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.

May 2020 ` Volume 14 Issue 5

Monthly Gathering : Cancelled until further notice.

Council Meeting: Cancelled until further notice.

Candidates: Read Chapter 21 in The Franciscan Journey. Kyle will be in touch to determine how to review the lesson with you.

Also please note that when we are able to gather again you will need to refer to the Prism to determine who will be leading Ongoing Formation and Gospel Sharing as well as who will be bringing snacks.

Something to Ponder

“Jesus told the apostles you know the way. We must be careful that we understand that it does not mean doing things our way with Jesus tagging along. For the measure of our holiness stems from our response to what the Holy Spirit takes from Jesus and gives to us.”

Bishop Robert Gruss, Saginaw MI

I believe that holds true even when we are given sufferings so that a greater good may come from them….Bonnie Johnson, ofs

Living Truthfully in a Chaotic TimeSr. Lois Erpelding, OSF, Spiritual Assistant

We are living with less control in this time of COVID 19 and its worldwide pandemic. We sense fear of Coronavirus disease and increasing weeks of growing lines to obtain food basics as well as acknowledging great human and animal deaths. In this time of uncertainty, we also sense a growing sharing and reaching across boundaries to assist as

possible. We are called to move from unsettling disbelief to greater trust in God and one another in the midst of uncertain circumstances and future. Let us trust in supportive comfort, hope, and glimpses of renewed joy. Let us affirm God’s ever-present action moving us forward in faith response. St. Francis did not face this pandemic, but he endured illness, imprisonment and adjusting to sensitivity to changing needs. Arnold of Sarrant attests to others of Francis of Assisi “giving the world ... light with the brilliant rays of word and deed, dazzling it with truth, inflaming it with charity, renewing it with abundant fruit of merits ... “ (The Kinship of St. Francis, prologue) We give thanks that Francis’ life conformed to Christ as Francis related to his followers, established unique way of Gospel living, while instructing and contemplating mysteries of God. As we celebrate Mary this May we recall St. Bonaventure’s words, “ In the church of the Virgin Mother of God, her servant Francis lingered and, with continuing cries, insistently begged her who had conceived and brought to birth the Word full of grace and truth to become his advocate. Through the merits of the Mother of Mercy, he conceived and brought to birth the spirit of the Gospel truth.” (The Major Legend of St. Francis 3:1) In John 14, several of our May pre-Pentecost Gospels, we ponder “truth”. Jesus is the “Way, Truth, and Life”. Jesus also promised to send the “Spirit of Truth”. It is hard to separate unsubstantiated reports to find kernels of truth. Like Mary and Francis, we are called to a stance of truth bearing, giving evidence of a God, Who walks with us in this pandemic journey with love and mercy.

Let us Pray for the Soul of

Sister Monique Schwirtz

Sister Monique Schwirtz, 81, a Franciscan Sister of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, Rochester,

died at Assisi Heights, May 7, 2020. Sister Monique was the first Spiritual Assistant for St. John Paul II Fraternity and a gentle soft-spoken Spiritual Director for many over the years. If you wish to read more about her or share a memory, the link below will take you to her obituary site. Rest in the Lord’s embrace Sister Monique. https://www.weremember.com/sister-monique-schwirtz/8k5o/memories

Seeking the Place He Prepares

Bonnie Johnson, ofs, Vice Minister

As I said my morning prayers, I noticed the tree outside my window. It started with barely

visible buds. The next day it was like little lime green popcorn scattered throughout the branches, growing bigger day by day. This morning there were little yellow blossoms starting to sprout. Spring is my favorite season…although each has its own beauty, as does all of God’s creation. In the Gospel we hear Jesus tell the apostle’s that He is “going to prepare a place” for them. When you behold the beauty of our earth, can you imagine how much more glorious and serene the “place” He is preparing will be? Perhaps Francis’ love of nature was to him a peek into the future. Jesus also said “you know the way. Francis too knew the way… through Jesus’ truth in the gospel. He accepted the leper, poverty and the humility of begging. We are living in a world where some would say the leper comes in the form of a virus that has caused some to lose their jobs, struggle to put food on the table, some in countries where there are crowds pushing and shoving each other to get a bag of grain before it is all gone, some who are fearful of the impact on the economy and conflicting information on the true numbers of deaths and the true origin/cause of the virus. This is our reality…it is heartbreaking. But as Franciscans, let us find joy in knowing that He is preparing a place for those who believe. We know He brings good from our suffering. Let us find peace in feeling His presence within us as we continue to live the gospel, placing our faith and trust in what lies beyond this world rather than the world we are experiencing. May God’s peace be with you all.

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May Saint of the Month Maria Caterina Trojani

Maria Caterina Troiani was born in Giuliano di Roma in 1813 as the third of four children of Tommaso Troiani and Teresa Panici. She was born in the Napoleonic period. She was orphaned at the age of six when her mother died.

