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June 2002

Secular Franciscan Order: Holy Spirit Fraternity
Canberra, Australia

COMING EVENTS

Fraternity Meeting At this month's meeting, 8pm Friday 28 June we will have elections and the meeting will take place at our regular venue, Marian Hall, next to St Mathew's church, Page. The evening will start with the Eucharist presided by Fr Allan Hatcher who is our Regional Spiritual Assistant. Sandy Tilly, our Regional Minister will also be with us. We also hope to have with us our new Fraternity Spiritual Assistant, Fr Marion de Batista and possibly Fr Theo Gillian, who is serving in the Pearce parish at the moment. We extend to all of them a warm welcome. We have been preparing for this important occasion for some time and we hope and pray that God will guide us to elect a good Council. Let's open our hearts to Him and prayerfully discern His call when we fill the ballot paper. He never asks what is impossible, but rather fills with love and peace those who love Him. We may be small and aging fraternity but God doesn't necessarily need big and strong to realize His plans.

REPORTS

Last Month's Fraternity Meeting

At the May meeting we had the privilege of having with us Howard Young and Shane Murtagh. Howard lives in Tumut and as we are the nearest fraternity he would like to walk with us to find out if he is called to live as a Secular Franciscan. Shane is a fourth year seminarian, preparing for priesthood in Sydney where he was professed as a Secular Franciscan at Concord fraternity. Shane is at present at St. Anthony's parish in Wanniassa where he is gaining his pastoral experience. Warm welcome to both Shane and Howard!

Cec talked about Franciscan International, Non Government Organisation at the United Nations. This is yet another group of people inspired by St. Francis and engaged in a very important apostolate of promoting justice and peace. F.I. is represented and taken seriously at the United Nations. If you would like to know more about F.I. or would like to join this organisation, Cec will be glad to help you.

OTHER MATTERS

Outgoing Council Council members would like to thank you all for the trust and help during the last three years. We ask your forgiveness if we have done any wrong or for what we could have done but didn't do. With God's help we can all make yet another beginning. Entrusted with a beautiful gift of the Secular Franciscan vocation, let us share it generously and pass it on to the future generations.

Celebrations. On the feast of St Bonaventure, 15 July 2002, Jack celebrates the 46th anniversary of his profession. He says he is sorry that he never became a "Learned Franciscan", as was hoped at his profession. Please remember him in your prayers.

Prayer Please remember to pray for vocations.

Council Meeting. The date and place for the next Council meeting have not yet been determined.

Input for the Canberra Franciscan and requests to Jack Smith jacksmth@ozemail.com.au : phone +61-2-6258 3824