Newsletter July 07

Volume 11, Issue 3

July 2007

TAU CROSS REGION

The Newsletter of the Secular Franciscan Order for The Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York

ULFILL THE GOOD WORK YOU HAVE BEGUN IN US, LORD

On April 22, at St. Adalbert’s Church, we had our regional election. With the election of this new council, I believe the “good work” begun in our region will continue and will be fulfilled. The newly elected are: Pauline DiCicco from Holy Poverty Fraternity, is Vice-minister; Raymond Clarke, from Queen of All Saints (em) Fraternity, is our Secretary; Peter D’Amato, our Treasurer is from Our Lady, Queen of Angels Fraternity; Bob Campbell from Bl. Raymond Lull Fraternity is now the Formation Director; Joan Geiger from St. Michael’s Fraternity is our Councilor; and Father Matthias Wesnofske, OFM Cap. continues to be our Spiritual Assistant; and I have been reelected as your Minister. I thank you for allowing me to continue to serve you, and ask that you pray for me and for the council that by animating and guiding the region wisely we will all live our Franciscan Way of Life fully and become a visible presence in our homes, neighborhoods, parishes, workplaces, and the world. This new three year tem of office means it is again time for fraternity visitations by the region. Please contact me (516-221-9619) or jpon2@aol.com to arrange for your visitation. Every fraternity needs to be visited in these three years, so we need to start scheduling them now. I will send you pre-visitation forms for the fraternity council to fill out and return before the visitation.

Every so often a situation arises that makes it necessary for me to remind everyone of something we know; this is one of those times. Our fraternity membership rosters, lists of fraternities, ministers, spiritual assistants, etc., include those e-mail addresses given for fraternity contacts, and may only be used for Tau Cross Region Secular Franciscan purposes. These lists cannot be given to any other person or group, or other religious organizations, no matter how worthy the cause. They cannot be used by a Secular for their own purposes.

Kathy Taormina, National Youth/Young Adult Commissioner, reports they are thrilled to announce that $11,853.78 was collected for the 2007 H2O Lenten Project., as of June 1^st. They have once again surpassed all hopes. $1250 will be donated to Mercy Ships for Clean Water Projects, and $10603.78 will be donated to the Franciscan Mission Service for Clean Water Projects in Bolivia, S.A. Thanks to all the fraternities who participated in this Lenten project. Those who have more are helping those who have less.

The perpetual novena for Darfur continues; our next assigned time is the first week in September—Sept.2^nd to Sept.8^th. If you need more copies of the prayer, let me know and I will send them to you. Although as I write the fighting and killing goes on, two positive actions have been taken recently. President Bush has announced new economic sanctions against the Sudan, and Pope Benedict XVI urged the Sudanese government to stop the military campaign in Darfur and implement a political solution that respects the country’s minorities. So let’s

keep praying the novena until peace comes to Darfur. You can go to www.savedarfur.org. for additional ways of responding to this crisis.

The Catholic Peace Fellowship reports that the Church has granted official recognition to Franz Jagerstatter, a Catholic conscientious objector from Hitler’s army, as a martyr for the faith, clearing the way for his beatification and eventual canonization. A Third Order (Secular) Franciscan, husband and father of three, Franz was beheaded on August 9, 1943 for refusing any collaboration with the Nazis. Those with the title of Blessed are worthy of both imitation and veneration. We can now pray to Franz for the wisdom and courage to find ways to solve problems without violence, to object to violence, and to live the Rule by removing violence from our lives.

I will report to you on the Quinquennial Congress that I will attend in Pittsburgh, July 3-8. It is always a wonderful learning experience to be with Seculars from all over the county, sharing how we live our Franciscanism.

To the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, many thanks for the Canticle Lecture Series they are sponsoring for Seculars. The next section of the series will be on Sept. 29^th, 2007. Bro. Ed Bacon, OFS will present on “Franciscan Spirituality”. †

Fr Matthias Wesnofske OFM Cap: (212) 564-9070 ext 244; email Mwesnof1@aol.com

TO BE A SECULAR FRANCISCAN

N MY HOUSE WE HAVE A CAPUCHIN FROM INDIA, FR. VALERIAN, WORKING WITH US. IN INDIA, HE WORKED IN A PARISH that had a Secular Franciscan Fraternity of about 40 members. We were talking about the Secular Franciscans and some of the difficulties today, here in the United States, where members are involved in so many activities, belong to different societies, don’t see the Third Order as a priority, or as a distinct vocation. Some will even leave the Order or participate in the fraternity infrequently.

