Capuchins of Central Canada 2100 Jane Street, Toronto ON, M3M 1A1 Province of Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd

CHARITABLE REGISTRATION # 11883 7988 RR 0001 Capuchins of Central Canada 2100 Jane Street, Toronto, ON M3M 1A1 Tel. 416-244-8458 Fax.416-244-9796

[email protected] Charitable Reg.# 11883 7988 RR 0001

Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd Province Easter 2019

Dear Brothers and Sisters in St. Francis of Assisi,

With the message from Pope Francis I would like to begin my short letter of appeal and gratitude; “The Lent of the Son of God ‘was an entry into the desert of creation to make it become again that garden of communion with God” that it was before the original sin, Christians today are invited “to embody the paschal mystery more deeply and concretely in their personal, family and social lives, above all by fasting, prayer and almsgiving.”

After a long, cold winter we are told spring is here and yet it is cold. Days are getting longer, and trees cannot contain their blossoms for much longer, soon everything will come alive for Easter this year and as Easter is on April 21 there will be sufficient time for nature to burst forth. God continues to be good to us through your kind generosity. May God reward you as He promised; a hundred fold. We Capuchin brothers always keep your prayer intentions before the altar of the Lord and pray for your intentions.

Our brothers in formation are doing great. Bro. Michael Mascarenhas is doing very well in the parish where he is assigned for his pastoral year. Bro. Michael even went to El Salvador with the people from the parish to build houses for the poor. Michael has about two years to complete his priestly formation in preparation for his ordination. Bro. Sunil D’Costa is doing wonderfully well in his formation at St. Peter’s where the teaching faculty is full of praise for our student brothers.

We have Bro. Peter Poel and Bro. Martin Ngo in our Novitiate and both of them are doing great. It is truly a joy to hear great things about our brothers in formation. We have one young man currently as a candidate discerning his call to be a Capuchin. The work of attracting young men to live the spirit of St. Francis is possible only through your generous support. We are immensely grateful for your generous financial support. We also need your continuous prayers for the education and formation of these young men as they prepare to begin religious life as Capuchin .

“May the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds at Easter” With gratitude, we ask the Lord that He may reward your generosity one hundredfold , we send you our blessings. Please do pray for us.

Peace and Love

Bro. Henry Alva, Capuchin Minister Provincial

-2- ST. FELIX OF CANTALICE 18 May 1515 - 18 May 1587 - FEASTDAY MAY 18 Felix was the first Capuchin Franciscan ever canonized. In fact, when he was born, the Capuchins did not yet exist as a distinct group within the . Born of humble, God-fearing parents in the Rieti Valley, Felix worked as a farmhand and a shepherd until he was 28. He developed the habit of praying while he worked.

In 1543, he joined the Capuchins. When the guardian explained the hardships of that way of life, Felix answered: “Father, the austerity of your Order does not frighten me. I hope, with God’s help, to overcome all the difficulties which will arise from my own weakness.” In the novitiate of the order's Roman province at Anticoli, Felix (who retained his baptismal name) manifested the heroic spirit of charity, prayer, and penance that characterized his entire life despite temptations and a malignant fever that tried his vocation.

He pronounced his solemn vows in the friary of Monte San Giovanni, May 18, 1544, and spent three more years in spiritual formation at Tivoli and Viterbo. In 1547 he was sent to the Convent of St. Bonaventure, , where for the next 40 years he served his brethren as questor. This meant that every day Felix had to trudge the streets of Rome, stopping at homes and shops to collect in a sack the food offered by benefactors for St. Bonaventure's large community. The barefoot with the huge sack over his shoulder became a celebrity. Children flocked to him, hailed him with his own constant greeting, "Deo gratias." Along the way he converted hardened sinners, consoled sufferers, and fed the poor. The Romans were edified and amused by his accustomed outcry: "Make way for the Capuchins' ass!" One day St. deposited his great clerical hat on the 's cowled head, and obliged him, as a test of humility, to go thus on his rounds. But Felix in return insisted that Philip drink publicly from a huge flagon of wine, to the great glee and merriment of the onlookers. When Felix was an old man, his superior had to order him to wear sandals to protect his health. Around the same time a certain cardinal offered to suggest to Felix’s superiors that he be freed of begging so that he could devote more time to prayer. Felix talked the cardinal out of that idea.

Felix enjoyed the friendship of other and eminent persons. St. consulted him, unlettered though he was, on the rule of life to be given his Oblates. Another personal friend was Pope Sixtus V, who, on the day of Felix's death, urged the process of his . Sixtus declared that he had witnessed 18 miracles wrought by the holy questor, and that he would testify to them personally. Consoled by heavenly visions, Felix died on the feast of his patron, which was also the anniversary of his own birth and religious profession.

