Mission Statement:We as Secular Franciscans are committed to seeking and promoting a closer relationship with God for ourselves and others by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ and by following St. Francis’ and St. Clare's example of simplicity, humility and service using the Rule of Life of the OFS as our guide.

April 2018 Waseca/Janesville/Owatonna MN Volume 12 Issue 4

April ~ Month of the Holy Eucharist

Monthly Gathering: Our next gathering will be April 22nd at 1:00 pm at the Parish Center.

Inquirer Formation: Matt read Chapter 6 in The Franciscan Journey and answer the questions at

the end of the chapter.  Sister Lois and Arlys Fell will lead.

Candidate Formation: Theresa read Chapter 10 in the Franciscan Journey and answer the questions on page 121. Bonnie Johnson will lead

Ongoing Formation: Please read chapter 16 “Poverty for the Kingdom” in To Live as Francis Lived and answer the Questions for Reflection and Application to Daily Life at the end of the chapter. Carol Tollefson will lead.

Spiritual Buffet: Our next Spiritual Buffet will be April 12th at 11:00 in the Youth Room at the Parish Center. Please read the handout about Mary and be prepared to discuss the questions at the end. Pat Yunker will lead.

Council Meetings: Our next Council meeting will be April 10th at 11:00 in the Parish Center.

Gospel Sharing: There will be no Gospel Sharing due to Theresa Widmer’s acceptance into Candidacy and our annual renewal of Profession.

Something to Ponder Have you ever stopped to consider that the Last Supper was the Apostle’s First Communion?

Living Wet with Baptismal Graces

Sr. Lois Erpelding, OSF 

Again, this Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday we were invited to renew our Baptismal commitment. Many other times during the year we stand in amazement as we renew an ever-deepening Baptismal commitment.

In the first sessions for inquirers in Lester Bach’s, The Franciscan Journey, we are reminded that our foundation of a lay spiritual life is grounded in the graces of Baptism. Fr. Bach reminds us that as baptized persons we have the responsibility to listen to and implement God’s Word. Gifted with God’s life, we are called to further the work of our Risen Christ. We are graced as prophetic servants to challenge anew one another. We are invited to deepen the roots of our faith life through prayer, sacraments, and ongoing formation in order to share God’s goodness of love, mercy, and justice with others.

On April 16th Franciscans celebrate the yearly feast of the profession of St. Francis. On April 16, 1209 Pope Innocent III approved the first Franciscan rule and gave the Order its canonical status. Our Franciscan commitment springs from our Baptism. Thus, it is our Fraternity’s custom for our professed members to renew commitment as Secular Franciscans during our April gathering. Members look back in gratitude noting God’s grace influencing challenges and Franciscan choices. With trust, we know that the Spirit is guiding members to “go from gospel to life and life to gospel”. (SFO Rule 4) Individually and communally, we live in the footsteps of Francis: “They should give thanks to God for the gift of freedom and the revelation of the law of love.... They should take on the risk of courageous choices in their life in society with decisiveness and serenity.” (Constitution Article 12.2) In gratitude, we celebrate God’s initiative in our lives. In trust we celebrate our witnessing ongoing Franciscan commitment, continue embracing God’s love, enter into ongoing sacred struggles of life’s commitments as we “live wet” wholeheartedly Baptism grace.

We are Excited to Welcome to Inquiry ~ Matt Johansen

Pictured L to R Arlys Fell ofs Minister, Bonnie Johnson ofs Formation Director, Matt Johansen, Inquirer, Kyle Gahlon, ofs, Formation Teacher, Sr. Lois Erpelding OSF, Spiritual Assistant. In addition to welcoming Matt Johansen into Inquiry in April we will also welcome Theresa Widmer into Candidacy, Michelle Muff will begin Orientation and those of us who are professed will renew our Profession promises. So many blessings to celebrate!

April Franciscan Saints and Blessed

Bl. Elisabetta Vendramini

Elisabetta Vendramini was born on 9 April 1790 in Vicenza. She was educated in an Augustinian convent as a child and received her religious upbringing from both them and from her parents.

In 1811 she became engaged - despite parental objection - to a man of humble origins from Ferrara. She broke off this engagement on the night before her wedding in 1817 because she felt a clear and concise

call to the religious life so that she could devote herself to the needs of the poor. She began to take care of children in her hometown and later joined the staff of a Capuchin orphanage in 1820. In 1821 she became professed into the Third Order of Saint Francis and assumed their habit. Vendramini relocated to Padua in November 1828 and in 1829 worked with two of her friends at a tuition-free school.

