THE ST. ANTHONY FRATERNITY NEWSLETTER

Transcription

1 THE ST. ANTHONY FRATERNITY NEWSLETTER Fraternity #101 Volume 21 Issue 10 October 2018 BR. GORDON 50TH ORDINATION ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI MEMORIAL The Jubilee Mass n Meal Celebration was held on September 14, 2018 to honor six O.F.M. friars who had served for a total of 340 years of service as friar-priests and Brothers. The Jubilee Mass started with the Jubilians processing in their traditional brown Franciscans robes but with strikingly beautiful white rose boutonnieres pinned to their left chest. As Secular Franciscans, our most favorite saint feast day has to be October 4 which our Holy Mother Church has designated in memorial of Saint Francis of Assisi ( ) whose radiant spirit is a beacon for those seeking a life of meaning and service. The following is an excerpt of a letter written to all the faithful by Saint Francis of Assisi: Several of Brother Gordon s family were able to attend his 50th Ordination celebration. They were his amazing Christian granny: Mrs. Priscilla Lee who lives in North Carolina and his brothers: Mr. Timothy Boykin and Mr. Alvin Boykin who both live in Detroit, MI. Timothy retired as a Family Dollar, Inc. District Supervisor and Alvin retired from Frito Lay, Inc. Please keep Brother Gordon s holy family in your prayers. Let us produce worthy fruits of penance. Let us us also love our neighbor as ourselves. Let us have charity and humility. Let us give alms because these cleanse our souls from the stains of sin. Men lose all the material things they leave behind them in this world, but they carry with them the reward of their charity and the alms they give. For these they will receive from the Lord the reward and recompense they deserve. We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble and pure. We should never desire to be over others. Instead, we ought to be servants who are submissive to every human being for God s sake. The spirit of the Lord will rest on all who live in this way and persevere in it to the end. He will permanently dwell in them. They will be the Father s children who do his work. They are the spouses, brothers and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ. Also attending his celebration were his friends from Albuquerque Mrs. Gabrielle PierreLouis and Mrs. Brenda Dabney, OFS. (1st row): Mrs. Priscilla Lee (Granny); Mrs. Brenda Dabney, OFS (friend); and Mr. Alvin Boykin (brother). (2nd row): Mrs. Gabrielle Pierre-Louis (friend); Brother Gordon Boykin, OFM; and Mr. Timothy Boykin (brother). Page 1!

2 JUBILEE MASS HOMILY The Jubilee Mass Homily was prepared and elegantly delivered by Fr. Larry Bernard, OFM. His homily addressed the amazing vocation journeys over 340 years of six individual senior Franciscan friars in the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The total content of Fr. Bernard s homily is covered in an 8 page document which cannot be adequately presented in our newsletter. The following is a summary to present the gist of each vocation journey. Please contact the SAF Newsletter Editor (Bill Parras) if you would like to be sent the full 8- page document which you will find enlightening in the Franciscan spirit. Fr. Emeric Nordmeyer, OFM (70 years as a friar-priest) joined the military, but after a short time he found his true home not there, but in the Franciscan brotherhood. He found his ministry of service sharing the Catholic faith by example and word among the Native American Pueblo people, respecting them and working with their ancient cultures. He worked in Jemez, Zia and Santa Ana Pueblos and in the north Santa Clara, San Ildefonso and Tesuque and finally at Queen of Angels Indian Chapel in Albuquerque. His technological knowledge enabled him to develop a ham radio community of Franciscan brothers, whereby he could keep up the fraternal spirit with them although separated by the vast distances of New Mexico and Arizona. Fr. Paul Juniet, OFM (60 years service as a friar -priest) was ordained after 13 years of formation. The Provincial Council sent him to Lukachukai, Arizona and Shiprock, New Mexico. At Shiprock, he made a Cursillo weekend and really liked it. Wherever Paul moved for the next 25 years, he maintained unofficial leadership of the Cursillo movement in the Gallup Diocese. He wrote in his Christmas letter one year the Cursillo probably saved his vocation, because he met so many spirited faith-filled people. After 12 years of ministry, he required two heart surgeries. Fr. Jeremy (the Provincial) gave him a year to recuperate from heart surgery, with car and funds to do whatever he wanted. Happily going down the road with the provincial car, the police stopped him because the license on the car he was given was four years out of date! He currently is a chaplain to the Poor Clares in Roswell, residing with Fr. Charlie, Fr. Lalo and Br. Jorge at St. Peter s. He happily continues there, ready to serve, as they say, until he dies with his boots on! Br. Bruce Michelak, OFM (50 years service as a friar-brother) is most excited about his fraternal ministry in the last ten years. He has been going to the young friars of Vietnam for three months each year teaching English. He is profoundly energized by their enthusiasm and by their devotion. After being assigned to Clovis, New Mexico for nine years, Fr. Reynaldo Rivera requested Br. Bruce to start a youth club. Br. Bruce opened a new club for all the youth Clovis making it a seven-day a week program, happily serving teenagers, some 50 hours per week. Fr. Reynaldo subsequently asked Br. Paul to attend a meeting of the CCD teachers and by the way you are in charge. Br. Bruce said he just about had a heart attack. There were 40 teachers and 800 students. He had no training in Religious Education. His fields were Business Administration and Psychology. But, he said, we survived. Br. Bruce was asked by Archbishop Sanchez and received Provincial permission to become the first youth minister for the whole archdiocese. He served for 10 years establishing youth ministries in most parishes and developed large youth conventions. Br. Gordon Boykin, OFM (50 years service as a friar-brother) has blessed us from the Afro-American community and the parish of St. Page!2

