Fall 2015 Secular Franciscan Order Juan de Padilla Regional Newsletter K A N S A S M I S S O U R I O K L A H O M A M i n i s t e r s M e s s a g e Minister s Message Father Mike s Jubilee Photos I n s i d e t h i s Minister s Message Father Michael Scully Jubliee & New Book Formation Corner 3 1 2 My dearest Franciscan brothers and sisters: May the mercy of Jesus Christ and the peace of St. Francis be with each of you! In a few short weeks, the Extraordinary Jubilee a jubilee that has the mercy of God at its center a Holy Year of Mercy will begin (December 8, 2015, through November 20, 2016). A Holy Year is traditionally a year of forgiveness of sins and also the punishment merited by one s sins. This Holy Year s theme is: Be merciful as your Father is merciful. (Lk. 6:36) A Holy Year is also a time for reconciliation among friends, family, enemies; time for conversion (especially significant for us Franciscans) and for receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We should not and cannot ever lose trust in the patience and mercy of God. As Pope Francis has said, This is important: the courage to trust in Jesus mercy, to trust in His patience, to seek refuge always in the wounds of His love. Mercy should not only be something that I ask for and even expect of God and others; it, above all, is something that I should give and show Regional Executive Council to others. Again: Be ciful ciful as as your your Father Father is merci- is merful. merciful. I would I would ask, ask, rather rather beg, beg, you you to to read read page page 19 19 in in the the latest latest (Fall (Fall 2015) 2015) issue issue of of TAU-USA TAU-USA if if you you have have not not done done so so already. already. It It is is entitled entitled Franciscan Living, written by Franciscan Francine Gikow Living, OFS. written I was by especially Francine Gikow impressed OFS. I with was the especially statements: impressed I also with know the statements: that it is about me I (rather also know than them). that it I is have about to work me (rather on myself than first. them). God I has have given to work me this on experience myself of conflict for a purpose, and I have first. to God be has chiefly given concerned experience about my of conflict response for a me this to purpose, it. Then and follows I have a to description chiefly concerned of an exercise about my be she response was assigned to it. Then in a follows a description Direction Train- of an Spiritual ing Program through Cardinal Stritch University. JDP Regional Photoes Website, Sister Death Elections, Activities Pope Francis Year of Mercy 5 5 6-7 8 Spiritual Assistant Fr. Michael Scully OFM Cap frmikescully@yahoo.com Minister Alice Crews alicerose_sfo@att.net Vice Minister Sherry McAuliffe sherryt7@hotmail.com Secretary Dona Gibbons palau001@aol.com Treasurer Claudia Kauzlarich claudiakauz.sfo@gmail.com Formation Director Janice Keeley catholics2@hotmail.com Councilor Kansas Mary Ackerly mackerlysfo@gmail.com Councilor Missouri Greg King gregking@gmail.com Councilor Oklahoma Deacon Mark Keeley catholics2@hotmail.com
Page 3 (Continued from page 1) exercise she was assigned in a Spiritual Direction Training Program through Cardinal Stritch University. Please consider taking the time to read it. F a t h e r M i k e C e l e b r a t e s 5 0 Y e a r s a s a P r i e s t! Permit me to end with words from Pope Francis: Let us be renewed by God s mercy, let us be loved by Jesus, let us enable the power of His love to transform our lives too, and let us become agents of this mercy, channels through which God can water the earth, protect all creation, and make justice and peace flourish. Together let us pray to the Virgin Mary that she helps us to walk in faith and charity, ever trusting in the Lord s mercy. He always awaits us, loves us, has pardoned us with His Blood and pardons us every time we go to Him to ask for forgiveness. Let us trust in His mercy! Your sister servant, Alice Crews OFS Seeds Sown A personal journal for those interested in pursuing the spiritual life. Fr. Mike s latest book is titled Seeds Sown, A personal journal for those interested in pursuing the spiritual battle has been chosen by some fraternities for ongoing formation on the gospels. To order: Contact Fr. Mike at 1204 Kentucky St., Lawrence, KS 66044. Cost: $12.00 each or $10.00 for an order of 6 or more. (Tax is already included in pricing ) From left to right: Fr. Barnabas Eichor, OFM Cap., Fr. Curtis Carlson, OFM Cap., Fr. Jeff Ernst, OFM Cap., Fr. Duane Reinert, OFM Cap., Mr. Jim Blume, Deacon, and Fr. Mike Scully. Congratulations to Juan de Padilla s Regional Spiritual Assistant, Father Michael Scully OFM Cap for his 50 years of service to God as a priest. Fr. Mike was born in Ohio but moved to West Virginia where he met a mentor at St. Albans who sparked his vocation. Father has had a long and illustrious career working as a pastor, high school administrator, retreat director, editor, author, vocation director and Provincial of the Mid-West Capuchin order. At one point, Father was offered an opportunity and challenge to have a radio show on a Kansas rock radio station. The radio station did not allow any profanity in any of its music so that helped Father agree to attempt this ministry to reach youth. His new radio show tied rock music to scriptures. Father's radio show, Message at the Top is aired on KJLS-FM Mix 103 (103.3fm.com) from Hays, KS and can be heard online on Sunday mornings from 10-12 noon, central standard time. He said that he can always find something in music that has an important message. An example of one of these songs is Firework by Katy Perry which has a strong message on leadership (http://www.frmikescully.com/ TGIMMNovember9.html). More about Fr. Mike s career can be heard on YouTube where he is interviewed by a member of St. Joseph s parish in Hays, KS. As many of you know, Father Scully is a prolific writer and author of many books on the Gospels. You can find out more about Father s books, tapes rock, music radio shows and meditations at www.frmikescully.com.
