January 2016 VOL. 1 ISSUE 1

United in Spirit: OFE Newsletter Order of Franciscans Ecumenical (OF E) Order of Franciscans Ecumenical Secular (OFES)

F rom t h e A b b o t … Dear OFE Family and Friends, Several people who have expressed interest in our order have asked this question: “What is the charism of your order?” I’m happy to welcome you to the initial issue of the United in The dimensions of our charism include: recognition of the Spirit: OFE Newsletter. primacy of our Lord Jesus Christ, inspiration from the spirituality of Saint Francis of Assisi, reverence for creation, The OFE is a relatively new religious order, but we have dignity of human persons, support of family unity, already made great strides, including some recent ones: compassion, peacemaking, service, community, simplicity,  There is now an ecclesiastical affiliation (charter) welcoming married and celibate Roman Catholic priests and with the Holy Apostles Monastery in Kenya, East laity. Africa. Brother Paul Ochieng-Ogada of the Divine Mercy of Brothers of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is I am grateful to our brothers who have provided the articles its interim superior and leads a community of seven included here and am looking forward to hearing from others. brothers, six professed Roman Catholic priests in I hope that you enjoy this and future issues of United in Spirit. good standing, and three seminarians.  We have established the Order of Franciscans Wishing you God’s peace and blessings, Ecumenical Secular (OFES) for wives of priests and Roman Catholic laity. Abbot Father Michael+, OFE  Father Peter Steve, S.J., is a new member of the Order of Franciscans Ecumenical Board of Advisors. In This OFE Newsletter:  Since we became public in 2013, the OFE has welcomed one celibate Roman Catholic priest in  A Word from Abbot good standing with the Roman Catholic Church as a  Missionary Update brother, seven married Roman Catholic priests, and one member of the Order of Franciscans Ecumenical  OFE, OFES Members Secular (OFES). OFE Ministries Amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euismod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. Wisi enim ad minim veniam,quis nostrud exerci tation ullamcorpersus cipit lobortis nisl ut aliquip ex ea com O F E , O F E S M e m b e r s U p d a t e

 Brother Athanasius+, OFE , July 18, 2015 Saint Anthony of Padua Priory, Africa

 Brother Basil+, OFE, August 20, 2015 Our Lady of Perpetual Help Priory, USA

 Brother Cyril+, OFE, September 11, 2015 Saint Therese Lisieux Priory, USA

 Brother John Mary+, OFE, September 29, 2015 Saint Mary Health of the Sick Priory, USA

 Brother Leonard+, OFE, November 09, 2015 Thomas Traherne Priory, Canada

 Sister Frances, OFES, November 13, 2015 Abbey of Saint Mary Theotokos, USA

 Brother George+, OFE, January 06, 2016 Saint Francis of Assisi Divine Providence Priory, USA Order of Franciscans Ecumenical  Brother Martin+, OFE, January 19, 2016 Order of Franciscans Ecumenical Secular Saint Brigit Priory, USA

MISSIO N A R Y u p d a t e Holy Apostles Monastery

The Order of Franciscans Ecumenical has a charter with Holy Apostles Monastery in Kenya. Religious brothers take vows as a sign of acceptance of the serious nature of belonging to a community wherein brothers are committed to each other and to Christ.

Since March, 2014, Brother Paul Ochieng-Ogada of the Divine Mercy Brothers of Our Lady of Perpetual Help has been the Interim-Superior of Holy Apostles Monastery and has taken his vows with a bishop in Kenya. Taking vows within a community is to commit oneself to the members of that community, to preserve them, to strengthen them, and to expect to receive the same in return. There were five Dominicans that were ordained as priests and deacons in the presence of Brother Paul.

The brothers of Holy Apostles Monastery help the poor and orphans, reaching out to the sick and dying. They provide a nutrition program for HIV-positive children.

