On October 14, 2017, in honour of the 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima, our fraternity along with St Francis of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Fraternity, Ottawa, joined parishioners in the area to pray the rosary along with other prayers one of which was a prayer of Consecration which was written by St Maximilian Maria Kolbe himself. Rosary makers of our fraternity made Canadian rosaries and handed them out at the rally. 

New Council members for 2017 - 2020: starting from the left John Lannigan, Dir. of Formation; Judy Jobin, Secretary; Odette Pottie, Treasurer; Bernadette Alfred, Vice Minister and Mary Lord, Minister. Missing from the picture is Richard Johnston, Spiritual Assistant. Congratulations Council! 

 The St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity annual retreat was held on September 29 – October 1, 2017 at the new Our Lady of Hope Retreat Centre, 67 Reid Road, Bayview, PEI. The theme of the retreat was “Good Father Frederic, From Holy Land to Canada”. The retreat was led by Fr. Guylain Prince, OFM, a Franciscan friar from the Franciscan Friary in Trois Rivières, Quebec where the remains of Blessed Father Frederic Janssoone, OFM are contained in the chapel. Fr. Guylain is a gifted facilitator whose specialties include biblical studies and evangelization through music. He has extensive knowledge of Blessed Father Frederic Janssoone (1838-1916), a Franciscan friar who was instrumental in revitalizing the Franciscan First Order in Canada and giving birth to much of the Secular Franciscan Order in Canada. Fr. Frederic also played a key role in the establishment of the Shrine of Our Lady of the Cape at Cap de la Madeleine, Quebec. The cause for sainthood of Blessed Father Frederic is currently under consideration by the Church. During the retreat weekend, Fr. Guylain reflected on a variety of Franciscan subjects, using the life and times of Blessed Father Frederic in addressing these subjects.

Group picture outside the retreat centre; Father Guylain at Sunday Mass; Franciscan family from Newfoundland and PEI 

Global Catholic Climate Movement
​
Happy Feast of St. Francis!

Today is the last day in the Season of Creation. Throughout the season, Christians around the world have united in action and prayer to protect Creation.

ACTAlong with thousands of Catholic people, Catholic institutions have taken a major leap forward in protecting Creation. The Global Catholic Climate Movement is proud to announce Catholic institutions’ largest-ever joint divestment from fossil fuels.
Today, a coalition of 40 institutions announces its divestment. This group includes:

• the first-ever divestment of a bishops’ conference (in Belgium),
• a group of highly significant institutions in Assisi, the home of St. Francis (the diocese, the Sacro Convento, the Seraphic Institute, and even the town itself),
• one of the world’s first acts of divestment by a Catholic bank,
• and many more, including an archdiocese, a university, and religious orders. Read the full list here.

We are incredibly grateful for the spirit of unity and commitment these institutions have shown.  As Fr. Richard Rohr says about the divestment of the Center for Action and Contemplation, “Divestment is a deeply spiritual act.”

You are invited to celebrate the news of divestment by sharing on social media and by visiting the invest-divest hub, where you will find resources to start the conversation about divestment in your own institution.

PRAYAs we reflect on the powerful action taken by these 40 institutions and by the thousands of Catholics around the world during this Season of Creation, I’d like to invite you to spend time in prayer.

This morning at 10 AM Eastern, please join Fr. Richard Rohr of the Center for Action and Contemplation and bishops from the Orthodox, Catholic, and Lutheran traditions. This special online prayer service will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis and the end of Season of Creation. We’ll share prayer, petition, and reflection on our warming world. Please register to join us.

However you celebrate the day, we invite you to set aside time for prayer in contemplation of St. Francis and his witness. In prayer, we find the strength and peace we need to work for climate justice. As St. Francis himself said, “Sanctify yourself and you will sanctify society.”

The divesting institutions have acted in that spirit.  Congratulations to them, and to the entire faith community.  The Season of Creation has shown that people of faith are united in protecting Creation.

With gratitude,
Christina on behalf of GCCM