Franciscan Focus - Fraternity Newsletters

Franciscan Focus

St Francis of Assisi, PEI December News

12/12/2020

Christmas is an especially important feast within the Franciscan Family, given that much of our way of life relates to the Incarnation and the Birth of Christ in the manger at Bethlehem.

We know that St. Francis often meditated on the birth of Jesus and that this love of the incarnation and birth led him to create the first live Nativity tableau at Greccio..... Tom Wilkinson, ofs Download the Newsletter

St Francis of Assisi, PEI November Newsletter

11/1/2020

Contents:

Franciscan Values
Franciscan Charisms
Understanding the Gap
Blessed Carlo Acutis
Well4Africa Project

...Carlo put the sacrament of the Eucharist at the centre of his life and called it “my highway to heaven”. His love of Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament led him to research the many examples of miracles when people actually witnessed this presence physically in the Eucharist. He put together a collection of virtual panels with texts and photographs recounting the events documented in 20 countries. Carlo was convinced that this on-line museum of miracles, now translated into 12 languages, would attract young people back to the church.

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St Francis of Assisi, PEI, Oct. Newsletter

9/29/2020

The 2020 theme for this season is Jubilee for the Earth. In Scriptural language, a jubilee is a sacred time to remember, to return, to rest, to restore and to rejoice. The following are some excerpts from Pope Francis' message last Sept. 1... ...read more

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Also included:

The Four Basic C’s of the Franciscan Charism
Formation – Understanding the Gap
Reflection During Challenging Times
Myths and Facts about Refugees in Canada

St Patrick's - September Newsletter

9/21/2020

ST. PATRICK’S FRATERNITY
September 2020 Newsletter

Let us love, honour, adore and serve the Lord and God with a pure heart and mind,
for this is what He seeks above all else.

Meeting: Sunday, September 20th. 2020 (5750 Rosemont Blvd) <<Meeting Cancelled>>

Includes:

Important upcoming events
Letter from the Minister
10 Tips from Pope Francis
Come, Rising Sun, Take our steps on the path of peace! - Fr. Georges Morin

and more

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Immaculate Conception Fraternity September October Newsletter

9/15/2020

FORMATION
ONGOING FORMATION

In September Grace will present : A Poor Woman and The WORD : The Blessed Virgin Mary
In October Juliana will present : The Humility of God : Reference for the Holy Spirit
(series “ The Spirit of St Francis of Assisi “ ) Bill Short ofm

Read more...

St Francis of Assisi, PEI, Sept Newsletter

9/6/2020

Above: Fraternity meets in spite of COVID.

At the last Atlantic gathering of OFS members in the fall 2019, the theme of the day’s deliberations was “Bridging the Gap”. The intent was to explore how fraternities might reach out to youth and young adults. Subsequent to these discussions, the Vice Minister Atlantic requested that each fraternity further examine in what ways their respective fraternity might fulfill this objective.

Rear the full newsletter

Blessed Father Frederic August Newsletter

8/23/2020

The following is an excerpt from a letter written to the Poor Clares by Fr. Michael A. Perry, OFM, Minister General, on the occasion of the Feast of St. Clare 2020.

“Lord God, look, I have been left here alone with you.” You probably recognise that this heartfelt cry of desolation was uttered by our Mother St. Clare on Christmas Eve 1252 when, incapacitated by her serious illness, she could not join her sisters in celebrating the Nativity of the Lord. How can we fail to see in it the lament of Jesus during his agony in the Garden of Olives? And that of so many of our brothers and sisters who, threatened by Covid-19, suffer isolation so distressing for the human heart?... read more

Well4Africa Project
Well4Africa is an initiative launched by the National Fraternity of Canada whose objective is to dig wells for some of the struggling communities in Africa and thus allow them to have their own source of fresh, clean water.

The OFS National Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Team is calling all Secular Franciscans from across Canada to join in this life-saving initiative. Without a doubt, Well4Africa has and will continue to save lives in African communities where people can only dream of having clean water, the essential gift of creation. See the full newsletter

Blessed Father Frederic July Newsletter

7/6/2020

The theme for this issue is the Holy Spirit.

Why the Focus on the Holy Spirit?
With the shutdown because of COVID-19, our celebration of the feast of Pentecost 2020 was very much limited.
Similarly, the celebration of the sacrament of Confirmation in our parishes had to be postponed. Consequently, there was not the liturgical opportunity to joyfully reflect on this glorious blessing: the gift of the Holy Spirit to each of us. Clearly, the Spirit of God within is an awesome reality worthy of our reflection.

From our fraternity in Moncton, NB.

St Francis of Assisi, PEI, July Newsletter

7/5/2020

A Few Words from the Minister
After months of lockdown, we now see the Confederation Bridge open to our Atlantic Canadian family members and friends, while Islanders venture off the Island to visit family and friends in other parts of our region. The first weekend of July sees churches across PEI opening their doors to worshippers, although to a maximum of only 50 persons. Slowly our communities are experiencing a cautious re-awakening... read more

Formation: Jesus our Centre
When Francis became aware that he was made in God’s image and that God loved him to the core, his life was transformed. God’s love changed everything. This love included embracing the darker parts of himself - the belief that God loved him even with his flaws was empowering for Francis... ...read more from the full newsletter

and read about kindness... it is a choice.

St. Patrick's, Montreal - Newsletter

6/21/2020

June 2020 Newsletter:

Passing: Stan Lemieux, ofs
It is with great sorrow to inform you passing away our dear brother Stan Lemieux on June 14th. at the age of 104 years. Our brother Stan had spent 83 years of it as a faithful member of St. Patrick fraternity. Professed in May 1937; that's 83 years as a Secular Franciscan.

Read more about Stan

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