Message from the Minister Regional Executive Council

Minister Kathleen Molaro, OFS

(530) 272-1416 kmmolaro@gmail.com

Vice Minister Jack Jackson, OFS

(209)777-1361 rhpjack@aol.com

Secretary Sara Ingalls, OFS

(916) 450-0130 ingallssm@gmail.com

Treasurer Dianne Prior, OFS

(707) 252-1506 prior_di@hotmail.com

Formation Director John Ziemienski, OFS

(916) 402-7797 zfjsfo@yahoo.com

Councilors

Area 1 Dirk Wohlau, OFS

(530) 876-1613 dirk_wohlau@yahoo.co

m

Area 2 Pearla Cuerdo, OFS

( 707) 386-3403

perdan05@comcast.net

Area 3 Diane Creedon, OFS

(650) 692-9979 dianecreedon@sbcglob

al.net

Regional Spiritual Assistants

Br. Alexander Escalera, OFM, Cap

(408) 316-0117 siralisander@yahoo.co

m Robert Brady, OFM

(415) 341-7374 ofmcafci@aol.com

Blessed Junipero Serra Region of the Secular Franciscan Order Established October 29, 1993

Northern and Centra l Ca l iforn ia and Northern Nevada

Messengers of Joy Regiona l Newsletter

Spr ing 2015Volume 25, Number 1

www.juniperoserraregion.com

My dear brothers and sisters, Recently, the Council spent time reflecting on what we've learned in our first year as your leaders. Here are some of our responses:

“I need to spend time in prayer in order to listen for God's will. It is God's Order...not mine.” “Visiting other fraternities has helped me understand the dynamics and differences in each group. I've discovered depth and meaning in the Order and within myself.” “Personal contact with others has given me confidence and hope. I can step back and 'let things be' that I have no control over, and step in where I'm needed.” “The Holy Spirit is definitely at work. I am grateful for blessings both in the pain and the positive energy and joy throughout the Region.” “It has been a challenge to balance the needs of the fraternities with what we are doing, and to spend time in dialogue and problem solving. Flexibility, patience, and listening are so important.” “I've been inspired and animated by the eagerness I've observed. Many newer folks are asking, with expectant joy, 'what's next?' We can learn from them, and become excited again about our vocations!” “I keep asking 'What am I supposed to be doing?' I've appreciated that we're working together as a true family. I am not alone!” “The world is in such need of us! As a Secular Franciscan, I can do my part by approaching people with kindness, openness, and respect. I've met people all over the Region who are doing that.” “Each fraternity is unique and beautiful. It has given me great joy to see the Spirit working in different ways. It is humbling, and has moved me toward greater trust in God!” “People have been so forgiving of mistakes. They appreciate our work, and have graciously accepted us with our gifts and our flaws! Their words of encouragement are balm to the soul.”

In our General Constitutions in Article 31, Ministers are told that we should “seek to inspire life and soul into our fraternities by our own witness, and by suggesting and implementing means toward vibrant life in fraternity.” It seems the main thing we've discovered is that so many of you are living that Article! Often, the whole fraternity is alive and energetic in their faith. We are all a family, and your local leaders need support, love, patience, and forgiveness too. During the Easter season, we are invited to New Life. Remember to include your own vocation and your Franciscan family in your response to the invitation! Reflect on Paul's words to the Corinthians, by putting your own name and then your Fraternity name in place of “love.” The practice works well as an “examination of conscience,” for both you and your Fraternity. “Love is patient; love is kind. Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love's forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure. Love never fails!” (1 Cor. 13: 4-9) We pray that our second year will be even better than our first, and look forward to spending life giving time and energy with our big Franciscan family. Peace and all good, Kathleen

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“Be the Joyful

Face of Christ

To All!”

Blessed Junipero Serra Region

www.juniperoserraregion.com

Secular Franciscan

Order

Blessed Junipero Serra Regional Fraternity

Regional Chapter 2015

San Damiano Retreat, Danville, CA

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Regional Executive Council

Regional Spiritual Assistants

Front row: John Ziemienski OFS, Regional Formation Director; Kathleen Molaro OFS, Regional Minister; Jack Jackson OFS, Regional Vice-Minister; Sara Ingalls OFS, Regional Secretary. Back row: Sharon Gianelli OFS, Councilor-Area 1; Dianne Prior OFS, Regional Treasurer; Diane Creedon OFS, Councilor-Area 3; Dirk Wohlau OFS, Councilor-Area 2.

