Newsletter: Divine Mercy Region Secular Franciscan Order Lower Michigan and Toledo, Ohio May, 2015 My Dear Brothers and Sisters in St. Francis, From Our Regional Minister As you may know, each year the region must file an annual report with the NAFRA (national fraternity). I would like to share with you the results of this year's annual reports. I would also like to thank all the fraternity ministers who were so good in getting their fraternity's report to me on time. Great job! Last year we had 595 professed members, this year we have 573 professed members, down 22 members. Last year we had 43 candidates, this year we have 41 candidates, down 2 candidates. Last year we had 36 people in orientation, this year we have 10 people in orientation, down 26. Last year we had 15 people in inquiry and this year we have 32 people in inquiry, up 17 people. Lastly and sadly, last year we had 30 brothers and sisters who met sister death. Their names have been posted in this newsletter. (See page 5.) Pray for the repose of our sisters and brothers who have passed away and are in the arms of Our Lord. Even with the many deaths we had last year, I believe the region is holding its own. Please continue to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet once a week for the region that we will continue to attract more people to the Secular Franciscan Order and that we will all be faithful to the promises we made at our profession ceremony. In this edition: From Our Regional Minister At the Spring Ministers Meeting Spiritual Assistants Upcoming Events From Gospel to Life and Life to Gospel For Our Blessed Mother on Mother's Day Members Who Entered Eternal Life in 2014 Contact Us! Nominations! On the weekend of August 7, 2015, the ministers of the region will meet at St. Francis Retreat Center, Dewitt, Michigan to select the new officers and council members for the regional council. All fraternities are required to send their minister or a delegate to vote at the ministers meeting in August. Please pray that the Holy Spirit will raise up Spirit-filled people to lead the Secular Franciscans of the Divine Mercy Region. Also, please nominate people you believe would be good leaders of the region by giving the names to your minister to send to the regional council or sending the names directly to Linda Solis OFS, the regional secretary or Jim Howard OFS the regional minister. All Secular Franciscans are invited to attend the chapter of elections. If you wish to attend, simply contact any member of the council for a registration form. Pray for the leaders of the region as they daily pray for you. Continued on page 6... Page 1
At the Spring Ministers Meeting... Carolyn Townes, who is a captivating speaker as well as being the National JPIC Animator came to speak to us. She explained the principles of JPIC: JPIC is meant to bring issues to life. There is an easy way to remember what JPIC is: o P for prayer - because everything depends on prayer o E for empathy - with others o A for Active Listening - not just hearing but being present to another o C for Compassion - recognizing the suffering of another and then doing something about it o E for Evangelical Love - the love that Jesus speaks about; wanting the good for another and wishing no evil to come to them There is a basic way that people go through life, a way they live, a reaction they have to the things in their lives. They're either at war or at peace. As Franciscans, we are called to live at peace. Being at peace means living our Rule through daily conversion. Article 7. When you find yourself at war... o o o Stop. Say nothing. Take 3 deep breaths. Ask a question of yourself: Why did this upset me? Find someone to talk to if necessary. We know that JOY is a Franciscan value and a sign of our charism and way of life. Joy is contagious. A vital reminder: "Just remember how you are being when you are doing. Check your hearts." The Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, Article 19: Mindful that they are bearers of peace which must be built up unceasingly, they should seek out ways of unity and fraternal harmony through dialogue, trusting in the presence of the divine seed in everyone and in the transforming power of love and pardon. Messengers of perfect joy in every circumstance, they should strive to bring joy and hope to others. Since they are immersed in the resurrection of Christ, which gives true meaning to Sister Death, let them serenely head toward the ultimate encounter with the Father. You can contact Carolyn at ctownes26 @ hotmail dot com Her blog is Animate Peace at http://animatepeace.blog.com/ Page 2