Fr. Valerian said that would be rare in India. He mentioned that many of the members of the Secular Order in India have very important jobs but their vocation as a Secular Franciscan is paramount. Most of the members of the Government Ministry in several states are Secular Franciscans. In one state five bishops are Secular Franciscans. They are all very busy people and have professions and jobs of great responsibility. But the Order is most important to them.

I replied that the Seculars have many opportunities to engage in various apostolates and ministries within the Church today and they don’t need the Order as perhaps they did in the past. I felt I was excusing the Secular Franciscans from attendance at gatherings, and from living the vocation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Fr. Valerian said that I was a Capuchin, and I could be a lecturer at a University, or a chaplain at a hospital or a prison, but I was, above all, a Capuchin. After my work I would return to my fraternity, I would pray, eat and recreate with my fraternity. I was not a chaplain or a teacher; I was a Capuchin. So with the Secular Franciscans. They could be plumbers, teachers, nurses, doctors, taxi cab drivers, or lawyers. They could be Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist or Lectors or teachers in RCIA programs. But their identity is not found in these jobs or ministries. Their identity is to be a Secular Franciscan. The SFO is an Order primarily, and not an association or a society. Belonging to an SFO family is a way of life. It is a vocation within a vocation. It can be a vocation within the vocation of the priesthood, or married life and the family, or the single life.

Father Valerian also said that 75% of the religious vocations (men and women), in his diocese, came from an SFO family, the children of an SFO member.

He also mentioned how the SFO had many homes for the elderly that were built by the SFO and maintained by them. Different fraternities would work there on different days of the week. When a family had a celebration; a wedding, a baptism or graduation or even a birthday party, they considered the elderly in these homes as part of their family and they were invited to take part in the celebration or to share in the food of the celebration. In some cases the monetary gifts received were shared with the elderly SFO members in these ashrams.

What Fr. Valerian said to me helped me in understanding my vocation. Perhaps it will help you in an appreciation of the vocation to which you have been called. †

N OUR INITIAL FORMATION AS WELL AS ONGOING FOR-MATION, WE ARE ENCOURAGED TO REVIEW THE LIFE OF ST. Francis of Assisi - not so much to imitate his life as to recognize how Francis imitated the life of Jesus. We realize that many of the actions Francis undertook are not ways we can follow; his final words to the brothers give us encouragement in that regard: "I have done what it was for me to do; now you must pray that God will show you what you are to do."

We look at the life of Francis to see directions in which he pointed his followers. One such was his determination to make contact with the Muslims and to have dialogue with them. In 1217 his prayers were answered, as the Lord provided an opportunity for Francis to meet Meledin, the Muslim Sultan of Egypt. [Note: If you don't know the story of this meeting with the Sultan, check with your fraternity's Formation Director or Spiritual Assistant for references—or contact me.] When Francis marched boldly into the camp of the Sultan in Damietta, he knew that if he entered into a true dialogue and spoke the truth, the Sultan would recognize the same God in Francis' word as in his own and he would recognize that they were brothers. We too are called today—when there is so much mistrust between Christians and Muslims—to do the same. We fear terrorism and perhaps connect all Muslims with it—although it is the Muslim extremists who are responsible. However, many Muslims seek solace in the life and ideals of Francis, as I learned recently in a news item from ZENIT*. Here are excerpts from that news item:

"The faith of St. Francis has drawn a Muslim historian, Neslihan Senocak, an assistant professor of history in Cyprus, to Italy, furthering her studies of the medieval Franciscan Order. Speaking with ZENIT, Senocak explained why St. Francis says something to her as a Muslim historian: I was attracted to the history of the Franciscan Order because it is the story of individual devotion, determination and piety transformed in a gigantic international movement with thousands of followers....I personally admire St. Francis, and his principles, and believe that anyone of whichever religion can find a wealth of insight about how to attain virtue in Francis' life and sayings. It is impossible for any two communities to establish a bond if they do not know each other and, even worse, if they have negative prejudices about each other….If there is to be a dialogue between a Christian and a Muslim, I do not see why it should differ from any other kind of dialogue or friendship in our lives."