P a g e 3 T H E F O R M A T I O N C O R N E R Janice Keeley Formation Director In the Sea of Galilee August 28-30, Alice Crews and I were fortunate to attend a national formation training w0rkshop in Independence, Missouri, with about 35 other regional formation directors and ministers. The training was provided by members of the national formation commission. Patti Reynolds, OFS, asked us to consider how we are to nurture belonging (to the order). We receive discerners who belong to the whole world. How do we help them internalize that belonging to the Franciscan Order is to become their identity? We must help our inquirers and candidates realize that they have the responsibility to live the Franciscan charism in the world. We must all go into the whole world as a Gospel example. We belong to an order of penitents. Not everyone is called to this vocation. Becoming an example of Christ-like values requires a conversion of heart, a conversion that must occur daily. With the gift of profession comes grace to help us live continuously in the Franciscan charism. However, all of us need the fraternal communion of faith and love that is nurtured by mutual prayer and by reciprocal knowledge gained by assiduous attendance at fraternity gatherings. When we profess into the Franciscan Order, we gain brothers and sisters. (If you do not know the meaning of assiduous, please look it up, like I had to do. It is a very good adjective for what we are talking about here.) Anne Mulqueen, OFS, spiritual assistant, pointed out that the Gospel may be difficult to live, but it is unrelentingly simple in its teachings. It takes commitment and passion. Why we want to follow the Gospel is what is important. We follow and live the Gospel out of love of God and his people. In order to have this love, we must have food for the journey. We must be rooted in prayer and the Eucharist and be in a continuous connection to the source of all wisdom and knowledge, the Holy Spirit. Diane Menditto, OFS, spoke about communication. She described how to listen actively, but then pointed out that hearing doesn t build relationships. Hearing just gives our relationships sound. We must take responsibility for what we say and feel without blaming others. Seek to understand, before being understood. Be sensitive to differences in communication styles. Observe the emotions behind the other s words. Ponder what you hear and feel before you speak. Examine your own assumptions and perceptions. Trust ambiguity because we are not here to debate who is right or wrong. Acknowledge that all dialogue can lead to new insight and mutual understanding. Saint Francis demonstrated that it takes humility to accept criticism in perfect joy. If we are willing to reveal ourselves in humility and simplicity, without pretense, we become more vulnerable, but also more humble, throwing down our masks. Then, we can really be present to our brothers and sisters in fraternity and we are ready to witness to the Gospel through word and example. All peace and all good with prayers for you all, Janice OFS
Volume 8, Number 3 Page 4 September Regional Council Meeting in Wichita, Kansas
Page 5 Juan de Padilla Website http://sfojuandepadil.org. Web Master: Steve Bradshaw Our region has a new website, which is accessible by anyone who has internet access. There is a hyperlink for each fraternity in our region helping the user to navigate to individual fraternity websites; a website provided by the region or a website the fraternity already has. The Information page should be the primary site for all fellowship items of the fraternity. These might include pictures of fraternity events, the fraternity calendar of upcoming events, newsletters, etc. The main website has four hyperlinks: 1. Council Information about the fraternity council 2. Connections Hyperlinks to various internet websites by fraternity 3. Information Various postings, usually in PDF (Portable Document Format) 4. Web Update Request Hyperlink which triggers your email request to Steve Bradshaw Our regional and fraternity webpages are confined to a very simple web software and cannot be customized to a great extent. Any email sent to our web focal (Steve Bradshaw) will be addressed. However, he can only make changes authorized by each fraternity s web focal. The fraternity may want to update web privileges to several people. It is up to each fraternity. The most important point: Each fraternity is responsible for the information shown on its fraternity site. (Your fraternity site is as good as the Information you provide to Steve.) Sister Death NAME FRATERNITY CITY, STATE DATE Renner Johnson OFS St. Monica Kansas City, MO June 28, 2015 Esther Lillian Glover OFS St. Monica Kansas City, MO August 5, 2015 Robert Watkins OFS St. Anthony Wichita, KS October 15, 2015 (Please let Alice know of any deaths in your respective fraternities.)
