APRIL ANNIVERSARIES

PROFESSION

Gilberte Victor 4-13-2004

BIRTHDAYS

Rev. Mr. James Hager 4-16

Rev. James Joyce 4-23

St. Louis IX 4-25-1214

IN MEMORIAM

Margaret Petroccione 4-8-88

Marion Wolf 4-30-2000

FEASTS of the GENERAL ROMAN

CALENDAR for APRIL

The

ST. CLARE of ASSISI FRATERNITY West Stockbridge, MA

SECULAR FRANCISCAN ORDER

VENERABLE FR. SOLANUS CASEY REGION

Vol. 5, No. 4 April 2016

Venerable Fr. Solanus Casey, Pray for Us!

JANET CANTARELLA, OFS

MINISTER

Box 216

Lanesboro, MA 01237

fpcon@verizon.net

Michael Guertin, OFS

FRATERNITY SPIRITUAL ASSISTANT

Springfield, MA

Fr. Matthias Wesnofske,

OFM Cap.

Patchogue, NY

REGIONAL

SPIRITUAL ASSISTANT

Fr. Cidouane Joseph, OFM

Hartford, CT

REGIONAL

SPIRITUAL ASSISTANT

The Fraternity meets

for Teaching, Fellowship,

Prayer and Formation

on the

2nd Wednesday

every month

at

St. Patrick’s Parish Center

30 Albany Road

W. Stockbridge, MA

“The rule and life of the

Secular Franciscans is this:

To observe the gospel of

our Lord Jesus Christ

by following the example of

St. Francis of Assisi, who

made Christ the inspiration

and center of his life with

God and people.”

The Rule of the OFS, 4

We dedicate this publication

and the Apostolate which

brings it to you monthly to the

memory of the beloved

deceased of the

St. Clare of Assisi Fraternity.

APRIL SCHEDULE

Meeting Day/Date: Wednesday 13 April

NOTE: Meeting times have returned to our previous schedule:

The Council meets at 12:00 Pm The Fraternity meets at 1:00 pm

Exploring the Spirit: Reading & Reflection

The Imitation of Christ

Book I

Useful Admonitions for the Spiritual Life

Leader: Fred

Chapter 7: On False Confidence and Arrogance Reader: Corinne

Chapter 8: On Avoiding Too Much Familiarity Reader: Janice

Chapter 9: On Being Obedient and Submissive Reader: Sally

Prayer: Corinne

FEASTS of the TRADITIONAL FRANCISCAN

CALENDAR for APRIL ~

SECULAR FRANCISCAN SAINTS and BLESSEDS

4 Bl. Guillaume de Sicli, Confessor

( † 1404)

5 St. Crescentia Hoess, Virgin, ( † 1744)

6 Bl. Angele Salawa, Virgin ( † 1922)

7 Bl. Mary Assunta, Virgin ( † 1925)

14 Bl. Lidwne de Schiedam, Virgin ( † 1433)

26 Bl. Pierre de Pethancourt, Priest († 1667)

27 St. Zita of Lucca, Virgin ( † 1278)

28 Bl. Luchesio Modestini ( † 1260)

30 St. Joseph Benedict Cottolengo, Priest

( † 1842)

2 St. Francis of Paola

4 St. Isidore

5 St. Vincent Ferrer

7 St. John Baptist de La Salle

11 St. Stanislaus

13 Pope St. Martin I

21 St. Anselm

23 St. George

24 St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen

25 St. Mark

28 St. Peter Chanel

29 St. Catherine of Siena

30 Pope St. Pius V

CHAPTER NINE: FINANCIAL SUPPORT

ATRICLE 41

ACCORDING TO ARTICLE 25 OF THE SFO RULE, THE MEMBERS OF

EACH LOCAL FRATERNITY SHALL CONTRIBUTE MONTHLY TO THE LOCAL

FRATERNITY COMMON FUND ACCORDING TO THEIR MEANS.