I urge you to include the topic, of Christian-Muslim dialogue as part of ongoing formation at one of your fraternity gatherings. Here are some discussion questions you could use:

3. Would I be bold enough to engage in dialogue with a Muslim regarding my Franciscan spirituality? †

*ZENIT is an International News Agency, whose mission is to provide objective coverage of events, documents and issues emanating from or concerning the Catholic Church. Go to www.zenit.org.

On May 19, in Howard Beach, Vincent LaRegina, Ronald Rossi and Stephen Subial were admitted into St Helen Fraternity. Rachele Sannino, Vice Minister, presided.

On May 27, in South Ozone Park, Marie Sonia Jacob was admitted into St Michael Fraternity. Joan Geiger, Minister, presided. Fr Matthias Wesnofske OFM Cap was Friar Witness.

On May 20, in The Bronx, Ronald Barbera was professed into Holy Cross Fraternity. Raymond Miranda, Minister, presided.

April 6-7: Immaculate Conception Fraternity participated in a 23-hour pro-life vigil in The Bronx

April 17-19: Regional Retreat at Cormaria, Sag Harbor; Retreat Master Fr Matthias Wesnofske OFM Cap

April 28: Regional Chapter of Elections at St Adalbert Parish Center, Elmhurst

 May 20: Day of Discovery, sponsored by New Pentecost Fraternity at St Matthew Church, Dix Hills

June 2: Canticle Series, sponsored by Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, Praying with St Clare, presented by Sr Mary Frances Foley OSC at Mount Alvernia, Centerport

June 16: Day of Recollection sponsored by Blessed Raymond Lull and Our Lady of Atonement Fraternities, at Tabor Retreat Center, Oceanside; Presenter Brother Salvatore Patricola OFM Cap

June 29-Jul 1: Annual Retreat sponsored by St Adalbert Fraternity at Mount Alvernia, Wappingers Falls; Retreat Master Fr Paul Miskiewicz OFM Conv

“Christ in the City”, Retreats at Church of St John the Baptist, 210 West 31^st Street, NYC: Saturdays, 4 to 10 pm; contact Brother Salvatore Patricola OFM Cap, (212) 564-9070 ext 247

August 25: Day of Recollection, sponsored by St Lawrence of Brindisi Fraternity, at Our Lady of the Island Shrine, Eastport; contact Gerry Crean (631) 589-6481

October 13: Day of Recollection, sponsored by Our Lady Queen of Angels Fraternity, at Cenacle Retreat House, Ronkonkoma; contact Pete D’Amato (631) 331-7680

September 22-24: Franciscan Weekend of Prayer at Franciscan Center, Hastings on Hudson, presenter Fr Michael Connolly OFM Cap; call (914) 478-3930 for information

September 29: Canticle Series, topic “Franciscan Spirituality” presented by Brother Ed Bacon OSF, at Mount Alvernia, Centerport, 10 am – 3 pm; call (631) 261-5730 for information

FORTY TWO SECULAR FRANCIS-cans from The Tau Cross Region SFO attended the annual Regional retreat, which was held at Cormaria Retreat House, Sag Harbor NY, on April 17-19. The Retreat Master was Fr Matthias Wesnofske OFM Cap, the Regional Spiritual Assistant. Father Matt gave talks that were relevant to Secular Franciscan life, which included these topics: fruitfulness, aging (especially relevant to most of the retreatants!), apathy, sexuality, peace, and Christian joy. We celebrated Mass and Divine Office each day; on Wednesday we also celebrated a Holy Hour, which was dedicated to St Elizabeth of Hungary, the Patroness of the Secular Franciscan Order. †

AS WE ARRIVED AT THE CIRCULAR entranceway of Cormaria for the Region’s annual retreat, I realized how I had been anticipating the opportunity to yet again partake in this rich, spiritual Franciscan experience. I actually felt a little guilty about the fact that I have been able to make it to the South Fork shores of the Peconic Bay for five years now, while many of my fellow Franciscans have never had the opportunity to do so. The fact is that this year I began thinking about this respite around St. Patrick’s Day like a kid anticipating Christmas morning.

Why? What is so special about this tradition that has become a part of my fraternity life? Is it the sense of reunion that many of us experience in seeing the familiar and joyful faces of our brothers and sisters. many of whom have also carefully planned so that they could be present for yet another year? Is it the beauty of the setting with its intimate chapel and lovely landscapes just beginning to react to the warmth of spring? This year we had to deal with the tail end of the Nor’easter that was battering Long Island; but even the rain and wind seemed to heighten the sense of the warmth and well being that permeates the cozy and comfortable retreat house.

