Newsletter: Divine Mercy Region Secular Franciscan Order

Lower Michigan and Toledo, Ohio March 2018

From Our Regional Minister

In this edition:

From Our Regional

Minister

The Beatification Mass

of Fr. Solanus Casey

Contact Us!

From Br. Loren

Formation Update

JPIC News

Lumen Christi

Canonical

Establishment Mass

CIOFS News

Spiritual Assistant

Training Program

Update

More From Around the

Region

Upcoming Events

Summer Seminars for

Secular Franciscans

Registration Form

Sisters and Brothers of Penance,

I don’t exactly know why, but Lent has always been a favorite time

of year for me, even though I don't see myself as a particularly

penitential person. I believe I can trace the root of this affection for

Lent back to a retreat during my senior year of high school. I

remember going out into the woods on one of those late winter

overcast gray days, not too cold, not really warm. As I sat there in

silence on a gloomy day, I had an experience of God. It was no big

revelation, no great insight, but rather just a sense of his presence

there with me in the middle of a quiet wood on a gloomy, gray late

winter day. I recall there was a breeze as I sat listening to the sound

of the wind in the pine trees. Ever since those few moments with

God I make an effort to get out into the woods in late winter and sit

in silence. Any time I hear a breeze blowing in the trees I am taken

back and long to just sit and take in the rustling voice of God.

Have you ever stood

In a quiet birch wood

Surrounded by trees of white

And the only sound

For miles around

Is melting mid-March snow?

And were you reminiscing

About the love you were missing

And let your spirit soar

As you searched for the more?

Perhaps this fondness for Lent stems from the realization that in

nature the Paschal mystery is revealed. As winter comes to an end

and spring is around the corner, there is a sense that what has died

or lain dormant is about to spring to life once again. When you sit

in silence on a gray gloomy day and your spirit is not filled with the

excitement of springy warmth and sunshine, it can cause you to

experience a bit of the everydayness of life, a bit of malaise,

perhaps. Isn’t this what Lent is all about? Looking into the depths

of our hearts, we reflect on that everydayness and malaise and the

gloom of winter in our heart and spirit, and look forward to the

springtime of the Resurrection.

Continued on page 2 ...

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The Beatification Mass of Fr. Solanus Casey November 18, 2017, Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

After many years of working, praying and waiting, the Mass for Fr. Solanus

Casey's beatification was held at Ford Field on November 18, 2017.

589 tickets were made available to Divine Mercy Region which were distributed

to the local fraternities in late fall, so many from Divine Mercy Region were able

to attend. Before the Mass, the Solanus Casey Center was open for tours. Ford

Field, a large stadium, was crowded with people for the beautiful celebration.

A video of the Beatification Mass is available on the webpage of the Solanus

Casey Guild in Detroit. The address of that webpage is:

http://www.solanuscasey.org/beatification

From Our Regional Minister, continued from page 1 ...

Of course, what is Lent without reflecting on what St. Paul says, “But may I never boast except in the

cross of our Lord Jesus Christ"? ( Gal 1:14) We sit in the wintry gray gloom of penitence during Lent,

looking towards the resurrection. Imitating St. Clare, we gaze at the crucified. Perhaps we can reflect on

the words of Saint Cyril of Jerusalem: “Are we not all shackled by the chains of our own sins? For us

all, however, the cross is the crown of victory! It has brought light to those blinded by ignorance. It has

released those enslaved by sin. Indeed, it has redeemed the whole of mankind! Do not, then, be ashamed

of the cross of Christ; rather, glory in it…the message of the cross is our salvation.” Speaking of the

cross, Cyril continues, “He was not forced to give up his life. His was a willing sacrifice. I have the

power to lay down my life and to take it up again. He willingly submitted to his own passion…it was not

a lowly man who suffered but God incarnate…Jesus never sinned, yet he was crucified for you. Will you

refuse to be crucified for him?” (Office of readings, Thursday 4th week in Ordinary Time)

During this penitential season of Lent, let us crucify our selfishness and strive to attain that love of

neighbor to which Jesus constantly calls--no, commands--of us.