ARTICLE 42

LOCAL FRATERNITIES OF THE REGION ARE OBLIGATED TO SUPPORT THE

FRATERNITIES OF THE HIGHER LEVELS (REGIONAL, NATIONAL,

INTERNATIONAL). THEREFORE, ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, EACH

CANONICALLY ESTABLISHED LOCAL FRATERNITY SHALL SUBMIT TO THE

REGIONAL TREASURER A FAIR SHARE DONATION ON BEHALF OF

ALL ITS ACTIVE MEMBERS (PROFESSED AND CANDIDATES), WHETHER

REGULARLY ATTENDING MEETINGS OR TEMPORARILY/PERMANENTLY

EXCUSED. THIS DONATION IS TO BE MADE

FROM THE FRATERNITY’S COMMON FUND.

The

Fr. Solanus Casey Region SFO-USA

Regional Guidelines

The Rule of the

Secular Franciscan Order Chapter Three, 25

Life in Fraternity

25.

REGARDING EXPENSES NECESSARY FOR THE LIFE OF THE FRATERNITY

AND THE NEEDS OF WORSHIP, OF THE APOSTOLATE, AND OF CHARITY, ALL

THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS SHOULD OFFER A CONTRIBUTION ACCORD-

ING TO THEIR MEANS. LOCAL FRATERNITIES SHOULD CONTRIBUTE TO-

WARD THE EXPENSES OF THE HIGHER FRATERNITY COUNCILS.

2

FAIR SHARE CONTRIBUTIONS

ARE DUE MAY 1

$35.00 FOR PROFESSED

$17.00 FOR PERMANENTLY EXCUSED

(OR $35.00 ACCORDING TO YOUR MEANS)

Your status was explained with last month’s mailing, but don’t hesitate to call our Fraternity Treasurer Nancy Prezenik

(413-443-1221) or write to fpcon@verizon.net with questions.

Errata

Several gaffes appeared in the printed edition of last month’s newsletter. The title of the last page should read simply “Franciscan Saints,” not “Secular Franciscan Saints” (this was corrected in the e-version prior to publication). St. Agnes of Prague was not a Third Order Secular Franciscan, but a Second Order Poor Clare. There were a few mistakes in formatting which the editor regrets. Everything was corrected for the digital archive. FPC

Remember daily Francis’

special devotion to our

Blessed Mother, Mary,

and St. Michael

the Archangel.

IMITATE

FRANCIS

Brothers and Sisters in Penance

Many well-to-do people of both sexes, having left all things for Christ, had fled the world. They were called “Lesser Brothers” and Lesser Sisters” . . . They are in no way occupied with temporal things, but with fervent desire and ardent zeal they labor each day to draw from the vanities of the world souls that are perishing, and draw them to their way of life. Thanks be to God, they have already reaped great fruit and have converted many. Those who have heard them say: “Come,” so that one group brings another. . . . During the day they go into the cities and villages giving themselves over to the active life in order to gain others; at night, however, they re-turn to their hermitage or solitary places to devote themselves to contemplation.

Jacques de Vitry Bishop of Acre († 1244)

SPECIAL INTENTIONS

For our Sally Kusek, OFS, recovering from a recent illness which required a brief admission to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA;

For David P. Southard (nephew of our Nancy Prezenik, OFS) who died recently;

For the victims of the ISIS/ISIL attacks in Brussels on 22 March; for an end to terrorist violence through the interces-sion of our Blessed Mother, Mary.

Saint Zita of Lucca was a member of the Third Order of St Francis. Lucca is in Tuscany; and since the Third Order was widely propagated there after its founding, this holy servant girl of the thir-teenth century would quite naturally join its ranks.

Zita was born at the village of Monte Sagrati in 1218. Her parents were poor, devout Christians.

When she was twelve years old, Zita went to Lucca, eight miles from her home, to be a servant girl of the Fatinelli family which carried on a prosperous wool and silk weaving business; and she re-mained in their employ until she died forty-eight years later.

She led a very prayerful and penitential life. She rose nightly for prayer; and daily she attended the first Mass in the adjacent church of San Frediano. The good food she received for herself, she gave to the poor, and lived on waste scraps or fasted. She wore only the poorest clothes and never put on shoes, even in winter.

Her fellow servants despised her way of life and insulted her repeatedly. Though she per-formed her work faithfully, her employers were prejudiced against her and treated her as a common drudge. But in the spirit of the suffering Christ, she bore these trials without complaint and never lost her temper or peace of mind.