Perhaps it’s the good humor and sense of sharing that is found at meal times when many a good joke is told and discussion is had. I realize that I would never have had the opportunity to really get to know many of my fellow Franciscans the way I do, had it not been for the many meals we shared together in the Cormaria Refectory, which is surrounded by glass windows and has a stunning view of the sunrise over the Peconic—if you get up early enough for your morning prayer and that first cup of delicious coffee. While Regional meetings and other special events are great, they can’t compare with the experience of having the time to really get to know other Franciscans from fraternities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk; what their fraternity and family lives are like; the good works they are doing; what they are planning and the possibility of collaboration in the future.

And finally and most importantly, it’s the creation of a three day “prayer community” which incorporates morning and evening prayer, exposition and Benediction, the celebration of daily Mass, retreat-master homilies and presentations which speak to our shared Franciscanism, and surrounding it all (and except for mealtimes) a blessed and a profound rule of silence which allows for a synthesis of these holy gifts in our minds and hearts and time for us all to listen to what He has to tell us.

If you have been there, you know of what I speak. If you haven’t been there, do yourself a huge favor and plan to put aside the time to do it next year. What the world wants of you for those three days will be waiting for you when you return and I guarantee you will feel much better having had the experience. †

THE 'FRANCISCAN WAY' A DAY OF Discovery, was held at St. Mathew Church in Dix Hills on Sunday, May 20, 2007. About 40 people came and enjoyed the food supplied by several members of five different Fraternities from our Tau Cross Region: Our Regional Spiritual Assistant Father Matthias Wesnofske, OFM Cap., our Regional Minister Barbara O'Neill and her husband were in attendance along with members of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor and a Priest and a Brother of the Renewal.

It was a great occasion for Franciscan fellowship; about 10 or more people inquired about the Franciscan Orders. We sang hymns and talked the afternoon away with Franciscan Joy reigning.

The day gave us a template for future Vocations gatherings. Thanks to all the people who made the day possible. The New Pentecost Fraternity sponsored the event with Queen of Angels Fraternity. Members of St. Adalbert, Ave Maria, and Blessed Raymond Lull Fraternities were also in attendance. Special thanks go to the Pastor of St. Matthew, Father McCartney, for hosting all of us. †

This short, readable biography of Elizabeth, coming just in time for the eighth centenary of her birth (1207-2007), is the first one based on original up-to-date research to be published in English in more than 50 years. It includes an English translation of the testimonies given by her closest friends at her canonization process, along with newly-discovered testimonies never before translated into English; and a section of prayers, litanies and scriptural passages for private meditation or group celebrations. Approx. 128 pages, paperback.

Lori Pieper, SFO, received her Ph.D. in Medieval History from Fordham University. She specializes in women's history, hagiography and church history. Her dissertation was published in 2007 as St. Elizabeth of Hungary: The Voice of a Medieval Woman and Franciscan Penitent in the Sources for Her Life. In 2006 she was asked by CIOFS (International Council of the Secular Franciscan Order) to work on the two-year program for formation on St. Elizabeth. She also spoke about the saint at the 2007 historical conference on her life at the Antonianum in Rome. She is now translating the medieval sources on Elizabeth's life into English.

Pre-publication special: Order now at $12.95! (list $14.95). Check or money order to: Tau Cross Books and Media.

· 10 or more : Priority Mail Flat Rate $8.95/each 10 books; Add single books @$0.99 each ______

Please allow up to 2-3 weeks for delivery after printing date. (updates on www.taucrossbooks.com) Offer good until 8/1/07

Please send items of interest (elections, professions, anniversaries, events, recognition) to Regional Secretary Raymond Clarke, 899 Crestview Avenue, North Woodmere NY 11581 (or email to Raymond.Clarke1@verizon.net)

The TAU is published quarterly, in January, April, July and October. Articles by Fraternity members are welcomed. If accepted, they may be edited. Please submit copy by the 10^th of the month prior to the publication month.

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Please address inquiries or letters to editor Frank Drollinger, 89-14 85^th St. Woodhaven, NY 11421 Phone: 718-296-1756 or fdrollin@aol.com