David Seitz OFS

Regional Minister

Contact Us! The Divine Mercy Region Executive Council David Seitz OFS Regional Minister dmrofsdavid@gmail.com

Jim Graczyk OFS Regional Vice Minister cjcag64@aol.com

Theresa Brown OFS Regional Secretary divinemercy.region@gmail.com

Fran Walker OFS Regional Treasurer fpwofs2015@gmail.com

Michelle Bryk OFS Regional Formation Minister michellebsfo@iserv.net

Amy Oatley OFS JPIC Coordinator

Regional Councilor aoatleyofs@gmail.com

Paul DeWeese OFS Regional Councilor pdeweesemd@gmail.com

Dawn Pulcer OFS Regional Councilor dawn.pulcer@dfcufinancial.com

Jan Kaeding OFS Newsletter & Website Editor

Regional Councilor divineprovidencefraternity@gmail.com

Br. Loren Connell OFM Regional Spiritual Assistant brolocon@gmail.com

Linda Solis OFS Regional Spiritual Assistant

SA Training Coordinator lsolisofs@gmail.com

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Dear Sisters and Brothers,

We have entered Lent, a time of spiritual renewal.

Prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are the traditional

pillars of our Lenten observance. Some might

consider financial support for ministries such as

ours in downtown Detroit as a form of almsgiving,

but true almsgiving is more than a banking

transaction. It involves opening our hearts to our

fellow human beings and allowing ourselves to be

changed in that encounter.

We may well have resources, such as money,

food, or clothing, which others need but do not

have. We may well share those resources with

those who are in need. They in turn, however,

may have resources which we ourselves do not

have—resources which we may not even know we

lack or need—such as personal resilience or active

faith. Although not everyone may be able to visit

the rural or urban poor, the imprisoned, or the

mentally challenged, Lent calls all of us to open

our hearts as well as our wallets. Will we allow

ourselves to be blessed and renewed by our sisters

and brothers, wherever we find them? Can we

meet the living Jesus in them?

I write from personal experience. Six years ago I

was minding my own business, doing good work

in a senior center in suburban Dayton, when our

provincial council asked me to consider moving to

Detroit and ministering at St Aloysius. I said yes

and moved here in August, 2012. I came in all

sincerity to offer my talents—and I did so—but

the people of our community have blessed me

beyond anything that I could have imagined!

May your Lent bring you peace and every

blessing,

Br. Loren Connell OFM

Regional Spiritual Assistant

OFS Rule Article 7: United by their vocation as

brothers and sisters of penance and motivated by

the dynamic power of the gospel, let them conform

their thoughts and deeds to those of Christ by

means of that radical interior change which the

gospel calls conversion. Human frailty makes it

necessary that this conversion be carried out

daily.

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine

grower. He takes away every branch in me that

does not bear fruit, and every one that does he

prunes so that it bears more fruit." John 15:1-2

When I step back and look at the Lent into Easter

arc that we are living through, I find myself

thinking how Franciscan it is!

I am big into the seasons of waiting. Lent and

Advent are my two favorite liturgical seasons.

Don’t get me wrong. Christmas and Easter are

lovely and spiritually uplifting. I rejoice right

along with everyone. Yet, Advent and Lent always

fill me with a wonderful feeling of potential. I

relish the opportunity to take dedicated time

personally and liturgically to delve into growth.

Lent and Easter have always been for me a chance

to walk more closely with God and to say to him,

“What's next Lord? Where do you want me to

learn and to grow so that I may be closer to you?

How should I spend this time with you?” I think

that I have always looked at this time as a stay-at-

home retreat, an opportunity to engage in

something out of my usual routine, a time set

aside.

When I professed as a Franciscan and began to

pray and live the Rule, I found even more that this

time was needed. Lent is a time to refocus my

vocation. It is a time to allow God to re-inspire my

Franciscan journey, a time to really buckle down

and do the hard work of daily conversion; to

willingly be pruned.

Continued on page 4 ...

Formation Update From Br. Loren

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Formation Update, continued ...

Right now life feels a bit out of control. I am once

again doing the work of three people in my job.

Trying to do that well and meet all my other

commitments is keeping me tired. Yet I am

finding that internally I am having a truly

delightful Lent. I am praising God that this Lent so

far feels less like pruning and more like renewal.

Trust me when I tell you that this does not always

happen.

Two things have been percolating in me. The first

is music. I am finding a renewed joy in old

favorite music. It is delighting me daily and I am

allowing myself to enter each day with joy in my

heart. The second is surprise scripture.

Most who know me, know that I teach Catechesis

of the Good Shepherd. Two days before Lent

began, we did the mediation on the True Vine. I

am often awed by the children. I talk about it often

because I learn so much in my time with them.