By her patience she gradually overcame all opposition, and became the friend and advisor of the whole household, including the servants. Her master and mistress, realizing at last what a treasure they possessed in Zita, made her chief house-keeper and the children’s nurse. This embarrassed her even more than the slights she had to bear during the earlier years. However, she fulfilled her duties so well that everyone fared so much better as a result.

When Lucca lay under an interdict from 1231 to 1234, Zita used to go on foot into Pisan territory to receive Holy Communion. These were dangerous trips at the time; but mysterious strangers befriended Zita on the way, and she was never molested. During the later years of her life, when she was relieved of much of the domestic work, she visited and helped the poor, the sick, and the prisoners to her heart’s content.

Absorbed in prayer, her eyes turned heavenward, and her hands crossed on her breast, she died on April 27, 1278, at the age of sixty. At the time, a brilliant star shone above her attic room.

After she had been honored as a saint for four centuries, Pope Innocent XII formally approved her cult in 1696.

She is the patroness of domestic workers.

Adapted from The Franciscan Book of Saints, edited by Marion Habig, OFM

St. Zita of Lucca

1218 – 1278

APRIL 16

Feast of the Profession of St. Francis 1209

When he was brought before the bishop, he would suffer no delay or hesitation in anything; indeed, he did not wait for any words nor did he speak any, but immediately putting off his clothes and casting them aside, he gave them back to his father. Moreover, not even retaining his trousers, he stripped himself completely naked before all. The bishop, however, sensing his disposition and admir-ing greatly his fervor and constancy, arose and drew him within his arms and covered him with the mantle he was wearing. He understood clearly that the counsel was of God, and he understood that the actions of the man of God that he had personally witnessed contained a mystery. He immediately, therefore, became his helper . . . Behold, now he wrestles naked with his naked adversary, and having put off everything that is of this world, he thinks only about the things of the Lord. He seeks now so to despise his own life. putting off all solicitude for it, that he might find peace in his harassed ways, and that meanwhile only the wall of the flesh should separate him from the vision of God.

I Celano, VI, 15 Left, St. Francis embraced in the mantle of Bishop Guido of Assisi after renouncing the world, depicted in a stained glass window in the church of St. Francis, South Lee, MA (closed 2003).

SECULAR FRANCISCAN FOCUS

St. Zita of Lucca

Feast Day: 27 April

CAPUCHIN MISSIONS UPDATE

The following is a reprint of a recent letter received from Father John Pfannenstiel, OFM, Cap., director of the Seraphic Mass Association: Dear Friend,

You can help defy radical Islamic terrorist oppression by liberating young girls from ignorance.

Let me tell you about my recent visit to Kithyoko, Kenya.

Heading east out of Nairobi, we were stopped several times by Kenya’s military police. They were check-ing cars and trucks for Al-Shabaab terrorists. To say the least, it was one of the most uncomfortable rides I have ever taken!

Father Paul Silas, superior of the Capuchins of Kenya, wanted me to see the small village of Kithyoko and the challenges faced by its people. It is a dusty cluster of run-down shops and make-shift houses. People here struggle to sustain their families, and they know they are on the front line of the battle waged for the soul of Kenya by Muslim extremists. Al-Shabaab terrosists are based in nearby Somalia and are committed to impos-ing Islam on Kenya. Just a little over a year ago they struck at the Catholic university in the northeast of Kenya, killing about a dozen students.

In the face of the constant threat of terrorism, the people of Kithyoko are deidacted and courageous Catholics. Capuchin friars have been here for almost five years. They do great work and have recently built an addition to the humble parish church to accommodate the growing number of Catholics. The parishioners are faithful and proud Catholics, eager to share their faith with their neighbors. And these good people are deter-mined to hand the Catholic fsaith to the next generation.

Father Paul tells me that the friars and villagers want to build and operate a girls primary school in Kithyoko.

You have to admire the boldness of this dream. You see, Al-Shabaab Islamic fanatics do not permit girls to be educated. Providing an education for girls is almost an act of rebellion! And then to make it a Catholic girls school! It almost takes your breath away. In the face of an Islamic threat only miles away, these Catholics are defiant and utterly faithful . . . and they want a better future for their daughters.

You can be part of this courageous project!

