The Cabrinian

March 2018

Our monthly gatherings begin at 1:30 PM on the 3rd Sunday at St. Nicholas Byzantine Church.

1051 Robinson Ave., Barberton, OH. We meet in St. George Hall (in back of church parking lot)

Visitors are always welcome and are expected.

The March gathering will be on the 18th

Vol 9 Issue 3 March 2018

Mea Culpa

The editor made a mistake with names in the February Cabrinian.

The correct ones are: L-r: Dorothy Takacs, OFS,

LeeAnn Devore, Chris Devore,

Speaker Kathryn Maka, from EMBRACE

Stand for Life in MarchStand for Life in MarchStand for Life in March The 40 Days for Life campaign is being held nationwide. Pro-life supporters in Summit and Stark

Counties are seeking prayer warriors for peaceful, prayerful vigils outside Planned Parenthood and other

abortion facilities. Google “40 Days for Life” and you will reach a coordinator in your county. Women are

saved from harming their unborn infants through prayers and peaceful witnesses.

If you would like to Stand for Life, talk with Bob Burtscher, OFS or Judith Hoyt, OFS. You are to

never stand alone at the “clinic!” Since 2007 the 40 Days for Life campaign has saved: 14,101 lives; 170

abortion workers quit; 94 abortion centers closed! Pray, fast, and be a witness!

Oregon Legislature Passes Bill to Allow Starving Mentally Ill Patients to Death

Oregon was the first state in the USA to allow “assisted suicide.” Now they are targeting people with

dementia and Alzheimer. A bill is going to the governor Kate Brown, who is not pro-life, allowing healthcare

workers to remove access to food and water. Where will this end? Who will be targeted next?

You may find more information on this matter at http://www.lifenews.com/2017/02/16/

oregon-senate-bill-494-would allow-starving-mentally-ill-patients-to-death/

This Lent, please make this one of the issues you pray about. This is so scary.

Eucharistic Adoration

Saturday

Mary Cate Roberts

Sunday

Betty DeMarco

Mary Tag

Paul Tag

Monday

Rose Akins

Judith Hoyt

Richard Russel

Tuesday

Maria Elena Meza

Roberto Meza

Larry McNutt

Eileen Dunlap

Chris Devore

Lee Devore

Wednesday

Rick Dunlap

Bill Marshall

Dorothy Takacs

Sandy Pollino

Thursday Joanne Angeletti

Carol Perrine

Sandy Pollino

Friday Bob Burtscher

Lee Gaydos

Dave Gaydos

Debbie Ventosa

Pepe Ventosa

March 2018 Pg. 2

Christian Prayer Kenny Green, OFS, is excellent at leading us in mid-day Sunday

prayer in Christian Prayer during our gatherings. Carol Perrine, OFS, is a

great cantor, and enhances our prayer life. Thank you to both of them.

During Lent and Advent the term “Alleluia” is omitted. These are

seasons of penance! It is easy to forget that.

The second psalm in Christian Prayer is not complete on the first

page, but is carried over to the next page. Those who use the four volume

Liturgy of the Hours are aware of this. This is something we should be

aware of when praying the Office with other Franciscans, such as during

regional gatherings.

We are blessed to have the opportunity to pray these beautiful

Prayers of the Church.

Bld. Agnes of Prague 3/2

St. Frances of Rome 3/9

Bld. Didacus Joseph of Cadiz 3/24

(right) Blessed Agnes of Prague

March Feast Days of Franciscans Saints & Blesseds

Vol 8 Issue 12 December 2017 Vol 9 issue 3 Pg. 3

Two Candidates with their sponsors: L-R: Paul Tag, OFS,

Chris Devore, LeeAnn Devore, Mary Tag, OFS

Meet the Candidates

by Susan Kramer, OFS

We are very blessed to have Cindy

Russo, LeeAnn Devore and Chris Devore

as candidates in our current formation

class. Recently, I had an opportunity

learned more about LeeAnn and Chris.

They are parishioners of Little

Flower Parish in Middlebranch. Both

Chris and LeeAnn participate in weekly

Eucharistic Adoration. LeeAnn is also an

Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist..

