Our September Gathering
We will hold our monthly gathering on Sunday, September 9th at 12:30 pm in Conway Hall. We will participate in ongoing formation, have some social time with our fraternal family, and then recite the Franciscan Crown Rosary and the Liturgy of the Hours.
Please do your best to arrive on time (or even a little early) so we can begin our gathering promptly at 12:30.
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€
~ The Lay Franciscan Monthly Pledge
Prayer Petitions
Please contact Fran Urso at francesurs@aol.com or 610-202-8965 if you would like to include a petition in the newsletter. A new list will be generated each month.
- Judy A. – overall health
- Joe – Kidney testing
- Lillian Schieman – repose of her soul
- Betty, John, Bob and family – healing
- Patti – physical and domestic healing
- Midge – in hospice
- Wendy and Vince – healing and grace
- Bill – repose of his soul
- Cindy – spiritual and mental healing
- J – strength and spiritual guidance
- Anthony – major heart valve leak and strength for his family
St. Francis Inn Needs
- Deodorant
- Toothpaste
- Travel Size Toiletries
- Men’s & Women’s Underwear (especially men’s boxer shorts) — All Sizes
- Men’s Shoes — All Sizes
- Diapers — All Sizes
- Baby Formula & Baby Food
- Powdered Lemonade & Iced Tea
- Prayers
Formation Information
In September, our candidate for Profession, Kathy Cerone, will be using the formation session to bring us all up to date with the apostolate she has organized to visit the sick and homebound member’s of our fraternity.
Food for Thought
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
~ Matt. 22:39
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And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’
~ Matt. 25:40
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The Beatitudes*
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit,*
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the land.
6 Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me
12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Insertion into a local fraternity and participation in fraternity life is essential for belonging to the OFS. Appropriate initiatives should be adopted according to the directives of the national statutes, to keep those brothers and sisters united to the fraternity who — for valid reasons of health, family, work, or distance — cannot actively participate in community life.
~ The General Constitutions of the Secular Franciscan Order, Article 53.3
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In addition to being present at regular gatherings we need to be attentive to the needs of OFS members who, for valid reasons, are unable to attend regular gatherings. Councils can design ways and means for communicating with them. Personal visits are made and we keep relationships alive.
Reasons for being absent from gatherings can be quite different. Each person needs special attention from the Franciscan fraternity family. Appointing someone for this ministry can help us avoid any form of neglect. What we learn over and over in the Constitutions is never to neglect the issues that surround us. That certainly applies to caring for fraternity members. Our actions show them that they are truly our brothers and sisters.
~ Lester Bach, OFM Cap, Giving Life to the Words – The Secular Franciscan Constitutions: A Spiritual Commentary
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