Pater Nter Fraternit Queen of Peace Region Newsletter – March 2021 St. Stephen the Martyr Catholic Church Gonderinger Parish Center 16701 S St., Omaha, NE 68135 Vision: Mission: “The Pater Noster Secular Franciscan “The mission of Pater Noster Fraternity is Fraternity exists to bring Christ’s love, to proclaim, and witness to the Gospel of mercy, compassion and forgiveness to a our Lord Jesus Christ. Inspired by the world in need of God.” example of St. Francis and St. Clare, we strive to humbly serve all people, especially the poor and forgotten. We Come and share with us our Vision and celebrate joyfully the gift of life in all Mission to Omaha and beyond! creation and recognize God’s living presence in the world.” Previous newsletters may be found on the Queen of Peace Regional Fraternity Left to right: SA Emeritus: Sr. Mary Ann Schmieding, OSF SA: Sr. Kathleen Kluthe, OSF (not in picture) Council Officers as of April 2018 – Please pray for us as we pray for you. Councilor: Cecilia Padilla, OFS - resigned Minister: Luis Antonio Alvarez, OFS Vice Minister: Joseph Norman, OFS Treasurer: Linda Mertz, OFS Councilor: Kent Riesberg, OFS Formation Director: Andrea Walther, OFS David Garrett, OFS (not in picture) Secretary: William Whipple, OFS Saint of the Month Saint Catherine of Genoa Franciscan Third Order Secular Feast Day: 14 March Birth: April 5, 1447, Genoa, Italy Death: 15 September 1510 1533 (aged 63), Genoa, Italy Beatified: 1675 by Pope Clement X All images from WikiCommons can be used freely provided the Canonized: 1737 from Pope Clement XII source is noted. Description:Forensic Facial Reconstruction of St. Catherine of Genoa Date: 15 October 2019 Author: FFR by Cicero Moraes (Arc-Team), 3D data acquisition by Alessandro Bezzi (Arc-Team), historical research by Luca Bezzi (Arc-Team) Catarinetta (little Catherine) Fieschi, child of a One day in 1473 she visited the convent noble family of Genoa, was born 1447. At where her sister was a nun, and there went thirteen she wanted to enter a convent, but to confession. That confession was a turning was refused admission because of her youth. point in her life. In her sadness and When she was sixteen, she was given in desperation she had turned to God; and He marriage to a young nobleman, Julian Adorno now filled her soul with a large measure of by name. For this reason she is sometimes grace, making her realize vividly her own sins called St Catherine Fieschi-Adorno. and inflaming her heart with seraphic love. Saint Catherine of Genoa's husband turned Saint Catherine of Genoa began to receive out to be pleasure-loving, quick-tempered, holy Communion every day, and continued to unfaithful. This was a great trial for do so for the rest of her life. She entered Catarinetta; and for a while she tried to upon a most intense spiritual life. After drown her disappointment in a whirl of reforming herself, she converted her pleasure. However, she retained her trust in husband, and then lost herself in service to God and did not give up her religious the poor and the sick. exercises. Saint Catherine of Genoa (continued) Financial ruin, brought on by the spendthrift “Tomasina! Jesus in your heart! Eternity in life her husband had been living, served as a your mind! The will of God in all your actions! reason for disposing of their palatial home on But above all, love, God’s love, entire love!” the Via Lomellini and to take up their abode That, too, had been the program of her own in the Pammatone, largest hospital of Genoa. life. Living henceforth as brother and sister, Catherine and her husband now devoted A mystical and mysterious illness, which was themselves completely to the works of really the fire of divine love, consumed the mercy. In 1490 Catherine was made matron last nine years of her life. One night in of the women’s division of the hospital; and August, 1510, Saint Catherine of Genoa she held this position for twenty-one years requested that the windows of her room be until her death. opened that she might see the starry sky. A large number of candles were lighted, and After her husband’s death in 1497, a terrible the dying seraphic lover sang the Veni plague broke out in Genoa and lasted for four Creator Spiritus. years, carrying off four-fifths of the population. Catherine heroically sacrificed “Let us go!” she exclaimed. “No more of herself for the sick, day and night. At the earth, no more of earth!” She died two same time she continued her accustomed