The Canticle
December, 2003
Divine Mercy Secular Franciscan Fraternity
Vero Beach, Florida

 Meetings 

   Regular:  Sunday,   Dec. 14, 2003 - 2:00 pm, Caldarone's house - (directions next page)
    Council:  Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003 - 9:15 am, Hibiscus Cafe, Vero Beach

Agenda:  1:30 - Initial Formation for Inquirers and Candidates with Formation Team members.
                       Be prompt!

2:00 - Opening Prayer
2:05 - Secy/Treas./Commissioner Reports. Old and New business.

2:20 - Nominating Committee Report and information regarding the Chapter of Elections
          to be held at our next meeting in January.

2:35 - Ongoing Formation: Donna M. Haro, SFO will present a talk on "Miracles"

2:50 - Christmas Party!! Christmas music!!
3:35 - Liturgy of the Hours

4:00 - Dismissal

Please Note:
▪ Refreshment Committee - December: For this special Christmas celebration, we ask everyone
  who is able to, to bring a favorite Christmas treat to share. Our hosts, the Caldarones, will
  provide a holiday punch and ice cream.
▪ As always, remember our fraternity apostolate, St. Helen's Food Pantry. Non-perishable food items (no glass) and toiletries (small). Thanks!

Remember to include in your prayers:
▪  Julie McHugh, SFO, our newest professed member.

▪  Our upcoming elections in January. Please pray for discernment in terms of saying "Yes" to a leadership role in your Franciscan Fraternity.
▪  Our Inquirers and Candidates: Ed, Pauline, Kathleen.

From the Minister's Desk:
▪ God continues to bless us abundantly! Thanks to every one of our members who attended Julie's Rite of Profession held during the 11:30
    Sunday Mass at St. Lucie Church. It was very special. Fr. Brian Horgan, the Pastor, welcomed us warmly and was enthusiastic about this
    "Franciscan" opportunity for him and his parishioners. And, we are grateful to him for planning the altar arrangements as well as for printing
    the programs and underwriting the reception. We even had 4 or 5 inquiries from people who might be interested in our fraternity. God is
    good - very good to us!
 

▪ Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everybody! We have so much to be thankful for - including opportunities in our local communities to extend
    the helping hand of St. Francis, not only to those in need of food, clothing and shelter, but also to those in our society who feel unwanted
    and unloved. We will soon be entering the season of Advent, a time in the Liturgical year with very deep meaning for all Franciscans.
    As "brothers and sisters of penance", let's embrace Advent with love and joy. It is a time for us to truly prepare a welcome in our hearts
    for the Babe of Bethlehem. Our Seraphic Father, Francis, walked away from every human comfort in exchange for a closer union with Christ.
    On Christmas Eve, what gift will you have for the Christ Child?

Franciscan Saints and Blesseds in the month of December

  8   IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, Patron & Queen of the Franciscan Orders
 12   Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patron and Queen of the Americas  (Memorial in USA)
 13   Finding the Body of Our Holy Father Francis. 
 15   Blessed Mary Frances Schervier, virgin of III Order. (Optional for SFO)

Directions to the Caldarone House, 3820 9th Place, Vero Beach, FL 32960 ▪ (772) 791-2404.

(The map has been omitted when this issue was replaced by the January 2004 issue.)

   Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a Blessed Christmas!

On the print edition of this Canticle, we have added the article called "Mary's Jewelry" by the late Jean Kurtz, SFO

      View Jean's Article