Gatherings

 
What's In a Name? 
 St. Joseph- Husband and Father 
 Paz y Bien from the Infirmarian 
SFO International Council Weekly News 
Ministry Prayer 
 Calendar of Saints/Feast Days: March 
Classes and Meetings 
St. Anthony's Corner 
 Like a Light to the World 
 Miscellaneous 
 In Order to Serve 
 Librarian 
Tertio Millennio Adveniente
 
 

What's In a Name?

  We have a few more suggestions this month for our newsletter name. So, we’ll list the choices below, pick one and then either drop the name in the common fund collection this month or tell one of the counsellors at the next meeting. The name with the most votes wins and will be used as the future newsletter name. So if you don’t vote, don’t complain!
  Also, your publisher reminds everyone that the title MUST be able to fit onto the masthead and be readable! In case of a tie anything goes I guess. Here are the nominees:

 

 
Fr. Paul Juniet, OFM- Spiritual Director

"St. Joseph- Husband and Father"

      Almost hidden in the middle of Lent is the feast of St. Joseph. And because of its’ placement, we often lose sight of Joseph’s significance in the journey of the life of Jesus and Mary. Joseph is mentioned as protector in the beginning of the life of Jesus and he passes out of sight.
  Yet in the history of the Church, Joseph has played an important role as a model of a good husband and father. As husband he took Mary as his wife and committed his life to her. He set up a home at Nazareth and walked with Mary through pregnancy and childbirth. He was her support during the young life of Jesus. He was her comfort during the many hardships of their life together.
  As Father he deeply loved his foster child as his own. He lead him as he grew and taught him the foundations of a good Jewish life. Jesus’ first introduction to the prayer life of his Jewish faith was through Joseph. Joseph was the one who first took him to synagogue and he took Jesus and Mary up to Jerusalem for the solemn feasts.
  Joseph lead a good life and it is only natural that the Church should celebrate his life by making him patron of a happy death. Years ago when I went with my mother to the Shrine of St. Joseph in Montreal we had Mass in the Dormition Chapel. My mother specifically prayed that through the
intercession of St. Joseph she might have a peaceful and happy death. She was so afraid of dying alone. Her prayers were answered as she died in the arms of my sister.
  Joseph shared his life mostly in the background. If we think of our own families this is a lot of times the role of a father. He is very much present and most of the time in the background. As Joseph allowed his son to grow, not always knowing what was happening, many parents need the faith of Joseph to let their children grow. Parents are called to be witnesses by their lives to their children. Joseph can be a true model for us. In the scriptures it often refers to Mary keeping the mysteries of
Jesus in her heart. I’m sure that this was just as true of Joseph.
  As we elebrate the feast of St. Joseph let us pray for all families and especially parents. May the Lord guide parents to witness to their children so that they may truly grow in wisdom and knowledge.

 

 "Paz y Bien" From the Infirmarian:

  •             LET US KEEP OUR FRANCISCANS IN OUR DAILY PRAYERS:
  • Let us commit ourselves during this Lenten Season to pray, fast and do
    penence for our sick and homebound Franciscans. May our suffering Jesus
    alleviate their sufferings and comfort them with His healing touch.
    ***************************************************
    Prayers are requested this month for all our members both of our own
    fraternity, the regional, national and international fraternities. We would
    also ask prayers and remembrances for all humankind worldwide at all
    times and in all places.
     
     

    SFO INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL Weekly News
    FROM: CIOFS BULLETIN, 1999, VOL 5    N.1(January)

    PROCLAMATION OF THE HOLY YEAR 2000 (Continued from last month)

     
      Jesus reveals the face of God the Father “compassionate and merciful” (Jas 5:11), and with the sending of the Holy Spirit he makes known the mystery of love which is the Trinity. It is the Spirit of Christ who is at work in the Church and in history: we must listen to him in order to recognize the signs of  the new times and to make the expectation of the glorified Lord’s return ever more vibrant in the hearts of the faithful. The Holy Year must therefore be one unceasing hymn of praise to the Trinity, the Most High God. At this point, the poetic words of Saint Gregory of Nazianzus, the theologian, come to our aid:
      “Glory to God the Father and to the Son, King of the universe. Glory to the Spirit, worthy of praise and all holy. The Trinity is one God who created and filled all things: the heavens with heavenly beings, the earth with creatures of earth, the sea, the rivers and springs with creatures of the waters, giving life to all things by his spirit that all creatures might sing the praises of their wise Creator, who alone gives life and sustains all life in being.
      Above all others, let the creature who reasons celebrate him always as the great King and good Father.”

      4.  May this humn to the Trinity for the Incarnation of the Son rise with one voice from all who have been baptized and share the same faith in the Lord Jesus. May the ecumenical character of the Jubilee be a concrete sign of the journey which, especially in recent decades, the  faithful of the different Churches and Ecclesial Communities have been making. It is only by listening to the Spirit that we shall be able to show forth visibly in full communion the grace of divine adoption which springs from Baptism: all of us children of the one Father. The challenging call of the Apostle rings out again for us today: “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of us all, who is
    above all and through all and in all” (Eph 4:4-6). To use the words of Saint Irenaeus: after receiving the Word of God as rain falling from heaven we cannot allow ourselves to present to the world an image of dry earth; nor can we ever claim to be one bread if we prevent the scattered flour from becoming one through the action of the water which has been poured on us. (...)
     
    (Continued next month)....
     
