Sr. Therese Joyce celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday, August 10, 2019 with a special Mass followed by a festive meal with many of her family and friends present. Congratulations, Sister!

More Than 660 LCWR Members Call on President Trump to Stop All Divisive and Polarizing Rhetoric

Members of Congregational Leadership participated in the LCWR Assembly in Scottsdale, Arizona, last week. As part of the assembly, a letter was sent to President Trump, calling upon the president to end all divisive rhetoric. The letter states in part, "We implore you to never use language that disrespects, dehumanizes, or demonizes others. We expect our president, and all who serve this nation as leaders, to be always mindful of the common good and the dignity of each and every person. You hold a position that has the potential to inspire the best of every one of us and we ask you to use this unique status to bring about healing and never seek to create division." Describing the practice we, as Catholic sisters, use to daily examine our own words and actions in light of our beliefs, we urge the president to adopt a similar practice in regards to use of his moral authority. Read the full letter at: https://lcwr.org/media/news/more-660-lcwr-members-call-president-trump-stop-all-divisive-and-polarizing-rhetoric

Franciscan-Clarian Spirituality Committee

By: Judith Terrameo OSF, Franciscan-Clarian Spirituality Committee Chair

The Franciscan-Clarian Spirituality Committee met at St. Clare’s Convent in Tampa, FL from July 25 through 27. The weather was hot and we enjoyed some delightful downpours. Once again we are grateful to the sisters at St. Clare’s for their presence and hospitality.

 

We had the privilege of meeting with Wendy Leigh, the new Director of the Franciscan Center.  The conversation was excellent in sharing ideas and resources for programs for Spanish-speaking persons and for women’s spirituality. We also discussed ways to assist in keeping our spirituality and charism alive through Franciscan-Clarian artworks, images and in Franciscan-Clarian workshops.

 

Another topic discussed was how we as a Congregation might become more engaged in the new movement called “Nuns and Nones.” This is when young adults or millennials, who identify themselves as spiritual but not practicing Catholics, and religious women live together.An article from the New York Times on Nuns and Nones is linked below.

 

Some of the things that the committee is currently working on are:

1)     Morning prayer for the upcoming Congregational Assemblies;

2)     Program for Advent 2019, utilizing the four Common Threads that have surfaced for Chapter 2020;

3)     Program for Lent 2020, using the Seven Last Words of Jesus, from a Franciscan-Clarian lens;

4)     Season of Creation 2020 which runs from September 1 to October 4. For more information go to: https://seasonofcreation.org/  or https://www.facebook.com/SeasonofCreation/

 

Committee members will continue to write reflections on the Franciscan-Clarian feast days as a way of keeping these holy women and men before us. The committee also sent out a “Five-Day Reflection with St. Clare” as a way of continued reflection on our sister Clare of Assisi in preparation and anticipation of her feast day on August 11.

 

Please check the Spirituality section of the FSA website for the following:

1)     An updated list of Franciscan-Clarian Spirituality books and DVDs.

2)     A new article under the heading of “Consistent Ethic of Life” by Marita Flynn OSF.

 

Included in this summary of our meeting, please note the following:

1)     The New York Times article on Nuns and Nones:  https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/31/style/milliennial-nuns-spiritual-quest.html

2)     A synopsis of what is happening in each region of the Congregation regarding Franciscan-Clarian Spirituality. In this synopsis you will see information from our sisters Maria and Elvira in Bolivia. We have made a commitment to Skype with them at our meeting to hear what they are doing and to share our work and minutes as a way of supporting and being connected with them. ( Attached)

 

Please let us know how we are doing and feel free to offer us suggestions by emailing srjterrameo@gmail.com .

 

Sr. Rita Cecilia Recognized

By: Pat Tyre OSF

Sr. Rita Cecilia Coelho, MD was recognized by The Legislative Association of the State of Goiás, Brazil, on August 5, 2019, in an event honoring the 112th anniversary of the city of Anápolis. She was presented with a certificate for the valuable service which she has provided to the State of Goiás .

Congratulations, Sr. Rita Cecilia!

Advocating for Immigrant Families

By: Kathie Uhler OSF

With posters and flashlights, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY and approximately 80 others participated in a candlelight vigil on July 12 to advocate for more humane conditions for children separated from their families near the US-Mexico border. The vigil was held at Lincoln Park in Olean, NY a recently-designated City of Compassion. The Task Force for Immigrants, which is part of Citizens Action Network, sponsored the event. It included a poetry reading of the Emma Lazarus poem, “The New Colossus.”

ACOR Grants - Fall 2019

Allegany Franciscan Ministries (AFM) has announced its fall 2019 round of ACOR grant recipients. ACOR (or Allegany Community Out Reach) grants provide short-term support to local community projects in keeping with the mission, vision, and direction of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. ACOR Grants are unique among Allegany Franciscan Ministries’ grant programs in that they do not have a geographic restriction. Rather, they require a direct affiliation with Franciscan Sisters of Allegany or Trinity Health.

To see the full list of grant recipients, click here.

Book Review: Dear America: Notes from an Undocumented Citizen

By: Margaret Magee OSF

In early July as I read the St. Bonaventure University e-newsletter an item caught my interest. It was a notice on this year’s All Bonaventure Reads book, “Dear America, Notes of an Undocumented Citizen”. Though unfamiliar with the author, Jose Antonio Vargas, it was the title, especially the words “Undocumented Citizen” that intrigued me enough to search for the book in our local Olean public library and to read it. Once I began reading, it was hard to put it down.

 

The story is compelling. The author recounts his being sent to America as a young child from the Philippians by his mother to be cared for by his grandparents until she could join them. The adjustment to American life and schooling for the young and growing Jose was fine until, as a high school student, he tried to apply for a driver’s license. Without telling his grandparents, Jose took his green card and other documents to the Department of Motor Vehicles only to find out that his papers had been falsified.

 

His story continues as he begins a deeper search for his own personal identity while seeking to prove that he could be a valuable and responsible member of American society. While keeping his undocumented status hidden, Jose chronicles his achievements in education, in job searches and eventually becoming a recognized journalist, even winning a Pulitzer prize. The personal revelation of his struggles and achievements to be a valuable citizen of this country made me realize how often we take for granted our native-born status of citizenship. There are many undocumented citizens currently in the United States who are hard-working, law abiding persons, providing for their families and paying taxes.

 

This book is valuable in coming to understand and more deeply explore the current immigration and refugee issues, especially through the personal human stories of struggle and the desire for a better life. I highly recommend this book. To read more about this book and to see the list of All Bonaventure Read books go to:

https://www.sbu.edu/life-at-sbu/services-for-students/first-year-programs/all-bonaventure-reads