Alexander Escalera, OFM Cap. and Robert Brady, OFM

Past and Present Regional Ministers

Kathleen Molaro OFS (Current Minister), Anne Twitchell OFS, and Cindy Wesley OFS

Regional Area Discussion Groups

Member from the three regional areas had an opportunity to do some sharing small group sharing.

////////////////////////////

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In Memoriam Blessed Junipero Serra Region

2014 Agnes Hahm, OFS Sung Antonio Ruth Lanefeld, OFS Our Lady of Angels Salvador Tejera OFS San Pedro Bautista Maria Satori OFS St. Thomas More Gerald Lowry, OFS St. Elizabeth Josefina Sanchez OFS San Felipe de Jesus Mary McSweeney, OFS St. Elizabeth Pierre Breuinin, OFS Bl. Junipero Serra Helen Della Pietra OFS Our Lady of Angel Connie Langford OFS Sacred Heart Teresa Hickman OFS Our Lady of Angels Peggie Lambert OFS Our Lady of Angels Leonor Gomeztrajo 0FS St. Francis SF Xavier Harris OFM Mt. Alverno Fr. Ed O’Keefe OFM Cap.

Remembrance of the Dead At every Chapter, a traditional prayer service is held honoring the

deceased members of the region.

Regional Spiritual Assistant Certification Ceremony

Congratulations to the newly certified Spiritual Assistants for the region:

Susan Lavine, OFS and Peter Pak, OFS.

2015 Formation Workshops Information - Formation - Transformation

The question for us is always "how can we turn information into transformation?" How can we use the sacred texts, tradition, and experience to lead people into new places with God, with life, with themselves? Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM

Initial FormationFormation Topics Made Easy, Standard Curriculum Cross Reference, New Easy to Follow Initial Formation Forms, Materials & Resources, Formation Team, Learning Environment, and the Fraternity Formation Working Binder

Ongoing FormationTransformative Franciscan life, Action & Contemplation

SharingDiscussion sharing of ideas and best practices

Take AwaysEach Fraternity will receive a folder and CD of the materials presented.

Fraternity Location #

Name of Attendee Position on Council (if any)

(Write additional names on back if you wish)

Send registration to: Sara Ingalls, OFS ingallssm@gmail.com8582 Everglade Dr., Sacramento, CA 95826

March 21Our Lady of Angels Church, 1721 Hillside Dr., Burlingame, 94010 (Lower Hall on Cortez Ave, behind the church, in middle of the block and below the large gym.) (Spanish offered at this workshop.)

March 28Nazareth House, 2121 North 1st St., Fresno, 93703 (We are still looking for someone to help the Spanish translation.)

April 11St. Francis Church, 1066 26th St., Sacramento, 95816 (Assisi room, behind the church)

Workshop Time 9:30am to 3:00pm with a break for lunch(Bring your own lunch)

Please bring your Regional Formation Manual, Fraternity Formation Working Binder, FUN Manual and your formation ideas and best practices to share.

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Formation 2015

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Please join us for a Franciscan Day of Joy!

Saint Francis Secular Franciscan Fraternity San Francisco

100th Anniversary Celebration October 3rd, 2015

8:30 - 3:30 How does God Delight in us? How do we delight in God? How do we make joy visible?

Key Note Speaker: Jack Clark Robinson, O.F.M. Raised a Southern Baptist, Jack entered the Roman Catholic Church in college and afterwards attempted to run away from a religious vocation by going to law school, but God caught up with him. He graduated from law school, passed the bar exam to become a lawyer and went off to the Franciscan seminary all within a four month span in 1979. Once in Franciscan formation he was sent from Ohio to the Southwest, where he fell in love with the land and the people. In 1986 he became the first Franciscan ever ordained in a Native American Pueblo. He has been teaching ever since in Franciscan formation programs from New Mexico to Indiana to California to Wisconsin to Singapore. He has worked with the Academy of American Franciscan History since 2007 and currently is the Chairman of the Members. His Franciscan brothers of Our Lady of Guadalupe Province

elected him their Minister Provincial in June of 2014. When asked if he could sum up what Jesus taught in one sentence, Jack replied, “Believe that God loves you, and live your life in response to that love.” Jack has been trying to share that same message with others for almost thirty-five years as a Franciscan friar!

