February 2021

The XXIII News St. John XXIII, OFS fraternity Secular Franciscan Order ~USA February 2021 OUR MISSION STATEMENT We are Secular Franciscans living in the world and sharing our Franciscan Charism by “going from gospel to life, and life to the gospel”, by following Jesus Christ in the footsteps of St. Francis and St. Clare; and by following our apostolic Rule we strive to build up the Kingdom of God in our lifetimes by our prayers, works and fraternal community. February Gathering March Gathering February 14 – Fraternity Meeting, March 14 – Fraternity Meeting, if allowed… ZOOM meeting 1:00-3:30 pm Activities building, St. Bonaventure’s, Room #4, Franciscan Gospel Sharing – Tim Taormina 1:00-3:30 pm with simultaneous ZOOM meeting. On-Going Formation –Holy Half-Hours, Art. #16 Franciscan Gospel Sharing – Mary Kopelke Franciscan 101 – “Christian cliches to stop using!” On-Going Formation – Holy Half-Hours, Art. #17 Franciscan 101 – “How to use iBreviary” to pray Snacks – Kathy Taormina February III Order Feasts Fruit – Tim Taormina 6. SS. Peter Baptist, Paul Miki and 17 tertiaries 7. Bl. Pius IX – Pope 10. Bl. Alojzije Stepinac March III Order Feasts 16. St. Veridiana 2. Mary Ann Bucklin’s birthday 19. St. Conrad of Piacenza 9. St. Frances of Rome (see page 3) 25. Profession of Norma Noonan, 2018 12. Bl. Angela Salawa 14. St. Catherine de Genes 16. Bl. Torello de Poppi Pope’s Prayers for February 20. Bl. Hippolyte Galentini Violence Against Women: We pray for women 21. Bl Amedee IX de Savoie who are victims of violence, that they may be 23. Bl. Jeremie Lambertenghi protected by society and have their sufferings 24. Bl. Catherine de Suede considered and heeded. 29. Bl. Jeanne-Marie de Maille CIOFS OFS: For the national fraternities of 30. Bl. Amadeus IX of Savoy Zambia, Belgium and Japan. Fraternity Prayer List We pray for: An end to Covid19 and vaccinations for all; Bonita’s hope to stay out of the hospital and a February Formation complete healing of body & soul for Jeff & On-Going Formation–Holy Half-Hours, Article #16 John. Shut-In Formation – by telephone Lori and Justin’s prayer for the continuation of our Bonita – Jim Terry adoption process and our future child. All Joan – Lori Hinker youth struggling with mental illness; Colette – Kathie Sirek Janet’s thanksgiving for all God's blessings, and for Initial Formation – ZOOM, February 16, 1:30 pm all my family members, living and deceased; Franciscan Journey, Ch. 15 total healing of her son Scotty; ZOOM, March 16, 1:30 pm Mary’s niece Ashley; Franciscan Journey, Ch. 16 Joan’s friend Kathy at LSP & granddaughter Emily; Norma’s two special friends that are ill; Mitzi Speranzella, Kathy Taormina, Tim Taormina, Kay’s continued health and happiness; James Terry, Fr. Steve McMichael, OFM Conv. Trudy’s family peace & joy; marriage relationships. Initial Formation: Mary Ann Bucklin Kathie’s healing of her hip pain and discomfort; Guests: St. Junipero Serra NFG - Iris Stanford, Joe’s and Mitzi’s prayers; Colette’s health and well-being; Robert Stanford, Joan Henchel, Louise Heim, and Kathy & Tim’s family for health and job security; Jeffrey Liautaud. Jim to bring Jesus with him to his children and Gospel Sharing lead by: Kathy Taormina. grandchildren when he visits them for these Ongoing Formation: Extraction of Saints - coming weeks; Epiphany Fr. Steve, his writings, studies and his students; Treasure’s Report – Balance of Funds $ 1159.03. And all the prayers in the depths of our hearts! The Executive Council will be meeting before the Fraternity meeting next month to discuss opening a Gospel ~ Mark 1:40-45 savings account. Tim Taormina made a motion to accept the Budget for 2021. Lori second the A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make motion, all were in favor. me clean.” Old Business – Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, Conversation about putting together Easter Baskets touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be for Easter. In March we will be putting together made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, baskets and will drop them off to those members and he was made clean. Then, warning the him who are homebound. sternly, he dismissed him at once. New Business – He said to him, “See that you tell no one Holy Half hours by phone with homebound anything, but go, show yourself to the priest members: Jim Terry with Bonita Hartman, Kathy and offer for your cleansing what Moses Sirek, with Collette. Lori Taormina with Joan. prescribed; that will be proof for them.” Valentine’s Day, Executive Council meeting at The man went away and began to publicize the 12:30. In order to meet at St Bonaventure, the