A Prayer from St. John XXIII

 

 

Prayer by Pope St. John XXIII

 

O Jesus, come back into our society, our family life, our souls, and reign there as our peaceful sovereign. Enlighten with the splendor of faith and the charity of your tender heart the souls of those who work for the good of the people, for your poor. Impart in them your own spirit, preserving the flame of enthusiasm ever alight in their hearts.  

 

Amen. 

 

Pax et bonum

Strive to be joyful every day

We know that we aren’t always going to be happy. Sadness, even tragedy, is going to cross our paths more than once. But if we strive to be joyful on a daily basis, we seem to develop reserves upon which we can draw.

-from Pope Francis and our Call to Joy -(Diane Houdek)

Pax et bonum

Local Franciscan rises to CFR leadership

In June, the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal met in General Chapter and Father Anthony Baetzold  of St. Leo's Parish in Hilton was elected Vicar. We know him from so many days of prayer he's led for the local Secular fraternities over the last few years.

The entire leadership team is:

Servant – Fr. John Paul Ouellete, CFR
Vicar – Fr. Anthony Baetzold, CFR
Council – Br. John Joseph Brice, CFR
Fr. Solanus Benfatti, CFR
Fr. Isaac Spinharney, CFR
Fr. Emmanuel Mansford, CFR

May God be with Father Anthony and all the other members of the leadership team.

Pax et bonum

Socializing with Franciscans 2

Here are more pictures from our fraternity picnic July 26.

Pax et bonum

Socializing with Franciscans

One of bits of advice from the Handbook for Franciscan Leadership is allowing time for social time at meetings. "... social time provides an opportunity to experience each other as family in a relaxed atmosphere. How well do we know each member of our fraternity? We also need times to celebrate together."

This past Saturday, we took the call for social time a step further with a midsummer fraternity picnic.

Good food. Good friends. Good discussions. Lots of laughter.

Here's a few pictures. More to come.

Pax et bonum

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, Pray for Us

Today is the feast of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American woman to be declared a Saint. Our region of the Secular Franciscan Order is named after her.

Here's a prayer from online.

St. Kateri, Star of Native People and Bright Light for all!

We thank God for your heroic courage, constant perseverance and deep love of the Cross.

Pray for us that our love for Christ may deepen.

And may we imitate you in following God’s Will even when difficulties arise.

In Jesus’ name we pray. 

Amen.

Pax et bonum

Franciscan Servant Leadership - characteristics

"Three essential characteristics when one assumes a Franciscan servant leadership role are:

1. that the call or commission is initiated by God;

2. that the response or commitment is wholehearted; and

3.that the leader has or is open to receiving the vision necessary to serve in a servant leadership capacity.

The vitality and growth of fraternal life is usually related to the absence or presence of these characteristics in its leaders."

From The Handbook for Franciscan Servant Leadership (2010) 

Pax et bonum