3 Cecilia, Detroit, Michigan. After graduating from high school, he joined the Franciscans at the house of formation at Oldenburg, Indiana. In his first assignment after formation, Br. Gordon tells that one time in Fort Defiance, Arizona, his Franciscan community composed of Fr. Kerstan (an Anglo), Br. Juan Montoya (a Latino) and Br. Gordon (an Afro-American), went to a dinner put on by the parish school. After we got our taco plates, we sat down with teachers who where laughing. When asked why they were laughing, a teacher told me that one of the new teachers asked the them who we were. The teacher told him that the three worked for the parish: one of the three was the father and the two others were brothers. The new teacher said: My God, who was the mother! He earned a degree in Theology and Spanish while doing ministry at Our Lady of Angels Parish in New Orleans. After fours years there in charge of the religious education program, he moved on to work at Jemez Pueblo, at the Provincial Headquarters, at Chinle among the Navajo, and with the religious education program at Ascension Parish in Albuquerque. Now for the last 17 years, he continues sharing the Good News of Christ and St. Francis, happily working with and animating 17 Secular Franciscan Communities in New Mexico and West Texas. Br. George Ward, OFM (50 years service as friar-brother) was accepted into the brother formation program in Oldenburg, Indiana. For his first assignment after novitiate, he went to our House of Philosophy, Duns Scotus College in Detroit for three years where he helped Br. John Hall doing electrical work and took classes to deepen his knowledge of electrical work. He was sent to Our Lady of Angels Parish, New Orleans for two years where he lived in community and did maintenance work primarily installing security lights. Back in Cincinnati, he lived at St. George Parish where he worked at the Friars Club doing maintenance work. He was sent to Shiprock for two years and Fort Defiance for eight years. It was here that Br. George later learned book keeping on his own and took over that work for the parish and friary! This launched Br. George s career in financial management and was assigned Guardian of the Provincial House and Treasurer of the Province for 18 years. Fr. Larry Bernard, OFM (60 years service as priest-friar) learned about the Franciscans in the 4th grade. When he moved with his family to the Shrine of the Little Flower in Royal Oak, Michigan, he was particularly attracted to Fr. Leonard Foley s way of speaking about God. In 1975, he was assigned to the Franciscan community of Holy Family Church. Other assignments were as pastor to Hispanic Parish of St. John in Roswell, Immaculate Conception Mission in Dexter, Hagerman, and Lake Arthur. He also served at Laguna and Acoma Pueblos. From 1989, he spent 10.5 exciting, totally wonderful years of service for many people in three large Mexican communities in the Ciudad de Juarez area. Fr. Larry has written a book about his experiences in Mexico City and Central America. He became Provincial Animator of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation which is work that is personally exciting and continues to be involved. He currently is in his 6th year at Jemez Pueblo. (left to right) Br. Bruce Michelak, Fr. Larry Bernard, Fr. Paul Juniet, Br. George Ward, Br. Gordon Boykin, and Fr. Emeric Nordmeyer. Page 3!

4 October and November Calendars Oct 7 Hospitality Assignments DATE GROUP VOLUNTEERS Oct 28 4 Nov 18 1 Dec 16 2 Rena s Home 1-3pm Oct 9 Inquiry ABP* 3:30-5:30pm Oct 28 ABP* 12:30-2:00pm Oct 28 Inquiry ABP* 12:15-2:15pm Oct 28 FRATERNITY MEETING (ABP*) 2:00-5:00pm (CFR Pantry: Bottled water, ground pepper, jelly; toiletry: lotion, shampoo) Nov 3 Council Meet ABP* 12:00 pm Nov 4 Rena s Home 1-3pm Nov 13 Inquiry ABP* 3:30-5:30pm Nov 18 ABP* 12:30-2:00pm Nov 18 Inquiry ABP* 12:15-2:15pm Nov 18 FRATERNITY MEETING (ABP*) 2:00-5:00pm (St. Felix Pantry: canned foods, crackers, granola bars) Nov 24 Council Meet ABP* 12:00 pm ABP*: A Becoming Place Marilyn, Israela, Luciana, Gerry, Laura, Tony Ernestine, Connie Jo, Tommie, Gina, Clare, Bill Abraham, Ed & Carol Ann, Margaret, Rex, Felis Volunteers, please come early to setup and remain after Gathering to cleanup and align furniture. BIRTHDAY BLESSINGS: WE PRAY FOR: Jeanette Feldman Oct 10 Avelina Battaglia Oct 18 Gerry Rohrkemper Oct 30 Ingrid Schumacher Oct 30 Alcaria Valdez Oct 30 Marie Tso Allen Oct 31 Connie Jo Martinez, Elizabeth Chavez, Deacon Charlie Johnson, Barbara Heilman, Art and Erma Alcaria, Eva Bevington, John and Nancy Fishel, Linda and her family, Kevin, Derek Kolb, Br. Gordon, Stephanie, (Tommie s daughter), Clare Domenici and Karen Fellner s sister. For the repose of the souls of Winifred Klimka, Cidro Gallegos (Rena s brother), Dorothy Swanson, Minnie Vasquez (Espiritu Santo), Wilfred Otero, Arturo Olivas, Sen. Pete Domenici (Clare s father), and Harry (Connie Jo Martinez s husband). ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI PRAYER Father, you helped Saint Francis to reflect the image of Christ through a life o f p o v e r t y a n d humility. May we follow your Son by walking in the footsteps of Francis of Assisi, and by imitating his joyful love. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen Page!4

