Mission Statement:We as Secular Franciscans are committed to seeking and promoting a closer relationship with God for ourselves and others by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and by following St. Francis’ and St. Clare's example of simplicity, humility and service using the Rule of Life of the OFS as our guide.

July 2018 Waseca/Janesville/Owatonna MN Volume 12 Issue 7

July ~ Month of the Most Precious Blood of the Lord

A Prayer Before Receiving CommunionJesus, my God, thou art infinitely good and perfect. I love Thee above all things and with my whole heart. I desire to receive Thee in Holy Communion that I may love Thee more and serve Thee better. Come to me and strengthen me, so that I may never be separated from Thee on earth and

that I may live with Thee eternally in heaven.Up Coming Events

Monthly Gathering: Our next gathering will be July 22nd at 1:00 pm at the Parish Center.

Inquirer Formation: Read the next chapter in the Franciscan Journey and be prepared to answer the questions at the end. Candidate Formation: Theresa read Chapter 11 in the Franciscan Journey and answer the questions on page 129. Bonnie will lead

Ongoing Formation: Pat will lead discussion on Chapter 16 in The Franciscan Journey in July and write out your answer to the Question for reflection on page 65. Also remember to complete the handout you received: “Ten Questions I Get Asked About My Vocation as a Third Order Franciscan.”Spiritual Buffet: Our next Spiritual Buffet will be July 12th at 11:00 in the Youth Room at the Parish Center. We will be discussing “Franciscan Spirituality and Work.” Nafra document #181. Pat will have handouts.

Council Meeting: Our next council meeting will be on Tuesday, July 10th at 11:00 in the Parish Center.

Gospel Sharing: Carol will lead.Sent to Find Abundance Within Equality

Sister Lois Erpelding, OSF, Spiritual Assistant July 15th, we listen anew to Jesus’ summoning and sending

forth his disciples. (Mark 6). St. Francis and St. Clare in their own journeys were summoned and discerned discipleship calls and responses. The Vision of living the mission of the Risen Christ for both St. Francis and St. Clare kept expanding throughout their lifetimes. Each stage of life brought forth a refinement of Franciscan ideals as they lived in the early stages of Franciscan Community. What sends us forth as Franciscan travelers? We are sent daily as believing disciples to experience the presence of the Risen Christ. We are sent singly and/ or united with other Franciscan companions to proclaim a lived Gospel way of life. With a common desire to share memories of the Risen Christ and Jesus’ ongoing presence, we go forth sent as hope filled bearers. Within each Eucharist, we continue to unfold and deepen our personal and communal initiation into maturing covenant decisions. On June 30th as I lectored, I chewed on the words: “...but as a matter of equality your abundance in the present time should supply their needs, so that their abundance may also supply your needs, that there may be equality.” (2 Cor. 8:13-14) I have an abundance that includes valuable education, spiritual opportunities, comfortable home, and caring companions. Yet, I listen to ongoing unfolding Gospel missioning. I feel the call to listen, with a caring heart to the lived truth in individuals. I feel called to a deeper listening without plunging into the conversation with my own opinions and “personal wisdom”. The equality in this sharing is not an either /or righteousness but an uncovering of truth. This listening is not a silence nor a stance of false humility. We discover true equality by honestly exploring more fully the lived experiences of those willing to probe and surface life questions together. At this time, we pray for our newly elected council. Let our membership be willing to celebrate anew our Secular Franciscan Rule as we actively share our Franciscan insights of deepening an appreciation of our Secular Rule. Let us choose anew to live out our choices as we share our Franciscan vision and mission, values, identity, and spirit. God’s love sends us to find and share abundance within equality.

July 15th ~ Feast of the Dedication of the Holy Sepulchre

On 15th July 1149, the Crusaders celebrated the 50th anniversary of the conquest of Jerusalem with the opening the new basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, after a complete restoration. This event was remembered right in front of the Edicule that preserves Christ’s empty tomb.

On a Sunday morning July 15, 2012 at 6.30 am, Fr. Artemio Vitores celebrated the Mass of the Dedication of the Holy Sepulchre. Together with the concelebrants and many pilgrims, the liturgy was conducted in a solemn and contemplative atmosphere. In rapid sequence, the readings presented the figure of Christ humiliated and then laid down in the tomb, resting in hope.… The gospel, which was read in Latin, announced that the Son of God was no longer amongst the dead, since he had unlocked the chains of death and of the tomb, as he had foretold. This was a celebration that renewed the joy of Easter, by allowing all those present to re-experience the Pascal mystery of Christ, who was sacrificed for us and thus, according to the words of the Preface, “destroyed death and renewed life in us”.

