San Juan Capistrano Fraternity - S.F.O. JULY, 2018 COUNCIL Tom Cooney, OFS Minister (949) 363-7394 Cyndie Dunkerson, OFS Vice-Minister cyndie4na@gmail.com (949) 254-2727 (cell) Deacon David Sire, OFS Formation Director sfosire@gmail.com (949) 243-1390 ext 390 Christine Riley, OFS (949) 443-0122 Secretary Joan Fessenden, OFS Treasurer (949) 413-3379 Councilors: Deacon Joe Halka OFS Paul Kelly, OFS Dolly Rett, OFS Spiritual Assistant Dan Abalos, OFS Infirmarian Dolly Rett, OFS (949) 248-4284 Archivist Sharon Deveaux, OFS Bulletin Tom Cooney, OFS tomtauofs@gmail.com Web: www.missionfranciscans.org Look here next month for updates! Next Meeting = Elections: July 14, 2018 Do you feel changes in the wind? Fraternity Elections take place at 9:30 a.m., July 14th our regular meeting. Judith Mussatto, OFS presides. All Professed who are able are asked to make an effort to clear their calendars and be present for voting. The Nominees are in need of your prayer and support as we transition to another three-year term of elected leadership. See Page 2 for the Nominee Slate. The quorum count is always important. What s that? See Page 2. Say hello to our visitors. Announcements The 8:00 to 9:30 formation is eliminated so that Fraternity Elections take place at 9:30 a.m. 9:30 to close of Elections Meeting Room A. 7/19/18 Council Meeting: 6-8pm, Rm G on Thursday. Newly elected Council meets tonight along with the former Council for transitioning. Congratulations to our newly elected Council. Thank you! 1. Overview 5. Vocation Prayer and Meetings Calendar 2. Election Notes 6. Updated Birthdays and Hospitality Grid 3. Common Fund highlights Part I 7. Question in a Question 4. Money talk Part II 6. Calendar for 2018 Frequently Asked Questions about Elections. Also see Page 2. Upcoming Events: Mini Retreat, Mass, Relic of St. Clare blessing, and Potluck on August 11, 2018 our regular meeting day. Treasury State of our Common Fund. See Pages 2 and 3 for things to know and some additional frequently asked questions about donations. Pages 5 and 6 At-A-Glance things. Page 7 Flying to cyberspace. 1
What to bring on July 14th? Pen/Pencil and this page Region will preside over Elections. Judith Mussatto, OFS (also our Regional Minister) will be assisted by Church Witness, Bill Mussatto, OFS. They will lead the meeting as the present Council ends and the fraternity ceases to exist momentarily until all offices are elected anew. Jobs: We will need helpers to distribute voting slips (provided) and this job is perfect for visitors to the fraternity. We also will need someone to count ballots; perfect for Inquirers. Also a scribe who will write / tally the count on the white board as voting commences. Perfect for Inquirers and visitors alike. Hello visitors: Franco, Charlotte, and Juanita. Professed: A quorum is taken early on in the process. Once we know the number of voting members (must be Professed and in good standing) it is required that it be 50% plus 1 of the then active voice Professed. That means we start with Professed in good standing and subtract any Professed who are either excused documented or in an Emeritus status adding back any adjustments thereto for deaths during the year, or excused members who are actually present. Sounds complicated, but will be made quite simple. The doors are closed and no one leaves without good cause until elections are concluded. Take care of business early! (You know what that means). Hospitality: Do we bring snacks and goodies? Finger foods as usual are always welcome like we normally have at meetings; but remember, our Region folks are traveling far to be with us and we may want nutritional concerns addressed for them and ourselves (sandwiches, for example). Elections often take time to conclude, sign papers, and socialize afterwards. Common Fund: This is a normal meeting even though it is election day so bring your common fund envelopes and financial donations as customary. We have more to say on the Treasury Update pages. A stipend is provided to the Regional representatives which is customary to cover their time and expense of travel. This is paid from your common fund donations. Thank you so much for your generosity. 2
Feast Days / Special Event Notes Frequently Asked Questions: 1. When an Event occurs on a regular meeting day, do we also bring our common fund donations? Yes. Common fund donations, enable the fraternity to meet its normal expenses and provide donations to the church, Region, and other charitable outreach that the SFO s are known for. While we may be limited in time for many charitable activities, the agencies we support through our fund and your generosity are most grateful. Catholic Relief Services, Casa Franciscana, and others are just two examples where your dollars help to serve others in need. Mission Basilica is a regular recipient of our donations as well for providing space and facilities for us to meet including the historic Serra Chapel we all love. 2. What happens on August 11th when we have our Mini Retreat which is also on our regular meeting day? Where do I place my common fund donation? There will be a donation basket in the meeting room where you can place your regular fraternity donation along with your contribution to the mini-retreat day. There is no collection at Mass; so this is your opportunity to provide the customary offering you would otherwise provide at Mass. See the donation basket for making those financial contributions and pick up a NAME TAG there. 3. I m confused as to how much to contribute for a mini-retreat, Mass and Potluck. What is the average contribution to be made for an all-day event such as this? Thank you for asking. Our financial records show that we average about 25-30 attendees at an event such as that coming up on August 11th and the usual stipends for cantor, organist, speakers, church, announcement cards, Priest, special guests, and complementary amenities can ap- $20 proach $500-or more per event. Doing the math, $20 per person would average as a good will offering for a special event to Might you be able to help at the $20 level? balance expense with donations. There are not many day retreats one takes advantage of that are free of cost; and the offering at the event in lieu of at Mass was a decision by the Council for our upcoming Feast Day celebration. No collection will be taken at Mass in Serra Chapel. While some may be financially able to contribute $20 or more for an event, and with heartfelt thanks for that, we recognize it may be difficult for others to offer that amount and not appropriate for clergy and religious guests; the rule of thumb is to apply the same reasoning as that applied to the common fund; which is, to offer what you are able to contribute according to your means. Your participation alone is a gift so do not opt to stay away. All are welcome. That s Franciscan! We are family. Thank you also for bringing food to share at a pot luck. Drinks, cups, utensils, decorations, tablecloths, plates, napkins, etc are always provided. On August 11th, we are combining with St. Maximilian Kolbe fraternity in Los Alamitos and they are helping with these items. 3
