John XXIII Fraternity Fredericton, NB June 2012 Issue Contact

John XXIII Fraternity Fredericton, NB June 2012 issue Contact: [email protected] Theme for June is Our Fraternity Retreat

RULE 24 To foster communion among members, the council should organize regular and frequent meetings of the community as well as meeting with other Franciscan groups, especially with youth groups. It should adopt appropriate means for growth in Franciscan and ecclesial life and encourage everyone to a life of fraternity. The communion continues with deceased brothers and sisters through prayer for them. Special Dates for June 2012 June 11, 2000 – Will Forrestall’s Profession and June 11, 2000 – Gordon Hughes’ Profession June 29 – Gordon’s birthday

Feast days June 12 Jolenta, second order, widow, born Hungry in 1235 June 13 Anthony of Padua, first order 1195 – 1231 born in Lisbon, Portugal joined Augustine’s and transferred to Franciscans Minor. Contemporary of Francis noted orator June 19, Matthew Talbot, sfo 1856 – 1925 a desperate Irish alcoholic. He turned to prayer, became a joyful , generous person. June 22, Thomas More, sfo 1477-1535 beheaded by Henry VIII because as “Chancellor of the King’s Court” he didn’t agree with King Henry VIII’s agenda June 24, Birth of John the Baptist, probably needs no intro as the cousin of Jesus June 29, Apostles Peter and Paul, powerful figures with differing ideas that combined to influence Christianity June 30, Raymond Lull, sfo born in Majorca. 1236-1314 left his prestigious royal court career to join sfo -martor. July 1, Junipero Serra, first order, also born in Majorca. 1713-1784 died in Monterey California, founded twenty one missions from 1767 to his death. July 2 Bernard of Quintavalle, first order, 1210-1241 the first to follow Francis, gave away his wealth to the poor July 3, Thomas, Apostle, taught in India =, established the Christian faith there. July 4, Elizabeth of Portugal, Third order, 1271-1336. Widow of the King of Portugal died, gave her wealth away

“Prayer Requests” Please pray: 1) for peace to the people of Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan 2) for our sick family members, friends and especially Darrell Tschirhart, ofs, Kirk Arkbuckle, ofs, and Louise Fisher, OFS that health will be restored 3) for peace to the people of Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan 4) for the Trappist Monks of Rogersville and the Poor Claires of Riviere du Loup 5) for the Catholic Church, its leaders and our Diocesan Pastoral Plan 6) for vocations to the OFS, OFM and the Poor Clares. 7) for a successful retreat for each one of us attending and for safe travelling 8) for souls of Chuck Landry and Thecla Bradshaw, deceased fraternity members

Message from the Minister The first time I attended a Franciscan retreat I was nervous and unsure as to what to expect as it was also my first retreat ever. But that first weekend retreat was an experience that had a big affect on me. Since that time an annual OFS retreat became an important part of my Franciscan journey. Most of you are experience in attending retreats and I sure would agree with me. For those of you where this will be your first, I encourage you to come, be open to the Spirit, take part in the fellowship and experience “fraternity”. I encourage you to be there for the full weekend to give yourself the greatest opportunity of experiencing all of these things. Our Rule and General Constitutions encourages opportunities where all of us as fraternity we can be fed by the Spirit, by each other and by our retreat leader. Having a Franciscan Friar and Priest, Fr George Morin, as our retreat leader is an infrequent opportunity and one that should not be missed. I look forward to sharing this retreat with all of you and the members of St Bernard’s Fraternity. Let us pray for a successful retreat for all of us and for safe travel. Peace and joy! George NOTE: George added two more pages after this one- they are very enlightening and are especially appropriate to prepare for the retreat. The message on this page is from our Spiritual assistant

HOW TO MAKE A RETREAT

Retreats should be an occasion for us to take time to listen and hear God saying, “Slow Down”. God wants us to take care of our physical needs but He also wants us to care for our spiritual needs as well. Here are a few tips taken from “Franciscan Retreats”, Prior Lake, Mn. in the USA that might help assist us in making a good retreat and thereby help to care for our spiritual needs:

1. be there Physically, Mentally, and Spiritually, Greet your God with “Here I am Lord!” and let the outside world go on without you. ….”for your life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3).”

2. Surrender. Let go and Let God. Drift through the retreat schedule like a raft on a wide, slow river. “those who surrender shall live and shall have their lives. (Jeremiah 21:9)”.

3. Be silent. Sink through the physical silence into mental silence and then, into the silence of the heart. “Be still before the Lord, and wait patiently for Him. (Psalm 37:7)”.

4. Read something spiritual. A good spiritual book or two can help guide you through your retreat and inspire reflection. “Seek and read from the Book of the Lord. (Isaiah 34:16)”.

5. Write. Keep a “Retreat Journal” for writing and reading only during your retreats. Simply write about your day-to-day experience with God. “Then the Lord said to Moses…Write this as a reminder in a book. (Exodus 17:14)”

6. Enjoy a spiritual conversation. “Let your conversation be with intelligent people, and let all your discussion be about the law of the Most High. (Sirach 9:15)”.

7. Pray. Indulge in the luxuries of private and communal prayer. “Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. (Ephesians 6:18)”.

8. Plan to do a retreat again. A retreat is not a one-time event. It’s a necessary component of your practice of faith. “They decreed that this day should be celebrated each year. (1 Maccabees 7:49)”.

I hope this is of some value to you as we prepare to come together in Rogersville.

