THE FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE PROVINCE September 2020 Volume 34 Number 9 NEW PROVINCIAL LEADERSHIP Official Announcement On Friday, September 11, 2020, the new leadership of the Southwest Franciscans of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province was announced to the friars. Although the friars have historically voted on leadership during their triennial Province Chapter, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the friars could not meet in person for this event. Accordingly, the General Council of the Order (in Rome) elected a new council. Please help us in congratulating: Ron Walters, OFM, Provincial Minister Charlie Martinez, OFM, Vicar Provincial Dale Jamison, OFM, Gerry Steinmetz, OFM, Patrick Schafer, OFM and Erasmo Romero, OFM, Definitors. We ask that you keep these friars in your prayers as they lead our Province over the next three years. We also thank Jack Clark Robinson, OFM, for his six years of leaderships as Provincial Minister, and Efren Quintero, OFM for his time as Secretary and Definitor. 0 1 CONVERSATIONS FROM THE CAB: A PERSPECTIVE ON RACISM A Reflection by Bernard Keele, OFM Catholic Charities here in Albuquerque has a marvelous opportunity for volunteers where they can sign up for the Senior Transportation Service which offers free rides to seniors of the community for medical appointments, grocery acquisition, etc. I am one of the team of volunteers, and on one of these very recent excursions, I was assigned an elderly black woman, petite but strong, good humored but wise, sharp but amicable. Within the context of the recent COVID-19 restrictions, the rider is asked to remain in the back seat and wear a mask along with the driver. The relatively large blue mask could public schools were listed. If it was an all not hide the joy, nor the spark and glitter that white school, the names were all spelled out. If framed her demeanor, vitality and beautiful it was an all black school, the names were all face. As this transportation held the likelihood abbreviated. Like 'Thomas Jefferson' for the of a weekly repeat due to the nature of her white schools and 'T.J.' for the black schools. A needs, it behooved us both to allow for a bit white man in those days would never call a more familiarity than would normally be black man or woman by their real, full name. expected on a 'one-off' cab-service. They would always have a 'pet' name for you, or a nickname. (Implying a devaluation and I asked her if I could share some of the stories, lack of honor). The Klu Klux Klan would burn within the context of anonymity, that she down a black man's family home just to prove eagerly proffered in this societal environment that a black man could not support his family. of protest and civil unrest. Without hesitation, she consented and continued her storytelling. I I worked for decades with the Civil Service. I relate these stories as a quote from my was a member of the United States Air Force imperfect memory, and I ask for pardon if back in the day. After retirement, a white some of the details are not exact. woman came up to me and said, "Now that you are retired, maybe you would want to clean "I was born in Atlanta, Georgia. However, my house as a maid. I would pay you for it!" I when I was young, my family moved to said, "Woman, I have my own house to take Southern Florida. Back in those days, you care of, so why would I want to care for yours, could open the Yellow Pages and see how the too!" 0 2 CONVERSATIONS FROM THE CAB CONTINUED A black man in Detroit was walking down the My husband wasn't going to drive the car, I street at night with his hands in his pockets. It was! You know, black people are very was cold. A white woman from the second forgiving. We only want to be treated with the story calls the police because she is scared. same respect and honor that should belong to The police come and detain the man. They ask everyone. And stop broadly judging and him why he has his hands in his pocket. The categorizing because of the color of our skin black man replies that he has his hands in his or because of assumptions toward our pocket because it is cold, and that he is a economic status." neighbor to the scared white woman. She didn't even know her own neighbors! May we all take to heart the lessons this lady offers to us. It is my prayer, and hopefully When I went to buy my first car, the salesman yours too, that justice, respect and honor not said he would not even allow a conversation remain ideological concepts, but that every about purchasing a car without my husband