Food, Music, Alone & Community: God in the Mix

Being a Franciscan means that I live in community. In fact community was one of the drawing cards that was a key part of my discernment. Over the past two and half years I have lived in 4 different communities. Living in that many different communities can be draining at times, but it does help you appreciate the life journey of others and the simple things that can bring one joy and enter into community life renewed and hopeful. Now that I have been in this community for about seven weeks I am feeling more settled and at home, but I am aware that it will stay take time to appreciate it all. I have heard stats that it takes 3-6 months to truly feel at home.

Feeling at home is key and as much as community life was a drawing card it is also challenging. Like any family there are times of give and take, there are frustrating moments, rewarding moments, moments that slip by and other moments that help you grow. There are also those moments that ground you, give you strength and encourage you. Sometimes those moments are when you are by yourself.

Yesterday was one of those moments and a moment that helped me realize again that is God at work in my life and also the gift of community.

At one point I was actually alone in our house. This is a very rare occurrence when you live in community. It was this being alone that set into motion the realization of God at work and the gift of community.

While I was alone I turned on the stereo that plays in the kitchen and dining room (a first time for me since I got here). I found a great music station and let the right kind of music loft to gently fill the rooms. As the music played I set the table for our community meal. I then decided to call my parents to just to say hello. There is just something about music playing and a dining room that makes me think of home. As I was on the phone my Friar Brothers began to return home from their various commitments. I really wasn’t alone for that long. They came in and out of the kitchen and no one said anything about the music or turned it off and then I was left alone again to do some food preparation for supper. I love cooking with good music on in the background. I think it makes the food taste better! As I was enjoying the music and preparing Brothers soon started to congregate in the kitchen, some to enjoy a drink and an appetizer, others to finish off meal preparations. We began discussing the day, news events and still the music lofted in the background. I continued to do food prep, we continued to talk and when the volume of the conversation grew I simply slipped out of the room and faded the music away.

It was in these moments that were both therapeutic and rewarding that I was reminded that I had asked God to remind that God is Emmanuel – ‘God With Us’. Indeed God did, with some alone time, music, conversation, and then community coming together again. There are always gifts (I need to remember these when community life is challenging). God is always present. I am grateful for the richness of these blessings and how they have filled me up to continue on the journey of the week ahead. Interesting how being alone can make you appreciate the gift of community and time with community can make one appreciate the gift of being alone. God indeed loves to share blessings. I am grateful.

I hope in your week ahead you can find the right mix of alone time and community (whatever that mix of people may be). I also hope you can find the right music to gently fill your rooms as you prepare a meal. I promise the food will taste even better! God is indeed in the mix!

Giving Thanks

On this Thanksgiving Day, I share with you a beautiful Litany of Thanksgiving I discovered. It is written by Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P. It is a wonderful reflection of life and all our blessings. As we give thanks to God for all that we have, let us be mindful that so many of our brothers and sisters do not have plenty and are hurting. What can we do to help them and allow them to be thankful as well?

Litany of Thanksgiving

    We thank you, O Lord.

This is a day to thank God for all his many blessings in our lives.

With gratitude we now pray in thanksgiving.

For the love of God, for faith, family and friends…

 

For joys, successes, achievements and accomplishments…

 

For health, safety, work and rest…

 

For struggles, sorrows and trials…

 

For our jobs, for those who support us, for education and

for chances to serve…

 

For gifts, talents, abilities, for honors, for strength and energy…

 

For our homes, for food, warmth, and shelter,

for all the things that make us happy…

For hobbies and pets, for happy memories, for our favorite things,

for leisure and relaxation…

 

For our nation, for freedom and peace, for those who lead by example…

 

For the ability to say ‘I’m sorry’, for the forgiveness of others,

for the generosity of others…

For good advice, for the trust others put in us, for tenderness,

understanding and compassion…

For kindness, goodness, joy, and laughter…

 

For all the wonders of creation, for beauty, music, sports and art…

 

For new opportunities and second chances…

 

For all the ways we have grown and become better people…

 

For renewed hope and fulfilled dreams, for the providence

and protection of heaven…

For the gift of life…

The Dawning of Thanksgiving Day 2015. Amazing!

 

Celebrating the Feast of St. Francis 2015

October Third and Fourth are special days

we celebrate St. Francis and his life ways.