weeks later, on September fifteenth, the penances and religious exercises. Frequently feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. she was lost in ecstasy; and even when she The body of St Catherine was exhumed was busily engaged in work, her mind was eighteen months after her death. Her body occupied with the things of heaven. She was found to be perfectly intact even though succeeded in a marvelous manner in her burial shroud was damp and decayed. combining complete “other-worldliness: with There were many miracles that occurred at the most capable “practicality.” She also this time. wrote an excellent treatise on Purgatory and another which is a Dialogue of the soul and from: The Franciscan Book Of Saints, ed. by the body. The Holy Office declared that these Marion Habig, OFM works alone are proof enough of her genuine holiness. Additional Reading Roman Catholic Saints Purgatory, she points out, is not a joyless Wikipedia place, but rather one full of joy in God, which New Advent however does not abate one particular of its excruciating suffering. Bidding farewell to her Patron of: Victims of Adultery, Difficult goddaughter, Tomasina Vernazza, Catherine Marriages, Widows said to her: The Admonitions of St Francis of Assisi Admonition 7 -- That good performance Francis here shows his serious concern for the might follow knowledge purposes for which we study, why we learn things. So often our learning serves to 1 The apostle says: the Letter kills, but the create the impression that we just be seen Spirit gives life. 2 Cor 3:6 as “smarter” than others, or to put others down, 2 People have been killed by the letter when or practice “false humility”. they want to know quotations only so that people will be impressed that they are more learned and they can make money to give to Q1. Francis warns of some disruptive values for learning, which are? their relatives and friends. Q2. Francis indicates a positive value for 3 And those Religious have been killed by the learning, which is? letter when they have no desire to follow the Q3. What value does Francis put on the Sacred spirit of Sacred Scripture, but only want to Scriptures? know what it says so that they can explain it Q4. How does this admonition compare to to others. Francis’ letter to St. Anthony 4 On the other hand, those have received life of Padua? (Omn.p.162;FA1,p.107;FC,p.79) from the spirit of Sacred Scripture, who, by https://www.franciscantradition.org/francis-of-a their words and example, refer all that they ssisi-early-documents/the-saint/writings-of-franc know or wish to know to the most high God, is/a-letter-to-brother-anthony-of-padua/123-fa-e to Whom belongs all good, and do not allow d-1-page-107 their knowledge to build up their own self-image. <iframe src="https://archive.org/embed/francisclarec00f ran" width="560" height="384" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="true" mozallowfullscreen="true" allowfullscreen></iframe> Prayer Requests and Praise Reports ● Lord, send more vocations to the ● Healing and cleansing of Holy Mother OFS and other Franciscan Orders Church ● For our lapsed members to ● May the Lord Jesus Christ extend his return to full participation in our sacred and healing arm and vanquish Gatherings this dreadful decease, and all other ● For healing to all who are maladies from our loved ones, friends suffering with effects of cancer and world in its many forms Calendar Of Events Annual/Special Meetings Monthly Meetings: will be via Zoom until MARK YOUR CALENDARS!! further notice - times remain the same. Monthly Gathering - 3rd Sunday New 2021 calendar is available. Exceptions: (Please, confirm BEFORE attending.) ● *Jun - Gathering is on the 4th Sunday, due to Father’s Day is on the 3rd Sunday Potluck Deferred until we meet in person On-Going Formation at 1:30 PM Council Meeting - 1st Wednesday of the month 7:00 PM via Zoom (Except in March/December when the Lenten/Advent Retreats are held) Lenten Retreat is March 10th via Zoom. Franciscan Crown Rosary - Wednesdays at 7:00 via Zoom except the 1st Wednesday. Contact Dave Garrett for Zoom links. On-Going Formation ● “Surrounded by Love: Seven Teachings from Saint Francis” by Murray Bodo OFM - Chapter 3: “Live the Gospel” Initial Formation - The Franciscan Journey: ● March 2021 - We will be doing both: ○ “A Rebuilding Task” Chapter 14 of Franciscan Journey - via Zoom ○ “Gospel conversion and Reconciliation” Chapter 15 of Franciscan Journey - via Zoom.