Page 6 Fraternity News NAFRA Chapter of Elections Results October 2015 St. Elizabeth Fraternity in Leawood, KS held elections this fall. L-R front Linus Drouhard (minister), Diane Drouhard (formation director), Linda Mayer (secretary), Evie Bear (councilor), Kathy Ness (councilor), Sr. Doris (spiritual assistant). Back: Greg King (fraternal witness), Fr. Mike Scully (pastoral witness), Jennifer Garrison (vice minister), Regina Ozbun (treasurer). Seculars Stand Up for Life in Overland Park, KS On August 22, 2015 Secular Franciscans from Holy Eucharist and Our Lady of Sorrows fraternities were among 78,000 people at 354 sites in the USA and 6 foreign countries to defend the sacredness of life and pray at Planned Parenthood clinics to end abortion. Diocesan priests from both Missouri and Kansas led the attendees in prayer. Meet the new national leaders who comprise the national executive council of the Secular Franciscan Order in the U.S. Front, from left: National Vice Minister Mary Bittner OFS; National Minister Jan Parker OFS, and National Secretary Mattie Ward OFS. Back, from left: National Councilor Joan Geiger OFS; National Councilor Awilda Guadalupe OFS; National Treasurer Jerry Rosseau OFS; International Councilor Mary Stronach OFS; National Councilor Mary Frances Charsky, OFS, and Br. Bob Brady OFM, president-inturn of the Conference of National Spiritual Assistants. RANSITUS The Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Eucharist invited all Secular Franciscans to attend a Transitus at their house. Reading and veneration of the first class relic of St. Francis were held followed by a dinner made by the Sisters for their Franciscan family. Above: right: Seculars Alice Goergen, Mary Ackerly, Mary Ann Peale, Tess Moore, Charles and Joseph Gurera, Sherry and Jim McAuliffe, stand with Ron Kelsey, Pro-Life Consultant -Archdiocese of Kansas City, KS
Page 7 Secular Franciscans Travel to Join Pope Francis in Philadelphia Cathy Herndon OFS, Kathy Johnson OFS and Monsignor Kaiser OFS, members of the Queen of the Angels Fraternity joined a pilgrimage to the World Meeting of Families on one of four buses of Catholics from the Kansas City~St. Joseph diocese. The four buses of pilgrims had opportunities to see the countryside, eat good food and visit a few shrines on their way. Arriving in Philadelphia, they saw enormous crowds filled with hope and eager to join Pope Francis in the World Meeting of Families. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of this historical spiritual event. Monsignor, Kathy Johnson and a fellow pilgrim sample a After the conference ended, the four Kansas City buses traveled back filled with pilgrims reflecting on what they had just taken part of in Philadelphia. Cathy said that as they were riding, there was a big explosion, and the driver lost control of their bus. The bus veered off the road Packable Pope Francis, Cathy Herndon, (Kathy Johnson and Monsignor Kaiser behind Pope Francis) from Queen of the Angels Fraternity get ready to board the buses to Philadelphia. speeding into a corn field, miraculously missing a direct hit from a big tree. The tree did manage to break all of the front and side windows of the bus. Fortunately, the bus did not turn over. The people on the bus were thrown forcefully forward, under or against the seats during the impact of the crash. All had glass in their hair and clothing. (Monsignor Kaiser had an abrasion on the cornea of his eye from a piece of glass.) All of them were shaken but thankful that they were still alive. A bus that was following behind stopped, called for help and trampled down the corn stalks to Philly Cheese Steak. help the passengers get off the bus. Several passengers were treated for injuries and one was sent to the hospital. The passengers were able to boarded a substitute bus to get home. Monsignor Kaiser OFS gathered the people and celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving that no one was not hurt more seriously. Finally home, Cathy, Kathy and Monsignor had lots to reflect upon with the rest of the fraternity at the next gathering. Live every day as it might be your last. At a nearby truck stop, Monsignor celebrated Mass.
Volume 8, Number 3 Page 6 Pope Francis has composed a special prayer for the Jubilee Year of Mercy which will run from 8 December 2015 to 20 November 2016. In the prayer, the Holy Father entreats the Lord to make the Jubilee of Mercy a year of grace so that the Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind. (Vatican Radio) Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: If you knew the gift of God! You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God. Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever Amen.