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Vol 8 Issue 8 August 2017
Seminarian
The CabrinianThe Cabrinian Newsletter of the St. Frances X. Cabrini Fraternity,
Secular Franciscan Order
Regular monthly fraternity gatherings begin at 1:30 PM on the 3rd Sunday of the month, unles
otherwise noted. Gatherings are held in St. George Hall, which is behind St. Nicholas Byzantine Church,
1051 Robinson Ave, Barberton.
Visitors, families and friends are always welcome to attend the gatherings and special events, like
the upcoming picnic! Please invite them.
What a wonderful gathering in July: we had pray-
er, fellowship, and ongoing formation. We were espe-
cially pleased to have one of the five Capuchin seminari-
ans, Kristhian Guillen, whom the St. Maximilian Kolbe
Region adopted present at our gathering. He is a native
of El Salvador. All of our monthly gatherings are great,
and they just keep getting better.
Kristhian shared that he worked for several years
to be able to have his mother and sister join him in this
country. For a number of years he has been discerning
his call to the priesthood. But the timing is always God’s.
We look forward to meeting the other Capuchin seminarians in the future. We will continue to pray
for them as they continue on their journey, seeking to do the will of God.
On Sunday the 20th of August, in lieu of our regular gathering, we will
have our Annual Fraternity Picnic. This will be held in the picnic pavilion at
St. Frances de Sales Parish, located at 4009 Manchester Rd., Akron (behind
the school). The facility is very nice.
During the July gathering individuals signed up to bring specific items
so there will be a nice balance of items. You didn’t have an opportunity to sign
up? Well, still come and enjoy good food, wonderful fellowship and prayer.
We will miss you if you aren’t present, the family will be incomplete.
Do you want to invite a guest? They would be most welcomed. Need a ride? Contact a fraternity
member. Someone will help you. Questions? Please contact Bob Burtscher or Debbie & Pepe Ventosa.
Want to invite someone? Good! We like meeting new people.
An update on members who are unable to attend fraternity gatherings, and who visits whom.
Shut-in Visited by:
Ruth Older———————Bill Marshall
Deanna & Pat Hurley—-Lee Gaydos
Joyce & Fred Browne—-ministered to by Roberto Meza
Excused Visited by:
Sandy Pollino——Eileen Dunlap, Maria & Roberto Meza
Betty Smith———Carol Perrine
Thank you to all these wonderful visitors.
August 2017 Pg. 2
Eucharistic Adoration Saturday
Mary Cate Roberts Sunday Betty DeMarco Mary Tag Paul Tag Monday Rose Akins Judith Hoyt Richard Russelo
Tuesday Maria Elena Meza Roberto Meza Larry McNutt Eileen Dunlap Wednesday Rick Dunlap Bill Marshall Dorothy Takacs Sandy Pollino
Thursday Joanne Angeletti Carol Perrine Sandy Pollino Friday Bob Burtscher Lee Gaydos Dave Gaydos Pepe Ventosa
by Debbie Ventosa, OFS
As Franciscans it is our duty to teach the truth. At times it is difficult; our
ego tempts us to be popular, and well liked. And in the world today the truth is
not always popular. However, we express truth from the heart, with love and con-
viction, aware of the promptings of the Holy Spirit to bring others to the truth.
In today’s society two critical area of life are being attacked: Motherhood,
and the Eucharist. We see society rejecting marriage as being between one man
and one woman. Sins against the Holy Eucharist are increasing with the unwor-
thy reception of Communion: those in a state of mortal sin, and those who are not
properly catechized. We are not to compromise the truth.
After learning from Fr. Dennis a few thoughts came to my mind. A society
that embraces a culture of death would certainly oppose motherhood. Mothers
bring forth life. They are co-creators with God. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our lives as
Catholic Christians. The Eucharist is truly the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of our Lord. The Eu-
charist is the life giving “Food for the Journey.” In a culture of death it is no wonder the attacks are
launched here.
Notes from Fr. Dennis’ Talk
What wonderful, life-giving
gifts we are given in these two
simple, basic foods, bread &
wine.
H
O
M
E
B
O
U
N
D
Bob Burtscher, OFS 21 yrs
Deanna Hurley, OFS 21 yrs
Pat Hurley, OFS 16 yrs
Carol Perrine, OFS 20 yrs
Betty Smith, OFS 21 yrs
Ruth Older, OFS 12 yrs
August Birthdays
Dorothy Takacs 8/2
Debbie Ventosa 8/6
August 2017 Page 3
August Profession Anniversaries
Please contact the editor if your birthday or anniversary is omitted. The records she has to work with
are incomplete.
Little Portion for August
Judith Hoyt will prepare the offering; Kenny Green will deliver the gift.
