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Dear Friends,
May the Lord give you peace!
Update on Emergency in Guaymas:
In September I sent out a bulletin about the storm (Hurricane Jimena) that devastated Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico, where the Franciscans have a mission. Here are some photos of the storm and its effects:
The friars were safe, but more than 40,000 people were displaced. State officials expect that water and drainage systems will be restored within about two months. For the many poor people whose homes and possessions were washed away, recovery will take much longer. Thanks to all who have responded with special donations to help! As of this writing, 14 people have given $1,645.
And now, to other matters ...
One evening this past month, my local parish hosted members of a Muslim association for a meal after the daytime Ramadan fast. Daily fasting in the lunar month of Ramadan is one of the central practices of Islam. During Ramadan, Muslims make a special effort to turn away from sin, to strengthen their commitment to God, to practice virtues and nourish heart and soul. Our guests invited us to observe their traditional sunset prayer, and we provided foods permitted by Islamic law. It was a good way for us to break the ice and get to know some of our Muslim neighbors. The Imam who attended suggested that his congregation might host us next Lent, and that we all might look for a way to do a common project to benefit the poor.
Franciscan contacts with the Muslim world go back to the time of the Crusades. But rather than waging war, the friars sought peaceful encounters. In the year 1219, Saint Francis himself traveled to the Holy Land and was able to meet Sultan Malik al-Kamil in the Nile delta. Francis was moved by the sincere expressions of faith that he saw there. He came away convinced that the best way to proclaim the Gospel among people of other religions was not by preaching or disputing in words, but by simply and humbly living among them -- what Franciscan missionaries now call a "dialogue of life."
I pray that the Spirit may guide us all to express our faith in authentic ways every day.
Yours in Christ and St. Francis,
Brother John Summers, OFM
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FRANCISCANS IN THE NEWS
Blessing of the Waves
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Priests, Rabbis, Imams, Ministers and non-denominational faith leaders take up the call for environmental solidarity this weekend in Huntington Beach, California. Reflecting Pope Benedict's call for environmental action and echoing the shared concern of many around the world about climate change, the Blessing of the Waves ceremony brings diverse people together in a pier-side ceremony on Sunday October 4, from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
October 4th is the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, patron saint of ecology and founder of the Franciscan Order 800 years ago. "The Blessing of the Waves program brings together peoples of many faiths sharing one concern. St. Francis would be pleased to know that his voice is being heard by surfers, sailors, fishermen and other ocean-minded people. We hope their voices and prayers will be heard by those ultimately responsible for the protection of this precious and wonderful resource," said the Most Reverend Tod D. Brown, Bishop of Orange.
While the early-morning ceremony begins on land, surfing priests, rabbis and other faith leaders will join their congregations in a surf session meant to demonstrate the value of the ocean that is critically important to southern California. Joining the paddle out will be 82-year-old Franciscan Father Christian Mondor, OFM, a surfer and master-class swimmer.
For more on this story, look here.
Old California Mission Reopening
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Mission San Miguel, built by the Franciscans in California in the 1790s, has been closed since December, 2003, when a strong earthquake caused extensive damage to the adobe building. Major repairs and retrofitting have been completed, while much work still needs to be done to restore historic murals on the walls. A community-wide grand opening is set for 10 a.m. on Friday, October 2. Another ceremony will take place during a special Mass set for noon on Sunday, October 4, the Feast of Saint Francis. For more on this story, look here.
Change of Pastor at Native American Parish
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The people of San Solano Missions Parish in Topawa, on the Tohono O'odham Reservation in southern Arizona, gathered to say farewell to their beloved pastor, Father Max Hottle, OFM. Having served the people there for 19 years, Father Max is taking a new assignment in New Mexico. Father Ponchie Vasquez, OFM, is becoming the new pastor in Topawa. For more on this story, look here.
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Northern California Events ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Franciscan School of Theology, Berkeley, CA: Look here for more information about the following events:
Saturday, October 10, morning & evening:
Two special 40th Anniversary events, both in Oakland: a morning workshop on multicultural music, and an evening concert with some exciting liturgical composers. Proceeds to support a scholarship fund for a liturgical musician.
Thursday, October 22, 5:10 pm:
Franciscan Vision Series lecture, by Dr. Darleen Pryds: "A Medieval Theology of the Body: Lay Franciscan Women and Somatic Theology." A soup supper will follow.
