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Posted By Teresa Redder, on November 1st, 2014 Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis, 
The Lord give you his peace!
Today me, tomorrow you. (This is a loose translation of the Latin inscription: Hodie mihi, cras tibi). This famous saying can often be seen sculpted or painted at the entrances of many cemeteries in Europe. It is a rather stark and macabre reminder that earthly life, as long as it can be, will eventually experience its transforming moment. The point of convergence of all life’s experiences – good, bad, and indifferent – will come together awaiting our call to timelessness; death calls and eternity awaits. It is not the end of everything, as too many people feel and believe. It is the moment of the ultimate transformation of who we are into who we were created to be.
We celebrate November, the month dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. They await transformation by God’s love and mercy. The Church asks us to pray for those who have gone before us into eternity and who still await the fullness of Life. The Church also reminds us that we ought to pray for ourselves who, still on journey, are subject to many challenges that can either threaten or strengthen our resolve to be faithful to the Gospel and live in the light of Eternal Life. The journey of life that is so wonderful because of the many challenges God offers us to grow in His love, is also very dangerous because of the many allurements and seductions that can entice us to deviate from the path marked out for us. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (cfr. John 14:16) If we follow His Way, listen to His Word of Truth, we can expect ultimately to share in the fullness of His Life. He Himself says: I came that they may have Life and have it in abundance. (John 10: 10) » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Greetings – November, 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on October 14th, 2014 PEACE to each of your hearts! In the name of Christ, Amen! It gives us great pleasure to announce the results of the Chapter of Elections held at Blessed Sacrament Fraternity on October 12, 2014:
- Minister – Bob Sievers, OFS (Former Vice-Minister)
- Vice-Minister – Stephen Williams, OFS (Former Councillor-at-Large)
- Formation Director – Bernice Crimaldi, OFS (newly-elected)
- Secretary – Lorry Marchetta, OFS (newly-elected)
- Treasurer – Kathleen Gambino, OFS (newly-elected)
- 1st Counckllor – Margaret Roberts (newly-elected)
- 2nd Councillor – Mary Ann Conlon, OFS (newly-elected)
Please hold this new Council in your prayers as they begin their term of service to their Fraternity. We are most grateful to the members of the former Council for their good work on behalf of their sisters and brothers and assure them of our prayers as well.
Blessings and every good,
mattie
Posted By Teresa Redder, on October 3rd, 2014 Greetings of peace, dear brothers and sisters!
I pray this finds you well and filled with the Lord’s peace!
Well, it is that time again! Time to pray for the peace of any and all! And wow, does our world need prayers for peace.
I attach the 12 Weeks of Franciscan Peace to begin on the Feast of the Blessed Transitus of our Seraphic Father Francis of Assisi. It is the same as last year with a few minor tweaks.
I would appreciate any stories you would like to share with me as to how you use the 12 Weeks and what impact it has made for you, your fraternity or your parish. I have received some wonderful stories from fraternities and I am very pleased that the 12 Weeks has been incorporated into formation materials.
I wish you all a blessed and peace-filled Solemnity of our Father Francis!
Wishing you blessings of peace and all good,
Carolyn
Posted By Teresa Redder, on October 1st, 2014 
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
“Buona Gente”
Our Holy Father Pope Francis in his special prayer intentions for this past September asked us to lift up the mentally disabled and also to pray as Christians inspired by the word of God to be compelled to serve those who are poor and suffering.
Article 13 of our Rule 13 describes how we as Franciscans should respond. We know that Christ was poor and suffered and He is for all people. The sense of equality is important. We are to work together as people of God in love and in harmony. » Click to continue reading “Thoughts from our Regional Formation Director – October 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on October 1st, 2014 
October 2014
Let us desire nothing else,
let us wish for nothing else,
let nothing else please us and cause us delight,
except our Creator and Redeemer and Savior,
the one true God,
Who is fullness of Good, all Good, every Good,
the true and Supreme Good,
Who alone is merciful and gentle, delectable and sweet,
Who alone is holy, just and true, holy and right,
Who alone is kind, innocent, pure,
from Whom and through Whom and in Whom
is all pardon, all grace, all glory …
Therefore, let nothing hinder us,
nothing separate us or come between us.
Let us all, wherever we are …
Glorify and exalt, magnify and give thanks
to the Most High and supreme eternal God . Amen.
(Saint Francis of Assisi)
The month of October celebrates the Holy Transitus and Glory of our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi. Following are excerpts taken from: A Letter on the Passing of Saint Francis (attributed to Elias of Assisi) Major Legend, Chapter 15 (Saint Bonaventure). Daily reflections are taken from various sources.
1
Before I begin to speak, I sigh, and rightly so… For what I feared has overtaken me and has overtaken you. What I dreaded has happened to me and to you. Our consoler has gone away from us and he who carried him in his arms like lambs has gone on a journey to a far off country. – God is with you, God is within you, dwell for a moment in God’s presence.
2
He who was beloved of God and of man, who taught Jacob the law of life and of discipline, and gave to Israel a covenant of peace has been received into the most resplendent of dwellings. We would rejoice exceedingly on his account, yet for our own part we must mourn, since in his absence darkness surrounds us and the shadow of death covers us. – Holiness is where we are. » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Reflections – October 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on October 1st, 2014 October 2014
Dear Brothers and Sisters in St. Francis,
The Lord give you his peace!
The children of St. Francis of Assisi have always regarded Mary, the Mother of the Savior and Mother of God, as our Mother and Heavenly Queen. Her role in the History of our Salvation leaves no room to doubt why we Franciscans would consider her in such an exceptional and eminent way. In the spirit and filial love of our Seraphic Father for Mary we, his children, place our trust in Her prayers and almighty intercession before God as Mother of His Son and Spouse of the Holy Spirit.
