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.

January 2019 Waseca/Janesville/Owatonna MN Volume 13 Issue 1

Month of the Holy Name of JesusMonthly Gathering : Our next gathering will be January 20th starting at 1:00 p.m. in the Emmaus Room due to a retreat in the center.

Candidacy at 12:00: (Matt) Read Chapter 11 in The Franciscan Journey and plan to discuss Readings and

Questions at the end of the chapter. Pat and Sr. Lois will lead.

Ongoing Formation; Read chapter 20 and 21 in To Live as Francis Lived. See Pat’s article on pg4.

Council Meeting: Our next council meeting will be on Saturday, February 2nd at 10:00 am. in the Parish Center.

Gospel Sharing: Carol will lead.

Prayer Partners: Bonnie will lead. There will be no white elephant exchange.

A TASK FOR EACH OF YOU: Please be thinking about the different ministries that you have participated in this past year no matter how small or large and make a list of these activities.  Bring your list to our fraternity meeting this month. As in past years, we will be including these apostolates as part of our recorded history for 2018 and annual report to the region.  If you have any pictures, that you would like included in the history, please forward these to Pat Yunker ofs or bring to the meeting.  We're going to try and put all of the individual years into one file and save to a disk.  It is always fun to look back and see how we have progressed since we first began as a little Franciscan community in 2007.  Thank you and God bless you for all that you do for the Lord by helping the least of His brethren. 

 Filled Beyond ExpectationSr. Lois Erpelding, OSF, Spiritual Assistant

  On the recent third Sunday of Advent as well as on this feast of Jesus’ Baptism, our Church utilizes a similar section of St. Luke’s Gospel, Luke 3:13 “Now the people were filled with expectation.” We, too, were Franciscans of expectant hope during Advent as we heard John the Baptist’s humbling response that One greater than he was coming.

Advent prayer and experience led me to be “filled beyond expectation”. Leading a reflection on the Franciscan focus on Incarnation Spirituality drew me deeper into appreciation that Emmanuel, our God- With -Us came out of pure love. Experience also led me to be present when recipients of our Parish Sharing Tree picked up their gifts graciously and shared some of their circumstances. Likewise, I was filled beyond expectation when I experienced the generosity of the donors.

Christmas time words and actions were “filled beyond expectation”. I was awed as I sat with persons coping with life changing needs. I listened as several families shared how their families will be reunited after years of troubled separation. Persons shared their dealing with physical suffering and dying; others shared healing. I witnessed grandparents caring for a preschooler to give parents time away.

On January 13th we again celebrate the witness of John the Baptist at the time of Jesus’ Baptism. Let us ponder anew the fact that people were filled with expectation with this new manifestation. We deepen our appreciation for Francis living out his Baptism through Gospel living. Francis’s words were “neither hollow nor ridiculous, but filled with the power of the Holy Spirit, penetrating the marrow of the heart, so that listeners were turned to great amazement.” The Legend of 3 Companions, 25

Let us receive into our lives the powerful Word of the Gospel and allow ourselves to be recharged and changed. In God’s blessing let us continue to live in gratitude and amazement within the graced moments “filled beyond expectation.”

NOTE THE NEW SCHEDULES FOR 2019

Welcome to Candidacy Matt Johansen!

Pictured above l-r: Carol Tollefson, ofs, Minister, Matt Johansen, Candidate, Sr. Lois, OSF, SA and Pat Yunker, ofs, Formation Director at the celebration following Matt’s acceptance as a Candidate. Matt wrote: ““I am ready and excited to proceed with my Franciscan Journey...and would love to continue moving from Gospel to Life and from Life to Gospel.” Supporting Matt on his journey are his wife Stacy have five children, Eddie, Josie, Davit, Isaiah, and Jose.

What Do You Seek?By Bonnie Johnson, ofs, Vice Minister

As I sat in the chapel this week, I picked up the January issue of

“Living with Christ” to see what the readings were for the day. On the cover was a picture of the Magi on their way to Bethlehem by artist Leopold Kupelwieser whose art was aimed at reviving spiritual values and honest expressions. In the picture two of the Magi were looking at the star they were following. The third was looking at the glow of light coming from the stable. It made me wonder why the artist drew it that way, what was he trying to convey? As I pondered this, I thought of our own spiritual journey. Like the two who were gazing at the star, we too were searching for something, yet perhaps not always sure where it would lead us. St. Francis too was discontented and searching. Like Francis, as time passed, each of us realized what God was asking of us…we like the third Magi saw the “light” and like the three, we saw it at different stages of our spiritual journey. Though we don’t know how the experience changed the life of the Magi, we do know how it has changed ours, and that we are called to reflect the light of Christ to others, even those who don’t yet know they need help to move from darkness to light. As the Magi brought gifts to pay homage to the King, what will each of us bring to the King of Kings this year? Think about this…if He has chosen us to be His own, can we offer anything less than to offer ourselves in total surrender as Francis did so earnestly, so beautifully and completely?

Look How We Have Grown in 9 Years!!