     

     
    Ministry Prayer

     Creator God, life is your gift.
    Through Baptism you invite us to share our lives with others.
    Give us the courage and generosity to respond to your call. Bless those who
    serve you as priests, religious, deacons and lay ministers. Open the minds and hearts
    of men and women to accept your challenge to build the Kingdom.
    Amen.
    (Rev. R.J. Curlson)
     

    Calendar of Saints/Feast Days: March
     

    NOTE: March 16 begins the 13 tuesdays novena in honor of St. Anthony in preparation for his feast day June 13.
     

    St. Patrick: March 17
        St Patrick is known throughout the world as the Patron Saint of the Irish and of Ireland, his adopted country. He was born about the year 390 near the west coast of Britain. When he was 15 years of age, the rew of an Irish ship seized him at his home and carried him off to captivity in Ireland, one of many thousands so enslaved. After some years he escaped back to his family, but in his heart he heard the voice of those who once enslaved him calling him “to come and walk among us again.” Saint Patrick returned to Ireland as a bishop in 432, and until 461 he worked to establish the Faith and the Church in Ireland. The Irish Church provided hope during the dark ages that enveloped Europe from the fifth century on, and through its missionaries, continue still to bring hope to people throughout the world.

    Palm Sunday: March 28
       The Lord rode triumphantly into Jerusalem. The people cheered and praised the Lord. Blessed is the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! (Mt. 21: 1-11, Is 50:4-7)
     
    Holy Thursday: April 1
        Washed any feet lately?
    *Are you aware of the feet you are already washing?
    *Whose feet are you being asked to wash?
    *How are our own feet being washed by those around us?
    *What meals have you prepared for an elderly neighbor lately?
    *Whose day have you brightened with a card or a phone call?
    *Whose burden have you lightened by your “easy” disposition?
    *What TV time have you sacrificed to spend time with the family?
    Jesus said: “..what I did was to give you an example: as I have done, so you must do.” (Jn: 13:13-15)

    Good Friday: April 2
       The Lord was arrested, declared guilty, and put to death. We shall certainly die; but we shall rise with the Lord in Glory. (Jn 19:1-37, Jn 18: 1-19)
     
    Holy Saturday: April 3
       The Lord died for ALL. Believe and receive this free gift of love. The Lord wants all people to be saved. Prepare for EASTER. (Mk 16: 1-8)

    Easter Sunday April 4
      We are once again approaching the Easter season, the glorious time of year when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, who died so that we may be saved and enjoy eternal life with our Heavenly Father. It is a time of great joy, hope and celebration for all the faithful.
      This year, as we prepare our hearts to embrace Easter, we are also preparing to celebrate the beginning of the Third Millennium and the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, the anniversary of Christ’s coming into the world. As 1999 has been named “The Year of God the Father,” we have a special opportunity to deepen our relationship with God so that we may enter the “new springtime of Christianity” with a renewed faith, conviction and hope.
      During this final year of preparation, we are challenged to broaden our horizons so that we see things in the perspective of Christ’s revelation of “the Father who is in Heaven.” In this way, we can discover God’s unconditional love for everyone, and realize that our journey to the Father begins first in our hearts, and then extends to all people everywhere.
    **************************************************************************************
      IN THIS YEAR DEDICATED BY JOHN PAUL II AS THE YEAR OF GOD THE FATHER, IT SEEMS FITTING THAT WE SHOULD FOCUS ON ST. JOSEPH, JESUS’ FOSTER FATHER. JOSEPH AND MARY WERE EARTHLY MODELS FOR JESUS AS HE GREW IN WISDOM, AGE AND GRACE. IN 1870, POPE PIUS IX NAMED ST. JOSEPH “PATRON OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH.” YOU CAN’T GET HIGHER THAN THAT.

     

    Conventual Franciscans Award Prize to Canadian Biologist

      ROME (CNS)-  The Conventual Franciscans honored Elisabeth Mann Borgese, a Canadian biologist, for her work on behalf of clean and peaceful seas. Borgese, a professor at Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia and founder of the International Ocean Institute, received the 1999 “Canticle of All Creatures” International St. Francis Prize for the Environment. The Franciscans, based in Rome, announced in mid-January that they had awarded the prize, including a cash award of almost $30,000, to Borgese. The professor was honored for her work in the developoment and adoption of the Law of the Sea Treaty and her efforts to promote the peaceful use of the world’s oceans and seas.

     

    Classes and Meetings

    INQUIRER'S CLASSES:
     
    None this month. Instructor: Joanne Elfers
     
     CANDIDATE CLASSES:
     
    None this month.  Instructor: Rena Xuereb.
     
    ONGOING FORMATION:
     
    March 28 at 1:30-2:30 pm at Queen of Angels. Topic: God the Father.  Bring your Bibles!
    . ALL PROFESSED ARE WELCOME. Instr.: Louise Baca

     

    Heavenly Father, 
    you renew our spirits and 
    fill us with joy during this 
    glorious season of rebirth. 
     
    We rejoice in the miracle of the resurrection and sing out the 
    Good News of Easter- He is risen, Alleluia, Alleluia- so that all people may know of your goodness and love. 
     
    Lord, you sacrificed your only Son so that we might have eternal life. Keep the power of that tremendous gift alive in our hearts always and strengthen our faith so that we might bring others to you through our example.
    Amen. 
     
     
    FRATERNITY GATHERING:
     
    March 28 at 2:30 pm at Queen of Angels.  PALM SUNDAY
     Topic: To be announced.

     
    COUNCIL MEETING:
     
    April 10 at 1:30 pm at Queen of Angels. PROFESSED MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

     
    SPECIAL WORKSHOPS/ ACTIVITIES:
     
    New Orientation
     April 17 1:30pm to 2:30 pm
     Orientation for new Inquirers. Please keep them in your prayers..