The photos tell of our journey as we prepared and celebrated

together we rejoiced with all God created.

 

Fall is the air and all creation is in full splendor,

The chapel is ready for the big celebration,

Cleaning is done all tidy and neat,

We are ready for our friends and neighbours to meet,

Delicious treats prepared to share,

 

And of course we honor beloved St. Clare,

Music is practiced and we are ready to sing,

All creation joins in and let their voices ring,

We gathered together in prayer,

 

And with good friends we did share,

 

The blessings of St. Francis and the gift of this day,

This marks the end of Day 1 of the Feast but there is more on the way.

We awaken refreshed and begin with prayer,

We gathered with pets to bless them, which is not rare,

 

The table is made ready for Friars to gather round,

First to the Chapel for Mass we abound,

 

We then sat down to a delicious feast,

 

And my dear niece did not miss out, she created these treats,

(sure wish I could have had one!! Yummy!)

And so concludes another Feast Day,

blessings of peace and all good to guide your way.

 

Amen.



Chapter of Mats III

Photos from the First Ever
Canadian Franciscan Chapter of Mats.



Franciscans of Canada.
118 in total in Canada, in photo are those that attended the Chapter of Mats.



Provincial Ministers Marc (left) and Dennis (right)
with General Minister Michael Perry.

Talented Friars.

Translation - Thanks Sr. Claire-Monique! Merci!

General Minister Friar Michael meet Simply Professed Friar Michael
The General Minister is an amazing man who is the head of
all OFM Friars world-wide. He is full of life, joy and enthusiasm.
A talented man from languages, to leadership, to singing.

Along with Prayer, Eating and Meetings
there was time for some Fun and Games.

St. Francis - Pray for Us!

Chapter of Mats II

A week ago the Friars of Canada were preparing to gather for the first time for our first ever Chapter of Mats.

We gathered at a beautiful retreat center set aside on 150 acres. We gathered from nearly coast to coast and even from the United States and Rome. There are currently 118 OFM Friars in Canada, of that, 65+ of us gathered for the Chapter of Mats.

We did indeed gather in prayer, gather in discussions and gather to celebrate the gift of being Friars.
We looked at the challenges we face in Canada and the reality of what it means to become one Canadian OFM Franciscan Province. We discovered some common ground, some interesting histories, some missed opportunities, some new ways to look at our journey.

We were challenged by our Minister General Michael Perry (good name) (Our General Minister lives in Rome) to move forward together. To be brothers working together to continue to spread the gospel in the footsteps of St. Francis. To take the chances, to be radical, to embrace the challenges we will face together so we will be stronger and be able to give a richer and fuller witness.

It was a full few days, that now leaves us Friars in Canada to make some decisions. To look at options for our future and not just talk about them but to truly make them happen. I am still hopeful and excited about this process. I think there will be amazing opportunities and new gifts and blessings that will emerge. It will take work, but building the kingdom of God and spreading the Gospel does indeed take work. I trust that our God is with us and sending his Spirit to inspire us to walk with Christ like our beloved Francis.

Some of the blessings of the few days together were being able to connect with most of the Friars from my own Province, but also the Brothers from Quebec and Ontario. Making new connections and discovering that one of the Friars from Quebec is a distant cousin. How cool is that?

I also had the chance to spend time with my Novitiate classmate Mathieu, which is always an adventure and time well spent.

It was a blessing to lead Prayer with Mathieu one day, to gather in prayer in both French and English and to have the technology to have translation happen for us instantly (Thank you Sr. Claire-Monique).

One of the highlights was to see the talents of the Friars at the community night. Amazing singers, dancers and story tellers filled the night with joy, laughter and amazement. From all over, in collaboration and all ages of Brothers made it a great night.

As I said last week, as the disciples said at the Transfiguration, 'it is good to be here.' It was indeed good to be here. May this goodness only enrich our journey as we work together to be truly Canadian OFM Brothers.

God of All,
we humbly ask for your Spirit
to be upon the Franciscans of Canada
as we work towards a new future.

Guide us as we build your kingdom
in the spirit of St. Francis,
who loved your Son Jesus Christ,
who is Lord for ever and ever.

Amen.



Note:
I hope to include some photos of the event soon.