On 10 November 1830 she established the Franciscan Elizabethan Sisters in Padua - with the aid of the priest Luigi Maran (1794-1859) and named it in honor of Saint Elizabeth. The institute was set to follow the rule of Saint Francis of Assisi - the rule that Pope Nicholas IV approved in 1289.[ Her congregation distinguished itself in 1836 during an epidemic of fever. She died on 2 April 1860.

Who Do You Say I am Lord?Bonnie Johnson, ofs Formation Director

Gospel Sharing Leaders - 2018Jan Prayer Partners Jul CarolFeb Retreat Aug JeniseMar Sarah Sep PicnicApr Bonnie Oct PeggyMay Pat Nov Gerri/PatJun Kyle Dec Christmas

Ongoing Formation Leaders - 2018Jan Prayer Partners Jul PeggyFeb Retreat -Sr. Lois Aug KyleMar Bonnie Sep PicnicApr Carol Oct PatMay Elections Nov Jenise/ArlysJun Sarah DecA Christmas

2018 Snack ScheduleJan Jean, Bonnie Jul Kyle, SarahFeb Doreen, Peggy Aug Jenise, KathleenMar St. Lois, Gerri Sep Picnic (All)Apr Arlys, Carol Oct Jean, BonnieMay Pat, Lisa Nov Doreen, PeggyJun Matt, Theresa Dec Sr. Lois, Gerri

2 Bl. Elisabetta Vendramini3 St. Benedict the Moor6 St. Crescentia Hoss

16Profession of St. Francis of Assisi and 12 Companions

16 St. Bernadette Soubirous17 St. Benedict Joseph Labre21 St. Conrad of Parzham23 Bl. Giles of Assisi24 St. Fidelis de Sigmaringen25 Bl. Pedro de San Jose Betancur

27 St. Zita of Lucca28 Bl. Luchesio and wife Bonadonna30 St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo30 St. Benedict of Urbino

I recently began reading a book titled A Portrait of Jesus by Joseph F Girzone, a retired Catholic Priest (now deceased). The book focuses on the author’s understanding of the human demeanor of Jesus that drew so many people to follow Him. While I have only begun to read this book, it reminded me of Jesus saying, “Who do you say I am?” And I began to ponder that same question about St. Francis. We all know the history of the Franciscan Orders and the story of St. Francis’ life. We know the Rule of the Secular Order, the Constitutions, the Going from Gospel to Life, but if someone asked you, “What do you think it would have been like to have met St. Francis? What was he really like as a person?”, what would you say? And then I had to ask myself: Who would Jesus say I am?

I believe that St. Francis looked deeper and subsequently understood Jesus to be a simple, humble, warm, and kind person who loved everyone and who made everyone feel that love. From His humble birth, and for the next 30 years, he lived a lowly, unworldly life. When he began His teaching, he drew people to Himself not just by miracles and his message of love but also by his acceptance of all people regardless of what they did for a living, if they were rich or poor, living sinfully, outcasts by others or from another culture. He didn’t worry about how it would look to others. I believe Francis was able to see beyond the words of the gospel to the message it held and to the personal qualities, attitudes, and actions of Jesus. Francis’ response was to follow the example of Christ, to doggedly imitate Jesus in every way. He knew that people listen to someone that possesses true warmth and acceptance from the heart.

If I, as a professed Secular Franciscan, promised to go from Gospel to Life, and aspire to grow closer in my relationship to God, by following in the footsteps of St. Francis, then I too must seek to develop the virtues of Jesus as St. Francis did. I believe that means I must also look beyond the knowledge of the Order, the Rule etc. though they are very important in

identifying the way in which we should live, but also to seek to become internally as caring, loving, humble, accepting and attending all people as Christ was to others. Like St. Francis, I must understand the gifts of God’s love and compassion given to me are given to share with others. Otherwise, am I not like a Pharisee who only knew the law?

As we celebrate the joy, hope and presence of the Risen Christ in our hearts, let us also look deeper at the example of Christ as St Francis did and ask the Holy Spirit to instill in us the same demeanor, by praying the following Excerpt from The Praises of God in the ‘Our Father’.

An Excerpt from The Praises of Godin the ‘Our Father’

May we love You with all our heart by always keeping You in mind; with all our soul by always longing for You; with all our mind by directing all our intentions to You and seeking Your glory in everything; and with all our strength by exerting all the forces and faculties of soul and body in Your loving service and in nothing else.

So, may we love our neighbors as ourselves, getting them all as far as we can to love You, by being as glad at the good fortune of others as at our own, while feeling for their misfortune and giving no offense to anybody.

For Your sake may we truly love our enemies and devotedly intercede with You for them, giving nobody evil in return for evil and trying to be helpful toward everybody, in Your name.

Please Also Pray ForOur members who are going through the process of formation.Our members who are unable to be with us due to health and work issues.Those who will receive their 1st Communion

this month.