The Devores, married for 30 years, are the parents of three daughters and one son. They met in Lee-

Ann’s home town of Cincinnati. LeeAnn’s co-worker, who was Chris’ sister-in-law, asked Chris to meet

them at the JoAnn Fabric store where they worked. The Holy Spirit took it from there.

LeeAnn has been a Special Education coordinator with Canton Public Schools for 28 years. She is

passionate about teaching. Chris works in a business that creates engraving for the stamping industry.

These stamps go into dies that mold and identify products such as car parts, appliances, keys,

railroad car bearings, etcetera.

Each of them came to their choice of a Franciscan patron saint after a great deal

of consideration. LeeAnn chose St. Angela Merici, who had been orphaned as a child.

LeeAnn related to her as she lost her own father when she was a teenager. St. Angela, like

LeeAnn, was a teacher. She also credits St. Angela’s intercession to answered prayers. Chris

felt connected to St. Louis Martin, the father of St. Therese. He inspires and guides Chris as an

example of an outstanding family man, who loved his wife and their children.

The calling of LeeAnn and Chris to their Franciscan vocations has been enhanced by the examples of

Secular Franciscans, leading them to look into the Order. Like many of us, their interest was heightened

gradually over the years. Finally, the example of Lucy & Larry NcNutt, OFS, who were recognized in the

parish bulletin when they made their Permanent Profession as Secular Franciscans, and the invitation of

Debbie & Pepe Ventosa, OFS, to a Come and See evening, help to push them toward their goal of service

to the Church in the imitation of St. Francis

May God bless and protect both LeeAnn and Chris as they continue their studies, and pray their

way towards their Permanent Profession as Secular Franciscans.

submi

Hospitality for March Gathering

Lucy & Larry McNutt, OFS, Joanne Angeletti, OFS

Thank you for volunteering.

Stand for Life in March

Vol 8 Issue 12 December 2017 Vol 9 Issue 3 March 2018

Little Portion for March

Preparer Mary Lou Swartz, OFS

Deliverer Bob Burtscher, OFS

If you would like to Stand for Life please talk with Bob Burtscher, OFS

or Debbie Ventosa, OFS. Would you like to help in some other manner? Talk

with Debbie or Bob; they would be very glad to help you find a way to help the

pre-born infants and their mothers. Prayers are always needed!

Do you wear your TAU Cross all the time, or just for fraternity gatherings? The TAU Cross is our

“habit,” it is a symbol of our vocation in the Secular Franciscan Order. You don’t put your vocation on or

off as you wish, so why would you not wear some symbol of your Permanent Profession in the Secular

Franciscan Order? But be prepared to answer questions.

Every Tuesday I volunteer at a hospital, escorting patients in the x-ray department.

One day a patient and she asked me if I knew Fr. Kubina. My hearing isn’t always that

great, so I asked her to repeat the questions—-it was just that unusual. When I replied that I

did know him, and kept in contact with him, she asked me to tell him that “Sophia from Raven-

na said ‘Hello’.”

The long-term members (“older” isn’t nice) will remember Fr. Kubina, a Third Order Regu-

lar Friar who, when he was the pastor a parish in Windham, Ohio , was our Spiritual Assistant. Even

more interesting, Father and I have kept in contact over the years and have visited each other.

All I can imagine is that Sophia saw my TAU Cross, peeking out of my uniform smock, and real-

ized I was connected with the Franciscans. Yes, I did send a note to Fr. Eugene telling him that Sophia

said “Hello.” For multiple reasons, a member may not be able to wear even a small symbol of his or her

vocation. For those who are able to wear a TAU or other Franciscan symbol, it is possible that not only

will individuals ask about the meaning of the symbol, but may wish to learn about the Order. Be pre-

pared to answer questions——and to invite others to our gatherings. The Secular Franciscan Order is

truly a hidden gem in the Catholic Church today. People are seeking guidance, learning and spirituality.

You neve know how you might reach out to another person.