Fr. ARTEMIO VITORES, ofmVicar of the Custody of the Holy Land

Congratulations to Our New Council

L-R: Sr. Lois Erpelding, OSF, SA –Peggy Koan, OFS, Secretary –

Bonnie Johnson, OFS, Vice Minister –Carol Tollefson, OFS, Minister –

Lisa Falenschek, OFS, Councilor-Doreen White, OFS, Treasurer-

Pat Yunker, OFS Formation Director-Gerri Cotner, OFS Councilor

AND

A Huge Thank You to Mona Wolney, OFS Queen of Peace Region

Secretary

Mona, we thank you for your time and patience with us and especially your ever-present smile. You did a wonderful job of

herding us through the process of elections! We look forward to seeing you

at future regional gatherings.

Article 11 of the Constitutions of the SFO

Mindful that the Holy Spirit is the source of their vocation and the animator of fraternal life and mission, Secular Franciscans should seek to imitate the faithfulness of Francis to His inspiration. They should listen to the exhortation of the Saint to desire above all things "the Spirit of God at work within them."

Bits and Pieces on Formation:Pat Yunker OFS, Formation Director

  I wish to thank the fraternity for electing me as the Formation Director.  Bonnie Johnson OFS has led us well these past years she will be a hard act to follow, but with the help of the Queen of Peace Region Formation Committee AND members of our own Fraternity, I shall do my best. Looking through some of my Franciscan papers in preparation for my new role I came across an article on the Liturgy of the Hours written by a Holy Cross sister, Sr. Angela Sackmann from Merrill, WI.  I believe it to be worth sharing so here goes:    

Gospel Sharing Leaders - 2018Jan Prayer Partners Jul CarolFeb Retreat Aug JeniseMar Sarah Sep PicnicApr Bonnie Oct PeggyMay Elections Nov Gerri/PatJun Kyle Dec Christmas

Ongoing Formation Leaders - 2018Jan Prayer Partners Jul PatFeb Retreat -Sr. Lois Aug PeggyMar Bonnie Sep PicnicApr Carol Oct KyleMay Elections Nov Jenise/ArlysJun Sarah Dec Christmas

2018 Snack ScheduleJan Jean, Bonnie Jul Kyle, SarahFeb Doreen, Peggy Aug Jenise, KathleenMar St. Lois, Gerri Sep Picnic (All)Apr Arlys, Carol Oct Jean, LisaMay Pat, Bonnie Nov Doreen, PeggyJun Matt, Theresa Dec Sr. Lois, Gerri

The Liturgy of the Hours

               The celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours is the official prayer of the whole Church. As we pray the Hours, we join with others praying at the same time

somewhere in the world.  Furthermore, as we pray with the Church, our voices are echoing in Christ and His voice is echoing in and through us.                Morning and evening prayers are the most important prayers of the Christian Community.  Morning Prayer has a twofold purpose: the sanctification of the day and the recalling of the Resurrection of Jesus on Easter morning.  St. Basil says, “It (the Hours) is said in the morning in order that the first stirrings of our Mind and Will may be consecrated to God and that we may take nothing in hand until we have been gladdened by the thought of God.”               Evening Prayer is celebrated at the time of the setting sun.  As day closes, we pause and give praise and thanks to God for all the blessings we have received and for all the good we’ve done during the day.  We also recall Christ’s great love for us as He forgives our faults and sins.  Finally, we remember that one day our sun will set, and we will enjoy eternal happiness in heaven forever.               Keeping just these four points in mind, we realize what a privilege it is to pray the Hours… Then not only are we living our Rule, we are joining with the whole Church giving praise, glory and thanks to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Sr. Angela Sackmann)

In Appreciation

Gerri Cotner, OFS, Councilor presented a check to Sr. Lois Erpelding, OSF, from her son John Cotner and his wife Lorna. The check is to be used for the Sister Water Project which the Sisters of St. Francis in Dubuque, IA, launched in 2006 with support from their associates. The project supplies clean water through laying of pipes in Honduras and providing

wells in Tanzania where waterborne malaria and other illnesses take the lives of thousands of children each year. The $100 check was in appreciation for all the St. John Paul II Fraternity had done to care for Gerri when she was ill.

Just Pondering:Jesus sent his disciples out by twos. Yet they could have covered more distance by going one by one. Do you suppose this was so that they could encourage one another, or comfort one another if they were rejected? Or maybe because they could stir each other to action in case of idleness or indifference or help each other understand things they had learned. Kind of reminds me of why we have a Fraternity…and Prayer Partners…and Monthly Gatherings, Spiritual Buffets, and occasional Fraternal Breakfast at Jonnie Beans. We are family and disciples called to live the gospel as St. Francis did.

Bonnie Johnson, OFS, Vice Minister

Something to Contemplate Rule 8 The brothers and sisters should love meeting God as His children and they should let prayer and contemplation be the soul of all they are and do. They should seek to discover the presence of the Father in their own heart, in nature, and in the history of humanity in which His plan of salvation is fulfilled. The contemplation of this mystery will dispose them to collaborate in this loving plan.