect of our charism in quiet time alone with our Heavenly Father just as Jesus, Scripture tells us, so often did, and our seraphic holy father Francis attempted to imitate so ardently. Are we willing to follow in those footsteps? Do we habitually take the time to be alone with God in prayer to be purified and be drawn closer to Him? As Franciscans how often do we use fast and abstinence and other forms of penance to prepare ourselves for our apostolic and prayer/sacramental life? Remember we were originally called the Brothers and Sisters of Penance. In preparation for the Easter Celebration we do forty days of Lenten penance. But, isn t Penance, Conversion, Metanoia (interchangeable words) all part of our on-going conversion experience? Francis understood that very well, and, thus, celebrated more than one Lenten season. Let us not be hesitant to use acceptable means of mortification as part of our penitential practices on a daily basis. Notice what Francis prayer led him to desire: to conform himself to God s Will. In your use of Scripture for prayer such as in Lectio Divina, consider sometimes just opening the Book of the Gospels at random and seeing where the Holy Spirit takes you. How well did Francis understand that we are all called to the Cross and how fitting that it was during the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross that he was miraculously transformed into the likeness of the Crucified Christ. How willing are we to drink from that Chalice and be crucified with Christ? In our suffering we mostly pray for healing; to be alleviated of the pain and burden of the heavy cross. Shouldn t we be joyful in our suffering knowing that as members of the Mystical Body of Christ we are being more completely united with him at those times? Didn t the Apostle Paul tell us that we in a sense complete and carry on Christ s suffering here on earth? Isn t this what Francis knew and practiced in his perfect joy? Our holy father Francis is called our seraphic father because of the fiery love that burned in his heart for love of Jesus Christ. His transformation was so complete that, as he laid dying on the floor of the Portiuncula in physical mortal agony, he joyfully composed the most beautiful of all his prayers, the Canticle to Brother Sun, for in it was nothing for himself, but only glory and praise to God through all of God s creations. Blessed be God and may he continue to mold and transform us to be as holy and pleasing to Him as we can possibly be given all our shortcomings and sinful ways for nothing is impossible for Him! Amen. Manuel Cortez, ofs

5 From Our Formation Director Barba non facit philosophum Many of you Latin scholars will remember this from your high school classes a beard does not make a philosopher! Please allow me a little poetic license to modify this to address a question that often arises about Secular Franciscans: vestimentum non facit Franciscanus Saecularis the clothes do not make the Secular Franciscan. May or should a Secular Franciscan wear a robe or habit? In the Rule of 1221, the Memoriale Propositi, the answer to that question was a resounding yes. Here s what it said: The men belonging to this brotherhood shall dress in humble, undyed cloth, the price of which is not to exceed six Ravenna soldi [about $5] an ell [the length of a man s arm]. The sisters in turn shall wear an outer garment and tunic made of cloth of the same price and humble quality. Why was this in the Rule at that time? We all remember the story of Francis going to Rome and changing clothes with the beggar. He wanted to see what it was really like to be poor. By wearing a habit, the Seculars the Penitents knew what it is like to be poor and could work with the poor and not be concerned about how they dress. Clothes did not make a Secular Franciscan, the way they lived their life did; the clothes merely facilitated the way of life. Up until 1508, Secular Franciscans wore full habits. Then this changed to a large scapular held together by a piece of rope around the waist. Over time, the scapular became smaller until the rope was no longer needed to hold it in place and was replaced by a string, and both were then worn underneath clothing. With the revision of our Rule in 1978, our habit changed from the small scapular and string to -- at least in the United States -- the Tau cross. The Judicial Commission of the CIOFS Presidency wrote:... in obedience to the Rule, the Constitutions and the Ritual, the local Fraternities of the SFO cannot continue practicing the rite of taking the habit in admitting new candidates, who in turn, must not use a habit... One further comment it is acceptable, as an exception to the norm, for a person to be dressed in the traditional robe a burial shroud - for internment. This has no significance to the contemporary life of an OFS; it is merely a remembrance of faithfulness of the deceased. So, today our habit is our Tau cross, the distinctive external sign of our membership in the Order. Via habito facit Franciscanus Saecularis The way we live makes us a Secular Franciscan! Tom Howard, OFS Paz y Bien Newsletter Fall 2018 LTC Regional Guidelines - TITLE 14 LIFE IN FRATERNITY: THE HABIT AND TAU CROSS CANON 99 The Franciscan habit in its various forms is reserved exclusively to the friars, the Poor Clares and the various institutes of professed Franciscan sisters and brothers. Professed Secular Franciscans are to refrain from wearing the habit in any form and at any time. All customs to the contrary, including those which are immemorial or worthy of special mention, are henceforth reprobated and not permitted to revive in the future. CANON 100 The insignia of professed Secular Franciscans in the United States is the TAU cross. pendant, a pin or a ring. It may be worn as a CANON 101 Secular Franciscans, whether clergy or laity, who are either presiding or assisting at liturgical rites in vestments, are to refrain from wearing the TAU cross in the form of a ring. They may wear the TAU cross as a pendant or pin underneath the alb or surplice.