Saturday, October 24, 7:00 pm:
The Academy of American Franciscan History's third annual Tibesar Lecture, by Dr. David J. Weber: "Arts and Architecture, Force and Fear: the Struggle for Sacred Space."
San Damiano Retreat, Danville, CA:
Sunday, November 1:
Harvest Dinner & Auction. Phone for more information: 925-837-9141
St. Francis of Assisi Church, Sacramento, CA: Look here for more information about the following events:
Saturday, October 3:
2:00 p.m., Blessing of animals, on the front steps of the church.
7:30 p.m., Transitus prayer service in memory of St. Francis of Assisi, in the church.
Sunday, October 4, 2009:
Closing the Building Centennial Year: Noon Mass followed by reception until 3:00 p.m..
St. Anthony Foundation, San Francisco, CA:
Thursday evening October 8, 2009:
Third annual Raising the Roof gala. Look here for more information.
Southern and Central California Events ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sts. Simon & Jude Church, Huntington Beach, CA:
Friday, October 2, 2009 through Sunday, October 4, 2009:
43rd Annual Fall Festival. Look here for more information.
Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside, CA: Look here for more information about the following events:
Saturday, October 3, 6:00pm:
Transitus prayer service in memory of St. Francis of Assisi, in the historic Mission Church. Desserts and coffee to follow in the Mission's Retreat Center Dining Room.
Sunday, November 1, 10:00am - 4:00pm:
Dia de los Muertos festival at Mission San Luis Rey.
Old Mission San Miguel, San Miguel, CA: Phone 805-467-2131 for more information about the following events:
Friday, October 2, 10:00 a.m.:
Public reopening of the historic mission church that has been closed since a December 2003 earthquake. On the steps of the church.
Tuesday, October 27:
All Souls Mass & cemetery blessing ceremony honoring the ancestors of the Salinan Tribe, with participating Salinan tribal members, families and children in regalia, with the Mission San Miguel Arcángel Choir, guest singers and select players from the orchestra.
Southwest Events
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Franciscan Renewal Center, Scottsdale, AZ: Look here for more information about the following events:
Friday October 2 to Sunday October 4:
Retreat with Father Michael Crosby, OFM Cap: "Finding Francis, Following Christ"
Saturday, October 3:
Transitus prayer service in memory of St. Francis of Assisi. Potluck desserts to follow.
Saturday October 24 & Sunday October 25:
10 a.m. to 3 p.m., St. Francis Festival -- Animal Adopt-a-thon! Dog Wash! Food! Friends! Fun! -- and blessing of animals (12 Noon & 2 p.m. on both days).
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Franciscan Media
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Through a combined Muslim and Christian effort, Franciscan Communications (Cincinnati, Ohio) is working to produce The Saint and The Sultan, a 60-minute television documentary about contemporary Muslims and Christians seeking mutual understanding through local dialogue.The story of the 13th-century meeting of St. Francis of Assisi and Sultan Malek al-Kamil in Damietta, Egypt, will introduce viewers to the modern possibility of conversation across cultural barriers, even in a time of war. For more information and to view the documentary trailer, look here.
Secular Franciscan Video
The Secular Franciscan Order in the United States has planned a series of web tv/video episodes about the SFO. In the first show, just over ten minutes long, National Minister J. Patrick Mendes talks about what the SFO is, its members, and its various ministries. Future episodes are expected to vary in length from 3 to 10 minutes and include both interviews and action. Look here to see the first show, and here for more information about the SFO.
Franciscan Intellectual Tradition
A special commission has been working to clarify and articulate the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition as an alternative and orthodox theology for the contemporary Church and world. To learn about the commission's books, programs and other resources, look here.
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Together ... Making a Difference
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Located in Guaymas, Mexico, this mission was started by the Franciscan friars in 1971 to help provide food and medicine to the poor of Guaymas. The services have expanded over the years as the needs of the community have increased. Look here to learn more about the good works being done in Guaymas and how you can help.
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| Contact Information
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The Franciscans
1500 34th Avenue
Oakland CA 94601
Phone: 916-443-5717
Email: ofmcadev@att.net
Website: www.sbfranciscans.org ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ |
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