As I walked around the church on that chilly August morning, the preschoolers followed me, kicking up the red dust wherever we went. You see, the Kenyan friars wear the Capuchin habit everywhere, and the chil-

dren see them every day. But now, perhaps for the first time, they see a white Capuchin friar — me.

Sister Agatha tried to gather the children back to herself, but they would not be deterred. It was all to curious for them. And after their initial caution evaporated, they were all smiles as they crowded around me.

Sister rang the old cowbell to lead the children to church, where blankets were spread on the dirt floor. It was time for a midmorning nap. As I was thinking about their future, I knew that the boys would one day be able to attend a local public school; but the girls were doomed to illiteracy.

With the children soundly sleeping, Father Paul and I drove about five miles out of Kithyoko to see a plot

of land that had been donated to the friars for the school. A few months ago the men of the village built a chick-en coop on the site to help raise funds for the school. After Mass each morning a dozen or so women walk to the chicken coop to tend their flock and dream bout as better life for their daughters. These illiterate and poor women had scraped together a little money to raise and sell the chickens to help build the school for their girls. I knew they could not raise even a fraction of the cost, but the commitment and dedication in their faces was inspiring.

And the mothers have already planted almost 200 donated tree saplings. They carry water here every day so that, as one young mother put it, “The school can be like an oasis for my girl.”

You can make their dreams come true.

Father Paul knows that there are over 300 little girls in this area who will be eager students. He turned to me and said, “John, we need your help.” After a few mo-ments of prayer, asking the Lord to tell me how to re-spond, I looked at Father Paul and said, “Of course, we will help.” I assured Father Paul that our Seraphic Mass Associ-ation family will help these devoted Catholic mothers and daughters.

Be part of this beautiful act of faith.

Father Paul has made this project the friar’s first priority, and with your generous help the girls of Kithyoko can begin primary school in less than a year.

The Capuchin friars of Kenya are already praying for you, giving thanks to our loving God for your kind-ness and generosity. Your donation to the Kithyoko Catholic Girls Primary School will make a difference.

For your gift of $1,000 or more, a classroom will bear your name or the name of someone you choose to memorialize;

For your gift of $250 or more, your name or the name of a loved one will be inscribed in a Book of Thankful Remembrance;

Your gift of $100 will buy a desk and a chair;

Any amount you can give will help with ongoing construction of the school.

I’m placing before you this very special need. Please join us in helping Father Paul with this vital project. Your every gift in support of our Capuchin missionaries is a beautiful gift to our Lord Jesus in thanksgiving for the many blessings you count in your own life.

God bless you for your generous missionary spirit, for your prayers and encouragement, and for your every sacrifice in support of our Capuchin missions, especially this crucial under-taking in Kenya.

Peace and Blessings

Father John Pfannenstiel, OFM Cap.

Visit www.seraphicmass.org for more information.

MY GOD

AND

MY ALL!

In Memoriam

CLAIRE R. LEYDET, OFS

26 JUNE 1929 - 28 FEBRUARY 2016

FOLLOWING ST. FRANCIS Our beloved sister Claire Leydet, OFS, was born into eternal life on the 28th of February, 202 days after she made Perpetual Profession to the Secular Franciscan Order on the Memorial of St. Clare of Assisi, 11 August 2015. Claire came to us in Orientation on 09-12-2012 at the suggestion of her solicitous friend and our sister Corinne Mays, OFS, who herself had entered Orientation two months earlier. Both shared the entire Initial Formation journey as Inquirers and Candidates, completed on 06-24-15. Claire and Corinne were professed together on 08-11-2015 at Holy Mass celebrated by Fr. Jim Joyce, OFS, in Our Lady’s Chapel in the St. Patrick Parish Center, W. Stockbridge, MA, the home of the St. Clare of Assisi Fraternity. In her time with the Fraternity Claire exhibited an enviable spiritual maturity. Simple, hum-ble, generous to a fault, always enthusiastic in spite of her physical frailty, she never neglected to ask after the needs of her brother and sisters in the Fraternity. She embraced a personal aposto-late that required special spiritual skill, to say the least: She was a voice and an ear to those in need on the prayer line at the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, MA, for years. Claire spent her simple life as a homemaker in service to her family. She was a communi-cant of Sacred Heart Church in Pittsfield; she and Fr. Joyce , the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, were friends for many years.

