OFS Commissions Newsletter October 2014 YOUTH

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1 OFS Commissions Newsletter October 2014 YOUTH by Colleen MacAlister, ofs, National Youth Animator Colleen MacAlister, ofs, National Youth Animator THREE STEPS to YOUTH Friendly Fraternities! Let s start with St. Padre Pio s famous saying: Pray, Hope and Don t Worry How can we as OFS and Fraternity BE YOUTH friendly? There is a 3 step plan! 1. PRAY: Pray to the Father for our Youth many Youth are seeking the Lord and some desperate and lost. Our prayers make a difference. PRAY- 2. HOPE: It is Jesus will that Youth come to know Him! He will help us invite and reach out Jesus IS our hope and the hope we can bring and share with all! HOPE 3. DON T WORRY: Invoke the Holy Spirit for wisdom The Holy Spirit will give us the words and love to welcome Youth and bring them to Jesus so that they may know that God is their Father and they are loved! DON T WORRY! IT IS OUR VOCATION! as Secular Franciscans to be youth friendly---remember: 1. RULE XXIV To foster communion among members, the council should organize regular and frequent meetings of the community as well as meeting with other Franciscan groups, especially youth groups.

2 2. SFO General Constitutions, Art "The SFO, by virtue of its very vocation, ought to be ready to share its experience of evangelical life with the youth who feel attracted to Saint Francis of Assisi and to seek the means of adequately presenting it to them". 3. This mandate is referenced in the CIOFS document 'Youfra, a Way of Franciscan Vocation', that underlines in Article 26: "one of the most important means will always be the close contact with the SFO Fraternity. For this reason, the local Fraternities should create spaces for the young, either by allowing them to participate in their meetings, or by entrusting to them specific tasks in the Fraternity. It is equally important that the SFO fraternities be flexible in their organization and that they seek creative ways of forming special groups in the Fraternity, under the guidance of the council of the Fraternity". Some Interesting Facts about the Formation of YouFra/Jefra: It s NOT our job as OFS to create YouFra/Jefra the youth do that. Our job is to live our vocation as listed above- we witness and mentor Youth. When ready to make a commitment and form a YouFra/Jefra fraternity The Youth ask us to support their commitmentwe say YES!

3 ALL the guidelines and rituals are in place for the Youth and the OFS to know how we connect, when we reach that place- so be not afraid. Franciscan Youth YouFra/Jefra has existed, as an organized structure within the Franciscan Family, belonging to the reality of the OFS since the middle of the last century. Before that there was no distinct structure and the Rule of 1883 Leo XIII allowed admission (to the OFS) of those as young as 14. In the last century intergenerational relationships have changed. hence the official formation of YouFra/Jefra ( YouFra Doc : Incorporation of YouFra Members into the SFO) YouFRa/Jefra fraternities are a mirror of our own OFS structure: they will form local, regional and national fraternities IN the YouFra/Jefra National Statutes Draft it states: Youfra is open to young catholics male and female years of age. NOTE: many times a young person may begin at 14 form youth fraternity by 16 or 17. They can no longer be a member of YouFra/Jefra after the age of 30.

4 Interestingly enough a franciscan youth may be professed as a secular and be a member of YouFra/Jefra and the OFS at the same time. This has happened in Lithuania where the National Minister of YouFra was in her twenties and very excited about becoming a Secular Franciscan! I met her in 2007 at the 1 st International YouFra Assembly! SOME UPDATES here in CANADA and the WORLD! I have been in communication with our International Councillors for YouFra / Jefra on several occasions. I am excited to say that the 2 nd YouFra International Assembly is happening August at the Tabor Meeting House, in Samoka Croatia! The gathering was inviting Countries that had YouFra/Jefra Fraternities formed to send representation. (Although Canada was not on that list as all of our Youth in Canada that are meeting and starting to meet are not yet formed into a Fraternity, we will continue to receive information and be kept up to date on the decisions made at this Assembly.) I attended the Chapter of Elections for the Trillium Region and am pleased to note with much gratitude to Silvana Lougheed for her time as Youth Coordinator of Trillium and all her work, that a new Youth Contact has been appointed for the Trillium Region Let us welcome Lisa Theriault ofs! You will see more about Lisa elsewhere in