Chapter of Mats

This coming week will be a new adventure for me in my Franciscan life. I am attending my first Chapter of Mats. Now a Chapter of Mats is not when Franciscans get together to purchase new carpets, rugs, bath or floor mats or even to swap with each other the ones we have. The Chapter of Mats dates back to the Rule of Saint Benedict (before St. Francis) and is a gathering for Friars. Friars from various Provinces (jurisdictions) gather together to discuss important topics, pray together and be community together on a larger scale.

St. Francis himself was part of at least one if not more Chapter of Mats. He gathered all his followers together and they camped out near the Portiuncula, food and drink were supplied by the locals and they gathered in prayer, discussions and to hear St. Francis speak.

For our Chapter of Mats we will not be camping out we are staying at a Retreat Centre and the food and drink will be taken care of by the Retreat Center staff. We will however gather to pray, discuss and be inspired by words from and the life of Saint Francis.

This historic Chapter of Mats will see Friars gather from three different provinces to discuss the future of us becoming one Canadian Franciscan Province. I think this is an exciting time, that will lead to new opportunities, renewed relationships, hope for the future and time to assess the impact the Friars have had across Canada. It will be days of community building, brotherly bonding, intense conversations, deep prayer, struggling with language barriers and a much needed first step for us as Friars.

I see it as an awesome opportunity and look forward to the experience. I am looking forward to meeting more Canadian Friars and reconnecting with my fellow Canadian Brother I journeyed with through the Novitiate. As the disciples said at the Transfiguration, 'it is good to be here.' I go forward with that attitude to embrace this Chapter of Mats.

God of All,
we humbly ask for your Spirit
to be upon the Franciscans of Canada
as they gather this week
for the Chapter of Mats.

Guide them in their discussions,
ease their fears and worries,
help them to embrace the gifts
they offer to build your kingdom
in the spirit of St. Francis,
who loved your Son Jesus Christ,
who is Lord for ever and ever.

Amen.


I humbly ask your prayers for all the Friars.

Peace and All Good!

Quotes

 

Johnny Cash once said: ‘I read novels but I also read the Bible. And study it, you know? And the more I learn, the more excited I get.’ This seems to describe a bit of where I am on my journey right now.

We are reaching the midway point of September so that means that a large amount of Canadians are back in school. This truth also applies for myself. After being out of a classroom for nearly 10 years, I’m back to class and homework. I am adjusting to a school schedule, balancing time between classes, reading (and lots of it) for each class and preparing for class, doing assignments and the reality of community life. Always learning something new which is exciting.

Reading everything from scripture to politics, from early church history to humanitarian efforts, from information on Jesus to information on how to apply for certain things, reading consumes a lot of my time. Thank goodness I like to read! It all comes down to having books surround me when I was a child!

All this reading allows for me to encounter words that inspire me, challenge me, make me laugh and make me think. It reminds me how much I love a good quote!

Around my room I have quotes of all kinds that I use as motivation, which serve as reminders and which keep me focused on the true prize. All this reading also allows me to find new quotes to aid on this journey. This past week alone I discovered four that really stand out.

'Father,' said I, 'do you see, let us say, this vessel lying here to be a little pitcher, or something else?' And he said, 'I see it to be so.' And I replied to him,
'Can it be called by any other name than what it is?'
And he said, 'No.' 'Neither can I call myself anything else than what I am, a Christian.'

– St. Perpetua – 3^rd Century Martyr.
 

‘Read assiduously and learn as much as you can. Let sleep find you holding your Bible,

and when your head nods let it be resting on the sacred page.’

 – St. Jerome – Doctor of the Church
 

‘Life is the question and life is the answer, and God is the reason and love is the way.’

 – Johnny Cash – The Man in Black
 

‘My arms are too short to box with God.’

– Johnny Cash – The Man in Black

You just never know how words are going to strike you and sit with you. I love that! So as I continue my studies, as I continue to read both for class and for pleasure I pray for openness. May the words continue to touch my heart, cause me to ponder and cause me to seek truth more. I hope you too can experience this gift and if you know of someone who needs to be read to (a child, the elderly, the sick) please share that gift!

 

 

Note: You may notice a lot of Johnny Cash references in this post. September 12 is Johnny Cash Memorial Day, so he was in the mix a bit more this past week.