When doing the reflection the Holy Spirit was in

the room. I don’t have words to adequately

describe the feeling of watching a group of 6-9

year olds talk about the meanings of these words

of Jesus. The capstone moment for the discussion

came as we were discussing why Jesus talks about

remaining and about joy. When we were talking

about what complete joy means one child stopped

us all by saying excitedly, “Wait a minute, I know,

it’s like the last one of the three things (referring to

the three moments - Creation, Redemption and

Parousia)” I replied, “Do you mean Parousia,

when God will be all in all?” She bounced up and

down, “Yes, that is complete joy.” Mic drop!

There are tears in my eyes and a warm feeling of

joy as I type this for you, remembering that

moment! It was Scripture brought to life in front

of my eyes. It was God shining a light right in

front of me saying, "Pay attention to this!" You

can bet that this scripture is right in front of me

daily right now, feeding my Lenten journey.

If an eight year old can perfectly articulate what

our final destination is all about, there is great

hope and amazing potential in and for all of us!

Happy Lent and Blessed Easter!

Michelle Bryk OFS

Regional Formation Minister

“You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and

what the LORD requires of you: only to do justice

and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with

your God.” Micah 6:8

The prophet Micah has shared a simple path in the

passage above. Why do we complicate the way

when it comes to defining JPIC?

To be certain, our Franciscan way of life calls us

to look at the big picture, which is anything but

simple. Yet in doing so, we must not lose sight of

the smaller picture right in front of us—each

individual and the dignity of his or her whole

being as a child of God.

JPIC is both-and, not either-or. We engage in

matters of justice and integrity for the common

good in our world, and we engage with each

person we encounter.

Recently the Holy Spirit reminded me of this

during a visit with an elderly friend or ours, named

Larry. Over a year ago my husband Todd and I

became legal guardians for this gentle child-like

man from our parish. Larry has no family around,

and his physical and mental health are

deteriorating.

I had developed a closer friendship with Larry

about a year earlier. At that time, he shared that

he hadn’t received communion in a long time as

he is physically unable to attend Mass. I was so

saddened to hear that no one was bringing him

Jesus in the Eucharist. He needs the Bread of Life

for strength on his journey! As time passed, Todd

and I became increasingly aware that Larry was

dealing with some of the same injustices many of

our elderly brothers and sisters face--loneliness

and isolation, dishonest people trying to steal from

them, double payments of bills due to memory

loss and then money not being refunded, too many

groceries purchased followed by food rotting. The

list goes on and on.

Continued on page 7 ...

JPIC News

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Lumen Christi Fraternity

Secular Franciscan Order

Canonical Establishment Mass

September 10, 2017

St. Vincent Pallotti Parish, Wyandotte, MI

Linda Solis OFS, Minister

After ten years, Lumen Christi Fraternity was

canonically established in a beautiful ceremony.

Our retired ancillary Bishop Francis Reiss was

the presider, along with Br. Loren Connell OFM

Fr. Brendan McCarrick SAC. Br. Juniper

Crouch OFM was in attendance representing St.

John the Baptist province, traveling from

Houston, Texas.

After the Mass everyone celebrated with a

wonderful dinner and conversation. A blessed

time was had by all that attended.

CIOFS News

Documents from the 2017 International Chapter

are now available on the internet at the website

of the International Fraternity (CIOFS). The

internet address of the International Fraternity is: http://www.ciofs.org/portal/en/

Spiritual Assistant Training Program

Divine Mercy Region

The Spiritual Assistant Training Program Team

is proud to announce that Beth Price OFS, has

completed her bookwork for the program. Beth

has shown dedication in completing all the

assignments that are required. Beth will now be

assigned to a fraternity to complete her

internship. Let us all keep Beth in our prayers,

as she completes her next stage of development.

Linda Solis OFS

Regional Spiritual Assistant

SA Training Coordinator

Divine Mercy Regional Website: https://divinemercyregion.com/ for News, Updates on Events, Registration Forms and Other Helpful Information

The website is updated frequently, so watch for new items!

J oins us together

E ncourages us to love

S aves us

U ses us as disciples S ends us forth.

Anonymous

Reprinted from

the DMR Newsletter

January, 1995

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Three Sisters in

Inquiry at St.

David's Fraternity in

Washington,

Michigan

Our mother, Mary Burghardt OFS, passed away

on January 4, 2017 at the age of 98. She attended

Mass often and her reverence when she received

the Eucharist was indescribable. Her face was

angelic as she closed her eyes and spoke with her

Father! She had a deep devotion to Our Blessed

Mother with whom she shared a birthday,

September 8th.

She was professed into the Secular Franciscan

Order on March 8, 1959 at Saint Bonaventure in

Detroit. Her life exemplified the virtues of St.