The last three-and-a-half years of Claire’s life were sincerely devoted to an emerging vocation as a Secular Franciscan, and the last few months of her life were a beautiful testament to her humility, simplicity, and purity of heart. She had an intensely personal relationship with God. In her life there was no lack of adversity; but she embraced adversity, like Francis, as a tremendous gift from God. She saw herself as a steward of this gift and she cultivated it carefully, using it joyfully and unselfishly in earning merit for eternal life. In the end, she offered it in return to the God who endured such unimaginable ad-versity for her in order to make possible her mystical un-ion with Him in Love for all time.

Claire on Profession Day with her friend Fr. Jim Joyce,

OFS, in Our Lady’s Chapel, St. Patrick Parish Center

“Claire — a blessing, a joy, and a dear friend. Claire — a generous spirit with a loving

heart of service. I will remember her as a prayer warrior of deep faith and peace. I will re-

member her kindness and gentleness, her blue eyes and soft smile. I will remember her

sweetness and I will keep her in my heart with love and prayers. God bless her beautiful

soul. Claire has brought joy and blessings to our fraternity and we ask for her prayers for

all of us . . . and from our hearts to her heart. We miss our sister Claire.

Until we meet again, my love,”

JANET

REMINISCENCES

Claire’s wake and funeral liturgy were held in tandem on Friday morning, 4 March. Members of the Fraternity met at the funeral home at 8:30 AM and held a brief prayer service with Claire’s family. The Mass followed at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Church and was concelebrated by Fr. Joyce and Fr. Peter Na-ranjo, the Parochial Vicar. Fr. Naranjo met Claire at the door of the church and welcomed her home. Fr. Joyce, in his homily, emphasized Claire’s great faith , remembering the joy that we all shared on her profession day. Although we grieve her loss, he reminded us to remember her “with smiles and laughter.” Grief takes us to a place that is lonely and uncomfortable; there’s a void in our life, since Claire will no longer be among us. But that void is a holy place. It is a place that is free of the things of the world, and we need more places like that in our lives where we can go to be alone with God, to strengthen ourselves spiritual-ly. And all we have to do to enter that place is to think of Claire. That is her gift to us.

“ I only knew you for a short time but it was evident that you were a very prayerful person

who had a great trust in God. Quiet, kind, thoughtful, you reminded me of some of the

qualities of our Blessed Mother. Truly a servant, now enjoying your just reward.

Your Franciscan sister,”

NANCY

“Knowing Claire from the phone line ministry at the Marian Helpers and also as a Fran-

ciscan sister, I found her to be the most spiritual and loving person, always going out of

her way to help others. When I told Claire that I was taking a short trip to Spain, right

away she asked me if I needed a ride to the airport and she went ahead and started ask-

ing everyone if they could help in my transportation, to my embarrassment needless to

say, but that is how she was with kindness.

The beginning of St Francis Prayer says: ‘Lord make me an instrument of your peace;

where their is hatred let me sow love.’ Indeed she showed love to all. Claire has crossed

over the Cross and is home with our heavenly Father.”

TOM

“Claire, we loved our black coffee (no sugar), didn’t we? But we shared so much more.

St. Clare of Assisi began her Rule with ‘Clare, unworthy handmaid of Christ and the little

plant of the most blessed Father Francis . . .’ This is how I will remember you, our Claire. I

will remember how you always had recourse to the Holy Spirit during our formation ses-

sions ; you were given the grace to reduce even the most thorny subjects to the simplicity of

leaving all things in the hands of God, where they belonged. And this is how you lived

your life — with immense faith, praying ceaselessly through good times and not so good

times, with marvelous simplicity and purity of heart. I was truly blessed to have known

you. As I told you several times, you made an indelible mark on my life and my Francis-

can vocation.

Please pray for me, for all of us as we move forward as lay penitents on the path of daily

conversion in the manner of Francis.

You are missed, you are loved.”

FRED

Wednesday, 11 June 2014, at Our Lady of Ephesus House of Prayer in Jamaica, VT. Clockwise from left front: Claire, Corinne, Janet (Fraternity Minister), Mike (Fraternity Spiritual Assistant)