This is a new page to provide a place to post those little things that our members want to share with their sisters and brothers in Francis and Clare. That way we can all read the good things we want to say to each other, or when we say a prayer.

Advent Retreat Videos 2020

A couple of weeks ago, our Region hosted a mini retreat with presentations from some fabulous people you will most likely recognize.  Though Advent is behind us, the message continues. Let us Hope and expect a Miracle in our lives, and in 2021.

Thanks to everyone who made these retreats possible but especially to  Carol David,who spearheaded the idea and to Br. Benny  who coordinated the speakers  and created the videos. 
May the Lord bless us all. - Michel
​
Play this first video to see all 4 videos >>
Playlist of all these 4 videos : Advent Retreat 2020 - Secular Franciscan Order-Eastern Canada:
1.Christmas at Greccio - Br. Richard Johnston, ofs : https://youtu.be/lN_5MARYGaA
2.Christmas at Greccio -  Sr. Claudia Batchilder, ofs :  https://youtu.be/Udk1cKjwubI
3. Rublev’s Nativity -  Br. Pierre Charland, ofm : https://youtu.be/_cbNb9MjVjw
4. Christmas Hope - Sr. Annette John,fmm : https://youtu.be/awp_zd5wOYo
​The Incarnation: God-becoming-Man
and Our Humanity being Touched by the Divine
incarnationdec142020.pdf
File Size: 97 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
 
THE SLUM-BORN CHILD
Jan Gomersall, a very dear friend and former OFS member sent us this beautiful poem that she wrote for Christmas. I felt it was too beautiful not to share. - Sherrill Guimond
September 22, 2020​
Mother Teresa’s simple trick for becoming closer to Jesus:

“Good morning, Jesus” --
​ say it the second you open your eyes, and see what happens
July 23, 2020
Hear 58 popular Catholic artists sing “Be Not Afraid” from isolation - ​Viral video brings together the Catholic music community as never before.
Shared by Sherrill Guimond, ofs
6/12/2020
Good morning, I wanted to share my prayer with you.  
My morning prayer today before HiS HOLY FACE. 
May The Lord bless you and keep you;
May He make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
May He lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace.Numbers 6:24-26  
pax,  Fred
40 Days of Justice, Peace and Love
Submitted by Fred Schubert, ofs
​(emailed June 7, 2020)
June 10, 2020
Wishing you a blessed feast
of  the Most Holy Trinity. 
Today we start our 40 days of justice, peace and love... We continue to implore and protest for God's  justice and His merciful intervention, let us unite in these next 40 days in solidarity of prayer, fasting and acts of mercy.

Beginning today,  from June 7th to July 16th, a group of us are beginning to offer up a 40 day vigil of pray and fasting to respond to all the crisis around us. It is an opportunity to  become instruments of peace and love during 40 days of spiritual solidarity.  

Protest in a peaceful social outcry is important to get the attention of our civil leaders,  but so is our need to get God's attention and invoke His help. He will hear our desperate cry right now and intervene for us amid this crisis, if we ask Him together. In this health crisis, and pandemic of spiritual darkness, fear, hate, racism, greed and violence, we must also spiritually fight. The full impact of the global corona crisis, the economic crisis and this hideous plight of racism and prejudice are accelerating and is reverberating in every nation on some level around the world. The outcome of these emergencies is not yet fully known, though if continued, no doubt, will be devastating, catastrophic and deadly, on an unimagined scale. We need to act now to implore God’s help and His powerful intervention. GOD IS JUST AND MERCIFUL. HE WILL ACT ON OUR BEHALF IF WE IMPLORE HIM. If we unite with one voice in a prayerful fast against these perilous events which are assaulting us on all sides. In this time of multiple crises, let us unite in faith through prayer and fasting for truth, justice, peace and love to prevail - to conquer this present darkness. WE CAN DO THIS. TELL OTHERS AND SPREAD THE WORD ...           READ MORE...

To: Members of St. Francis of Assisi and Brother Leo Fraternities

As most of you will have already experienced, there are a number of online options available to participate in the Mass, both on PEI and elsewhere.  Over the past few weeks, Marion and I have been participating in the livestream / video Mass from St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Richmond, BC, and thought we would share this link with you as an option.
The pastor of St. Joseph the Worker parish is Fr. Pierre Ducharme, a Franciscan OFM friar and friend that we've come to know over the years.  Here's the link to the parish's Facebook page from which the mass can be accessed.  It can be viewed live at 5:30 pm on Saturday evenings (9:30 pm local time on PEI) or by clicking on the video anytime on Sunday.  
St. Joseph The Worker Parish, Richmond, BC

Pierre is a Canadian OFM who radiates Franciscan joy. Before taking on the role of pastor in the parish in BC about a year ago (and establishing a friary in that parish), he worked in the schools with youth in Sherwood Park, outside of Edmonton.  In Edmonton, he lived with  Benjamin Ripley, OFM, the current OFM  National Spiritual Assistant.  He currently lives with Joe Glaab, OFM, former Regional Spiritual Assistant for Western Canada (Our Lady of the Angels Regional Fraternity), and with Manoj Xalxo, OFM, current Regional Spiritual Assistant for Western Canada.  All of these friars have been actively supporting Secular Franciscan local fraternities both in Alberta and BC.

