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Quick Links
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Allegany Franciscans Website
FSA Jamaica Website
UPCOMING MEETINGS
AND EVENTS
Leadership Meetings
August 14-15
Planning Week Aug 29 - Sept 8
Franciscan-Clarian Spirituality Committee meeting
July 26, 27, 28, Tampa
Clare of Assisi - Heart of Franciscan Spirituality
Webinar - August 2
Motherhouse presentation - August 3
LCWR Assembly
August 6-11 St. Louis, MO
Presentation by Sr. Carol Zinn SSJ
August 16 - Allegany
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Feast of St. James (July 25)
On July 25 we celebrate the feast of James the Apostle. James and his brother John were referred to as the sons of Zebedee. We hear in our gospel from Salome, the mother of these sons of Zebedee, who asked Jesus, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom."
Later in the gospel we hear that when the other disciples heard this they became indignant at the two brothers. The human dynamics at work, witnessed and recorded of these first disciples and others who were closest to Jesus, are still prevalent in our world, in our communities and in our parishes today.
Paul however, reminds us that we hold a treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. The treasure that we hold is the very presence, life, and Divinity of God within our humanity. This presence is not for our own edification and our self-indulgence, rather it is given to us as a free gift for the building up of the Body of Christ.
After Christ's death and resurrection, James embraced his discipleship by preaching the gospel in Iberia as well as in the Holy Land. James is recognized as the patron saint of Spain, where according to legend his remains are held in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. Pilgrimage to the grave of the saint is known as the "Way of St. James".
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The Path and Practice of Mindfulness
By: Margaret Magee OSF
On
Saturday, July 21 we were graced with the presence and insights of Capuchin friar Br. Richard Hendricks
, who spoke on "The Path and Practice of Mindfulness
." Br. Richard, a native of Ireland, has taught meditation in the Christian Contemplative Tradition for the last 20 years. Through this time he served in youth ministry
, especially focused on teaching
young children and youth the practice of meditation and mindfulness
at
the Sanctuary Spirituality Centre in Dublin
, Ireland
. Currently, Br. Richard serves as the Guardian of the Ards Friary and Retreat Center in Donegal, Ireland.
Th
e
full-day presentation was attended by sisters, associates, Secular Franciscans, and others from the local Allegany and Olean area. It was also televised throughout the Motherhouse for all the sisters.
In his presentation, Br. Richard gave an overview of the practices of mindfulness and meditation through the ancient faith traditions of Buddhism, Judaism, and Christianity, while also exploring the connections in the prayer of the Desert Fathers, in Lectio Divina, and through mystics like St. Theresa of Avila, St. Francis of Assisi, and Thomas Merton. Throughout the day,
Br. Richard
led the group in prayerfu
l meditation
inviting the participants to deepen and expand the experience of God's Divine Love through Intention, Attention, Compassion and Wisdom.
This presentation was videotaped and will be made available soon. Watch for more information.
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 St. Anthony's Parish Recognizes Franciscan Sisters of Allegany
Recently, St. Anthony's Parish in New York City erected a plaque inside the Church thanking the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany for their service. We served in the school and parish for 144 years.
The plaque reads:
"In appreciation to the Franciscan Sisters of Alleghany**, NY for their service to St. Anthony of Padua Church since 1874."
**Editor's note: We are aware of this spelling error and have been in contact with the parish.
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 Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment Update
By: Gloria Oehl OSF
At the recent meeting of Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment, we discussed recent shareholder engagement priorities and outcomes including priority issues of human rights in the supply chain, climate change, water stewardship, and financial practices. On the last issue, we engaged a major bank on the human rights risks of financing private prison companies, which also operate immigrant detention centers.
Through our membership in the ICCR (Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility), FSA signed on to two letters which were sent to the two major private prison companies in discussing the serious matter involving the human rights of immigrant families who, after suffering severe persecution in their home countries, cross the U.S./Mexico borders to seek asylum. We (many faith-based investors) wrote to urge these companies to not become involved in any efforts the U.S. government is developing to indefinitely detain immigrant families.
