T The XXIII News St. John XXIII, OFS fraternity Secular Franciscan Order ~USA April 2018 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 Rule we strive to build up the Kingdom of God in our lifetimes by our prayers, apostolic works and fraternal community. April Gatherings May Gatherings April 8 – Fraternity Meeting, 1:00pm – May 20 – NOTE THE CHANGE Fraternity 3:30pm. Ambrose Hall, room #4. Meeting, 1:00pm – 3:30pm. Ambrose Hall, rm. #4. Gospel Sharing – Tom Meagher Gospel Sharing – Tim Taormina Formation – On Care for Our Common Home, Formation – Presentation on the San Damiano Articles 88-100. Reading and discussion. Cross of the risen Christ. Snacks – Kathy T.; Fruit – Tim; Drinks – Norma Snacks – fraternity will provide April III Order Feasts May III Order Feasts 1 EASTER SUNDAY 1 St. Joseph the Worker – May Day 2 Bl. Elisabetta Vendramini 5 Kathy Taormina’s birthday 6 St. Crescentia Höss 8 St. Amato Ronconi 7 John Moh’s birthday 10 Ascension of the Lord 15 Tim Taormina’s birthday 10 St. Ivo of Brittany 16 St. Bernadette Soubirous & St. Benedict 16 St. Margaret of Cortona Joseph Labre, cord-bearers of St. Francis 19 Norma Noonan’s birthday 17 Jim Terry’s birthday 21 Bl. Franz Jägerstätter 18 Kathy Taormina’s Profession anniversary, 1994 24 Dedication of the Basilica of St. Francis 25 St. Pedro de San Jose Betancur 28 St. Mariana of Jesus de Paredes 27 St. Zita of Lucca 30 St. Ferdinand 28 Bl. Luchesius 31 Jim Terry’s Profession anniversary, 2009 29 Bonita Hartmann & Janet Holmes’ Profession anniversary, 2012 30 St. Benedict Joseph Cottolengo Pope’s Prayers for April & May APRIL Universal – For those who have Responsibility Up-Coming Events in Economic Matters APRIL 21 – REGIONAL SPRING GATHERING That economists may have the courage to reject Little Falls Motherhouse, 8:30am - 3:00pm. Jim any economy of exclusion and know how to open Flickinger, OFS fonder of Amazon Relief is the new paths. speaker. $25.00 before 4/27, $30.00 after. MAY 19 – REGIONAL FORMATION WORKSHOP MAY – Evangelization Assisi Heights, Rochester, 8:30am – 4:00pm. The Mission of Laity JUNE 1-3 – ANNUAL REGIONAL MEETING That the lay faithful may fulfill their specific mission, Buffalo, MN. Friday evening until Sunday morning. by responding with creativity to the challenges that $175.00. face the world today. Its official! Norma is now a Third Order Franciscan, Fraternity Ongoing Formation belonging to our Fraternity. We are so happy to April 8 - On Care for Our Common Home, have Norma with us. Thank you for your Articles 88-100. Reading and discussion. attendance and for all the hands that helped. May 20 – Presentation. New Business April 21 is our Regional Spring Gathering in Little Falls! $25, before 4/7. Please consider donating to Fraternity Prayer List the Amazon Relief. 100% of your donation goes to help with this effort. We are including the We pray for: Amazon Relief in with our Apostolate, and will give new life in all circumstances and laws to protect it; a $200 donation. Marianne made the motion to ALL refugees/immigrants as they search for homes; approve a $200 donation to Amazon Relief. Bonita basic human rights of shelter, food & water for all; seconded the motion to approve and all were in the unemployed and under-employed; favor. Queen of Peace Region and CIOFS; those fraternities who are struggling; May 19 is the Regional Formation Workshop. the Franciscan Family and all of her branches; our Council and for our fraternity; Looking ahead to our Fall Gathering, praying for the new VOCATIONS to our fraternity; guest who will be hosting it. Kathleen mentioned a those in Initial Formation for the OFS; conversation she had with Archbishop Hebda, at a our absent and ill fraternity members; function. She and Marianne will be writing a letter to all the prayers in our fraternity prayer box; him about the possibilities. all the prayers deep within our hearts. Make a note on your calendar: October 3, will be the Transitus service of St Francis. Fraternity Meeting Minutes Closing Prayer – Stations of the Cross from the March 11, 2018 Franciscans International. Attendance: Present –Tom Meagher, Trudy Phillips, Mitzi Respectfully submitted by Mitzi Speranzella, OFS Speranzella, Kathy Taormina, Tim Taormina, Lori Hinker, Joe Speranzella, Fr. Steve McMichael, Marianne Mersch, Kathleen Sirek, Bonita Fraternity Treasury Report Hartmann, Norma Noonan $ 887.98 Balance as of February 28, 2018 Guests - Jennifer Jirava, Mary Ann Bucklin $ 281.00 + Common Fund collection Excused - Janet Holmes, Joan Marcantelli, James $ 200.00 - Amazon Relief Terry, Colette Schunk, Kay Pelletier, and Gloria $ 44.00 + St. Junipero Serra Fair Share Berry. $ 22.08 - New signs for the recycle bins $ 990.90 Balance as of March 31, 2018 Opening Prayer from the Ritual was led by Minister Tim. Funds needed on January 1, 2019: Gospel Sharing - John 3:14–21 Led by Joseph $ 990.00 2018 Fair Share for 18 OFS Speranzella. $ 396.00 2018 Fair Share SJS 6 OFS 3 Candidate On-Going Formation - Social Justice - Our Guests– Sister Donna of the School sisters of Notre Dame and Ann Shields. Our conversation involved proactive steps to educate the Parish on Fraternity Infirmarian Report recycling. And moving forward to the Parish for This month, on behalf of our Fraternity, I have sent dialog on changing the way they are using the "Thinking of You" cards to Kathy Taormina and recycling bins we donated to them. We, our Bonita Hartmann, along with our love and prayers Fraternity, support this effort. for their health and well-being. I have also sent Motion to Approve the Minutes Bonnie Easter cards to Fr. Steve, Kathy and Tim Taormina motioned to approve the minutes. Joe seconded and our entire Fraternity, as well as our Poor Clare the motion and all were in favor. Sisters in Rochester, MN. "Rejoicing in Jesus . Treasury Report from the newsletter approved His incredible sacrifice, the miracle of His as written with a motion made by Norma and Resurrection, and the never-ending gift of His love" seconded by Lori, all were in favor. Old Business Respectfully submitted by Janet Holmes, OFS ***Remember – to be excused, please call one of the Gospel Sharing above Council members! John 20:19-23 © 2018 Publication of St. John XXIII, OFS fraternity On the evening of that first day of the week, of the Secular Franciscan Order when the doors were locked, where the disciples for more information: 952-457-2209 were, for fear of the Jews, or [email protected] Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. OFS Surgeon Shares 10 Points on As the Father has sent me, so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them Living the Secular Franciscan and said to them, Vocation "Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, Michel Versteegh, OFS, a cardiothoracic surgeon and whose sins you retain are retained." from the Netherlands and a past three-term national OFS minister, was a featured speaker Nov. 6, 2017 on the third day of the General Chapter Franciscan Gospel Sharing (CIOFS), offering ten points on living the secular Franciscan vocation. Gaze on Him look on the words; 1. Education/formation. “Nourish interest in read and listen to the Scripture with an open Franciscan spirituality.” mind, let the words sink into you 2. Role model. “Our example is important for newcomers in our fraternity.” Consider Him 3. Make choices according to talents received. ponder the words; “Use the talents.” “Take inventory of think about what is being revealed in your heart competencies in your fraternity.” and mind and soul 4. Yes should mean yes. “Your yes should be yes, and your no, no.” “We should not compromise our Contemplate Him selves..but if you make a promise, don’t break it.” weigh the words; 5. Commitment. “Get involved… It cannot be decide which article in the OFS Rule relates to forced, but it can be fostered. Involve members as the words and ponder that article much as possible.” 6. Dedicate your day to God. “Our first priority: to Imitate Him live the gospel in our everyday life… Prayer is an outpour the words; essential element of our lives.” take all of this into the world with a concrete 7. Gospel to life, life to gospel. “Secular action which today you state aloud Franciscans prepare themselves by careful reading of the Gospel. We don’t have to be perfect all at …in the tradition of St. Clare of Assisi once.” 8. All members of a team are of equal value. “We’re talking about leadership… recognizing value SJ23rd Council of members to the team’s success... ’I did not come to be served, but to serve,’ says the Lord.” Minister – Tim Taormina, 612-695-7097 9. See your beginning, hold on to it. “Hold on to V. Minister – Lori Hinker, 952.457.2208 your initial inspiration. … the vocation that called Secretary – Mitzi Speranzella, 612.414.2016 you to follow in footsteps of St Francis.” Treasurer – open 10. Invitation to start all over again, every day Formation – Trudy Phillips, 256.777.7949 anew. “St. Francis called on his brothers to ‘begin Spiritual Assistant–Fr.