Sr. Margie Will, O.S.F.Margie Will, O.S.F. is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity.  Drawing on the Franciscan contemplative tradition and the expressive arts, Margie is a popular teacher, preacher, retreat leader and speaker for local parish groups and national audiences.  She most recently was a keynote speaker at the 2014 National Franciscan Federation Gathering in St. Louis Missouri. In 2008 Margie founded Franciscan Living, a nonprofit organization, to identify and create opportunities to assist people to embody the Franciscan Charism in their daily lives.  She is currently the executive director of the Franciscan Living Urban Center for Spirituality where she leads monthly Sabbath Days of Prayer, convenes a Franciscan Presence Circle, staffs a weekly Soul-Space studio, and offers spiritual direction from a Franciscan perspective.  Margie holds an M.T.S. in theology from the Franciscan School

of Theology, formerly of Berkeley, as well as certificates in Spiritual Direction and Soul-Collage.  She may be reached at MargieW@FranciscanLiving.org.

REGISTRATION FORM FOR 100th ANNIVERSARY of St. Francis Fraternity on Oct 3, 2015

Conference at St. Boniface Auditorium from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Sign up with donation by August 31, 2015. Suggested(dona,on($20,(but(anything(you(can(contribute(is(greatly(appreciated(Please(bring(food(to(share.(

Name: ______________________________ Phone: ______________________

Email: ______________________________ Address: ________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _______________________ Fraternity: _______________________________________

Send checks to: St. Francis Fraternity, 1517 North Point #424, San Francisco, CA 94123

Phone (415) 931 3146. E-mail is lucania9@yahoo.com

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mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Announcements mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Evangilization Through Art

Attention All Franciscan Artists: If there are any Franciscan artists who are interested in sharing their visual art with the greater community, or are already doing so, we ask you to let us know of your special interests and talents. Our goal is to design some kind of publication that would help spread the word about who we are and what we are doing as Franciscans. Being a part of this project would be a great way to obtain wider exposure for yourself and your artwork, but more importantly a way for you to be an evangelist by using your God given talents for His glory.

Does your art serve in some way? We ask each Franciscan artist to share how you are using your art to evangelize within your fraternity, region, parish, and community. For instance, one artist donated a work of art to sell and the proceeds went to the region. Another used her drawing to create a flier about Secular Franciscans for her fraternity to distribute. Perhaps your art is hanging in a church or parish hall, sharing the Gospel with others. These all helped spread the word, and gave people a glimpse of who we are and how we express our Franciscan charism through our art. Please send your comments and contact information to Richard Freitas, richard85321@comcast.net or call Richard at 559-301-4894 in Fresno, California. (cc to Kathleen Molaro, Junipero Serra Regional Minister, kmmolaro@gmail.com)

Pilgrimage Places Pilgrimage Places aren't always churches. Forestiere's Underground Gardens is a treasure hidden away in Fresno. Built by a Sicilian immigrant who came to America in 1901, the Gardens are a subterranean complex of patios, grottos, and garden courts connecting the passageways that surrounded the living quarters of the artist. A Roman Catholic, Forestiere patterned his underground world after the ancient catacombs. The website says, “But unlike the catacombs that protected the remnants of the lifeless, Forestiere designed well-lit courtyards and grottos to bring forth the radiance and vitality of life.” Forestiere also incorporated the biblical numbers of three and seven

throughout, such as trees he grafted with seven different types of fruit and Trinity Courtyard, built in a triangle, with three planter wings containing three fruit trees and three benches. There is even a 100-year old vine, with three main branches, that still bears purple grapes, and a chapel with seven entrances! Another fact that will appeal to us as Secular Franciscans is that Forestiere was an environmentalist. His plans served to protect against the elements, the design originating from his need to be cool in the intense heat of Fresno. By residing underground, he not only had natural insulation, but he lived a simple life style, with no need to buy furnishings or embellishments. The sky and trees that reach through the underground to the space of light above, provided beauty instead. Dirt was excavated to use for stonework and hand formed hardpan chunks stacked to level the land. This is truly a remarkable place, and well worth a pilgrimage.

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(((((((((((((((((((((((((

Money Matters (((((((((((((((((((((((((

The Fraternity and Parish Relationship

It has come to our attention that some fraternities are dealing with issues regarding their financial relationship with their local parish. Many are required to participate in parish

fund raising, or pay a large fee toward parish supported charities if they don't fund raise themselves. Depending on Diocesan rules, often, parishes also require any “ministry” to submit a budget report, turn over any funds received, and are not allowed to act independently at all in financial matters.

