Since some years the OFS Fraternity San Francesco Rosetum of Milan ( mine Fraternity)  and the Alba Association, born in Turkey on the initiative of Fethullah Gulen and also present in Italy  further to the Turkish diaspora, have created a group called "Tenda di Damietta" whose purpose  is the one of exercise and promote the interreligious dialogue according to the modality inspired by the meeting between Saint Francis of Assisi and the  Sultan Malik Al Kamil, held on 1219 in Damietta ( Egypt).
 
Today, according to what can be read in the attached leaflet, the Tent of Damietta invites all men, women and children of good will to a moment of reflection and prayer, silent and personal, to ask for an end to the pandemic so that , as symbolized by the image that characterizes the leaflet, the wounds caused by it can become the base  on which to start a  new society that gives priority to harmony, solidarity and communion between peoples in view of the universal peace.
                                                                                                                         -  united in prayer, Attilio Galimbertu ofs

It is with sadness that I have cancelled the April 2020 retreat at Villa St. Martin. The retreat will not be re-scheduled for a later date this year, but have asked the centre to book 2021, April 23-25. This is to be confirmed.
 
Apparently 21 (people) had already registered for the retreat and have sent your cheques to Luba. She  is aware so you can contact her about your cheque. She has not cashed any of them, so you can just ask her to destroy the cheque. This is the easiest solution rather than mailing them back to you. But you decide and let Luba know.
 
(Thanks) to Sister (Saint) Luba for all the time and good works she carries out for the Secular Franciscans.
 
Keep well and keep safe.
Blessings,
Eric Lasota, OFS

Fraternities across our Region are suffering from declining membership. Membership across Canada has dropped by approximately 90% since 1992.  There are various reasons: the drop in Church attendance, aging members and health problems, church scandals and so on. At this assembly we will explore varying questions such as, how do we interest the younger folk in the way of St. Francis and the life as a secular Franciscan; are our fraternities really welcoming; are we too set in our ways to accommodate young adults with different ways of thinking; how do we become more visible; what does a visitor expect to experience when they come to a meeting, and many more questions?

This assembly proposes to use a panel format and with the help of the panellist explore ideas for reversing membership decline. Time will be allocated for open Q&A. The goal is to end the day with a toolbox of ideas from which fraternities can draw to help grow the call to the Franciscan way of living.