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Sharing Memories
Sister Rita Frances Guaracsi recently gathered with a few other Sisters to share two books
that
she had published with photographic memories of her
time
in Brazil and Bolivia.
Rita's sharing of
her
stories brought
greater understanding and
information about our Sisters
in Brazil and Bolivia that had not been known before.
From left to right: Sr. Helen Lodge, Sr. Rita Frances Guaracsi, Sr. Elaine Bane, Sr. Roseanne Duffy, and Sr. Toni Pellegrino
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Upcoming Webinar: Clare of Assisi: Heart of Franciscan Spirituality
On Thursday, August 2,
Margaret Magee will present
a webinar entitled:
"Clare of Assisi - Heart of Franciscan Spirituality"
from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Our 2016 Chapter Statement calls us to be ignited by the fire of the Spirit and our Allegany Franciscan-Clarian charism. Since that time the Franciscan-Clarian Spirituality committee has been committed to sharing resources, reflections and has as one of its goals to formulate a series of webinars on Franciscan-Clarian Spirituality.
During this
webinar
presentation, Margaret will
share on
the Medieval
milieu
in which Clare and Francis lived;
the movement that they envisioned and inspired
;
the events that challenged and shaped their lives and the early community; and what all of this means for us today.
There is no cost for the webinar. Interested persons, please contact Denise Bunk-Hatch at [email protected] for more information.
On Friday, August 3, Margaret will repeat this presentation at the Motherhouse for sisters, associates and Secular Franciscans. This presentation will take place in the Motherhouse Meeting Room from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
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Franciscan-Clarian Art Reflection
By: Margaret Magee OSF
Clare of Assisi: A Woman of Common Sense
I believe that Clare of Assisi was a woman of deep contemplation and love of God and of all people. Her desire to gaze, consider, contemplate, and imitate Christ in poverty and evangelical gospel living was not out of a rigid, formal, or structured mindset. I imagine, like that of Francis, Clare's desire to embrace Christ and all of life was much more realistic and relational. She encountered and embraced life, the people, and all creation around her.
This image of Clare speaks to me of a woman who is realistic - living, pondering, imagining with eyes wide open. She is a woman of deep faith, purpose, and a lot of common sense.
This image also reminds me of one of my favorite quotes of Clare of Assisi. "We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become. If we love things, we become a thing. If we love nothing, we become nothing. Imitation is not a literal mimicking of Christ, rather it means becoming the image of the Beloved, an image disclosed through transformation. This means we are to become vessels of God's compassionate love for others."
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LCWR Condemns the Ongoing Violence in Nicaragua
Press Release from the Leadership Conference of Women Religious
The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is deeply concerned about the growing repression and state-sanctioned violence in Nicaragua. Citizens' voices have been silenced and their peaceful protests violently suppressed. We have seen citizens, including campesinos and campesinas, doctors, students, religious, and clergy, abducted, tortured, and killed. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, reported that over a two-month period from mid-April to mid-June at least 178 people were killed, the vast majority at the hands of police forces and armed pro-government groups, and at least an additional 1,500 were wounded. We expect that those numbers have climbed significantly in the past weeks.
LCWR stands firmly in solidarity with the people of Nicaragua, including our brother and sister religious, who are demanding justice and peace. We join with the Nicaraguan Catholic Church in denouncing the violence and with the first Latin American pope, Pope Francis, in calling for a return to dialogue that rejects violence and repression, respects freedom, and reverences the lives of all. Finally, we pledge our prayer and promise that we will do all in our power to call attention to the injustice and violence being perpetrated against the people of Nicaragua.
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Upcoming Days of Observance
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 World Day Against Trafficking in Persons
In 2013 the UN General Assembly held a high-level meeting to appraise progress in the Global Plan of Action to Combat Trafficking in Persons. At the meeting, member states also designated July 30 as the World Day against Trafficking in Persons. The resolution declared that such a day was necessary to "raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights."
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 International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples
The International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, celebrated annually on August 9, is a day to promote and protect the rights of the world's indigenous population and to recognize the achievements and contributions that indigenous people make to improve the world and protect the environment.
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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.
August 8, 2018 - First edition August newsletter
August 22, 2018 - Second edition August newsletter
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