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Personally Speaking
Recently, I had breakfast with Ann, an aspiring Secular Franciscan, FFA sponsor, and founder of a wonderful ministry to assist poor HIV-AIDS infected children in Kenya. We were talking about the upcoming feastday of Saint Francis (October 4th) and the Transitus service we planned to attend. I mentioned I had read a new life of Saint Francis by a Dominican priest historian who, in the interest of history, stripped away all the mythology of the Saint in an effort to find the historical Francis. Recalling it has been said the search for the historical Jesus is like looking down a well, the only reflection one gets back is an image of oneself, I noted it's the same with Francis. I have read many biographies of the saint. He is the saint of almost everything, a result, I surmise, of the good intentions of his followers to keep him relevant in each age. So now we are at the point where the question is asked "Who is the real Francis?" He cannot be all the things we say about him. So who is he? Like Jesus and George Washington we will never really know him as a normal, everyday individual. However is that important? Doubtless, not to Francis. He had little concern for himself as an historical person. He wanted his body buried in some obscure place in the woods and not celebrated in the basilica that now enshrines those remains. He would have been the first to tear the shingles from its roof. Ann pointed out that, for her, reading a life of Francis is to find out how the life of Jesus is lived by the normal human being. It is an easy cop-out to say "Well, Jesus was the son of God, I am not." Not so Francis. If Francis was considered the "alter Christus" the "second Christ" he certainly had no divine credentials. He was certainly human, terribly human, and spiritual, terribly spiritual. There is a lot there for us to look at. But if you want to find the spirit of Francis, the heart of Francis, rather than looking down the well of history, look in the eyes of the poor. It is there you will find Jesus and Francis looking back at you...if you can bear it.
 | | The eyes of the poor. Is that you, Francis? |
Please continue to remember our poor families in your prayers and especially our Canossian Sisters who are caring for our various families. What follows is a letter from Sister Carmel Paul. I have presented it as written to preserve the flavor of the writer, Sister Carmel Paul. Sister has been with us for many years serving the poor of the Franciscan Family Apostolate. As you can see the trip is exhausting for her due to the lack of adequate transportation. She and her Sisters are indeed great examples of the spirit of Saint Francis.
Happy Feast day of Saint Francis.
Alan J Ouimet, O.F.S.
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News From Andhra Pradesh
Dear Alan:
Greetings of love and prayers from Payakaraopeta Andhra Pradesh!
These days I was having wonderful Mission experience. I was in Odisha rural Tribal villages with our faithful. They are simple and their commitment is great. They have Holy Mass thrice or four times in a year. It is a question for me? Reach these places very difficult and have no proper roads, conveyance no communication facility no proper food as per our use. Still sisters are ready to stay and work for the wellbeing of the other. Isn't it great!!
The permanent residence of the Sisters gave life to numerous children. Record speaks no death of any child after their stay. From the 10th April 2011 onwards they are having a regular dispensary, but there is no proper schedule. The Sisters are at the beck and call of the villagers. Villagers and the parish priest shared with me about 20 to 25 children in every year used to lose their lives mainly on attack of Malaria. I just went through the register showing the daily average of 20 to 27 patients come to our center. Many children with high temperature are brought to our center. At present we use a malaria test kit which shows the patient is infected with Malaria. Immediately we give the medicine for the same. Rupees 300 ($6.00) to 500 ($10.00) are spent for the patient. Contributions from the patient would be Rupees 50.00 ($1.00) or 100 ($2.00) whenever possible. Month of July and August numerous are Malaria patients.
10th April to 16th April, 2277 patients are served and among them majority are children. Most of the patients come with high temperature and cough. Malaria is most common in these areas. New born babies to aged are cared and served with attention and care. Those who are very weak are given drip in vitamin supply. Timely tender care rescued the life of many.
Jubo the village where the sisters live is the center of Punchyath (county) headquarters. Patients come from villages which are distant from Jubo. These villages are situated on small hills and no proper roads are found. The distance is shown as short cut through forest. Patients generally come walking and rather weak patients are carried. At times on a bamboo stick they ties a sari and make the patient to sit on it as a cradle and two persons will hold on either side. That is how grownups are brought to the center.
One of the sisters was sharing with me as they went for a village visit they found an elderly man from Dudrum village with festering leg, which was swollen with full fuzz. Sister Anita requested the villagers to bring him to the center for better care and dressing. The amount of fuzz discharged from the patients for days are cannot describe. They endure such pain. They were using a certain kind of herbs for cure. If the sisters would not have reached in time he would have lost his life.
One of the priests who visited me shared those sisters in our convents at Veeraghattam, Bathili and Gopalapuram recently the entire community members became the victims of Malaria and typhoid. Sisters who are in Jubo who are closely associated with the patient's are protected. It is a true fact. They are in an isolated area deprived of numerous needs but god is their shield and care taker.
Alan, I do not know how to thank you for all what you are to our mission at Jubo, Odisha. Through your generous heart many do live and sustain their health. I had a wonderful mission experiences these days. God protected and cared me to climb the mountains and come down. I was helped by the sisters. I broke my slippers and slipped few times as I have no experience to travel these places. People go about all in walking. No proper conveyance.
I am carrying on the Mission what as you asked. Lots of love and prayers
Affectionately in Jesus
Sr. Carmel Paul
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Featured Family
If you have a friend, relative or a fellow Franciscan whom you feel may be interested in assisting the poor through the Franciscan Family Apostolate please ask consideration for the following family or refer them to our webpage, www.openhearts.org .
 | | Sebastian Thomas Veliyil - Village of Kattoor , Alleppey, India |
This is one of the families struggling for daily living. The head of the family Sebastian was a hardworking fisherman. He used to get attack of fits and so his co-workers always tried to make him do works at the shore. His wife Elizabeth goes for domestic works in a nearby house. A few months back Sebastian fainted and fell down. Doctors diagnosed that he is suffering from severe tuberculosis and the ailments have affected his bones and brain. He was in a very critical condition and the family was in tearful prayers for many months. Many good neighbors helped them and they borrowed money from wherever they could. And at last Sebastian's life was saved and he is now recouping his health. He needs strict medication, which is beyond the limitation of this poverty stricken family. Their only possession, the document of their little plot of land is pledged for his medical treatment. At present he is doing fish sale near to their house and helps his wife in meeting their daily needs. All their children are progressing with their school studies. Only son is studying in the 9th grade and daughters are studying in the 8th and 5th grade respectively. The parents are very much worried about the future of their children. Constant worries are adversely affecting the health of poor Sebastian. The pathetic condition of their dwelling is yet another worry for him. They are staying in a small hut with tiled roof.
Kindly come forward to redeem them from the thralldom of penury, poverty, and loneliness! May God bless the kind benefactor! Bishop Stephen Athipozhiyil Bishop of Alleppey |
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Some Things to Remember
If you are sending Christmas cards to your family please mail them directly to India and send them to Franciscan Family Apostolate, Mount Carmel Cathedral, Alleppey 688001, Kerala, India.
Sister Daphne is presently recovering from serious surgery and doing well. She will be on limited duty until November. Lilly Arulappan is in charge. Lilly has been with us since the 1980's. If you wish to communicate with Alleppey you may do so through email at ffaalleppey@gmail.com; if you wish to communicate with Sister Carmel Paul in Andhra Pradesh please contact her at carmelpaula@yahoo.com. They are ready to serve your every need.
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Franciscan Family Apostolate
93 Country Way, Madison, CT 06443
203-458-8172 --ffaindia@att.net
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Franciscan Family Apostolate
Alan Ouimet
Founder and President
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