6 Most of the Fraternities in the Los Tres Companeros Region now have a JPIC representative. Some of us have been doing it for a while and others are brand new. Now it s like ok, what to do next? Everyone of us wants to do a good job and here is some information about our roles as a JPIC representatives. Our mission statement reads as follows: The mission of JPIC (Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation), is to assist the Professed Secular Franciscans as they reflect on their relationship with God as manifested in the fruits of conversion in their lives. This with special regard to the daily choices made in the areas of justice, peacemaking and respect for all created things and people; as brothers and sisters of penance bringing life to the Gospel and the Gospel to life. In our rule, articles talk about how we are to live out our lives as Franciscans in this world. They are the action articles. Article 15 in particular says Let them individually and collectively be in the forefront in promoting justice by the testimony of their human lives and their courageous initiatives. Especially in the field of public life, they should make definite choices in harmony with their faith. So how do we assist our sisters and brothers in doing this? The NAFRA SFO describes three actions that we take in order to make this happen: contemplate, educate, and animate. We contemplate situations and activities that we see going on in life in the light of what the Gospel teaches. In our Fraternity, there is a small group of people who get together on a monthly basis and just talk about what has prayerfully come up for us as a JPIC issue that month. Then we educate ourselves on the topic, and write up or print up something to bring to the next meeting of our Fraternity. The Role of JPIC Representatives At the meeting, one of the members of the JPIC committee or the JPIC representative BRIEFLY talks about the topic. Some of the topics we have talked about are: plastics in the environment, respect life issues, how to dispose of old medications, recycling, and immigration and homeless issues. And we animate the Fraternity by inviting them to consider the subject. And maybe make small changes in their daily decisions in order to make God's kingdom more present on earth. Our job is not to change anybody s mind, but just to present and generate discussion. And we have found that our JPIC discussions are very rewarding and fun. Many of the members have heard about the topics, and are happy to have more information. It generates discussion about concrete ways that we, as individuals and as a Fraternity, can live out our call to be bearers of peace and justice. Pax et bonum! Lynn Freeman ofs JPIC Rep St. Padre Pio Fraternity LTC Region JPIC Coordinator

7 12 Weeks of Franciscan Peace October 3 December 25 Los Tres Companeros Website Have you checked out our website lately? We work to update it periodically with information from across the region. The NEWS section has information about events, Seasonal Prayers and other news that touches our Region. 12 weeks of Franciscan Peace was provided by our National JPIC Coordinator, Carolyn Townes, OFS, some years back. Carolyn has done a wonderful job of taking 12 topics to consider during the 12 weeks from the Transitus of our Seraphic Father to the birth of our Dear Lord Jesus. Prayer Empathy Active Listening Compassion Evangelical Love Humility Poverty Kindness Silence Conversion Peace Each week has: An explanation of the concept A Psalm Fragment A Reflection Question An action to take A Prayer for the week The DOCUMENTS section has various documents that can be downloaded. The main page has a link to the current TAU- USA and the Paz y Bien newsletters! The document can be downloaded from our Regional Website: lostrescompaneros.org under the DOCUMENT Section at the bottom right hand corner of the HOME page. If you want the website translated to Spanish or Tagalog, go to the bottom of the home page and select the language you prefer!