whole matter. He spread the report abroad insurance form needs to be completed. so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a Respectfully submitted by Mitzi Speranzella, OFS town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere. Fraternity Treasury Report $3,951.03 Balance as of December 31, 2020 Expenses: Fraternity Infirmarian Report $ 925.00 2021 Fair Share SJ23 This month, on behalf of our Fraternity, I have sent $ 360.00 2021 Fair Share SJS "Thinking of You" cards to Kay Pelletier, Colette Income: Schunk, Joan Marcantelli, Trudy Phillips and Bonita $ 275.00 January Common Fund Hartmann, along with our prayers for their health $2,941.03 Balance as of January 31, 2020 and well-being. Let us continue to keep each other, and all our sisters and brothers, living and Restricted Funds: deceased, in our thoughts and prayers. May we $1,505.00 Meagher Memorial Formation Fund walk and live in the love of Christ, each and every $ 985.00 2022 Fair Share for 15 OFS, 1 Can. day, and may our Blessed Mother walk with us and $ 385.00 2022 Fair Share SJS 6 OFS, 1 Can. sustain our hope. $2,875.00 Total Restricted Funds Respectfully submitted by Janet Holmes, OFS $66.03 Available Funds Respectfully submitted by Norma Noonan, OFS Fraternity Minutes January 10, 2021 ***Remember – to mail your common fund ATTENDANCE: donation to 4439 Lakeshore Terrace Present: Lori Hinker, Janet Holmes, Mary Kopelke, Eagan MN 55122 Norma Noonan, Trudy Phillips, Kathleen Sirek, rd SJ23 Council Minister – Kathleen Sirek, OFS 651-666-3985 ***Remember – to be excused, please call the Vice Minister – Jim Terry, OFS 612-964-1660 fraternity Minister, Kathie Sirek! Secretary – Mitzi Speranzella, OFS 612.979-7168 Treasurer – Norma Noonan, OFS 651-686-0532 © 2021 Publication of St. John XXIII, OFS Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order Formation – Kathy Taormina, OFS 952-457-2209 for more information: 952-457-2209 Spiritual Assistant–Fr. Steve McMichael, OFM Conv. or [email protected] Infirmarian – Janet Holmes, OFS 952-913-8539 St Frances of Rome carried out her duties, not only efficiently, but also Saint Frances of Rome in a genuinely Christian manner. Feast Day – March 9 During a famine she gave away corn to the St Frances of Rome was born into a noble poor so lavishly that her husband began to object. Roman family in 1384. At the age of 12 she When he went to the empty granary, however, he married another Roman noble, Lorenzo Ponziani. found it miraculously filled with forty measures of She would have preferred to become a nun, but wheat "so shining and so full...that it seemed as obeyed her father and became an exemplary wife though it had been raised in Paradise and reaped and the mother of three children. there by angels..." Soon after her marriage, St Frances fell seriously ill. Her husband called a man in who dabbled in magic, but St Frances drove him out of the house in no uncertain terms. St Alexis then appeared to her and cured her. From that time, St Frances of Rome began to be conscious of the presence and assistance of her guardian angel. He would give her a little nudge when she fell into any fault. The Ponziani palace was in the Trastevere section of Rome, and just around the corner was the little church of San Francesco a Ripa. This church had been given in 1212 to St Francis by the Roman lady Giacoma di Settesoli (Brother Jacoba), who in 1226 was present at the death of the Poverello. By 1414 at least, the adjoining friary was one of 34 belonging to the Observant reform movement in the First Order of St. Francis, which was begun in 1368 by Brother Paul or Paoluccio of Trinci and in the following century was promoted by such saints as St Bernard and St John Capistrano. It was at San Francesco a Ripa that Frances Ponziani was received into the Third Order of St Francis; and one of the priests there, Father Bartholomew Bondi, became her spiritual director. Living at the Ponziani palace with St Frances of Rome was Vanozza, the wife of her oldest brother. She too had entertained thoughts of entering a convent before her marriage, and she joined St Frances in her works of piety and charity. Together they spent hours of prayer in a disused attic or an old summer cottage in the garden. At seventeen, St Frances of Rome gave birth to her first son, John Baptist; and shortly afterwards her mother-in-law died. St Frances was then placed in charge of the household; and she MARCH 14th - Holy Half-Hours OFS RULE Ongoing Formation Assignment: OFS RULE – Article 17 Make a commitment to spend four For each holy half hour: holy half-hours to prepare for class.

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