Spiritual Assistants Q: What is the role of a Spiritual Assistant in a fraternity? A: Our role is to work with the members of the Fraternity. Our purpose is to foster communion with the Church and with all the Orders within our Franciscan Family. We assist fraternities so they fulfill their roles in the Church and in the world. We do this through our witness and sharing of Franciscan Spirituality, through cooperating in initial and on-going formation to foster a deeper insight into that Spirituality. We participate in Monthly Gatherings and in Council Sessions. We have a vote in all matters except elections and budget and monetary matters. We are specifically responsible for the animation of liturgical celebrations and spiritual reflections. A Spiritual Assistant should: Be accessible to all the brothers and sisters in Fraternity Be warm and open and share expectations, goals, interests and therefore, encourage those things in others Be an example in one s own spiritual life Be an energizer and an enthusiastic sharer of one s own vocation Be sensitive to the needs of the Fraternity and each brother and sister Be genuinely dedicated to the Spiritual growth of the members of the Fraternity and of the Order Spiritual Assistant Training As most of you know we now have Spiritual Assistant Training program that will be beneficial to the entire Divine Mercy Region. Currently, we have 16 fraternities that do not have a spiritual assistant. Divine Mercy Region is asking fraternities to please make a donation to the program, so that we can make going through the training accessible to more members. Please make out your checks to Divine Mercy Region, and in the memo place Spiritual Assistant program. The checks should be mailed to our Treasurer, Mr. Ray Boisvenue, 44 Lakeside Dr., NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503. Thank you for all of your help. Upcoming Events 2015 August 7-9 Annual Ministers Meeting - Elections DeWitt August 9 New Executive Council meets in PM with outgoing members DeWitt October 31 Formation Day Saginaw 2016 April 30 Spring Ministers Meeting Saginaw August 12-14 Annual Ministers Meeting TBD Page 3
From Gospel to Life and Life to Gospel... "We may not be able to know Jesus fully but we can grow in our understanding and love of him by reading the Scriptures. Adding the Gospel for the day to your daily prayer routine can help with this. In The Word Among Us for March 20, I found the following suggestion: 1. Read the Scriptures to learn about Jesus. Start with the daily Mass readings and then, in your journal, start a list of all you learn about him. 2. Ask him some questions that come from your reading that will help you come to know him better and then wait for the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts or heart. 3. Write down what you think, feel or imagine in response to your questions. Ponder your list often, add to it and discover the love that Jesus has for you. I have kept a prayer journal for many years and have found that this process has helped me in developing my own prayer style and routine. I am excited to add the above process to my prayer time and look forward to growing my love for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I hope you will consider joining me!" Found in a recent bulletin from St. Charles Borromeo Church, Greenville, Michigan For our Blessed Mother on Mother s Day And Heavenly Father on Father s Day You are the love which is a flame that generates in us --- REFLECTIONS OF LOVE The flame that flickers upon the candle, Burns through the bulk of blackness. Its heat is absorbed by apostles of its creed, In which we, your children, are the apostles of the loving light. The flame, flickering in each of our cores, Shall never be extinguished, For together our cores make up the candle --- O U R F A M I L Y Which you have faithfully fed and molded By uniting each of us with your love. Our individual flames flow from the centered one in you, Creating a large, intricately woven family bound by love and hope. And though our family may not show it, We carry your love within our hearts. You have ignited in us a way of life --- a light of love, To guide us toward the creation of our own identity. And having shown and given what is closest to your heart, We shall forever love you; Reflecting this love in tokens like this. With Love, Your Children [Originally written in May 1976 by H.S. senior now Theresa Brown, OFS, for her mother on Mother s Day!] Page 4
The Following Brothers and Sisters Entered Eternal Life in 2014 Please Pray for Them and Ask Them to Pray for Us! Lynn Dubridge OFS Our Mother of Sorrows, Grand Rapids January 9, 2014 Elnora Allen OFS St. Bonaventure, Detroit, MI January 19, 2014 Lois Sproell OFS St. Louis the King, White Lake, MI January 24, 2014 Roseann Stander OFS St. Clare, Grand Rapids, MI February 8, 2014 Frank Kraimer OFS St. Bonaventure, Detroit, MI February 20, 2014 Shirley Ivan OFS St. Bonaventure, Detroit, MI February 22, 2014 Ann Serra OFS Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Gaylord, MI March 1, 2014 Alice Schulte OFS St. Louis the King, White Lake, MI March 17, 2014 Conception Ramirez OFS Immaculate Conception, Detroit, MI March 26, 2014 Bertha Lamonte OFS St. Francis, Sterling Heights, MI April 1, 2014 Wilhelmena Adkins OFS St. Bonaventure, Detroit, MI April 3, 2014 Emelia Martinez OFS Immaculate Conception, Detroit, MI April 11, 2014 Anicato Arrendanado OFS Immaculate Conception, Detroit, MI April 15, 2014 Rebecca Vincent OFS St. Francis, Jackson, MI April 27, 2014 Joseph Driessen OFS