From 6 to 17 Secular Members

June 5, 2007, First SFO Orientation Class at Holy Spirit Retreat Center, Janesville, MN.  In attendance (back row l-r: Arlys Fell, Carol Tollefson, John Conway, (Deceased) Sr. JoAnn Hanley OFS and

Ongoing Formation Leaders - 2019Jan Pat Jul GerriFeb Carol Aug KyleMar Retreat Sep PicnicApr Bonnie Oct PatMay Sarah Nov CarolJun Peggy Dec Bonnie

Gospel Sharing Leaders - 2019Jan Carol Jul PatFeb Sarah Aug JeniseMar Retreat Sep PicnicApr Bonnie Oct ArlysMay Peggy Nov GerriJun Kyle Dec Sr. Lois

Snack Schedule - 2019Jan Arlys, Carol Jul Gerri, Sr. LoisFeb Matt, Lisa Aug Arlys, CarolMar Kyle, Sarah Sep Picnic (All)Apr Jenise, Bonnie Oct Matt, LisaMay Doreen, Peggy Nov Kyle, SarahJun Jean, Pat Dec Jenise, Bonnie

Mary Williams (Mary was a visitor) – front row: Evelyn Kahnke, Zita Mittelstaedt, (Affiliate) and Patricia Yunker sfo.  Not pictured are Sr. Monique Schwirtz OFS.  The topic for the class was “Francis and Penance”.  Bonnie Johnson began her Orientation the following month.

2016 Fraternity: Back row: Sarah Gahlon ofs, Kyle Gahlon ofs, Gerri Cotner ofs, Sr. Lois Erpelding SFO, Carol Tollefson ofs, Jenise Seewald ofs, Doreen White ofs, Joan Dahle ofs, Jean Gallegos ofs, Peggy Koan ofs. Front row: Pat Yunker ofs, Lisa Falenschek ofs, Mary Kopelke ofs, (moved to Wisconsin) Evie Kahnke ofs, Bonnie Johnson ofs, Kathleen Tharp ofs, and Arlys Fell ofs. Not pictured are Matt Johansen candidate and Rose Ann Rypka Inquirer.

Please Offer Prayers for:

Those who have difficulty getting to our meetings.

And alsoPat Yunker’s son John who is in the hospital awaiting open heart surgery combined with lung surgery. 

Living the Gospel through JPICSubmitted by Sr. Lois Erpelding OFS

Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation is simply the Rule of the Secular Franciscan in action. Our Rule is based on the Gospels;

JPIC is also based on the Gospels. It bubbles up from the Gospels. It is lived out from the Gospels. JPIC is not just something we do, it is who we are, as followers of Jesus in the way of Saint Francis of Assisi. It is an attitude that influences what we do and how we minister, with God, with ourselves, with other people and with creation.  (From JPIC Handbook)

Rule 14 of the SFOA sense of community will make them joyful and ready to place themselves on an equal

basis with all people, especially with the lowly for whom they shall strive to create conditions of life worthy of people redeemed by Christ.

Pope Francis Prayer Intention - January

Young People and the Example of Mary:That young people, especially in Latin America, follow the example of Mary and respond to the call of the Lord to communicate the joy of the Gospel to the world. (As should we also!)

Ongoing Formation Assignments Pat Yunker OFS, Formation Director

We have two chapters to read for our January meeting.  The first is Chapter 20, A Life of Chastity and the second is Chapter 21, Youth-Hope for the Future. The Council gave me the task of leading the discussion, and my first response was, “Chastity! O my goodness!” To me, the very word conjures up all kinds of thoughts and not all of them good.  You have to remember that until I was seven, I believed my parents when they told me that the stork delivered babies through the chimneys. No matter when I tried to tell them that it was impossible for babies to be dropped down chimneys because they would die from the smoke, adults would only laugh.  My generation was raised in ignorance, so I have spent more time on this chapter than most trying to figure out how to approach the

discussion.  How this topic was presented didn’t seem to me to reach the needs of Secular Franciscans.   Fortunately, I have a copy of the newest version of our text called, “Live LIKE Francis!” The new title for this chapter is:  Chastity: Respect for self and Others.  The authors and content are the same but there was a woman editor, who is a Secular Franciscan and I found the new approach quite lovely. I will try to make copies and bring to our meeting.  So, for your assignment read both chapters but add this to your week from the new book:

·       If you are married, how can you increase your respect for your partner and thus ensure the full and God-given enjoyment of marriage?

·       How can we all increase our respect for friends, co-workers, family members?

·       In prayer this week, meditate on the wholeness and healthiness of your life.  Ask for increased commitment to others in your relationships.

PrayerLord, show me how chastity means reserving the best of myself for you while sharing the best of you with others.  Amen.

January Saints and Blesseds

1 Solemnity of the Mother of God3 Holy Name of Jesus6 Bl. Diego Jose of Cadiz7 St. Angela of Foligno8 Bl. Eurosia Fabris

12 St. Bernard of Corleone14 Bl. Odoric of Pordenone16 St. Berard and Companions18 St. Charles of Sezze19 Bl. Thomas of Cori19 St. Eustochia Calafato20 Bl. John Baptist Triquerie24 St. Francis de Sales27 St. Angela Merici29 Bl. Roger of Todi30 St Hyacinth of Mariscotti31 St. John Bosco

St. Angela Merici

At just 10-years-old, Angela and her older sister became orphans and went to live with their uncle. There they led a quiet and devout Catholic Christian life. She became increasingly more devout and joined the Third

Order of St. Francis. When Angela was 20-years-old, her uncle died, and she returned home. A vision from the Lord revealed to Angela that she was to found an institution with other virgins to further devote their lives toward the religious training of young girls. Living in their own homes, the girls met for prayer and classes where Angela reminded them, "Reflect that in reality you have a greater need to serve [the poor] than they have of your service." She died on January 27, 1540 clothed in the habit of a Franciscan tertiary.