An Unexpected Question

March Witnesses

Bob Burtscher, OFS

Rose Akins, OFS

Thank you for your continued

kindnesses to those in need.

Called Home; Well done, my good and faithful servant! Margaret Maurer, OFS, was professed with the St. Frances Cabrini Fraternity on 15 April 1955;

George Sano, OFS, was the minister. She moved to San Deigo, CA in 1972, ,and was an active member of

Immaculate Conception Fraternity. Her first priority upon returning to Ohio was to be in community

with the Franciscans. Residing in a nursing home, her nephew Jeff transported

her, in a wheelchair, to our gatherings. We had the pleasure of learning from

her at each gathering, and enjoyed her warm smile and company. During our

Fraternity Picnic she lead the rosary in the church, inspiring all of us. Despite

her illnesses and limitations she was a powerful witness, exemplifying a life

faithful to her Franciscan promises until she was called home by Sister Death.

May her soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. Amen

photo at left, Margaret & Bob Burtscher, OFS, outside our meeting site)

Ongoing Formation, Our Fraternity Statutes

Submitted by Pepe Ventosa, OFS

During our gathering in February 2018 we reviewed our Fraternity Statutes.

It took approximately a year and a half for the Fraternity Council to create the St. Frances X.

Cabrini Fraternity Statutes. Each article was discerned and reviewed carefully, assuring they were in ac-

cordance with the General Constitutions and the National Statutes of the National Fraternity of the OFS.

The St. Frances X. Cabrini Fraternity Statutes became official when they were approved and signed by the

St. Maximilian Kolbe Regional Council in September of 2012.

The first section of the Statutes formulated was our mission statement which reads as follows:

“We, the Secular Franciscans of the St. Frances X. Cabrini Fraternity, called by Baptism to holiness, are called by the Holy Spirit to follow the example of St. Francis of Assisi who made Christ the inspiration and the center of his life. “By profession and urged by the Spirit, we commit to reach the perfection of charity and

to live the Gospel in the manner of St. Francis by means of the Rule approved by the Church.

By living in community we foster prayer, study and love for the Scriptures and continual

conversion. Our spirituality is centered on the Person and on the following of Christ. Christ,

poor and crucified, is the “book” in which we find the purpose and the way of life.

“We pledge full communion with the Pope, bishops and priests and unwavering obedi-

ence to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and its teachings.”

The Statutes were created to help and guide our Fraternity in the present and in the future in living

the Franciscan way of life. They help our Fraternity fulfill our mission statement.

All the members of the fraternity are strongly encouraged to be familiar with our Statutes. They

are available on our website, www.franciscansakron.com

Vol 8 Issue 12 December 2017 Vol 9 Issue 3 March 2018

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Divine Mercy with

Fr. Joe Tuscan, OFM Cap.

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Jesuit Retreat House 5629 St. Rd. Parma, OH

Day will begin at 9 A.M. & will end at 5 PM.

The cost is $40.00

Included:

Breakfast: coffee & bakery at 8:30 A.M.

Lunch: in the Retreat House dining hall.

Reservations & payments due by March 31!

Make out checks to the St. Maximilian Kolbe Region, and include payment with the reservation form on the reverse side of this page.

Send all reservations to:

Elsie Fleckenstein, OFS

12823 Lynn Dr.

Chesterland, OH 44206

Ph. 440-729-7409

Please contact Elsie with any questions.

Fr. Joe is a very gifted speaker and teacher.

We are very blessed to have him with us for this retreat. Please make an effort to participate in this special one-day gathering..

Registration Form

St. Maximilian Kolbe Region Retreat

Fr. Joe Tuscan, OFM Cap.

Name____________________________________________________

Address__________________________City_____________________

Phone #_____________________e-mail________________________

Fraternity_________________________City_____________________

Payments must sent in with this registration form.

All reservations and payments must be in by March 31, 2018. It isn’t that far away.

Questions or concerns ?

Please contact Elsie Fleckenstein at 440-729-7409.

Emergency Contact:

Name_______________________________________________

Phone__________________________cell phone___________________

Please make copies of this form as needed.