His body lies in the Capuchin Church of the Immaculate Conception, Rome, along the Via Veneto. Pope Urban VIII beatified Felix on Oct. 1, 1625. With his by Clement XI May 22, 1712, Felix of Cantalice became the first Capuchin . He is often depicted according to one of his visions, holding the Infant Jesus, whom the Blessed Virgin has placed in his arms. -3- Answering God’s Call - Novitiate (Your donations at work for the Church)

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.” Luke 4:1

This was from the Gospel reading from the First Sunday of Lent this year, but it seems to be a summary of my formation/vocation journey so far since postulancy. I could remember that since postulancy, I left almost full of the Spirit ready for whatever was to come next, I did not think that anything was able to shake me, but then I was led into the wilderness (almost literally) of novitiate, where it was time to face my demons and temptation face to face. In all honesty novitiate was not what I thought it was to be, especially comparing it with postulancy it seems almost like the total opposite. But the spirit does not make mistakes, though I have doubted, in the long run there has been much fruit that has been grown and harvested from my time in the wilderness. These fruits have taught me more about myself and have stretched and help me grow in many ways.

It was in the wilderness of the cave that I fell in love again with my Lover. They say that novitiate can be a cave experience (like what Francis had during his conversion), but it was in this dark, silent and scary place that I came to see the burning light all the more. It is the light of my Lover, allowing me to see Him as He is, for who He is. It was in this cave that I learned again that I was loved unconditionally, that it was not what I am that mattered, it was whose I am that did. I was my Lover’s and that could never be taken away from me.

Then I was led into the desert of many challenges, struggles and dryness. All of this was either with myself or with those around me. But the Spirit never leaves us alone or pushes us beyond our abilities. It was here that I had to learn to forgive and to be forgiven, here I had to learn dependence beyond myself, here I had to learn how to love despite what I may not like. Here I had to learn how to be open and accepting. It was here that I was led to apply what I had learned in the cave into action and as the “forty days” are slowly starting to come to an end I feel as though I am ready for the journey ahead.

Truly through these last nine months the Spirit has been leading, for alone in the wilderness I can do nothing but move along aimlessly by myself but with the Spirit guiding me there will be new life in the end. Bro. Martin Ngo Novice 2018-2019

-4- Is God calling you?

Please Pray For.....

Our Men In Formation

Br Michael Mascarenhas Br Sunil D’Costa Mr. Martin Ngo Solemnly Professed Simply Professed Novice in Priestly Formation London, ON Santa Ynez, CA Blenheim, ON

The First Days of Spring

Uprooting the dreams And on the winds of yesterday of open sky time sows the seeds caterpillars of tomorrow. try new found wings.

And clouds shed tears Wild trillium of April rain and daffodil as winter wanes usher in the and warmth abounds. first days of spring. Bro. Peter Poel And tulips flaunt Fleeing far flung Novice their waxen bells Santa Ynez, CA sanctuaries atop stems of migrating birds emerald green. start heading home. ~ Emily Pinet, 2015

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Capuchin Burse Report 01 January, 2018 — 31 December, 2018

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Capuchin Burse Report 01 January, 2019 — 15 March, 2019

Old Rugged Cross When you think of the wonderful day, That Jesus Christ set you free; Then you think upon the day, That he died on Calvary;

That's when you know deep in you're heart, that his love is true; And that's exactly the reason, Christ died on the cross for you! To give you the opportunity, to live happy and free; Instead of being trapped, in sin and misery.

For the master we serve in Jesus Christ, Is a true and loving God; And he will guide us safely through, the valleys in life we must trod. For life is a daily struggle, this Jesus Christ knows,

For he too walked upon this earth, was crucified and arose; And this promise of eternal life, is what we all may share; If the old rugged cross, in life we decide to bare! ~ Dwayne Bailey, 2009

-7- THE CAPUCHIN LEGACY PROGRAM

As Christians and Catholics one of the most important tasks we have is that of faithful stewardship. This is beautifully expressed in Pope Francis’ “Laudato Sii” which gives thanks for our interdependent relationship with all of God’s creation, in which each one of us shares.

This same spirit also finds resonance in a quote by Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey, OFM, Cap ( d.1957 ) who stated, “The only science that gives purpose to every other science is the science of religion – the science of our happy relationship with, and our providential dependence on God and our neighbour.”

One of the most important and faith filled acts of this stewardship that you can do; is to make certain that you have a current Will and Power’s of Attorney in place. This is YOUR loving remembrance for others and an act of love that is returned a hundred-fold in your reaching out and assuring “ new life ” for others.

Have YOU considered what your legacy will be? Blessed Solanus Casey, ofm, cap. Not only can you leave a gift of financial remembrance but gifts of Life Insurance, Stocks, Bonds or Property Bro. Alan R. Gaebel, ofm, cap. may also be gifted through your will. Development Office 2100 Jane Street For further information please contact: Toronto, ON M3M 1A1 416.241.3101 ext.245 [email protected]

YOU CAN HELP ANYTIME BY MAKING AN ONLINE FINANCIAL GIFT TO

THE CAPUCHIN FOUNDATION at www.capuchins.ca/you-can-help

Business (Charitable) Number: 890839343 RR0001

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