5 this newsletter. Lisa is planning some pilgrimages with Youth in the Trillium Region and I know that one trip planned is Assisi August 2-9 th 2015 and I ask Lisa to keep us posted on that! CHECK OUT our NATIONAL Facebook Group and Page! YOUFRA Canada is our page started after our 2010 Pilgrimage to Trois Riviere and also Franciscan Youth Canada YouFra Jefra a group. If you haven t seen the Facebook- I noted that there were 94 people that read the information about Blessed Fr. Frederick Janssoone on his feast day this month! We have friends from other countries e.g. Vietnam and the Phillipines!! MONTREAL, NOVA SCOTIA, TORONTO, OTTAWA, BC has Youth meeting! Even small towns like Madoc and Marmora! Soon I am certain some of these Youth will be ready! SO we as fraternities need to be ready to welcome! David Bouchard from the Our Lady of the Angels Region (in the West ) has also advised me that he is still planting the Franciscan seeds with Youth! There is definite interest!

6 MARK YOUR CALENDARS!!! WYD Krakow Poland 2016 JULY ST YouFra/ Jefra days will probably be July ! Please me any Youth News from your area or region! I would love to hear from you and we can share with each other! colleenmacalister@yahoo.ca Remember there is only 3 steps to be Youth Friendly as a Fraternity. AND if we all do our best God does the Rest!! READ the YOUFRA documents Pray Hope and Don t Worry! St. Padre Pio

7 Lisa Theriault, ofs Youth Animator Trillium Regional Fraternity Remember that when you leave this earth, you can take with you nothing that you have received--only what you have given. Francis of Assisi. These profound words from our Seraphic father was the theme for the 2014 Guatemala High School Mission Trip this past March Break. In total 17 teenagers from grades embarked on a 10 day journey at the Valley of The Angels Orphanage just outside of Guatemala City. The Orphanage is run by the Franciscan Friars of the Order Friars Minor, Immaculate Conception Province, New York, USA. The dream materialized in the late 1980's, through the ambition of Fr. Rocco Famiglietti and today, Valley of the Angels ensures the educational, physical and spiritual needs of 165 children. Currently, the orphanage is run by Fr. Rocco's successor, Fr. Michael Della Penna. You can learn more about this orphanage by going to For ten days, my students went above and beyond in love, compassion and physical endurance. From clearing a soccer field so the children could finally use it, painting shelves and lockers for the children to place their belongings, and other projects, the students were certainly busy. The most fun however, was the time they spent with the children. As much as my students worked to make physical areas of the orphanage better, they received more in return. They felt love like many had not felt before; unconditional without expectation. Each night the students met in the upstairs office of Valley which was dubbed the upper room in order to take time to reflect on what the day had brought and where they had encountered God. They used the format of lights and shadows, to share both the challenging and enlightening moments. While this was the initial and immediate effort to integrate their experience, we are sure that it will take a life time to unfold all the graces received. Jordyn said: Guatemala absolutely changed my life and the way I view the world around me. Guatemala was an amazing, life altering experience. Our trip opened doors for me that I didn t know were there. Nik

8 This was the first time a high school had visited Valley and the interaction of students with students, especially peers was very special. The opportunity to give of themselves and to come out of themselves, and to genuinely love others had a profound impact on the students. The experience was unforgettable and it has changed me forever. Shelby Valley of The Angels Orphanage will always have a huge place in my heart. I will always be grateful for everyone who was a part of this experience. Breanna I truly believe we received more from this trip than we anticipated. My students left with a new sense of gratitude for the blessings in Canada and for many of them a change in perspective and opportunity. Best time of my life. Going back this summer just feels right. I feel like part of me stayed there and I need to go get it back. It felt like home. Those children made me so happy. That was the happiest I ve ever been. Best time ever. Devon The children and staff will forever live in our hearts. Our time there reminded us how important it is to go out of our way and give. Giving of ourselves is the best gift we can give, besides prayer of course Finally, Ellie wrote of the mutual blessing the trip offered. Guatemala was truly life changing. We got to experience life in a new way. We made so many new friends and touched the lives of others who also changed us. We will never forget. Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them - the theme for WYD Krakow World Youth Days in Krakow in 2016 are going to be held with a theme: Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy Mt5:7. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven (Mt5:3) and Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God (Mt 5:8) are themes for preceding Youth Days, which are going to be organisedlocally.