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And Your Name in Religious Life Will Be… “We Have a Novice!”, Is Not Only Exciting News for Us Life

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And Your Name in Religious Life Will Be… “We Have a Novice!”, Is Not Only Exciting News for Us Life FALL - 2016 "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news. " - Isaiah 52:7 And Your Name In Religious Life Will Be… “We have a Novice!”, is not only exciting news for us Life. One month before the ceremony he chooses three names here at the FMI, but is great news for all of you, our and the Community chooses one name and places Franciscan family. “You shall be known in them under the Virgin Mary statue as we pray Religious Life as Brother….” brought such that She chooses the name She wants for the suspense and drew such attention at the end friar. This creates such speculation and of the Novitiate Ceremony, that one even curiosity on the part of those who know could hear the congregation breath in which names were presented to Our Lady, heavily as one breathe of suspenseful wondering or hoping which name will be air… “as Brother Francis!” chosen. It is fascinating to watch it de- velop and finally to be decided at the What a gift to have Brother Francis end of the Novitiate Ceremony when Reineke, FMI (formerly Postulant one name is drawn out of a chalice. Justin) begin his Novitiate here in Yet, a name is important: God calls us Warsaw with the Community and each by name; a name comes with a pleasure to have him continue it something more—someone—a in his discernment, for he dis- saint, a brother in Heaven, a pa- plays such promise by his unas- tron to intercede for us, and one suming kind smile, his pleasant whose characteristics and virtues nature, his prayerfulness, and his we strive to imitate. Brother Fran- Franciscan joy. The FMI Com- cis was given the greatest patron by munity is so blessed to have him Our Lady, Saint Francis of Assisi, as part of this new beginning, and this patron is given to our very this work of evangelization for first Novice: how appropriate, how Mary Immaculate. blessed he will be and the Community As Brother Francis began his Novi- too, to be given no less than the Found- tiate, he said these words, “I ask to er himself as patron saint of our Novice, be admitted into the family of Fran- Brother Francis. cis…to live your way of life and thus Please keep Brother Francis Reineke, FMI advance toward perfect discipleship of in your daily prayers and Mass intentions, Christ.” And I responded, “I do receive that he may persevere and grow into that per- you into our Community to join the Francis- can family…, and so the Franciscans of Mary fect man, that servant of Immaculate Mary, that Immaculate have received you into its midst…as saintly friar God wants him to be. I am very confi- you make your conversion toward Christ through the dent in my expectations of him, but as always, with prayerful expectation and hope, and with much prayer, also. Franciscan way, ‘put aside your old self with its past deeds and put on a new man…formed anew in the image of the Cre- Brother Francis is setting out, as I pointed out in my homily, not ator’ [Eph. 4:22-24]. Put on Christ!” as a seminarian and not in the familiar role of a diocesan priest—though he aspires to both and pray God that one day he This ‘putting on a new man’ was then symbolized by the will accomplish this. Rather, he is setting out into a life of per- blessing and then donning of the habit upon Brother Francis fection, of prayer, of study of the Franciscan way of life and as he was divested of his suit coat and tie. As the habit was of the Vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, in order to placed upon him we prayed, “May the Lord clothe you with a deny himself, humble himself, be emptied of self in order to new self…”; then the hood, called capuche, “Put on the hel- met of salvation, that you may be protected against the be filled with the love of Christ crucified and display the joy onslaught of the Evil One.”; after which the cord was of the Lord. This way of Religious Life that Brother Francis wrapped around him, saying, “May the Lord gird you with sets his course on presently is different than diocesan priest- the cincture of purity, and extinguish in you the passion of hood, yet compliments it and assists it in prayer, in heroic holy lust…”; finally, the Franciscan Crown being placed in his example, and in evangelization for the Kingdom. It is a very hands, was prayed, “Receive the Franciscan Crown of the beautiful life, a life blessed by the Church and a life that enrich- Virgin Mary, that you may be bound in devotion to Her.” es that Church by displaying this Franciscan charism of spiritu- ality, drawing Brother Francis, and hopefully many closer to As we have highlighted the Novitiate Ceremony and the vest- Christ, our Master and Lord. We ask Saint Francis to bestow his ing of Brother as a Franciscan Novice in the garb of the FMI Community, I am struck by the great anticipation and expec- spirit upon Brother Francis in his new life as a Novice-friar tation by many people of what his name will be in Religious of the Franciscans of Mary Immaculate! 1 2 3 4 PHOTO CAPTIONS 1. The signing of the Promises on the altar by Brother Francis, Father Joseph, and a witness, Jason Plutowski. 5 2. Brother Francis pronounces his Promises of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience. 3. Celebrating the passing of Saint Francis, called Transitus, Brother Francis reads the Scripture passage Saint Francis requested before his death. 4. Previously, Justin became Postulant Justin on Mother’s Day, May 8th. 5. Brother Francis’ parents, Larry & Carrie Reineke, and their family. 2 My Road: From Justin Reineke to Brother Francis, FMI With my period of Novitiate also begins my new life as Brother Francis, I reflect on the road behind and the way left to tread. I credit my family and the holy priests of my parish for bringing a love of God’s Will into my soul. It was especially from my parents that I learned that the most important thing is to do what is right, which is anything God wants of you, and to make others happy, to bring them peace and a smile. I am most grateful to my parents—besides the gifts of life and example of unwavering love—for the gift of attending daily Mass and having a deep reverence for Christ in the Holy Eucharist. It was attending daily Mass with Dad and my siblings from an early age where I received my first desire to be a priest as I observed a kind Irish priest, Father Peter Hughes. I was especially mesmerized by the bells at the Consecration and disappointed when there was no server to ring them. Mind you, I was far from a perfect boy, since I was distracted at other times. Following Father Hughes were the 3 Pod-Ray’s—Father Chad Wilhelm, Father Joseph Christensen, and Father Charles Fischer—who inspired me during adolescent years. They gave me great inspirations and insights into the holy, but also, enjoyable life of a priest, along with the spiritual life. God had slowly laid the Franciscan path before me. Gradually, I received insight into religious life when Father Joseph founded the FMI, and after the foundation of his Community, I attended all of his JMI Summer Camps with my little brothers. It was in my senior year of high school that God made it clear to me what I, despite a longing in my soul, found hard to fully accept - He was to send me to Warsaw! In the 10 months between my decision to join the FMI and the beginning of my Candidacy, Satan wasted no time in filling my soul with doubt. Many times I wanted to change my mind and stay home with my family, to live a simple unknown life in the world. Yet, every time I brought this thought to prayer, I knew I was going against what I had learned – to do what is right. I begged God for the strength to leave home, to give my life in service to the Father and for others, and to die to self in whatever way God Willed. In short, I asked to be able to imitate Christ. He answered this prayer with a “Yes!” With tears I departed, and with joy I began the journey down another road on September 8th, Our Lady’s birth. Here in Warsaw, I am in a gem of a village. I am surrounded by good people who have warmly welcomed me to the area. Learning from Father Joseph, I have seen that one must always have patience, and that even in this most holy office, the greatest leaders are the humblest servants. As he does, I desire to do also, to follow in the footsteps of the Great High Priest according to the ways of Saint Francis. Moreover, how many small towns have the Eucharistic Presence in three places? Here our Lord is ever present in the beautiful Church of Saint Stanislaus, in our Friary, and in the Saint Gianna Maternity Home. No matter where my duties take me, Jesus is always close in His physical Presence. In May, then, I was received as a Postulant by Father Joseph; most of my siblings were able to attend the ceremony, celebrating the day with joy.
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