Thank you for caring for those less fortunate than us. We don’t know how
or why some people find themselves in very difficult situations, but this small gift
lets people know that someone does care about them—these lunches are packed
with care, love and prayers. It is not for us to judge, but only to love them as our
brothers and sisters. As Jesus told us, “What you do for the least of these you do for Me!”
September Fraternity Gathering
Please mark your calendar now. The September 17th fraternity gathering will
be at the Shrine of Our Lady, Comforter of the Afflicted in Youngstown.
Every month Fr. Dennis drives a distance to be with us for our gatherings.
In September we will do the driving. More information will be shared closer to the
date.
Do you have extra plastic grocery bags in your home? Before you return them to the store
for recycling, (you do recycle, don’t you?) check with Joanne Angeletti. She uses plastic grocery
bags to crochet mats for homeless people. This is really recycling with a specific purpose.
Want to help with this project, or even learn how to make them yourself? Please talk with
Joanne. There is a certain amount of cutting necessary to prepare the bags for the project. That
would help her. If you want to learn how to crochet the mats she would be glad to teach you.
Nifty Recycling—-and Making a Difference in Lives
Happy Birthday During the July Initial Formation Class at the
home of the Ventosas was special; they celebrated
Cindy Russo’s birthday.
l-r: Chris Devore, Leeann Devore, Paul Tag, OFS,
Mary Tag, OFS, Cindy Russo,
Debbie Ventosa, OFS, Pepe Ventosa, OFS
Notes from On-going Formation in July
Pg 4 August 2017
Pepe Ventosa presented on-going formation
at the July gathering. It was excellent. He spoke
on article 17.4 of our General Constitution.
This is a great overview of what he taught.
If you were not able to be present, here are the
basics. This is the lesson, in Pepe’s words.
We were reminded that one purpose of our
Constitution is to help us live our Rule. This arti-
cle explains how to live Rule 6, which challenges
us to go out and be witnesses and instruments of
the Church’s mission.
By virtue of our Baptism we share in Jesus’
threefold mission as prophet, king and priest (art.
17.4). This article explains how to participate in
the office of priest, which has to do with sanctifica-
tion. In the Catechism of the Catholic Church ,
#901, Pepe noted our prayers, family life, daily
work and hardships in life can becomes spiritual
sacrifices if they are accomplished in the Spirt.
Thus we share in the role of sanctification. Some
other ways we can participle in this role: being a
lector, a Eucharistic Minister or presiding over
prayer services.
The article continues, pointing out that we are
called to participation in the mission of sanctifica-
tion, first and foremost in our families and with
those entrusted to us. A Secular Franciscan who is
unable to attend our gatherings because he or she is
attending to the needs of a sick family member is
indeed living his or her Franciscan vocation. After
the family, Secular Franciscans participate in the
service of sanctification in the fraternity. Although
we may think this service should be done first in the
Church, and then in the fraternity, this article spe-
cifically states it is the other way around. The Holy
Spirt gave St. Francis a special charism which is ori-
ented toward the sanctification of the whole world.
It is through our profession in the OFS, and then by
living in our Franciscan community, that we receive
and nurture this gift from the Holy Spirit.
Then, empowered by this gift, the Franciscan
charism, we go out and serve the Church, and socie-
ty in general. An individual who is so involved in
various ministries of the Church, i.e., teaching, visit-
ing the sick, participating in prayer groups, minis-
tering to the homeless, and so many wonderful min-
istries in the Church, but not having time to attend
to his/her fraternity gatherings and activities is not
living his or her Franciscan vocation. He/she may
be fulfilling duties as a part of the laity, but not ful-
filling the duties as a Franciscan.
We have been called by the Holy Spirit to a
Franciscan vocation, and to become partakers of the
charism given to St. Francis. What a blessing! We
have a duty to develop and nurture this gift in order
to share it with others for their sanctification. Arti-
cle 17.4 teaches that we are first to share this gift in
our family, then in the fraternity, and finally in the
Church and society.
Ask yourself: Am I truly living my Francis-
can vocation as explained by Article 17.4? If the
answer is “No,” study this article, and ask the Holy
Spirit to guide you, and help you to live His call
more faithfully.
Each of us accepted His invitation to the OFS.
It is now up to us to live it more fully.
Pepe Ventosa, OFS
Ongoing formation is important. Learning does not cease with Profession but
is just a beginning. We have some members in our fraternity who truly have the
gift of teaching, and they have a wide variety of styles. Wonderful!
You can help by submitting an article on “your” Franciscan saint whose name
you drew at the January gathering. The editor will help, if needed with grammar,
spelling and so forth. The first step is always the hardest step.
And, no, the cat can’t help you!