Mount La Verna Fraternity Newsletter June 2016

June 2016

We had a wonderful pilgrimage on June 11th to the Shrine of St. Anthony with more details below. Your input and feedback for this newsletter are very much appreciated, and feel free to submit ideas, stories, links, and photos.

Pax Et Bonum, John

Franciscan News

1) Laudato Si Week - A Global Celebration of the Ecyclical's 1st Anniversary June 12-19

Website--could be an idea for a future event with resources here from the Global Catholic Climate Movement

2) Planning for the Feast of St. Francis? Resources coming from The Catholic Climate Covenant -- Website

3) The Crucifix of San Damiano returns to the place where it spoke to Francis (US Franciscans)

Notes for June

1) Discussion about planning for the 2nd Annual Virginia Gathering on July 30th

• Mt. LaVerna is hosting this event and we will need everyone's help.

• All members of our fraternity need to register and pay for this event.

• Registration and more details are now posted to the Regional Website

• We will be helping to organize the food -- continental breakfast and lunch (Carl has BBQ caterer, and we should also look into vegetarian options)

• Sheila will be organizing the music

• Planning for the Liturgy (readers and Eucharistic Ministers) at July meeting

• Fr. Gregory will celebrating Mass

• Two great speakers including our regional spiritual assistant Brother Michael Meza, O.F.M. Cap. and Bill Bouffard, O.F.S.

2) Treasury Report:

Donation of $250 to John Clem to attend the Quinquennial Congress

3) Carl confirmed that Bill Bouffard, O.F.S. will be leading our Fall Retreat

4) Please keep Bernadette Rumpf in your prayers as she is facing illness and currently in treatment.

Fraternity Milestones:

Birthdays:

• No June Birthdays

• Gail Barber - July 3

• Martha McGloin - July 29

Profession Anniversaries:

• None for June

• John Clem - 2 Years (July 20th)

• Melanie Bninski - 2 Years (July 20th)

Remembrance for those who have gone before us:

• Mary Benza, O.F.S.

Upcoming Dates:

• June 25 - Trader Joe's Food Ministry Pickup

• June 30 - July 4, 2016 - Quinquennial Meeting in St. Louis

• July 9 - Next meeting of Mount La Verna Fraternity

• July 30th - Virginia Gathering of Secular Franciscans

• Saturday, October 8th -- Elections for officers (done every three years -- prayerfully consider)

• Saturday & Sunday October 22-23 - Annual Fraternity Retreat at Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Crozet.

Mercy in Action

Our fraternity is beginning a new work of mercy to help our parish food bank each month. We will be making a monthly pick-up of food at Trader Joe's. Sheila reports that this ministry is now serving 140 area families, who receive needed food each week. On Saturday May 28th we filled-up 5 cars with food from their generous donation including many Easter flowers. We were also joined by the Girl Scout Daisy troop who learned about our food ministry and were a great help. Thanks for everyone's help.

NEXT PICK-UP: Saturday, June 25th at 10am

Pilgrimage to Shrine of St. Anthony

Our fraternity made a wonderful and inspiring pilgrimage to the Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Maryland. It was a beautiful day with an amazing speaker, Immaculee Ilibigaza, who survived the Rwandan genocide, and was inspired by Jesus Christ and Our Lady of Kibeho to learn mercy and forgiveness. We were privileged to go through the Door of Mercy, and also confessions and adoration were offered.

More Photos from John

Imaculee Ilibigaza

Shrine of St. Anthony

St. Anthony's Treehouse Chapel

John has started a new ministry in building a sacramental St. Anthony's Treehouse Chapel. The first chapel was donated to the Shrine of St. Anthony and Fr. Michael Heine, O.F.M. Conv. will be placing it by two of the treehouses on the shrine's property.

New Website called holytreehouse.com launched on the Feast of St. Anthony. John asks for your prayers and support for this new ministry.