5 POPE PAUL VI CANONIZATION Pope Francis has announced that Paul VI will be proclaimed a saint on Sunday, October 14th in the Vatican. Born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini Sept. 26 September 1897, Pope Paul VI led the Catholic Church from 1963 until his death on August 6, Succeeding John XXIII, Paul VI continued the Second Vatican Council - which he closed in implementing its numerous reforms. He wanted a Church that was in dialogue with the modern world. He treated the theme of dialogue at great length in his encyclical Ecclesiam Suam, released on Aug. 6, 1964, exactly 14 years before his death. In it, he wrote he felt a vocation to dialogue between the Church and the world. Faced with the issue of whether to change the Church s longstanding opposition to artificial birth control, Paul VI penned his landmark encyclical Humanae Vitae in 1968, delivering a strong no to change and reaffirming the Church s teaching on contraception. Even though his papacy lasted for another 10 years, this would be his last encyclical. Once described by Pope Benedict XVI as superhuman, Paul VI governed the Church in the turbulent post-conciliar phase. In the words of Francis, he was a man who knew how to witness, in difficult years, to the faith in Jesus Christ. Saint Pope Paul VI, pray for us. ARCHBISHOP OSCAR ROMERO CANONIZATION Archbishop Oscar Romero, who will become the first Salvadoran saint on October 14th, was born on August 15, He was gunned down during Mass in a hospital chapel March 24, 1980, a day after telling an army made up largely of peasants that they were killing their own people. No soldier is obliged to obey an order that is contrary to the will of God, he said. He was shot through the heart by gunmen linked to a right-wing death squad while celebrating Mass, after saying, one must not love oneself so much as to avoid getting involved in the risks of life that history demands of us, and those who fend off danger will lose their lives. Archbishop Romero was outspoken against military oppression during his country s bloody civil war in the 1980s, and also of the role the United States played in it. In a letter he sent to U.S. president Jimmy Carter in February of 1980, he urged America not to send military aid to El Salvador: You say that you are Christian. If you are really Christian, please stop sending military aid to the military here, because they use it only to kill my people. His death is considered by the Catholic Church to have been in odium fidei, meaning in hatred of the faith. Archbishop Romero was beatified in San Salvador on May 23, 2015, in a ceremony that drew an estimated 250,000 people, believed to have been the largest religious gathering ever held in Central America. Saint Archbishop Oscar Romero, pray for us. Page!5

6 Minister Abraham Placencio, OFS Vice Minister Israela Garcia, OFS Secretary Gerry Rohrkemper, OFS Treasurer Tommie Page, OFS Formation Rena Xuereb, OFS Councilor 1 Mary Lou Narvaez, OFS malunarvaez44@gmail.com Councilor 2 Rex Schlicher, OFS rlschlicher@msn.com Spiritual Asst. Br. Gordon Boykin, OFM gordyboy45@aol.com Infirmarian Margaret Martinez, OFS margova601@q.com Newsletter Editor Bill Parras billparras@mac.com Website St. Anthony Fraternity Post Office Box 6881 Albuquerque, NM We are the Ordo Franciscanus Saecularis (The Secular Franciscan Order) in the United States of America. We live our vocation in our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas Region. Our Franciscan Community is the St. Anthony Fraternity in Albuquerque, NM. OUR MISSION STATEMENT: We, the fraternity of St. Anthony, inspired by the vision of St. Francis, commit ourselves to the Gospel as our Way of Life: Going from Gospel to Life and from Life to Gospel. We believe that we are called to fraternity to share a life of joy and peace as well as to draw our inspiration from the cross of Jesus as Francis did. We believe that we are called to be renewed continually through the celebration of the Eucharist and to go forth to rebuild the Church through our witness. Page!6