Doug C
April 26, 2020
Here is the Atlantic provinces at their best singing "Lean on Me". Enjoy.
From Sherrill Guimond: 
The musicians wrote: We all need to eat. So we dedicate this song to all the unsung women and men who risk their health in Canada's grocery industry. Thank you for keeping us fed.   We agree!
From Ghanim Ganni on April 7, 2020

​Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
I hope everyone with the families are safe, STAY HOME.  This Holy Week is sad as we are unable to meet in our churches and celebrate these holidays, now is time to turn our homes into a small church and pray warmly and our Lord and his Mother to help us in our ordeal and keep everyone safe.

Please remember in your prayers our sick people, Doctors and nurses
taking care of them.  Also people who died in this period.

Wishing for every one a Happy Easter, 
The Lord is Risen Alleluia Alleluia
God Bless.
 
Ghanim Ganni, Minister
St. Patrick Fraternity 
I would like to share this hymn  we sing it in our churches in Holy Thursday.  It is in Aramaic Language  but there is English translation on top.  I hope you enjoy it.
​ 
God Bless - Ghanim Ganni
November 16, 2020
​This Irish blessing is what we all need to hear today
​Take a trip to the Emerald Isle and beyond with this blessing involving more than 300 churches. The various words are spoken at the end of the video.
July 23, 2020
 Africa, kingdom of happiness!
Note that in the video there are children in the background collecting dirty water to bring home.  ​Remember our National Well4Africa project and donate. - Shared by Sherrill Guimond, ofs

Pray for Alrica

Update: June 25, 2020 - Good News
Hi to all,
 
I just heard that Alrica will be going to her birth mother’s house for the month of July. The foster mother is OK with this, rather than a two day notice for permanent residence change. Thanks again for keeping Alrica and the foster mother in prayer.
 
Blessings,
Eric
​
June 23, 2020
Hi to all,
 
Hope all are well. I just heard some news today that a young down syndrome woman (Alrica) will be leaving the place where she has been foster cared for in a loving family for the past 22 years. The birth mother is requesting her back, even though she is not a very stable person and does things on a whim. The foster mother and other daughter are devastated.  Alrica will be loosing all her friends and all activities that she has been involved in for years and maybe going to a place where she may be placed in front of the TV.
  
Eric Lasota, ofs
Staying Connected #12 from Marion and Doug Clorey , June 8, 2020
"Bind Us Together" by Doug Clorey
This song is done as a tribute to the late Fr. Lester Back, OFM Cap who passed away February 2020. This is also the last in the series of "Staying Connected". The Regional Fraternity of Eastern Canada want to express its gratitude to Marion and Doug for their committment to bring a little joy during the COVID 19 pandemic. Thank you Cloreys. Peace and joy!
Staying Connected #11 from Marion and Doug Clorey , June 2, 2020
"Bearers of Peace" by Doug Clorey
Staying Connected #10 from Marion and Doug Clorey , May 26, 2020
"Wherever the Spirit Leads" by Doug Clorey
Staying Connected #9 from Marion and Doug Clorey , May 20, 2020
Staying Connected #8 from Marion and Doug Clorey,
May 12, 2020

Below is the link to our eighth youtube video that we have created
in an effort to remain connected to the fraternity.
Know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers.  Enjoy.
Staying Connected #7 from Marion and Doug Clorey , May 5, 2020
Staying Connected #6 from Marion and Doug Clorey , April 28, 2020
Staying Connected #5 from Marion and Doug Clorey , April 20, 2020
​
Below is our fifth youtube video that we have created in an effort to remain connected to the fraternity.  Know that you are all in our thoughts and prayers.  Enjoy.  - Doug and Marion
The Time is Now        Doug Clorey ofs
 
(Chorus)
Let us reach out to each other as brothers and sisters
Let us serve one another, sharing our gift ed ness.
 
1. God’s commandment to his people is “Love one another.”
​With the power and Spirit, we love.
He has called us to be faithful in building up his kingdom;
Let’s be open, for the time is now! (Chorus)

    2. Jesus calls us to be present in truth to one another.We are gifted, we are special to him.
With our talents, we can reach out and strive to be of service;
Let’s be open, for the time is now! (Chorus)
 
   3. He has sent us to bring Good News to everyone around us;To the hungry, to the homeless, the poor.
All are needy, all are waiting for ministry and caring;
Let’s be open, for the time is now! (Chorus)
Staying Connected #4 from Marion and Doug Clorey , April 12, 2020
This song is called "He is Alive" by Doug Clorey
Staying Connected #3 from Marion and Doug Corey , April 7, 2020

The song is called "The Praises of God" a prayer
by St. Francis and put to music by Doug Clorey.