She approached the Bishop of Ferentino and asked him if she could be received into a convent as a nun. She lived and learned the Franciscan path with Saint

Snack Schedule - 2020Jan Doreen, Arlys Jul Jenise, PatFeb Carol, Bonnie Aug Doreen, ArlysMar Rose Ann, Sr Lois Sep Picnic (All)Apr Jean, Peggy Oct Carol, BonnieMay Matt, Lisa Nov Rose Ann, Sr. LoisJun Kyle, Sarah Dec Jean, Peggy

Ongoing Formation Leaders - 2020Jan Carol Jul CarolFeb Sarah Aug SarahMar Retreat Sep PicnicApr Bonnie Oct Sr. LoisMay Kyle Nov KyleJunBonnie Dec Bonnie

Gospel Sharing Leaders - 2020Jan Matt Jul CarolFeb Kyle Aug ArlysMar Retreat Sep PicnicApr Peggy Oct JeniseMay Rose Ann Nov SarahJun Bonnie Dec Sr. Lois

Francis of Assisi as a guide and dedicated herself – with her fellow noviates – to education and the care of girls.

On 8 December 1829 she took the religious habit of the institute and changed her name to "Maria Teresa of Saint Rose" in honor of Saint Rose of Viterbo.

Maria made it her mission to promote the Gospel in North Africa. In 1852 the Apostolic Vicar of Egypt requested that a Franciscan institute be opened in Cairo with the aim of providing education and vocational training to girls. The emphasis was on the poor.

She and four others left on 25 August 1859 and met Pope Pius IX on 4 September who blessed them. The group arrived in Malta to learn that the Apostolic Vicar of Egypt died suddenly. On 14 September the group entered Cairo.

In 1868 the institution she established in Cairo was named as the Third Order Franciscan Sisters of Cairo. It was later renamed the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Egypt, [2] only to be changed in 1950 to its current name. She was its Mother Superior until her death.

She died in 1887 and was buried in Cairo. Her remains were exhumed and moved to Rome on 3 November 1967. Pope Leo XIII held her in high esteem.[1]

Rule 4 of the SFOThe rule and life of the Secular Franciscans is this: to observe the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ by following the example of St. Francis of Assisi who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life with God and people. Christ, the gift of the Father’s love, is the way to him, the truth into which the Holy Spirit leads us, and the life which he has come to give abundantly. Secular Franciscans should devote themselves especially to careful reading of the gospel, going from gospel to life and life to gospel.

May Franciscan Saints & Blesseds1 St. Joseph the Artisan2 St. Richard Pampuri Confessor 3rd Order3 Bl. Edouard-Joseph Rosas Bishop 3rd Order3 Bl. Arthur Bell, Henry Heath, John

Woodcock, Thomas Bullacker & Charles Meehan Priests, 1st Order martyrs

4 Bl. Ladislas de Gielnow Priest 1st Order4 Bl Ceferino Gimenes Malia Secular5 Bl. Beinvenu Mareni Br. 1st Order6 Bl. Marie Catherine Troijani 3rd Order7 BL. Anne Rose Gattorno 3rd Order7 Bl. Agnelius of Pisa 1st Order8 Bl. Jeremiah of Valacchia 1st Order9 Bl. Antoine Bajewski Priest Conv, martyr9 St. Catherine of Bologna 2nd Order10 Bl. Marie-Bernard Butler 3rd Order10 St. Ivo of Brittany Priest Secular11 St. Gemme de Sulmona 3rd Order11 Bl. Antonio of St Anne Galvoa 1st Order11 St. Ignatius of Laconi Capuchin12 St. Leopold Mandic Capuchin13 St. Michel Garicoitz, Priest 3rd Order14 St. Marie Dominique Mazzarello, 3rd Order15 St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle Priest 3rd Order16 St. Theophile de Corte Priest 1st Order16 St. Margaret of Cortona Secular17 St. Paschal of Baylon Br. 1st Order18 St. Felix of Cantalice Capuchin19 St. Yves Priest, Franciscan 3rd Order Secular19 St. Crispin of Viterbo 1st Order19 St. Theophilus of Corte Priest 1st Order20 St. Bernardin de Sienne, Priest 1st Order20 Bl. John Forest Priest, 1st Order21 St. Crispin de Viterbe Capuchin 1st Order21 Bl. Franz Jagerstatter Secular martyr22 St. Joaguina Vedruna 3rd Order23 Bl. Gerard de Villamagna Confessor Secular24 Bl Jean de Prado Priest 1st Order martyr25 Dedication of the Basilica in Assisi26 St. Philippe Neri Priest 3rd Order26 St. Marie -Anne Paredes Secular27 Bl. Gerard de Lunel Confessor, Secular28 St. Jean-Baptiste Rossi Priest 3rd Order

Secular28 St. Mariana of Jesus de Parades 3rd Order29 Bl. Etienne et Raymond Priest 1st Order30 St. Joan of Arc 3rd Order Secular30 Bl Baptista Varamo Secular30 St. Fernando III King, Confessor, Secular31 Feast of the Queenship of Mary