Submitted by: Sherrill

If you have submissions call Gordie at 472-7308 or email [email protected] PRESIDENCY OF THE OFS INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ONGOING FORMATION PROJECT MONTHLY DOSSIER FEBRUARY 2012 – YEAR 3 – No. 26 Note: This is the 2nd dossier. Refer to April’s newsletter to link you the first installment and the history behind the series or the direct link is http://www.ciofs.org/ratio/2012/EN %202012_01.htm

EVANGELIZED TO EVANGELIZE by Fr. Fernando Ventura, OFMCap Dossier prepared by the CIOFS Ongoing Formation Team Ewald Kreuzer, OFS, Coordinator Fr. Amando Trujillo Cano, TOR Doug Clorey, OFS

IT IS TIME FOR EMMAUS

The XIII General Chapter of the Secular Franciscan Order, held in Sao Paolo, Brazil, from October 22-29, 2011, chose “Evangelized to Evangelize” as its theme. Fr. Fernando Ventura OFMCap was the keynote speaker. "This is the time to hear thousands and thousands, millions of our brothers and sisters, walking toward Emmaus", said Fr. Fernando. He knows the global situation very well from his own experiences and travels around the world. In this part of his lecture, he explains why this is the time for us to go back to Emmaus and to rediscover the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and to reflect on their experience of leaving behind the centrality of faith and hope as they walked towards the periphery of despair. We encourage you to read, to study and to discuss the contents of this February Dossier with your brothers and sisters in your fraternity.

Time to go back to Emmaus… It is time that cries out for answers. It is time that shouts to be heard, but we, rather than hearing, we keep talking. Rather than hearing the people's pain, we continue imposing our theologies, our philosophies, and our theological rubbish, which we load on the shoulders of others, when we are not even capable of lifting a finger. This is the time to go back to Emmaus. This is the time to rediscover those two disciples: They were leaving behind the centrality of faith and hope, and were walking towards the periphery, towards the despair. Their hope had been left hanging on a cross. Nothing else seemed to make sense. "And we had hoped that he would be the one who was going to set Israel free! Besides all that, this is now the third day since it happened” (Lk 24, 21) And we're going toward Emmaus, we are going to the periphery. It is time to hear... Perhaps in this Latin American reality, it may not be as visible as it is in other parts of the globe. But this is the time to hear thousands and thousands, millions of our brothers and sisters, walking towards Emmaus ... who in one way or another have left their hopes, their joy of life, and they are walking towards the periphery of Emmaus. This is the time given to us to live, to transform and to serve. Not to be lords. To serve and not be served. This is very difficult. This is the time to return to God’s pedagogy, in the HERE and NOW. Who are the characters in the text of the passage of Emmaus? How many are there? Three: the two disciples and Jesus. What does Jesus do here? This is the pedagogy of the Church.... and yet we are so far away from it. We continue seeing in the midst of our groups, the savviest trying to make their contacts, to do their things, to get money, to influence here and there... My God, what a shame! This exists. This occurs. What does Jesus do? What does Jesus do here with these two? First, He sees. And, what does He see? He sees these two that pass in front of him who are going from the centrality of hope to the periphery of despair. His first act is to find out what is happening. First, we must live the mission of the prophet. The prophet lives … he does not invent… and he does not guess anything about the future. The prophet is the man or the woman who lives with his feet bolted to the present. And, every day is a reminder of the faithfulness of God yesterday; he must be able to launch the sources of hope for the future. This is what the prophet is all about … to celebrate each day God’s faithfulness from yesterday, to be able to shout the same continuity of God's faithfulness into the future. This is the prophet. The others are agitators. First he sees, and, then, he approaches. (The second step … and He has still not said a word). And then he walks with them. He has already done three things, and He still has not said a word. He looks, approaches and walks. And then what does He do? Here's the key. He asks a question: What is the matter with you? Notice that (he starts with) the experience of the other. He doesn’t come and start with any discussion. He wants to know 'where does it hurt you?', 'what is the reason for your sadness?', 'what is the reason that you left your hope hanging?' And, you are going to the periphery of despair? And, then, you hear the answer…'could you possibly be stupid?' 'Are you the only one who does not know what has happened in Jerusalem?' What is the reason for Jesus, and, what does he say to them? What was it? A new question, a new attempt, to try to start from the other's experience. Begin to rebuild hope And, it is only at that point, after doing these five things (seeing, approaching, walking, questioning, listening) that you can start talking… that you can begin to rebuild hope, in order to build this bridge between hope, anchored in the heart of Israel, to the very presence of God in history made flesh, of God ‘converted’ to us in Jesus Christ. This is Emmaus! This is today’s time; this is the pedagogy for today. This is the ministry for today: to be underneath. However, we don’t love to minister, but to teach. This is Emmaus! This is the challenge of building the OIKOS (house). This is the time for OIKONOMY because the economy seems to be on the floor. Among other reasons, this is because we continue to believe that economics and finances are the same thing, and they are not.... but that's a subject for another time. The challenge of building this common house, with rooms for everyone without exception, without anyone having to carry a mark on his forehead, because he/she is different. This God converted to the world, is a God who is able to accommodate everyone. It is this God who sees, who approaches, who is walking (with), and who is listening … beyond the political choices, beyond the religious choices, beyond sexual or gastronomic choices....

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION IN FRATERNITY 1. What does it mean to say that "this is the time to go back to Emmaus"? 2. What did Jesus do (remember: five things!) as he realized the sad situation of the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus? How does this apply to our own ways of dealing with people? 3. What do we as Secular Franciscans have to do (or better: how do we have to be) in following our vocation and mission of building a "common house" with room for everyone without exception?