Vol 8 Issue 8 August 2017

Seminarian

The CabrinianThe Cabrinian Newsletter of the St. Frances X. Cabrini Fraternity,

Secular Franciscan Order

Regular monthly fraternity gatherings begin at 1:30 PM on the 3rd Sunday of the month, unles

otherwise noted. Gatherings are held in St. George Hall, which is behind St. Nicholas Byzantine Church,

1051 Robinson Ave, Barberton.

Visitors, families and friends are always welcome to attend the gatherings and special events, like

the upcoming picnic! Please invite them.

What a wonderful gathering in July: we had pray-

er, fellowship, and ongoing formation. We were espe-

cially pleased to have one of the five Capuchin seminari-

ans, Kristhian Guillen, whom the St. Maximilian Kolbe

Region adopted present at our gathering. He is a native

of El Salvador. All of our monthly gatherings are great,

and they just keep getting better.

Kristhian shared that he worked for several years

to be able to have his mother and sister join him in this

country. For a number of years he has been discerning

his call to the priesthood. But the timing is always God’s.

We look forward to meeting the other Capuchin seminarians in the future. We will continue to pray

for them as they continue on their journey, seeking to do the will of God.

On Sunday the 20th of August, in lieu of our regular gathering, we will

have our Annual Fraternity Picnic. This will be held in the picnic pavilion at

St. Frances de Sales Parish, located at 4009 Manchester Rd., Akron (behind

the school). The facility is very nice.

During the July gathering individuals signed up to bring specific items

so there will be a nice balance of items. You didn’t have an opportunity to sign

up? Well, still come and enjoy good food, wonderful fellowship and prayer.

We will miss you if you aren’t present, the family will be incomplete.

Do you want to invite a guest? They would be most welcomed. Need a ride? Contact a fraternity

member. Someone will help you. Questions? Please contact Bob Burtscher or Debbie & Pepe Ventosa.

Want to invite someone? Good! We like meeting new people.

An update on members who are unable to attend fraternity gatherings, and who visits whom.

Shut-in Visited by:

Ruth Older———————Bill Marshall

Deanna & Pat Hurley—-Lee Gaydos

Joyce & Fred Browne—-ministered to by Roberto Meza

Excused Visited by:

Sandy Pollino——Eileen Dunlap, Maria & Roberto Meza

Betty Smith———Carol Perrine

Thank you to all these wonderful visitors.

August 2017 Pg. 2

Eucharistic Adoration Saturday

Mary Cate Roberts Sunday Betty DeMarco Mary Tag Paul Tag Monday Rose Akins Judith Hoyt Richard Russelo

Tuesday Maria Elena Meza Roberto Meza Larry McNutt Eileen Dunlap Wednesday Rick Dunlap Bill Marshall Dorothy Takacs Sandy Pollino

Thursday Joanne Angeletti Carol Perrine Sandy Pollino Friday Bob Burtscher Lee Gaydos Dave Gaydos Pepe Ventosa

by Debbie Ventosa, OFS

As Franciscans it is our duty to teach the truth. At times it is difficult; our

ego tempts us to be popular, and well liked. And in the world today the truth is

not always popular. However, we express truth from the heart, with love and con-

viction, aware of the promptings of the Holy Spirit to bring others to the truth.

In today’s society two critical area of life are being attacked: Motherhood,

and the Eucharist. We see society rejecting marriage as being between one man

and one woman. Sins against the Holy Eucharist are increasing with the unwor-

thy reception of Communion: those in a state of mortal sin, and those who are not

properly catechized. We are not to compromise the truth.

After learning from Fr. Dennis a few thoughts came to my mind. A society

that embraces a culture of death would certainly oppose motherhood. Mothers

bring forth life. They are co-creators with God. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our lives as

Catholic Christians. The Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord. The Eu-

charist is the life giving “Food for the Journey.” In a culture of death it is no wonder the attacks are

launched here.

Notes from Fr. Dennis’ Talk

What wonderful, life-giving

gifts we are given in these two

simple, basic foods, bread &

wine.

H

O

M

E

B

O

U

N

D

Bob Burtscher, OFS 21 yrs

Deanna Hurley, OFS 21 yrs

Pat Hurley, OFS 16 yrs

Carol Perrine, OFS 20 yrs

Betty Smith, OFS 21 yrs

Ruth Older, OFS 12 yrs

August Birthdays

Dorothy Takacs 8/2

Debbie Ventosa 8/6

August 2017 Page 3

August Profession Anniversaries

Please contact the editor if your birthday or anniversary is omitted. The records she has to work with

are incomplete.

Little Portion for August

Judith Hoyt will prepare the offering; Kenny Green will deliver the gift.

