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News and Events
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Franciscan Spirituality
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The Franciscan Spirituality Committee now has a blog! All current and previous reflections can be found there.
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Quick Links
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Allegany Franciscans Website
Did you know that a daily reflection is posted on our Facebook page, or that it is also shared with a Portuguese translation by our Sisters in Brazil? Take a look!
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Issue 4.03
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February 9, 2016
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Entering the Lenten Season
In this season of Lent, we take a sacred journey into the darkness of our humanity and our own inner spaces. No one understood the value of dark places better than our brother, Francis of Assisi. The dark caves of the surrounding countryside drew Francis to look deep within himself. In this deep darkness Divine Love spoke profoundly, moved and freed his heart and his entire being to be the presenc
e of mercy for others.
May this Ash Wednesday in this Year of Mercy invite us to move deeply and attentively to hear God speaking and drawing us to be mercy, justice and goodness for others.
"Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me."
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 Flavia Pietrobattista, grand grand grand grand niece of Fr. Pamfilo, visits Motherhouse
By: Denise Bunk-Hatch, Communications Director and Odette Haddad, OSF
Flavia Pietrobattista, the grand-grand-grand-grand niece of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany's founder Fr. Pamfilo da Magliano, was welcomed to the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse on Monday, February 1, for lunch with the Sisters.
Flavia, a freshman at St. Bonaventure University,
grew up in the house where Fr. Pamfilo was born and raised. She first visited the university in 2008 when her family was invited to celebrate the University's 150th anniversary. Flavia and 20 members of her family traveled from Abruzzi, Italy, to be part of the commemorative events.
It was this visit that inspired Flavia to attend St. Bonaventure.
Fr. Pamfilo's importance to both the university and congregation is not lost on Flavia, who is studying international studies and criminology. Flavia said she has settled into the community well and is very happy to be a Bonnie. We are happy to have Flavia here with us in Allegany, and hope to see more of her in the future!
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 Archdiocesan Jubilee Joy
By: Lucy Cardet, OSF
On Sunday, January 30, women and men religious of the Archdiocese of Miami were honored at St. Mary's Cathedral in a celebration of the World Day of Consecrated Life with special recognition of brothers, sisters, and priest religious celebrating jubilees this year. Our Sister Frances O'Dell was one of the jubilarians (50 yrs.) honored at the Mass with Archbishop Thomas Wenski as main celebrant. I was glad to join her for this event along with Adrian Dominican Sisters (Barry University) and Elysee Mpasi Manshia (FSA affiliate).
Dinner followed in the school auditorium and was festive and delicious. A woman journalist from The Florida Catholic interviewed a couple of the jubilarians afterwards. Frances was one of them, and the reporter was obviously touched by the sharing with Frances and her vocation story. Happy Jubilee!
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 Study Day for Religious
By: Margaret Mary Foley, OSF
The Office of the Vicar for Religious for the Diocese of St. Petersburg hosted a study day for religious at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Clearwater, Florida. The presenter for this day of prayer and reflection was Sister Kathleen Moffatt, OSF, a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. The morning included to following presentations, "What we have looked upon and our hearts have touched."
Prologue John's Gospel and "Of God's fullness we have all received: LOVE following in LOVE."
Prologue John's Gospel
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Many of our Allegany Sisters and Associates were present for this study day. Also present were Sisters, Brothers and Associates from other religious communities in the Diocese. The day was filled with fellowship and group sharing. It truly was an enlightening experience.
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Generalate jeans day donations benefit local charities
By: Cora Martin, Generalate office manager
Throughout the year, the generalate collects $1 from anyone who wants to wear jeans on Fridays within the department. At the end of the year, we submit names for potential recipients, and vote on what organization to give the money to.
Since we began our project in the middle of 2014, we have collected a total of $572. Recipients have been: 2014 - Hillside Family of Agencies; 2015 (A tie) Almost Home Animal Sanctuary and Olean Area Autism Support Group.
This new tradition of giving continues into 2016, and we hope to donate even more to another deserving organization come December.
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Groundhog's Day Celebration
By: Toni Pellegrino, OSF
The Sisters and staff of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse celebrated Punxatawney Phil's prediction of an early spring with a festive luncheon on Tuesday, February 2. This "winter cook-in" was the second Groundhog's Day celebration at the Motherhouse.
Enjoying a good meal together resulted in a friendly and uplifting atmosphere for sisters and staff to enjoy a mid-winter break, and a new Motherhouse tradition has been initiated to offset a long winter season.
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Last week in the Motherhouse, we held our monthly Archives Seminar. Our topic of discussion was "Behind the Scenes in the Archives." Unfortunately, a whole seminar class cannot fit into the Archives for a backstage tour, so we viewed a presentation of photos and videos that showed what the Archives facilities look like, what the Archives contain and protect, as well as some of the projects we have going on in the office. Pictured here is a small peek inside the main Archives storeroom, a climate-controlled facility that stores records and artifacts at a stable temperature and humidity level.
After the presentation, we discussed potential topics for next month's seminar. The topic that was chosen was St. Francis Xavier School in Fort Myers, Florida. The next Archives seminar will be held on Thursday, March 3rd, at 9:45 AM. All are welcome to attend! If you're interested in visiting the Motherhouse to attend a seminar, please contact the archives at
archives@fsallegany.org
to make a reservation!
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Upcoming deadlines:
February 15 - Spring edition,
Allegany Connections
February 17, 2016 - Second edition e-newsletter
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