The month of October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary of our Blessed Mother and also Respect for Human Life at all stages from conception to natural death. This is a yearly reminder and daily celebration of life throughout the whole the month. We celebrate Christ’s human life and the life of each one of us and of those who are yet to be. As the Church, God’s Family, we are asked to reflect upon human life as the God-given gift it is, and to accept the imperative for all human beings to value each life as a reflection of the One Who called that life into being and was not ashamed to celebrate it with us by becoming one of His own creation. » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Greetings – October 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on September 9th, 2014 This month, I had many experiences which made me think about our common commitment to identify with the poor and marginalized. This seems to me to be the essence of our profession and of our way of life, solidarity with the poor and love of poverty as opposed to social climbing, status seeking and hobnobbing with the rich, the well-educated and the privileged classes.
 When I wrote about the children at the borders last month, little did I know that I would soon meet them face to face living near to me in South Jersey. I now understand that tubing has a different meaning for immigrant children, who when they have walked from El Salvador to the U.S. Mexican border, jump on tires which are tied together across the Rio Grande River and then, they walk across the desert. I have come to know children who were shot at in their home in Guatemala, who have gone hungry and who live in fear of the immigration authorities taking their parents away and leaving them orphans. Then there are those whose political status is in limbo because they were born in the U. S. although their parents lack the proper legal papers. Luckily, there are provisions for these children to get financial aid and go to college in some instances. » Click to continue reading “JPIC News — September 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on September 1st, 2014 (St. Francis of Assisi)
O truly the most Christian of men,
who strove by perfect imitation
to be conformed while living to Christ living,
dying to Christ dying, and dead to Christ dead,
and deserved to be adorned with an expressed likeness!
(Your) most holy soul was released from the flesh
and absorbed into the abyss of divine light …
You were borne aloft straight to heaven …
(you) merited to enter the place of light and peace
where (you) rest with Christ forever.
(Pray for your family on earth that we may share your life with God one day.)
(Major Legend by St. Bonaventure, chapter 14 – adapted)
September celebrates the Impression of the Sacred Stigmata on the Body of our Seraphic Father St. Francis of Assisi.
Excerpts taken from Considerations on the Stigmata, found in many editions of The Little Flowers of St. Francis of Assisi. Daily reflections are taken from Various writings of St. Francis.
1
In the year of 1224, St. Francis went … from the Valley of Spoleto into Romagna, taking with him brother Leo…. Francis heard that many gentlemen were gathered together … he said to brother Leo, Come, let us go up into this festival, for, by God’s help, we shall gather there rich spiritual fruit. – We can be sure someone is a true religious and has the spirit of God if his lower nature does not give way to pride when God accomplishes some good through him. (Admonitions, 12)
2
A certain gentlemen of Tuscany … Orlando of Chiusi … had heard concerning the holiness and miracles of St. Francis and bore him great devotion and had a desire to see him and hear him preach…Francis came to the castle…where the gentlemen were gathered…and spoke these words, So great is the joy which I expect. That all pain is joy to me. – Blessed the religious who treasures up for heaven the favors God has given him and does not want to show them off for what he can get out of them. (Admonitions, 28) » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis; Reflections – September. 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on September 1st, 2014 Dear Sisters and Brothers in St. Francis,![Bartolome-Esteban-Murillo-Saint-Francis-of-Assisi-Receiving-the-Stigmata[1]](http://www.skdregion.org/wp-content/uploads/Bartolome-Esteban-Murillo-Saint-Francis-of-Assisi-Receiving-the-Stigmata1-246x300.jpg)
The Lord give you his peace!
The world seems inundated with tragedies of all kinds. The Middle East and Africa are plagued by severe persecutions against Christians primarily but also other minority religious groups. Refugees in the Middle East, Africa, as well as at the border of the United States and Mexico arouse multi-national concern for their safety and well-being. Natural disasters are occurring more frequently around the world displacing or killing thousands of people. These occurrences are only a few signs of the sadness and suffering happening around our world. The cross of trials and suffering is not foreign to anyone. Trial and suffering was the culmination of the life of the One we call Lord and Savior. His years of silence and short-lived ministry, were all in preparation for the reason for His Incarnation. The Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ is the throne of fulfillment where Jesus spoke His most eloquent sermon and fulfilled the Will of the Father. It is from the Cross that we were “washed in His Blood” (Revelation 1:5) and made “coheirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17) to the fullness of Life with the Father through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In the Name of Jesus, the Cross becomes a sign of hope not despair, of love not hatred, of life not death. How can we accept the “cross” experiences of life – sickness, persecutions, violence, death, uncertainties, and more – the “suffering moments” of life – as beneficial, though not necessarily desired, when they come our way? » Click to continue reading “Fr. Francis’ Greetings – September, 2014” »
Posted By Teresa Redder, on September 1st, 2014 Dear Brothers and Sister in Christ, Peace be with you!
Here we are in September which holds for us many feasts, beginning with The Nativity of Our Lady, the Holy Name of Mary, and Our Lady of Sorrows, as well as several Franciscan Saints. They gave up everything to rejoice in the treasures that awaited them in heaven.
Going back a couple of months ago, we read in Scripture, Matthew 13:44-52, another account of what the Kingdom of Heaven is like and that once one finds it, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it. Francis from the beginning of his ministry gave up all his possessions to follow the poor crucified Christ in imitation of Him. » Click to continue reading “Thoughts from your Regional Formation Director – September, 2014” »
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