Treasury Notes Franciscans don t like to talk about money. So, we take this brief time to share some thoughts. Frequently Asked Questions: 1. What is the state of the Common Fund? Expenses are outpacing income at the mid-point of the calendar year. Although we have a healthy cash balance right now, we need to help maintain it. 2. What is our cash balance now? We currently have $2,184.29 in operating cash, and another $5,000 bequeathed to the fraternity and held in a separate accounting to be used at Council discretion. At the beginning of 2017 we had $3,879.81 and added in another $4,065 of donations before expenses. Expenses during 2017 were $4,634.67; that s about $600 higher than donations. That s 2017, how about 2018? See #3. 3. Council prepares an annual budget. Where are we on projections at mid-year 2018? Common fund donations for the first six months were a low of $102 (January) and a high of $329 (April) with an average of about $200 a month for six months. Expenses, however, were a low of $61 (March) and a high of $1,424 (January) averaging about $400 a month. {Note Fair Share to Region is $1,000 paid in January}. At average monthly donations of $200 and expense at $400, it tells us something. Donations in 2018 are not keeping up with expenses. 4. Are the books audited? Yes. And as we transition to a new Council, we can let the incoming Council know we passed. All transactions are well documented. 5. Times of change. While Franciscans don t exactly like to talk about money matters, it s important to do so periodically and this is a good time to do it as a new Council takes over in July and plans ahead. As was stated on Page 3, it s good to get an idea about special events and the cost to sponsor them because there is a strong duty to be good stewards over the gifts given to us. It s uncomfortable to put a price tag per person on a wonderful experience as we have been given in the past through special events like mini-retreats; but the reality is that a rewarding experience such as that comes with a financial commitment to offer it and make it possible. So with reluctance, it s reported herein so that we may know and respond to what a donation would typically be to cover expenses. 6. Common Fund what s the guideline? Donations to the Common fund are only to be made at a level you can afford recognizing that as brothers and sisters in fraternity and good stewards over the gifts we have been given, we donate only according to our means. Some may give more; some may give less. Know that councils try to balance all these things so they may guide and animate the fraternity. What we can do, we leave to God. 4
Meeting News 2018 AT-A-GLANCE Pray for Vocations to the Secular Franciscan Order: O good and gracious God, God of mercy, compassion, generosity, and love, as we live our lives today in the model of St. Francis, choosing daily to live the Gospel life, help us to help others hear your call. Help us to help others recognize their vocation as a Secular Franciscan that You have already planted in their heart. Help us, so that together we all may work to bring the Gospel to life. Amen! 5
Deacon David Sire, OFS Paul Kelly, OFS A HOSPITALITY SCHEDULE FOR FRATERNITY MEETINGS: (See Letter under Month for what to bring that matches with your last name) If you are assigned Paper Goods, take today off! We have plenty paper and condiments. Remember to take home food items you bring that are leftover when the meeting concludes. 6
Question within a Question Did you read the Orange Catholic Newspaper recently? There was an article by Bishop Barron who wrote about a recent USCCB meeting where a topic about communication came up and he spoke to that in the article. As you know, he has written many books, and made several noteworthy video presentations and series about the faith. He relayed an experience he had about submitting a writing for publication and the publisher called him with the good news that it was accepted for publication. He was delighted. But then came the other part of the response from the publisher that left him a bit puzzled and dejected. The publisher announced with delight that instead of a print publication they would make the writing available in digital form only. Digital online? Who d read it, he postured? The publisher sensed his pause and gave him some statistics that demonstrated how much more people are reading online via their tablets and mobile devices these days just look around you on an airplane. So he went with it and actually became more than pleased with the accolades and readership levels after publication. He had reached a far wider audience than via a solo print edition. Why bring this up? Winds of change are upon us as the banner heading said. Your newsletter editor has announced to Council that The Dove in its present hardcopy format would go digital via our fraternity website within one year. This would allow a much wider readership, more available content, and up-to-the-minute updates of any important announcements. We have a year to transition. The Dove will continue to fly but in cyberspace. Council is aware that not everyone has access to digital devices via tablets, smartphones or iphones and moving to all-digital on the website may not work for all of our brothers and sisters. So hardcopy editions are still planned for those who are assigned to Emeritus status; albeit expanded content will be going digital. In this way, we stay connected and enter the digital age after our 35 year history as a fraternity. Like Bishop Barron, we hope to be pleasantly surprised transitioning to the new concept. Additionally, there will be savings in the cost of copying and mailing a monthly newsletter. Tune in regularly to our website: www.missionfranciscans.org starting today. 7
San Juan Capistrano Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order www.missionfranciscans.org Address Goes Here The Dove july, 2018 8