However, a fraternity is not a parish ministry. We are Canonically established within the Franciscan Order, and are accountable to our Order, not our parish. As Catholic individuals, and sometimes as a fraternity, we often become very involved in our parishes, especially if we don't have a fraternity apostolate that takes us outside our parish. But that doesn't mean we are a ministry. As a fraternity, we have no financial obligations to our parish other than a use fee which might be required if we meet on church property. Fraternities often consist of members from many different parishes, and our affiliation will be with our individual parishes, even though we may gather at a particular church.

In spite of that, we also want to be careful how we approach the subject. It's important to remain on good terms with our parishes, especially our priests and those we work with. They probably don't understand what a fraternity is and who we are as Secular Franciscans. It's vital that we act in a holy, joyful, peaceful manner in order to build healthy relationships. There is no rule that we can't get involved in a parish fund raiser, but it should be clear that we do it by choice, not obligation.

If you do have a financial problem with your parish, here are some suggestions: ✴ Make an appointment to speak to your parish priest. Perhaps you can give him a book about St. Francis as

a gift from your fraternity, and invite him to attend a gathering.

✴ As Franciscans, offer to get involved in one of the parish fund raisers as a good will effort. Take the initiative by stating, “We are not a ministry, but are glad to help. What would you like us to do?”

✴ Ask to speak at a Parish Council or Financial committee meeting to clarify. Be the joyful face of Christ, thank them for their hard work, then politely share what a fraternity is.

✴ Discuss time, talent, treasure with your fraternity, in case there are misconceptions, concerns, or disagreements. Why do members contribute outside the fraternity rather than within? How can your fraternity address the issue of setting priorities? Good dialogue can elicit good ideas.

Another money issue to consider, is that although we all want to support our parishes with our time, talent, and treasure, sometimes that is at the expense of not being able to fulfill our Fraternity or Regional responsibilities. We've all heard “I can't afford to contribute to Common Fund because our church is collecting for...,” Or “I'm too busy with church involvements to come to our Fraternity Gathering.” If that is the case, you may need to reconsider your priorities, both as individuals and as fraternities. We are all responsible for animating the fraternity. By contributing financially, personal presence, witness, prayer, and active collaboration, we insure life-giving union with other members of the Franciscan family.

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House Retreats

House Retreats are offered at different times throughout the year. While they each have a separate focus, there is an underlying Franciscan Spirituality. The typical retreat begins on Friday evening with supper and continues on to Lunch on Sunday. Click here to check on our current offerings. (link to retreat schedule, link to facilities page)

We also offer shorter “Days of Recollection” on most of the First Fridays of the year. The current listing will include the theme of the day. We begin with coffee and coffee cake at 9:30am with the first session at 10:00am. Lunch is included and we conclude with either Mass or another session at 1:00pm. No reservations are necessary for the Days of Recollection.

July 24-26, 2015: Gathering at the Well with St. Clare of Assisi Sister Loretta Schaf, OSF

Come! Gather at the well of Clare of Assisi an drink deeply from the waters of her spirituality. Befriend this amazing Franciscan woman. Be strengthened by her wisdom and companionship that will nourish the spiritual journey of our hearts.

$220 (single) / $180 each (double occupancy) limited scholarships are available

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FOOD CHAIN$Documentary film now available on Netflix

There is more interest in food these days than ever, yet there is very little interest in the hands that pick it. Farmworkers, the foundation of our fresh food industry, are routinely abused and robbed of wages. In extreme cases they can be beaten, sexually harassed or even enslaved – all within the borders of the United States.

Food Chains reveals the human cost in our food supply and the complicity of large buyers of produce like fast food and supermarkets. Fast food is big, but supermarkets are bigger – earning $4 trillion globally. They have tremendous power over the agricultural system. Over the past 3 decades they have drained revenue from their supply chain leaving farmworkers in poverty and forced to work under subhuman conditions. Yet many take no responsibility for this.

The narrative of the film focuses on an intrepid and highly lauded group of tomato pickers from Southern Florida – the Coalition of Immokalee Workers or CIW – who are revolutionizing farm labor. Their story is one of hope and promise for the triumph of morality over corporate greed – to ensure a dignified life for farm workers and a more humane, transparent food chain.

Franciscan Retreats

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549 Mission Vineyard Rd., San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 Phone: 831-623-4234 Fax: 831-623-9046

stfrancisretreat.com

Messengers of Joy Newsletter Jim Wesley, OFS 846 Calimex Pl. Nipomo, CA 93444

Minsters, please make copies of the newsletter and distribute to each of the members in your fraternity. Thank you!

Blessed Junipero Serra Region of the Secular Franciscan OrderEstablished October 29, 1993

Messengers of JoyRegional Newsletter

August 2007Spring 2014