Vol 8 Issue 4 April Called Home

Transcription

1 Vol 8 Issue 4 April 2017 Newsletter of the St. Frances Cabrini Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order. Monthly gatherings: 1:30 PM on 3rd Sunday of the month unless otherwise noted. St. Nicholas Byzantine Church, St. George Hall in back 1051 Robinson Ave., Barberton, OH EVERYONE IS WELCOME: GUESTS ARE EXPECTED The April gathering will be the 9th of April, the 2nd Sunday! NOTE: This is a week earlier than usual due to Easter. St. Frances X. Cabrini Questions? Call Bob Burtscher, ; Cell: Called Home Fr. Albert Kunkel, OFS, who was a Spiritual Assistant for our Fraternity, was called by Sister Death to go home to the Lord on the 26th of March. The Mass of Christian Burial was at Prince of Peace Church in Barberton on 1 April. Bishop Roger Gries of the Cleveland Diocese was the celebrant; Fr. Francis Walsh was the homilist for the liturgy. Vespers were held on 31 March at with Fr. Michael Gurnick presiding, and Fr. Thomas Heran the homilist. Our fraternity was blessed to have Fr. Kunkel as a Spiritual Assistant. For the past several years his health was failing, but he remained as active as possible. As he became a bit frail he moved to Francesca Hall in Akron, where he was also the chaplain. As his health deteriorated he moved to St. Edward Home in Fairlawn. We were very blessed to know him, and to have him as a Spiritual Assistant. May he rest in peace... Joanne Angeletti, (left) is displaying a mat she is crocheting for a homeless person made entirely out of Acme Store grocery bags - yes, plastic bags! This is truly recycling! The mats are given to homeless people who may otherwise sleep on bare ground. It is a nice cushion, and helps keep people warm. The cost? Well, a big crochet hook, a lot of bags (hundreds!) of any and all colors, and time. An advantage if you donate plastic bags to this project there is no need to drop them off in a recycle bin -they are being repurposed. Are you interested in helping in any way: saving bags, preparing the strips for crocheting, or even doing some of the needle work yourself, talk with Joanne. There is something for everyone can do to help with this special project.

2 April 2017 Pg. 2 Eucharistic Adoration Saturday Mary Cate Roberts Sunday Betty DeMarco Mary Tag Paul Tag Monday Rose Akins Judith Hoyt Richard Russelo Tuesday Maria Elena Meza Roberto Meza Larry McNutt Eileen Dunlap Wednesday Rick Dunlap Bill Marshall Dorothy Takacs Sandy Pollino Thursday Joanne Angeletti Carol Perrine Sandy Pollino Friday Bob Burtscher Lee Gaydos Dave Gaydos Pepe Ventosa Apostolate Schedules for April Stand-up for Life Rick Dunlap, OFS, Joanne Angeletti, OFS Little Portion Rose Zaratsian, OFS, provider; Dave Gaydos. OFS, deliverer Refreshments Carol Perrine, OFS and Lee Gaydos, OFS Ongoing Formation in March For on-going formation our memories were being refreshed on the terms regarding one s Secular Franciscan status. Pepe noted that there is no such thing as an inactive member in a fraternity. Members are either active or excused. An individual may be excused for a valid reason, i.e., not able to attend fraternity gatherings and the status is approved by the fraternity council. After a period of six months the fraternity council will contact the individual and re-evaluate the situation. One year is the maximum time to be an excused member. The fraternity will maintain contact with the excused member. In turn, the excused member must continue to meet the obligations of a Secular Franciscan, such as contributing to the financial support for the fraternity, prayer and following the Secular Franciscans Rule as far as possible. In an extraordinary situation a member may be permanently excused by the council. Lapsed individuals, who have not been active with the fraternity for a span time will be contacted by a fraternity council member and invited to return to fraternity life. If they do not respond to this call they will cease to be members of the fraternity -but they will still be a Secular Franciscan! If a person decide to return to fraternity life, he or she, will need to follow guidelines as per our fraternity statutues, Chapt. 6 Art Thank you, Debbie for refreshing our memories on the formation period to become a Secular Franciscan.