If you would like to assist the Community, Brother Paul’s email address is: [email protected]

S c r i p t u r e v e r s e

“ Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” -Luke 22:19

By Brother Leon a r d +, OFE

Canada the immensity, complexity, and beauty of his

creation. Thomas Traherne, in his Centuries of My present divine assignment is to attain spiritual union with Meditations, showcases his deep love for God's God on the path to felicity (meaning happiness), as described creative powers. The poetry in Centuries has a by Thomas Traherne in his book, "Centuries of Meditation" childlike humility in the face of God's glory. While published in 1905 and available today in many bookstores, for living at a time where God's wrath and humanity's sin example , McNally Robinson Bookstore in Winnipeg. were the main topics of theological conversation, Lately, I have experienced a further direction to pursue the Traherne writes poetry that looks at the beauty of project of neutralizing the control of the ego in my life. God and His goodness. His poetry is not just good Christian poetry, but good poetry that is appreciated My two sources enabling me to attain the aforementioned goal by Christian and secular poetry lovers alike.” are: 1. Eckhart Tolle's "A New Earth" (Eckhart Tolle tells us how to access our true self while disarming our false self, namely the ego; his theme ultimately is to invite us to attain a spiritual level Thomas Traherne he calls Enhanced Consciousness, or enlightenment), and 2. Excuses Begone, " by Dr. Wayne W. Dyer. I have the compact disc version of these books, but they are also available in hard book format.

My experience is looking at the ego as an idol in my life and I know that God cannot tolerate idols. (cf. Samuel 5:2ff)

A group of us meet on the last Friday of each month to discuss spiritual growth. We meet from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the library of Portsmouth Retirement Residence (Thomas Traherne Priory) 125 Portsmouth Boulevard, Winnipeg, Manitoba, ctetuer adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euis mod Canada. My suite number is 125 and phone number is 204-487- tincidunt ut laoreet dolore magna aliquam erat volutpat. 3553. Notes: Thomas Traherne (ca. 1636-1674) was an Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullam corper. Et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit Anglican priest, a mystic, an English poet and religious writer. Christian Classics Ethereal Library Intern praesent luptatum zzril delenit augue duis dolore te feugait Andrew Hanson concluded, “God displays his power in nulla facilisi. Lorem ipsum dolor sit. Consec adipiscing elit, sed diam nonummy nibh euis mod tincidunt ut laoreet dolore.

Magna aliquam erat volutpat. Ut wisi enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exerci tation ullam corper. Et iusto odio dignissim qui blandit praesent luptatum zzril delenit auiscing elit, sed OFE Ministries

 Abbey of St. Mary Theotokos Saint Mary Theotokos

 Order of Franciscans Ecumenical

 Order of Franciscans Ecumenical Secular

 Holy Apostles Monastery

 Saint Anthony of Padua Priory

 Our lady of Perpetual Help Priory

 Saint Therese of Lisieux Priory

 Saint Mary Health of the Sick Priory  Thomas Traherne Priory  Divine Providence Priory  Saint Brigit Priory

By Brother Athanasius +, OFE

Zimbabwe “This saying is trustworthy: his children under control with "My name is Br. Athanasius. I was whoever aspires to the office ordained a priest within the Roman perfect dignity; for if a man does of bishop desires a noble task. Catholic Church in 1996. As a result of not know how to manage his own the challenges of celibacy, I joined a Therefore, a bishop must be household, how can he take care of Protestant church in 2004 and later irreproachable, married only moved to another within the the church of God? He should not Protestant movement. It is within this once, temperate, self- be a recent convert, so that he may second church that I have been controlled, decent, hospitable, appointed to a position similar to that not become conceited and thus able to teach, not a drunkard of monsignor within the Roman incur the devil’s punishment.” Catholic Church. This church is not aggressive, but gentle, growing by leaps and bounds and we not contentious, not a lover of have a very energetic and dedicated 1 Timothy 3:2-6 bishop. Please help us by praying for money. He must manage his United in Spirit: OFE Newsletter the growth of our church.” Editor: Sr. Frances, OFES own household well, keeping