St. Bonaventure, Detroit, MI May 13, 2014 Amelia Martinez OFS Immaculate Conception, Detroit, MI May 13, 2014 Joseph Carranza OFS St. Louis the King, White Lake, MI June 1, 2014 James Krummen OFS Queen of Angels, Saginaw, MI June 2, 2014 Robert Couture OFS Queen of Angels, Saginaw, MI June 7, 2014 Loretta Munoz OFS Immaculate Conception, Detroit, MI June 13, 2014 Consuelo Tabarez OFS Immaculate Conception, Detroit, MI June 17, 2014 Mary Adams OFS Our Mother of Sorrows, Grand Rapids, MI August 9, 2014 Rocco Cesaro OFS St. Bonaventure, Detroit, MI August 14, 2014 Tessie Ratajczak OFS Queen of Angels, Saginaw, M August 14, 2014 Rita Vargo OFS St Joseph, Ann Arbor, MI September 15, 2014 Barbara Lyons OFS Lumen Christi, Wyandotte, MI September 28, 2014 Irving Howell OFS St Joseph, Grand Blanc, MI October 12, 2014 James Hickey OFS Our Mother of Sorrows, Grand Rapids, MI October 23, 2014 Elaine Ogridzenski OFS St. Clare, Grand Rapids, MI December 10, 2014 Sophie Martin OFS St Bonaventure, Detroit, MI December 25, 2014 Shirley Verdon OFS Divine Providence, Kalamazoo, MI January 26, 2015 Irene Modrzejewski OFS Solanus Casey Fraternity, Roseville, MI April 1, 2015 Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon each of them. May they rest in peace. Amen. Page 5
From Our Regional Minister, continued.. From Pope Francis's book, The Joy of the Gospel, "When Saint Paul approached the apostles in Jerusalem to discern whether he was 'running or had run in vain ' (Gal2:2), the key criterion of authenticity which they presented was that he should not forget the poor (cf. Gal 2:10). This important principle, namely that the Pauline communities should not succumb to the selfcentered lifestyle of the pagans, remains timely today, when a new self-centered paganism is growing. We may not always be able to reflect adequately the beauty of the Gospel, but there is one sign which we should never lack: the option for those who are least, those whom society discards." For Franciscans who have promised to live in simplicity, it is important for us to remember by our actions the poor who have no material options to live other than in poverty. Pope Francis's words are something for us all to think about and hopefully act upon. May the Lord continue to bless and keep you. Contact Us Divine Mercy Region Executive Council James Howard, OFS, Minister, jblakehoward@gmail.com (616) 459-7940 Br. Loren Connell, OFM, Spiritual Assistant brolocon@gmail.com Dave Seitz, OFS, Vice-Minister, dseitzjmj@yahoo.com Linda Solis, OFS, Secretary, divinemercy.region@gmail.com Ray Boisvenue, OFS, Treasurer, rlbnorth@iname.com Patti Reynolds, OFS, Formation pattir.ofs@gmail.com Marge Krystiniak,OFS, Councilor, margelkofs@hotmail.com Theresa Brown, OFS, Councilor, jtmcbrown@msn.com Marcia DePauw, OFS, Councilor, djm49749@gmail.com Bob Bowersox, OFS, Councilor, Yukon_bob2000@yahoo.com Jim Howard OFS Nominations We have many very well-qualified people, who should be nominated for the various positions on council. Please look at members in your fraternities or members in other fraternities to see who you think would be a good Minister, Vice Minister, Secretary, Treasurer or Councilor on the regional level. Nomination forms have been sent to all fraternity ministers. You should have received a copy. But if you still need one, there is one on the last page of this newsletter. The directions you need are on the form. Please fill it out and send it in according to the directions before June 1, 2015. We want your input! Thank you! Please send stories and pictures from your fraternity to Jan, Linda or Theresa: Jan Kaeding OFS, Editor, divineprovidencefraternity@gmail.com Linda Solis OFS, Secretary, divinemercy.region@gmail.com Theresa Brown, Councilor, jtmcbrown@msn.com You can find us on the Internet at: www.divinemercyregion.org To join the Yahoo Group for Secular Franciscans, send a blank email to: tau-daily-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Page 6
REGIONAL FRATERNITY EXECUTIVE COUNCIL REQUEST FOR NOMINATION(S) FOR OFFICE I the undersigned Professed, Active, Secular Franciscan nominate the following Professed, Active Secular Franciscan for the Office of: Regional Fraternity Minister Regional Fraternity Secretary Regional Fraternity Councilor (four Councilors to be elected) Regional Fraternity Vice-Minister Regional Fraternity Treasurer Note: The Office of Formation Minister the in Regional Fraternity will be appointed by the newly elected Regional Fraternity Executive Council following elections. In my best prayerful opinion, I feel the following individual is qualified for the position indicated above: NOMINATED: Name: Address: City/State/Zip Phone: Day/Work Evening/Cell This nominee is a professed member of Fraternity. NOMINATED BY: Name: Address: City/State/Zip Phone: Day/Work Evening/Cell I am a professed member of Fraternity. BEFORE JUNE 1, 2015, SEND ONE COPY OF THIS NOMINATION FORM TO BOTH: Marcia DePauw, OFS Linda Solis, OFS 7469 Wildwood Rd. AND 4813 Boardman Rd., SW Indian River MI 49749 South Boardman, MI 49680 PLEASE SUBMIT ONE FORM FOR EACH NOMINATION. PAX ET BONUM