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Quick Links
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Allegany Franciscans Website
FSA Jamaica Website
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Associate Advisory Committee
Sept 28 - Oct 1, Tampa, FL
FSA, Inc. Board of Directors
Oct. 9-14 in Allegany
Assemblies
Allegany - Oct 7-8
New Jersey - Oct 21-22
Florida - Oct 21-22
Jamaica - Oct 28-29
Brazil - Nov 2-5
CL Meetings
Nov 7, Nov 28, Dec 6
CL Prayer Day at Mt Ireneaus
Dec 15
Franciscan-Clarian Spirituality
Nov 30 - Dec 2
General Commission
Dec 8-9
(rescheduled after Hurricane Irma)
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Issue 5.17
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September 25, 2017
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Feast of St. Francis (October 4)
Each October 4, the whole Franciscan family celebrates the feast of Francis of Assisi. Francis, true follower of Christ, proclaimed and embraced the Crucified Love he witnessed in all people, especially in the poor and the lepers.
Francis' desire to give his life in proclaiming the Kindom of God also led him on a journey to Egypt where he encountered the Sultan Malik-al-Kamil, the nephew of Saladin. This was a time of great political turmoil - the Holy Roman Empire called for Crusades to take back the Holy Land from the Muslims, Jews, and heretics. Francis began his journey wishing to bring peace and an end to the culture of war and enmity.
Francis began his prophetic resistance to the violence of the Crusades by meeting first with his own religious leaders, begging Cardinal Pelagius - the Christian commander - to stop the fighting. Pelagius refused. Francis then took a companion, Brother Illuminatus, and set out, unarmed. Filled with love and peace, they visited the Sultan's camp, where Francis discovered not an enemy, but a brother.
May we be the peacemakers for our world today, bringing hope, respect, and dignity to all people and to all of creation!
Blessings of peace and all good from all the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, Associates, and our partners in ministry. Happy Feast of St. Francis!
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 Franciscan Leaders Gather
By: Margaret Magee OSF
On Wednesday, September 20, the congregational leadership welcomed the leadership team of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph to St. Elizabeth Motherhouse. The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (FSSJ) have their Motherhouse in Hamburg, NY, which is an hour north of Allegany. In past years the members of both congregational leaderships have gathered at various times for prayer and discussion, especially for collaboration in the areas of Franciscan Spirituality and Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC). This was a welcome opportunity to reconnect, to catch up on congregational projects and also to share our recently renovated Motherhouse. We continue to connect with these sisters through the LCWR meetings and the Franciscan Federation gatherings.
Pictured are: Goianira Silva, Sr. Ann Marie Hudzina FSSJ (Congregational Minister), Sr. Sharon Goodremote FSSJ, Pat Klemm, Margaret Mary Kimmins, Sr. Michael Marie Jordan FSSJ, Sr. Marcia Ann Fiutko FSSJ, and Margaret Magee. Missing from the photo is Odette Haddad who was present throughout the day's gathering.
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 "Welcoming Home the Stranger"
By: Margaret Magee OSF
On Sunday afternoon, September 17, sisters, associates, and people from the Allegany and Olean area gathered in the St. Elizabeth Motherhouse chapel for prayer and support for immigrants, refugees, and all who are marginalized in our society.
The prayer service was sponsored by the Western New York LCWR. Prayer services were held by the religious congregations in the Western New York area from September 15 to 24. Other participating congregations included: Sisters of St. Mary of Namur, Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart, and the Felician Sisters. In the invitation for the prayer service, people were asked to bring personal hygiene supplies to be collected and donated to the Jericho Road's Vive Program which supports refugees. To learn more visit their website:
http://www.jrchc.org/vive/information-for-asylum-seekers/
Attached is a copy of the prayer service for you to use or adapt and share with your local community, cluster, associate group, parish, or ministry. Let us continue to pray work for justice for all our sisters and brothers.
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 Genesis House Harvest Moon Gala
By: Margaret Magee OSF
Friday, September 22, was a very festive evening for the Genesis House Harvest Moon Gala held at the Old Library Restaurant in Olean, NY. Genesis House is celebrating its 22nd Anniversary and the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany have been present all along this journey. Linore Lounsbury, Executive Director of Genesis House wrote, "What sets Genesis House apart from the other emergency shelters is that it is more than a bed and three meals a day. We offer so much more! It is about connection and one-on-one attention, whether it is a hug, developing an individualized service plan to help reach goals, or holding someone's hand at the dental office. From Genesis House's first day, the primary responsibility was to create an environment of safety, peace, dignity, and respect for the residents..."
The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany have served on the Board of Directors of Genesis House from the beginning in 1995, represented by Sr. Mary Arghittu, Sr. Marie Dolores Gionta, and Sr. Dolores O'Brien. Our current board representative is Associate Mary Kay Tambash.
The Congregation received an honor last evening for Community Recognition. Sr. Margaret Mary Kimmins, Congregational Minister, is pictured receiving the award, a framed picture of Genesis House, from Linore Lounsbury.
Thank you for all who have served, volunteered and worked at Genesis House through these 22 years. Congratulations!
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 "Where there is sadness, joy"
By: Carol Ann Hoppe OSF
The following is the sixth in a series of reflections by the Franciscan-Clarian Spirituality Committee on the Peace Prayer of St. Francis. These reflections will be shared in future editions of the e-newsletter.
On the morning I chose to write this reflection, I prayed to the Holy Spirit. Lo and behold! There in the Morning Praise of our Franciscan Prayer was the verse: "I have said these things to you so that My Joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete." (Jn 15:11 from Jesus' Last Supper discourse).
The words and ministry of Jesus, preserved in the written gospels, can be the beginning of joy for us as we ponder and contemplate gospel stories. Encountering Jesus in Person will cause joy to grow as we experience that Jesus Himself IS Joy!
As Pope Francis tell us in the opening sentences of Evangelii Gaudium, "The Joy of the Gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus... With Christ joy is constantly born anew."
Sowing joy can only come as we live Jesus, as we live Joy, in our daily lives.
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 Renodin Foundation Launches Website
The Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation, a sponsored ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, has launched a new website to help make serving the local community easier than ever.
The Renodin Foundation was created out of the proceeds from the sale of St. Francis Hospital in Olean, NY, and is a charitable organization giving grants to help those who are poor and marginalized in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties in New York, and in McKean and Potter counties in Pennsylvania.
Since 2002, the Foundation has given over $1 million in grant funding throughout the four counties it serves.
The new website provides information on the type of grant funding approved by the Renodin Foundation, and allows potential applicants to learn more about past grants and apply for their own funding online.
To learn more about the Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation, and to take advantage of their grant program, visit
www.renodinfoundation.org.
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Upcoming deadlines:
Submissions are not guaranteed publication. All submissions will be edited prior to inclusion,
and may be held for future use if deemed appropriate.
October 4, 2017 - First October edition e-newsletter
October 18, 2017 - Second October edition e-newsletter
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