8 Around the Region - Elections Paz y Bien Newsletter Fall 2018 In the name of Christ. Amen. I announce the new elected council of St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity Council Dallas San Jose Obrero Fraternity Council - McAllen (from left to right), Vice-Minister, Marge Shivvers, OFS, Secretary, Melanie Dively, OFS, Minister, Dan Marotta, OFS, Treasurer, Amelia Palacios, OFS, Formation Director Cathy Pierce, OFS From Left to Right Treasurer, Abraham Jaber, OFS, Formation Director Pura Reyna, OFS, Minister, Fe Huevos, OFS, Secretary, Maria Josefina Salinas, OFS, Vice-Minister, Enrique Torres, OFS St. Padre Pio Fraternity - Georgetown Immaculata Fraternity - Colleyville From L to R: Formation Director, Peter Gruning, OFS, Secretary, Lynn Freeman, OFS, Treasurer, Mark Watson, OFS, Vice Minister - Virginia Livesay, OFS, Minister - Bob Pine, OFS From L to R: Minister, Carol Lieser, OFS, Treasurer, Chuck Lieser, OFS, Secretary, Mary Dang, OFS, Vice-Minister, Brad Toups, OFS, Formation Director, Teresa Stadelman, OFS

9 Around the Region - Elections Paz y Bien Newsletter Fall 2018 In the name of Christ. Amen. I announce the new elected council of Senor Santo Nino Fraternity Council Dallas (left to right), Minister, Mary Byers, OFS, Vice-Minister, Elma Granado, OFS, Secretary, Isabel Pina, OFS, Formation Director, Timothy Frost, OFS, Treasurer, Jorge Sosing, OFS Fraternidad San Damiano - Dallas From L to R: Vice-Minister, Carlos Camacho, OFS, Minister, Maria Bernal, OFS, Formation Director, Lourdes Derr, OFS, Secretary, Alfonso Resendiz, Treasurer, Jose Flores, OFS San Jose Fraternity San Antonio From L to R: Minister, George Irving, III, OFS, Treasurer, David Basile, OFS, Vice-Minister, Judith Hooge, OFS, Secretary, Yolanda Montoya, OFS, Formation Director, Lois Guckian, OFS

10 Around the Region - Visitations Paz y Bien Newsletter Fall 2018 To promote fidelity to the charism as well as observance of the rule and to receive greater support in the life of the fraternity, the minister or president, with the consent of the council, should take care to ask for a regular pastoral visit by the competent religious superiors as well as for a fraternal visit from those of the higher fraternities, according to the norm of the constitutions. OFS Rule #26 St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity, Dallas July 16, 2017 San Jose Fraternity, San Antonio July 16, 2017

11 Around the Region - Visitations Paz y Bien Newsletter Fall 2018 To promote fidelity to the charism as well as observance of the rule and to receive greater support in the life of the fraternity, the minister or president, with the consent of the council, should take care to ask for a regular pastoral visit by the competent religious superiors as well as for a fraternal visit from those of the higher fraternities, according to the norm of the constitutions. OFS Rule #26 St. Clare Fraternity, Crowley April 7, 2018 St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity, San Antonio Jan 7, 2017

12 Happy Anniversary Fr. Chuck Gunti, OFM 50 years Calendar September 1 st October 4 th Franciscan Season of Caring for Creation - September 30 3:00 pm Come & See St. Frances Cabrini, Granbury, Texas October 3 rd - Transitus of St. Francis Rufino Portion Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Newman Center 7:00 pm Leo Portion Angelo Portion San Jose Mission Church, San Antonio 7 pm Oblate School of Theology Chapel, San Antonio 7:00 PM 7 pm St. Francis Village Chapel, Crowley, Texas October 12 th 6:30 pm Fiesta Franciscana with Music Mission San Jose Parish Hall October 13 th 9 am 3:30 pm Fiesta Franciscana Mission San Jose Parish Hall 701 Pyron St., San Antonio God s love affair with Francis of Assisi: as seen through Thomas Celano s, The Life of St. Francis and then God s love affair with us today! October 20 th Farewell to the Friars 3 pm followed by 5:30 Mass and St. Francis Village Parish Picnic November 3 rd Angelo Portion Retreat: Fr. Lester Bach Stay tuned to the LTC website for info November 10 th 9 am 4 pm San Jose Fraternity Day of Reflection Our Lady of Czestochowa, San Antonio November 17 th 9 am 4 pm Rufino Portion Formation Workshop