3 April 2017 pg. 3 Our Shut-in and Excused Members These individuals are still members of our fraternity (see article on pg 2 of this publication). Shut-in Excused Shut-in Ruth Older, OFS Deanna Hurley, OFS Pat Hurley, OFS Betty Smith, OFS Sandra Pollino, OFS Deacon Fred Browne, OFS Joyce Browne, OFS March Gathering Notes Immaculate Conception Parish in Ravenna was the recipient of our gifts from the Food Pantry Ministry. Your generosity is greatly appreciated. It is official! Eugene Grande, OFS, & Michael Butts, OFS, are now members of St. Frances Cabrini Fraternity. We are very blessed to have these Secular Franciscans with us. To save postage, envelopes, and work for the editor, our fraternity newsletter, The Cabrinian and the regional newsletter Up to Now... will be ed to all fraternity members who have a computer. It is suggested individuals print out the newsletters if possible. For those who do not have a computer or e- mail printed copies will be sent via the U.S. Postal Service. Larry McNutt, OFS, brought a special guest to the March gathering, Fr. Aristides Msaki of the Moshi Diocese in Tanzania. It was a great pleasure for us. After the gathering Father requested a copy of Fully Mature with the Fullness of Christ by Fr. Benet Fonck, OFM. Perhaps Father will be able to share the word about the Secular Franciscan Order with others after reading the wonderful material included in that publication. Save the Date: Plans are underway for the 2018 Fraternity Retreat. Reservations are made for 2-4 March 2018 in the White Pines Campus of the Cuyahoga Valley National Park. This is the same place where we have had past retreats. Fr. Joe Tuscan will be the Spiritual Director for the Retreat. As more details are worked out, such as costs, et cetera, the information will be shared with you. But please mark your calendars now so you can save the date! 2-4 March 2018 SAVE the DATE

4 Pg 4 Vol 8; Issue 4 April Birthdays Bill Marshall 4/7 Rose Zaratsian 4/10 Joyce Browne, 4/12 Dave Gaydos 4/12 April Profession Anniversaries Richard Russelo, OFS (1996) During the March gathering we had the Rite of Admission into the Fraternity. (above, l-r) Fr. Dennis Arambasick, OFM, Cindy Russo, LeeAnn Devore,, Chris Devore These three candidates have been faithful in their attendance to formation meetings, active in discussions, and an absolute delight. Please take time at the fraternity gatherings to get to know then, and share with them your Franciscan Walk. We are using the wonderful formation book Fully Mature With the Fullness of Christ. We are progressing though chapters as time allows. Everyone is welcome, and encouraged, to attend and to share, the formation meetings. In April the classes will be held on the first and third Thursdays from 7-9 PM. Classes are held at the home of Debbie & Pepe Ventosa. Remember, although Debbie is the Formation Director for the fraternity, everyone of us should be active in one way or another in the formation of candidates. Letter to President Trump Please feel free to make copies of this letter (included with this newsletter) as needed. Sadly, Bob s signature isn t on the letter that was ed to me, and I am not going to forge his signature, but the content of the letter is what is important. Please make copies as you wish to share with others, and perhaps encourage them to also write their personal letters to the president on these important issues. A Prayer Answered LeeAnn & Chris Devore, candidates in our fraternity, were very blessed to receive a relic of St. Angela Merici, founder of the Ursuline Sisters. She had also been a Third Order Franciscan (as they were named back then). After LeeAnn & Chris received this relic their prayers were answered. Divine Mercy Sunday at Little Flower Parish 1-3 PM Adoration 1-3 PM Confession 3 PM Divine Mercy Sung Re-consecration to Divine Mercy after chaplet Benediction Franciscans will serve as greeters and will also organize a pot-luck meal in the hall following the Divine Mercy para-liturgy. This will not be extravagant -it will just a wonderful opportunity for great fellowship. Please try to join us for this beautiful event.

5 Pg 5 St. Frances X. Cabrini Fraternity Secular Franciscan Order Donald Trump President of the United States of America The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW. Washington, DC March 26, 2017 Dear Mr. President: We, the Council members of the St. Frances X. Cabrini Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order, want to express our appreciation for your position on a number of issues that are of utmost importance to Catholics and many other conservative Christians as well as Americans of other beliefs. We hold in high regard: the respect for human life from the moment of conception until natural death, the freedom to live according to our beliefs, the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman, the end of human trafficking and freedom from being required to act against our conscience, among other issues. President Trump, we ask you to keep sacred the above concerns for the benefit of the Republic for which we stand. We thank you for the actions you have already taken on some of these issues. We applaud you for including a number of wise and dedicated members in your staff that understand the importance of these and related issues. Be assured that you are in our prayers. A Mass has been offered for wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit for you and your administration. Most respectfully, Bob Burtscher, OFS Minister of the St. Frances X. Cabrini Fraternity 3862 Fairfield Dr. Mogadore, OH 44260