Thank you for caring for those less fortunate than us. We don’t know how

or why some people find themselves in very difficult situations, but this small gift

lets people know that someone does care about them—these lunches are packed

with care, love and prayers. It is not for us to judge, but only to love them as our

brothers and sisters. As Jesus told us, “What you do for the least of these you do for Me!”

September Fraternity Gathering

Please mark your calendar now. The September 17th fraternity gathering will

be at the Shrine of Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted in Youngstown.

Every month Fr. Dennis drives a distance to be with us for our gatherings.

In September we will do the driving. More information will be shared closer to the

date.

Do you have extra plastic grocery bags in your home? Before you return them to the store

for recycling, (you do recycle, don’t you?) check with Joanne Angeletti. She uses plastic grocery

bags to crochet mats for homeless people. This is really recycling with a specific purpose.

Want to help with this project, or even learn how to make them yourself? Please talk with

Joanne. There is a certain amount of cutting necessary to prepare the bags for the project. That

would help her. If you want to learn how to crochet the mats she would be glad to teach you.

Nifty Recycling—-and Making a Difference in Lives

Happy Birthday During the July Initial Formation Class at the

home of the Ventosas was special; they celebrated

Cindy Russo’s birthday.

l-r: Chris Devore, Leeann Devore, Paul Tag, OFS,

Mary Tag, OFS, Cindy Russo,

Debbie Ventosa, OFS, Pepe Ventosa, OFS

Notes from On-going Formation in July

Pg 4 August 2017

Pepe Ventosa presented on-going formation

at the July gathering. It was excellent. He spoke

on article 17.4 of our General Constitution.

This is a great overview of what he taught.

If you were not able to be present, here are the

basics. This is the lesson, in Pepe’s words.

We were reminded that one purpose of our

Constitution is to help us live our Rule. This arti-

cle explains how to live Rule 6, which challenges

us to go out and be witnesses and instruments of

the Church’s mission.

By virtue of our Baptism we share in Jesus’

threefold mission as prophet, king and priest (art.

17.4). This article explains how to participate in

the office of priest, which has to do with sanctifica-

tion. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church ,

#901, Pepe noted our prayers, family life, daily

work and hardships in life can becomes spiritual

sacrifices if they are accomplished in the Spirt.

Thus we share in the role of sanctification. Some

other ways we can participle in this role: being a

lector, a Eucharistic Minister or presiding over

prayer services.

The article continues, pointing out that we are

called to participation in the mission of sanctifica-

tion, first and foremost in our families and with

those entrusted to us. A Secular Franciscan who is

unable to attend our gatherings because he or she is

attending to the needs of a sick family member is

indeed living his or her Franciscan vocation. After

the family, Secular Franciscans participate in the

service of sanctification in the fraternity. Although

we may think this service should be done first in the

Church, and then in the fraternity, this article spe-

cifically states it is the other way around. The Holy

Spirt gave St. Francis a special charism which is ori-

ented toward the sanctification of the whole world.

It is through our profession in the OFS, and then by

living in our Franciscan community, that we receive

and nurture this gift from the Holy Spirit.

Then, empowered by this gift, the Franciscan

charism, we go out and serve the Church, and socie-

ty in general. An individual who is so involved in

various ministries of the Church, i.e., teaching, visit-

ing the sick, participating in prayer groups, minis-

tering to the homeless, and so many wonderful min-

istries in the Church, but not having time to attend

to his/her fraternity gatherings and activities is not

living his or her Franciscan vocation. He/she may

be fulfilling duties as a part of the laity, but not ful-

filling the duties as a Franciscan.

We have been called by the Holy Spirit to a

Franciscan vocation, and to become partakers of the

charism given to St. Francis. What a blessing! We

have a duty to develop and nurture this gift in order

to share it with others for their sanctification. Arti-

cle 17.4 teaches that we are first to share this gift in

our family, then in the fraternity, and finally in the

Church and society.

Ask yourself: Am I truly living my Francis-

can vocation as explained by Article 17.4? If the

answer is “No,” study this article, and ask the Holy

Spirit to guide you, and help you to live His call

more faithfully.

Each of us accepted His invitation to the OFS.

It is now up to us to live it more fully.

Pepe Ventosa, OFS

Ongoing formation is important. Learning does not cease with Profession but

is just a beginning. We have some members in our fraternity who truly have the

gift of teaching, and they have a wide variety of styles. Wonderful!

You can help by submitting an article on “your” Franciscan saint whose name

you drew at the January gathering. The editor will help, if needed with grammar,

spelling and so forth. The first step is always the hardest step.

And, no, the cat can’t help you!