T The XXIII News St. John XXIII, OFS fraternity Secular Franciscan Order ~USA December 2017 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. December Gatherings January Gatherings December 10 – Fraternity Meeting, 1:00pm – January 14 – Fraternity Meeting, 1:00pm – 3:30pm. Ambrose Hall, room #4. 3:30pm. Ambrose Hall, room #4. CHRISTMAS PARTY – we will pack our Blessing Gospel Sharing – ??? Bags for the Battered Women and Children’s Home Formation – On Care for Our Common Home, in Belle Plaine, MN, share food and play a White Articles 62-75. Reading and discussion. Elephant game! Snacks – Tom; Fruit – Marianne; Drinks – John REMEMBER TO BRING – Blessing Bag donations (if you haven’t yet) Food – women with the last name beginning A-M January III Order Feasts Sweets – women with the last name beginning N-Z 1. Mary, Mother of God Drinks – men 3. Most Holy Name of Jesus White Elephant gift – new or used 3. Joan Marcantelli’s Profession, 2004 4. Lori Hinker’s birthday 7. St. Angela of Foligno, III Ord. December III Order Feasts 8. Bl. Eurosia Fabris, III Order 3. St. Francis Xavier, Priest, tertiary 20. Joe & Mitzi Speranzella’s Profession, 2002 5. Bl. Pierre de Sienne, OFS 24. St. Francis de Sales, III Ord. 6. Bl. Elisabeth la Bonne, OFS 27. St. Angela Merici, III Ord. 8. Feast of the Immaculate Conception 28. Janet Holmes’ birthday 9. Bl. Delphine de Glandeves, OFS 28. Colette Schunk’s birthday 11. Fr. Steve McMichael’s birthday 30. St. Hyacinth of Mariscotti, III Ord. 11. Bl. Hugolin Magalotti, OFS 31. St. John Bosco, III Ord. 14. Bl. Barthole Buonpedini, OFS 15. Mary Queen of the Seraphic Order 21. St. Raphael Kalinowski, tertiary Up-Coming Events 22. St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, tertiary APRIL 21 – REGIONAL SPRING GATHERING 25. Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ Little Falls Motherhouse, 8:30am - 4:00pm 26. St. Albert Chmielowski, TOR MAY 19 – REGIONAL FORMATION WORKSHOP 28. Feast of the Holy Innocents Assisi Heights, Rochester, 8:30am – 4:00pm 29. Bonita Hartmann’s birthday JUNE 1-3 – ANNUAL REGIONAL MEETING 31. St. Gaspard Buffalo, OFS Buffalo, MN. Friday evening until Sunday morning. T Kathy motioned a check for $200 dollars for Pope’s Prayer Intentions the Giving Tree at St. Bonaventure. Mitzi seconded December - The Elderly to approve. All were in favor. That the elderly, sustained by families and Christian Kathy also voiced concern for the cost of printing communities, may apply their wisdom and and mailing newsletter to those on our roster that experience to spreading the faith and forming the are in need of receiving the newsletter by mail. We new generations. will discuss an amount to include in next year’s budget. Fraternity Prayer List We will not have an Epiphany party in January; rather, we will celebrate with a Christmas party in We pray for: new life in all circumstances; December’s meeting. Please don’t forget to bring a ALL refugees/immigrants as they search for homes; white elephant gift in order to participate. basic human rights of shelter, food & water for all; the unemployed and under-employed; The meeting was closed with Kathy, leading us in Queen of Peace Region and CIOFS; prayer. those fraternities who are struggling; the Franciscan Family and all of her branches; Respectfully submitted by Mitzi Speranzella, OFS our Council and for our fraternity; new VOCATIONS to our fraternity; those in Initial Formation for the OFS; our absent and ill fraternity members; Fraternity Infirmarian Report all the prayers in our fraternity prayer box; This month, on behalf of our Fraternity, I have sent all the prayers deep within our hearts. "Thinking of You" cards to Bonita Hartmann and our Poor Clare Sisters, along with our continued prayers for their well-being. Let us remember them, Fraternity Meeting Minutes and all our brothers and sisters in prayer. "God's infinite love.... What better gift than this ?" May He November 12, 2017 walk beside you on every path you take. Attendance: Respectfully submitted by Janet Holmes, OFS Present – Gloria Barry, Tom Meagher, Trudy Phillips, Mitzi Speranzella, Kathy Taormina, Tim Taormina, Kay Pelletier, Lori Taormina, Joe Speranzella, Trudy Phillips, Fr. Steve McMichael Fraternity Treasury Report Franciscan Gospel Sharing led by Trudy Phillips. $ 2352.89 Balance as of October 31, 2017 On - going Formation led Lori Hinker. ON CARE $ 15.00 - Mass for Kathleen Burkett, OFS OF OUR COMMON HOME $ 84.87 - paper, envelopes, stamps, Excused - Janet Holmes, Joan Marcantelli, James plastic bags for Blessing Bags Terry, John Mohs, Colette Schunk, Marianne $ 125.00 - St. Bonaventure 2017 stipend March, Joan Marcantelli $ 200.00 - St. Bonaventure Giving Tree $ 212.00 + December Common Fund Opening Prayer: was led by Minister Tim $ 200.00 - Poor Clares Christmas donation $ 250.00 - Fr. Steve 2017 gift card Minutes – Bonnie motioned to approve the $ 150.00 - emergency gift card for member minutes. Gloria seconded. $ 1540.02 Balance as of November 30, 2017 $ 1287.00 Restricted Fair Share funds Treasury – Kay Pelletier motioned to approve. $ 253.02 Usable Income Bonita seconded. Funds needed on January 1, 2018: Old Business $ 957.00 2018 Fair Share for 17 OFS 1 Candidate Bring items listed on your card for the $ 330.00 2018 Fair Share SJS 4 OFS 5 Candidate Blessing Bags. We will be stuffing them in the December meeting. ***When you miss the monthly meeting please mail your Common Fund donation to: New Business Kathy Taormina, OFS We discussed the Apostolates. Lori Hinker 920 Whitney Drive, Apple Valley MN 55124 motioned $200 to give to the Poor Clares and Kay second unanimous vote passed. Fraternity Ongoing Formation January 14 - On Care for Our Common Home, St. Bonaventure (d. 1274) in his Life of St. Francis Articles 62-75. Reading and discussion. of Assisi: It happened in the third year before his death, that in order to excite the inhabitants of Greccio to rd commemorate the nativity of the Infant Jesus with SJ23 Council great devotion, [St. Francis] determined to keep it with Minister – Tim Taormina, 612-695-7097 all possible solemnity; and lest he should be accused V. Minister – Lori Hinker, 952.457.2208 of lightness or novelty, he asked and obtained the Secretary – Mitzi Speranzella, 612.414.2016 permission of the sovereign Pontiff. Then he prepared Treasurer – open a manger, and brought hay, and an ox and an ass to Formation – Trudy Phillips, 256.777.7949 the place appointed. The brethren were summoned, Spiritual Assistant–Fr. Steve McMichael, OFM Conv. the people ran together, the forest resounded with Infirmarian – Janet Holmes, 952-943-1518 their voices, and that venerable night was made Prayer Line – Bonita Hartmann, 952-854-4074 glorious by many and brilliant lights and sonorous ***Remember – to be excused, please call one of the psalms of praise. The man of God [St. Francis] stood above Council members! before the manger, full of devotion and piety, bathed in tears and radiant with joy; the Holy Gospel was © 2017 Publication of St. John chanted by Francis, the Levite of Christ. Then he XXIII, OFS fraternity preached to the people around the nativity of the poor of the Secular Franciscan Order King; and being unable to utter His name for the for more information, email tenderness of His love, He called Him the Babe of [email protected] Bethlehem. A certain valiant and veracious soldier, Master John of Greccio, who, for the love of Christ, had left the warfare of this world, and become a dear friend of this holy man, affirmed that he beheld an Franciscan Gospel Sharing Infant marvelously beautiful, sleeping in the manger, Whom the blessed Father Francis embraced with Gaze on Him both his arms, as if he would awake Him from sleep. This vision of the devout soldier is credible, not only look on the words; by reason of the sanctity of him that saw it, but by read and listen to the Scripture with an open mind, let the reason of the miracles which afterwards confirmed its words sink into you truth. For example of Francis, if it be considered by the world, is doubtless sufficient to excite all hearts Consider Him which are negligent in the faith of Christ; and the hay ponder the words; of that manger, being preserved by the people, think about what is being revealed in your heart and mind miraculously cured all diseases of cattle, and many and soul other pestilences; God thus in all things glorifying his servant, and witnessing to the great efficacy of his Contemplate Him holy prayers by manifest prodigies and miracles.” weigh the words; Although the story is long old, the message is clear decide which article in the OFS Rule relates to the words for us. Our own Nativity scenes which rest under our and ponder that article Christmas trees are a visible reminder of that night when our Savior was born. May we never forget to Imitate Him see in our hearts the little Babe of Bethlehem, who outpour the words; came because He loved us. We must never forget take all of this into the world with a concrete action which that the wood of the manger that held Him so securely today you state aloud would one day give way to the wood of the cross. May we too embrace Him with all of our love as did St.