American, Christian or otherwise, finds in present. And then, when my husband finally their heart of hearts, the space to evaluate did arrive, the salesman would only talk with their own presumptions, assumptions and him and kept saying things like, "She doesn't attitudes toward the neighbors that we should need a radio. She doesn't need this or that." know, or the neighbors we think we know. HANDS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT Award Presented by Catholic Charities of New Mexico Each year members of the Matthew 25 Giving long been our partners in addressing some of Society of Catholic Charities New Mexico the most difficult challenges in New Mexico celebrate individuals and organizations who Communities. They are tireless volunteers, give their time and talent to serve their dedicating thousands of collective hours to neighbors. This year Our Lady of Guadalupe supporting the work of Catholic Charities in Franciscan Province humbly accepted the the community. During our Companions on 2020 Hands of the Holy Spirit Award. Jim the Journey effort to support recent arrivals in Gannon, CEO of Catholic Charities, presented New Mexico, friars were there to counsel the award at a virtual gathering on Tuesday, parents concerned for their families' future. September 22, 2020. This award honors When our Adult Education program obtained faithful partners who "allow the Holy Spirit to over 200 laptops for remote learning, a friar use our hands to provide relief, to console, to spent hours helping get them all set up and teach, to assist, to counsel, and to welcome." ready for student use. Friars have helped us assemble furniture, move donations, counsel When recognizing the Southwest Franciscans, those in crisis, and performed endless other Catholic Charities shared, "The friars have acts of service in the community. 0 3 HANDS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CONTINUED. Their unflagging dedication to supporting all asked. They ask if there is a need they can aspects of our work make Catholic Charities fulfill." proud to honor Southwest Franciscans as Hands of the Holy Spirit Award recipients." Our Lady of Guadalupe Province is honored to partner with Catholic Charities New Mexico. During the virtual event, Gannon continued, We are thankful for their work serving the "They step forward. They don't wait to be People of God! I AM HERE Poems and a Reflection by Manuel Mendoza, OFM A Franciscan response to the situation of our society, where there are many of our brothers and sisters who are lonely or rejected by our society. Poem.“I Am Here” Poema. “Aquí Estoy” Pöema.“Nté Ntö Nnä” Stop! Wait! I am here. ¡Alto! ¡Espera! Aquí estoy, ¡Yattó! ¡ktä shé! Nté ntö nnä, Turn. I am here, Voltea. Aquí estoy, Shín´hä. Nté ntö nnä, Look at me. I am here, Mírame. Aquí estoy, Ttíyánná, Nté ntö nnä, Listen to me. I am here. Escúchame, aquí estoy. Künná shá tkuí nnä. Nté ntö nnä. From the depths of my heart. Desde la profundidad de mi I say to you; “Life is a gift”. corazón. Hásta nné knnï tkënná. Believe me, you are my A ti te digo; “La vida es un küinná n´hí; shíntuï lká shá blessing and my art, regalo”. s´hü, Look at me, I am your brother. Créeme, tu eres mi arte y mi tiyháttí nnä. nuë lká bendició o bendición, pintúra nniá. From the depths of my being. Mírame. Yo soy tu hermano. Ttíyánná, nná lká nnä t´há. I am here. Listen to me, Desde la profundidad de mi I understand you. Turn toward ser. Hásta nné knï yhá skánnä. me, Aquí estoy, escúchame, Nté ntö nnä, Künná shá tkuí Wait. Te entiendo, voltea hacia mí, nnä, We still have hope. Espera, todavía tenemos Ntíthánhí, Shín´hä. esperanza. ktä shé, ttí cká tíhü nná ttÏlló. From the depths of my soul. Desde la profundidad de mi I am raising our voices. Wait, alma. Hásta nné knnï kärziá tkénnä. Stop the soulless bigotry, Yo levanto nuestras voces. Nná sikuánnä thínnä, ktä shé. I am here. Please, never give Espera, Yattó, küláttí shá shttiÄttí nhí up. Alto al intolerante desalmado, shká. Aquí estoy. Por favor, nunca te Nté ntö nnä, kunné ská jjäbó, rindes. nná kullá yaá n´hï. 0 4 I AM HERE CONTINUED Many people have ideas around the importance of expressing feelings, and how to connect with other people and nature. However, some persons prefer to write; history, songs, essays, and stories, instead of poetry. Rather, poetry attracts the heart. Poetry also inspires love, spirituality, mysticism and prophecy. Poetry is distinguished by language itself from the very first moment. I think poetry is like music: They have similar ways how to connect ideas and the mind with other people.