Francis and Fr. Solanus. She had a great influence

on many who knew her. It became our quest to

try to emulate the peace, kindness, selflessness,

spirituality, and deep faith she shared with us

throughout her life.

Because of this, all three of us have decided to

walk in her footsteps and are presently in the

inquiry stage of The OFS at Saint David’s

Fraternity in Washington, Michigan.

Cathy Prylow, Judy Bramos, Jane Freeman

Sister Bernardone (Hilda) Reining OSC

Sister Bernardone

Reining of the Sisters

of St. Clare in

Saginaw, Michigan,

died Sunday, January

7, 2018. She was born

on May 25, 1918, in

Adrian, Minnesota.

Sister Bernardone devoted 81 years in prayer and

service to God as a Catholic Religious sister. She

entered the Franciscan community of Our Lady of

Lourdes in 1937 in Rochester, Minnesota. In

1970, Sister Bernardone transferred to the

Minneapolis Poor Clare community. She was one

of the four sisters who accepted Bishop Ken

Untener’s invitation in 1991 to bring the Poor

Clare community to Saginaw. In 2016 she moved

to the Community Village Assisted Living.

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let

perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and

all the souls of the faithful departed, through the

mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

More From Around the Region

Upcoming Events Regional:

Spring Ministers Meeting, April 28th, 2018; Center for Ministry, Saginaw, Michigan

Annual Ministers Meeting, August 10-12, 2018; St. Francis Retreat Center, DeWitt, Michigan

Annual Day of Formation, October 27, 2018; Center for Ministry, Saginaw, Michigan

Of Interest:

Lenten Speaker Series, Wednesdays from February 21 to March 21, 2018; Franciscan Life Process

Center, Grand Rapids & Lowell, Michigan

For more events and updates, visit the Divine Mercy Regional Website at:

https://divinemercyregion.com/

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JPIC News, continued...

After much prayer and discussion with an

advocacy group, Todd and I agreed to become

Larry’s guardians. We wanted to help protect his

dignity and ensure that he was treated justly with

his medical issues.

Fast forward: I have been getting caught up with

the various tasks associated with being Larry’s

guardian, sometimes at the expense of simply

being present and enjoying time with him. His

dementia is increasing, along with other serious

health issues. On a particular day recently, Larry

was complaining about one thing after another.

We were going back and forth about bills and

doctors, when the Holy Spirit reminded me why I

was here--to love and respect Larry’s dignity, a

dignity that comes from God, not from what he

can or can’t do or understand. In that moment I

realized it was time to set aside the bigger picture

until later and be truly present with Larry. Instead

of passively listening to Larry talk about his pains

for the umpteenth time, I picked up his muscle

ointment and began carefully rubbing his

shoulders and neck, and then his hands. A peace

came over the room--the peace of acting justly,

loving intently and walking humbly with God.

God present in Larry, the personal soul right in

front of me.

Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding me of

my baptismal call to love. Forgive me for the

times I have looked at the tasks to be done rather

than the person in front of me. Renew in all of us

Your Spirit of love, peace and joy so that all in the

world may come to know You.

Together we learn and grow...

Amy Oatley OFS

Regional JPIC Coordinator and Councilor

Francis the Troubadour:

How Can I Keep From Singing?

This seminar will be held at St. Francis University

in Loretto, Pennsylvania on July 12-15, 2018.

The seminar will explore and highlight music in

Franciscan spirituality.

Presenters will be Cricket and Jerry Aull and Br.

Bob Herrick OFM Cap. The emphasis will be on

music and the expression of joy at this seminar.

See the last page of this newsletter for a

registration form containing more information.

Becoming Prayer, Becoming Presence:

A Workshop for Secular Franciscans

This seminar will be held at St. Bonaventure

University in St. Bonaventure, New York on

July 13-15, 2018. This is a workshop and it

will look at renewing our sense of God in our

lives. It will also explore practical ways for

us to establish contemplative space in our

lives as Franciscans.

The presenter will be Br. Richard Hendricks

OFM Cap., guardian of the Ards Friary and

Retreat Center in Donegal, Ireland. He has

taught the practice of meditation and

mindfulness for the past 20 years at the

Sanctuary Spirituality Centre in Dublin.

More information and online registration can

be found at the following internet address:

http://stbonavenue.com/events/becoming-

prayer-becoming-presence-a-workshop-for-

secular-franciscans/

See the Divine Mercy Region Website for

more events as they are announced!

https://divinemercyregion.com/

Summer Seminars for

Secular Franciscans

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