Our July Gathering
We will hold our monthly gathering on Sunday, July 13th at 12:30 pm in Conway Hall. We will participate in ongoing formation, recite the Franciscan Crown Rosary and, after our regular meeting and prayers, we will proceed to St. Francis Church for Benediction.
IMPORTANT: Please remember that we now gather at 12:30. And please try to get there a little early so we can begin on time.
If you are unable to fulfill your obligation to attend the monthly meeting, please call Pat Simon at 610-352-5390
“And we will be involved in the monthly meeting as an act of worship and a building of community.â€
–from The Lay Franciscan* Monthly Pledge
Don’t Forget
- To sign the attendance log
- Petition slips
- Pennies for missions and flip tops off aluminium cans
St. Francis Inn Needs
- Presweetened Ice Tea and *Lemonade Mix
- M & L Men’s Briefs & Boxers
- 2X & 3X Men’s T-Shirts
- #6 Disposable Diapers
- Deodorant
- Prayers
Mothers’ Home Mornings Apostolate
Our next visit will be Saturday the 19th. Please plan on meeting there at 9:00 am sharp. We should be done by Noon. Mothers’ Home is right next to BVM Church in Darby and some of our members found it convenient to attend 8:15 am Mass there before digging into work.
We will have a signup sheet at our July gathering so we can call ahead to let them know how many people to expect. Please let Lee know if you have any questions.
Formation Information
As we talked about at our June Gathering, the reading and questions for our July ongoing formation session are enclosed with this newsletter. Please review and contemplate this material prayerfully in preparation for our meeting.
As planned, we will be discussing Article 4 of the Secular Franciscan Rule. Now we are really going to be getting into the meat of the rule and I’m looking very forward to our discussion.
Food for thought
“…as Franciscans are not to horde the experience of God’s love and consolation for ourselves but are to share this consolation with others when we see their woundedness and suffering. By sharing, we open the door for others to experience God’s love during a time when they are most open to hearing His Word. This companionship on the spiritual journey is indeed a privileged place in healing as we build up the Body of Christ.”
However, it doesn’t just stop there. Like any sharing, we are changed in the process as we accept another’s burdens. For if we can look beyond our own pain to touch others who are suffering, our own love expands and is enriched by others, and ultimately we find ourselves as the Beloved of God. The Love we gave comes back to us, outpouring and overflowing.”
It no longer seems to me that Francis took pleasure in suffering at all. In fact, I believe he was not welcoming suffering so much as actually welcoming Love Incarnate. He also welcomed the shared companionship and opportunity to live in a community embraced by God. It is Love Itself surrounding us—a wonderful place to be!
Actually, it is a little bit of heaven here on earth!”
~ Francine Gikow, OFS, “Suffering”, Tau-USA (Spring 2014, Issue)
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