24th Southwest Charismatic Conference
Special Report by Marcie Johnson
Louise Baca, Sophie Layva, Avelina Battaglia and Lydia Wroten
recently attended the Charismatic Conference at the Glorieta Conference
Center from August 21-23 1998.
Without radio or television the experience was uplifting and
enjoyable. Among the many workshops to select from (including some in Spanish)
were also sessions for children and youth
groups. This allowed for a well rounded gathering comprising all age
ranges.
The early part of that friday was spent visiting the Santa Maria
de la Paz Church in Santa Fe as well as the multicultural museum.
Many wonderful speakers were heard throughout the conference
which included several priests.
The final day of the conference saw the celebration of the Mass
by Archbishop Michael J. Sheehan of the Archdiocese of Santa Fe.
The conference theme, “the Spirit of the Lord is
upon me” was felt by all present as the outpouring of the Spirt of God
was truely upon all God’s people!
Fr. Paul Juniet, OFM-
Spiritual Assistant
On November 2d each year we reflect on our journey into death.
St. Francis reflected openly shortly before his own death when he added
the final stanza to the Canticle: “All praise be yours, my
Lord, through Sister Death, From whose embrace no mortal can escape.
Woe to those who die in mortal sin! Happy those She finds doing your
will! The second death can do no harm to them. Praise and bless my Lord,
and give him thanks, And serve him with great humility.”
As Francis prepared for death he wanted to be found totally
doing God’s will. He asked that the friars lay him on the earth totally
naked to symbolize his total release of all possessions of this earth.
Brother Elias ordered Francis under Holy Obedience to accept and wear his
habit. Doing the will of God in obedience Francis complied. He was ready.
He asked that the Gospel of John, Chapter 13, be read about
the washing of feet. His whole life had been letting the Lord wash his
feet and then washing the feet of others. Then Francis asked the friars
to pray Psalm 142 with him. As the words “Lead me forth from prison that
I may give thanks to your holy name” were being prayed, Francis released
his life and spirit to the Lord.
We, too, as we remember those who have gone before us in death,
must reflect on our own journey to death. It should not be a journey to
a dreaded end, but a journey to a transition into fuller life. By obedience
t the will of God in our own lives each day we, like Francis, go through
death into life.
The other year when by brother learnt that he had pancreatic
cancer, his first reaction was to try to beat it. Gradually as learnt
that it was fatal, he decided he was going to live until he died. He was
able to celebrate what life he had. His last Christmas with his family
celebrated his being there.
Each day of our lives is a gift to be opened and lived in the
fullness of God’s will. How we live our gift determines how we greet Sister
Death. Let us celebrate our lives and be ready as Francis to say: “Lead
me forth from prison that I may give thanks to your holy name.”
Peace & Good
“Paz y Bien” From the Infirmarian:
Frances Vigil is requesting prayers for her family, the Baca Family,
and for her
great grandaughter, Felicia Baca.
SFO INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL Weekly News
FROM: CIOFS BULLETIN, 1998, VOL 4 N.40 October
I
OFM Cap.Plen.Council
. Evangelical poverty is one of the main distinguishing
characteristics of the Franciscan presence in the world. Living the evangelical
ideal of poverty always remains a challenge and a call to reform within
the Order.
We are not only called to be poor friars but poor fraternities.
Hence, it is not simply a question of developing a theology of poverty,
but of offering motivation, practical applications, technical
information, and updating ourselves. The perspective from which we
wish to develop our reflection on evangelical poverty is that of the fraternity.
Fraternity is the theological context and key for
discerning how to live evangelical poverty in the concrete.
One advantage we have is the gift of ouruniversality. This gift
of universality is a privileged characteristic bestowed on our Order in
the modern age by the Holy Spirit and affords us a firsthand overview of
the full spectrum of gospel challenges. At the same time, this gift of
universality carries with it a special responsibility to devise an evangelical
response, in word and and action, that is
consistent with our charism.
Speaking of poverty, in what social class or category would
we place ourselves? Although poverty should always and everywhere be our
special characteristic, we will never be able to identify fully
with one particular social class. The very fact that our poverty is
voluntary already distinguishes us from those who have not chosen to be
poor, but find themselves such by circumstances or fate.
Amid the questions of how to evaluate our poverty, we need to
be able to look at ourselves through the eyes of others. It is important
to know whether or not, in the various countries and
regions, others recognize us as poor.
Calendar of Saints/Feast Days: October
October 4
Francesco Bernardone was born in Assisi, Italy,
in 1181 or 1182. The son of a wealthy silk merchant, Francis lived a life
of comfort and pleasure. As a young soldier and prisoner of war, he survived
severe illness and gave up the idea of being a knight. Perceiving a call
to serve God and the poor, he chose the way of poverty and self-denial.
In 1206, he felt called to repair God’s house and followed the command
literally.
His angry father disinherited him, calling him a
madman. Francis began to live on alms and continued to repair churches.
In 1209 he understood that his work was to build up the Church by
preaching repentance. His zeal for God won disciples and the pope gave
Francis and his 12 companions a commission to preach. By 1219, they were
5000. In September 1224 Francis
received the stigmata and died at Assisi on the evening of October
3, 1226.
November 1&2:All Saints and All Souls Day
As November approaches, we prepare once again to celebrate the
feast of All Souls Day, when we remember our dearly departed loved ones
in prayer. It is also a time to reflect on our beliefs and
reaffirm our faith in God’s promise of eternal life for the faithful.
Paul tells us in his epistle to the Romans that God’s gift to
us is eternal life through His Son, whose resurrection destroyed death’s
power over us. We hope in the glory promised by God to those
who love Him and place our trust in Christ’s assurances of this future
happiness. Hope allows us to open our hearts in anticipation of an eternity
of beauty and joy in heaven.
It is our hope of this eternal life with God that can support
us in times of trial or when we are faced with the passing of someone close
to us. We must say good-bye before we are ready to let them go.
INQUIRER’S CLASSES:
Oct. 10 at 1:30 pm and Oct. 25 at 1:30 pm at Queen of Angels. Instr.:
Joanne Elfers
CANDIDATE CLASSES:
Oct. 10 and 25 at 1:00 pm at Queen of Angels.. Instructor: Rena Xuereb.
ONGOING FORMATION:
Oct. 25 at 1:30-2:30 pm at Queen of Angels. Topic: Series on the Holy
Spirit. We will listen to tapes on the Holy Spirit from the conference
held in Glorieta, NM “The Spirit of God is upon me.”
ALL PROFESSED ARE WELCOME. Instructor: Louise Baca
| The Franciscan family, as one among many spiritual families raised
up by the Holy Spirit in the Church, unites all members of the People of
God...who recognize that they are called to follow Christ in the footsteps
of Saint Francis of Assisi.
-The Rule of the Secular |
COUNCIL MEETING:
Oct. 31 at 1:30 pm at Queen of Angels. PROFESSED MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED
TO ATTEND.
SPECIAL WORKSHOPS/ ACTIVITIES:
Fourteenth Annual Rocky Mountain Franciscan Gathering: Holy Family
Parish Center
Theme: Franciscan Spirituality for the Third Millenium
October 9-10 at Holy Family Center in Albuquerque
Cost: $25.00/person
