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National Statutes – Visitors, Enquirers & Candidates
National Statutes - Visitors, Enquirers, Candidates
Formation
More Events
Last week we mentioned two upcoming events: the national assembly in Gibraltar in late April, and a weekend at Pantasaph in September led by Paula Pearce.
We now have news of two other events.
We are invited by the Venerable Margaret Sinclair Fraternity, Arkley (London Region) to join their Day of Recollection at The Poor Clare Monastery, Arkley (near Barnet) on Sunday, 30th April 2017. These Days of Recollection at Arkley are always very well attended events. There will be a presentation by Mother Francisca OSC (the Mother Abbess) on “Laudato Si”, and a talk by Fr. Jesmond Pawley OFMConv (one of the national spiritual assistants to the OFS). A shuttle service will run from High Barnet Underground Station to ferry you to the Monastery in Galley Lane. Please see the programme here for full details. As the Sisters need to know how many to cater for please contact Ursula Mott ofs before 25th April to let her know you wish to attend. There is no specific charge for the day but please be prepared to make a generous donation to our Poor Clare sisters.
And in late October we will have a national formation weekend at Wistaton Hall, Crewe led by our national formation minister, John Power. The subject is “The Revised Programme for Ongoing Formation and the New Bibliography”. See below for further details of this event. A booking form may be found here.
Around the Regions March 2017
Here we highlight some national events, and initiatives from various regions.
The programme for the National Assembly to be held in Gibraltar in April is now available. We are delighted that every region is represented. There may still be places available should others wish to attend. It seems that the Extra Costs will now be only £40, and not £110 as originally expected. This is to help meet the costs of the Speaker and Spiritual Assistants and the catering for the weekend. We believe that the Gibraltar Fraternity will revitalise everyone who comes. We know they have devoted a huge amount of time and energy to make this unique experience uplifting and successful.
And in September Paula Pearce will lead a Living in Faith in Daily Life weekend retreat at Pantasaph Friary. Details may be found here.
Formation: We hope you are making good use of the excellent formation material that our national formation minister, John Power, has provided. John is also now working on material for Ongoing Formation.
South Wales and South West region have an interesting programme of events for 2017, and perhaps members from other regions might like to join them. Many from other regions will recall that in 2016 South Wales and South West offered the excellent “The Holy Year of Mercy and our Franciscan Response” weekend in Cardiff.
London Region have a Youfra initiative with an event in April: Working together to build Peace in our families, schools, colleges, universities, workplaces, our nation, our world…..and ourselves. See the hurt of the world and want to respond in the way of Peace, Joy, Hope, Love, Good….? There are many ways to be involved: pray for this initiative; publicise it; support one-off events; or join us in our year of monthly meetings/activities, growing together as we explore our Christian life in the Franciscan spirit.
Come and See: Friday 28th April 2017, 6.30pm-8pm Our Lady of the Rosary Church Hall, Brixton.
Get in touch and keep in touch: Facebook: Franciscan Youth UK
and on Twitter: @YouFraLondon
Email – YouFraLondon@aol.co.uk
If young people from other OFSGB regions want to make contact for resources etc, please get in touch.
The latest Southern Region newsletter “Viewpoint” is just in. There is much interesting material in the newsletters that the various regions provide.
East Anglian Region are drawing our attention to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales initiative referred to as the Holy Land Co-ordination.
After a recent visit the CBCEW say that “In 2017 we see a land of tension and division, walls and suspicion.” They invite us to “Take Action”, one suggestion being contact with our MP’s. David Gleave of East Anglian region says: “They have provided a pro-forma letter, so it is quite easy to share their message with your MP – all you have to do is provide your name and address.”
Since 1998, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales has organised an annual meeting of the Co-ordination of Episcopal Conferences in Support of the Church of the Holy Land. Mandated by the Holy See, an international delegation of bishops meets in the region every January to act in solidarity with the Christian communities there and to share in the pastoral life of the local Church as it experiences extreme political and social-economic pressure.
And we have details of the East Anglian regional election last weekend: here, and also here.
Our North East Region are energetically drawing our attention to a charity ride in memory of the much loved Michael Almond, of the Leeds fraternity, who died last year.
South East Region have details of the funeral arrangements for Declan Walsh ofs, dearly missed Minister of the Croydon fraternity. The Requiem will take place on Friday 31 March 2017 at Our Lady of the Rosary, 2 St Barnabas Road, Sutton, Surrey, SM1 4NL at 10.00 hrs. Followed by burial at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Warlingham, and a reception at The Horseshoe Pub, Warlingham. The region are suggesting donations to the OFS Barton project instead of flowers.
A further update may follow with news from Scotland, the North West Region, and the Midland Region.
Lent 2017: An Additional Update from the National Minister
Paula has written a second text this Lent, covering a variety of topics: the Barton Project, the Gibraltar National Assembly, Our Challenging World, the OFSGB website, a September weekend retreat at Pantasaph which she will lead (details of which are here), and a national Formation Weekend planned for October. Read on.