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August 1997
Secular Franciscan Order: Holy Spirit Fraternity
Canberra ACT Australia
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August 1997
Secular Franciscan Order: Holy Spirit Fraternity
Canberra ACT Australia
August Meeting. Our next meeting is at 8pm on Friday 22 August and will again be held in the Marian Hall at St Matthew's Page. Jim Cronly ofm Cap is unable to join us for the August meeting but hopes to join us for the October meeting. Pam will lead us in topics of her choice, which may include some thoughts about formation. In preparation you may care to contemplate the following remarks on some reasons for ongoing formation, recently published by the International Council.
Jesus of Nazareth arrived at the moment of his public mission through a process of maturing of his human, intellectual and spiritual dimensions. The greater portion of his life was spent in silence and hiddenness. It was in the quiet round of daily life that he developed integrally, in simplicity, industry and humility. And all through his public life he was attentive to the will of his Father, who was leading him towards the fulfilment of his mission.
The Secular Franciscan needs to plumb the depths of his vocation and to interiorize it, to allow it to grow in all its aspects towards maturity, and to grow steadily in awareness of the mission to which he has been called. Each person needs to open himself to renewal and to grow within the ordinariness of the daily round, in silence, in working faithfully and in listening to the voice of God, in order to hear what God wants and to want what pleases him.
September Meeting. Fr Chris Shorrock ofm Conv will be joining us for our Evening of Reflection on Friday 26 September. It will be held at Cec's place 11 Moss Street Cook. The evening will start at 6.30 pm and finish about 10 pm. It will include:
Regional Day. Don't forget the next day September 27 at Campbelltown: Fr Dan Naylon ofm will speak on: "Brotherhood in St Francis." Pam hopes to get to Fr Dan's talk at Campbelltown and Cec and Marty have indicated that they are interested in going too. You might speak to them if you are interested in attending.
The Transitus. The Anglican "Third Order of the Society of St Francis" have invited us all to join with them in our annual joint ceremony to celebrate the passing over of St Francis into eternal life. We will meet at 7.30pm on 3 October at St David's, Fortitude Street, Red Hill.
Apologies. Hélène will be away for the August meeting but is back in Australia for the September meeting and the Transitus.
As before, Kathy has tendered her apologies for the August meeting. Kathy can be contacted until 12 September at: #402, 8728 103rd Street, Edmonton, T6E 6K3, Alberta, Canada.
Secular Franciscan Gathering. It is wonderful to be able to report that Helen Jarick, the St Clare Region Minister, has advised that there has been an overwhelming response to her call to reach out in fraternity to members at Corowa on the Murray river on the weekend of 14-16 November. They have booked a 48 seater bus for Sydney members and, already, it is almost filled. Those of us who are travelling to Corowa will need to complete a registration form and pay a deposit of $25 by 7th September so that accommodation can be booked. Registration forms and addressed envelopes to dispatch them will be available at the August meeting. Motel accommodation will cost $25 Bed and Breakfast per person twin-share, or $45 single.
Vocations. Remember that we agreed to keep up our prayers for vocations to the SFO!
Towards 2000. At our July meeting we were joined by three enquirers, Rex Sulway, Dennis Durbidge and John Broomhead. Cec and Loui led us into consideration of our preparation for the Jubilee Year 2000AD. Cec told us some of the history of the celebration of jubilees in the Church and noted that the jubilees were special years for indulgences. He recounted how Francis persuaded the Pope to grant the Porziuncola indulgence; the first plenary indulgence available to non-Crusaders. He showed us the medals struck for the 1975 and 1983 (Redemption) jubilee years with pictures of the four great basilicas in Rome on the back of one medal depicting the four places of pilgrimage to obtain the plenary indulgence. Cec quoted from the Pope's letter on The Advent of the Third Millennium "Tertio Millennio Adveniente" and extensively from the "First Letter of the Conference of the Franciscan family on the occasion of the Jubilee Year 2000." Copies of the latter were posted to all present at the meeting. Cec said that it would be:
Cec noted how the very fact of the issue of the letter and its six signatories and meetings such as the Franciscan Gathering in Sydney showed strong reconciliation within the Franciscan family; setting an example for others. Preparation needs to start within ourselves with penance, works of charity and praise of the Lord.
The Pope has designated 1997 as the Year of Christ, 1998 as the Year of the Spirit and 1999 as the Year of the Father. In this Year of Christ we will consider especially: Christ in Scripture; the Mother of Christ and Ecumenism.
Loui outlined the work being done by the Diocesan Pastoral Council in preparation for the Jubilee. He advised that a tape of the presentation by Barbara Bishop from Melbourne to the Council could be obtained from Favier House. He noted that consideration was being given to use of the "School of Evangelization" program of direct promotion in the Archdiocese.
Rex Sulway suggested that, for such programs, the experience of one organisation was:
The importance of TV as a way of communicating the message to people was discussed.
Next Council Meeting: 8pm Wednesday 10 September at Jack's place.
Comments to: jacksmth@ozemail.com.au