tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64844965483847520222024-03-05T21:32:50.171-05:00Instruments of God's PeaceThe purpose of this blog is to share "the good news" that Franciscans are being and doing across the entire United States. We encourage Secular Franciscans everywhere to share with us their pictures, their stories, their prayers, their actions as they live out their Franciscan charism. Secular Franciscans are dedicated to following Jesus Christ in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi while living ordinary lives, thereby bringing the peace and joy of the Gospel to the world.Vickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591017349277964184noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484496548384752022.post-58774854672107077682011-01-11T01:37:00.001-05:002011-01-11T08:40:42.914-05:00Please Pray for our Sisters and Brothers in ArizonaSunday, January 9, 2011<br />
<br />
Beloved National Family,<br />
<br />
As we gather in churches, families and fraternities this holy last Sunday of the Christmas Season, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, let us pray for our brothers and sisters in Arizona, for the souls of those who have been slain including Federal Judge John Roll, who had just been to daily Mass; nine-year-old Christina Taylor Green, born on September 11, 2001 and who had recently made her first Holy Communion; Gabe Zimmerman and three others; let us pray for U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and perhaps 17 others wounded, as well as all of us who are traumatized and depressed by this horrible act.<br />
<br />
The sheriff of Pima County Arizona has been quoted in today's newspaper saying, "The anger, the hatred, the bigotry that goes on in this country is getting to be outrageous, and unfortunately Arizona has become sort of the capital. We have become the mecca for prejudice and bigotry."
Having recently participated in our National Chapter in Arizona with Sue Simeone and all the good people of her Region, including our NAFRA Peace Award winner Brother David Buer, OFM, I cannot believe the sheriff's words to be true, but let us all pray in solidarity with the good people of Arizona that Arizona and all of us in our beloved United States will be people of love and people of peace.<br />
<br />
We can never give in to the forces of evil; rather, evil must be overcome by good through the grace of God, the sacrifice of God's Son and the working of the Holy Spirit.
Let us never cease our prayers, never lose faith, never surrender hope, never run away from God's command to love.
Let us all continue as good Franciscans to be instruments of God's Peace.<br />
<br />
With love and peace,
Tom Bello
National Minister
Secular Franciscan Order
The United States of AmericaTomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910111080710992708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484496548384752022.post-31593490296598082602010-07-20T22:42:00.000-04:002010-07-20T22:42:11.716-04:00Nominees for 2010 NAFRA Peace Award<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Dear Readers,</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It gives me great joy to
share with you all of those nominated, with the actual nominations, for
the 2010 NAFRA Peace Award.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Of course, all of them are
winners. </span></b><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I hope that their
lives will inspire you as they inspire me to be better Instruments of
God's Peace.</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Please pray for them
that they may continue their great witness and that we may provide
better witness as we all try to follow in the footsteps of Sts. Francis
and Clare ever closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Prince
of Peace.</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Peace and love,</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tom</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;">National Fraternity of the Secular Franciscan Order</span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">2010 Peace Award Nominations</span></b></div>
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<ol>
<li>Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA</li>
<li>Rev. Scott Binet, M.D.</li>
<li>Br. David Buer</li>
<li>Bishop Ellis Chacour</li>
<li>Captain Paul K. Chappell</li>
<li>Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF, PHD.</li>
<li>Franciscan Connection of St. Louis, Missouri</li>
<li>Char Hipp SFO</li>
<li>Immaculee Ilibagiza</li>
<li>Deacon Mark Keely</li>
<li>Gaylord A. Nelson</li>
<li>Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, OFM, Cap.</li>
<li>Jim O’Neill, SFO and Barbara O’Neill, SFO </li>
<li>Alan Ouimet SFO</li>
<li>Jeffrey Raymond Proulx, SFO (Deceased)</li>
<li>Fr. Regis Scanlon OFM Cap.</li>
<li>Fr. Paschal D. Siler, OFM Cap.</li>
<li>Stephanie Sormane SFO</li>
<li>Starcross Community of Annapolis, CA</li>
<li>Fr. John Stowe</li>
<li>Reta Tombaugh</li>
<li>Ron Wakefield</li>
</ol>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;">2010 Peace Award Nominations</span></b><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></b></div>
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<b>1.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Mother
Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, PCPA</u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dear Tom Bello, SFO,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I would like to make a personal nomination for
giving a peace award to mother Angelica for her gift of EWTN. EWTN
has done a lot to give me PEACE in my mind, my heart, my home, and in
my world. I am eternally gratefully.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mary Sheehan, SFO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">St. Pius X Fraternity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Middleton, CT.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dear Bro Tom:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In response to your request in the summer edition
of TAU USA, the San Juan Capistrano Secular Franciscan
Fraternity (#111) of the St. Francis Region (#52), met today and
unanimously puts forward the following name for consideration of the
2010 NAFRA Peace Award: Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation,
PCPA - EWTN Foundress. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">We all shared that Mother has tirelessly built a
Catholic and Franciscan global network out of virtually nothing but a
mustard seed of thought. The network has touched millions of lives and
brought into our homes and hearts the depth of God's love for us and the
Peace of Christ - centered and energized by the inspiration of Sts
Francis and Clare. We feel that Mother would be an outstanding
candidate for consideration of this award and look forward to hearing of
the formal nomination.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Bro Tom Cooney, SFO, Minister </span></div>
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<b>2.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Rev. Scott
Binet, M.D. </u></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dear Tom,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">My fraternity sister, Harriet Sporn, suggested
the following nominee for the NAFRA Peace Award on behalf of our
fraternity—</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Fraternity of Sacred Hearts of Jesus and
Mary, Hilton Head Island, SC, BSSF Region #61, would like to nominate
Rev. Scott Binet, M.D. for the NAFRA Peace Award. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Fr. Scott is a member of the Order of St.
Camillus, a worldwide group of over 1,100 priests and religious brothers
dedicated to making Christ present to people in need, whether it be in
Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Haiti, or other destinations around the world. Fr.
Scott has been and continues to serve the people in Haiti since the
devastating earthquake there earlier this year. By way of his total
dedication to those in need, Fr. Scott brings Christ--and Christ's peace
to all.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Peace and all good,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">DorothyAnn Rowland, Minister</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br clear="all" /></span>
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<b>3.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Br. David
Buer</u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">NAFRA 2010
Peace Award Nomination for Brother David Buer, OFM</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Saint Thomas More Region Executive Council
and the following local fraternities within this Region: Saint Anthony
Fraternity, Saint Margaret of Cortona Fraternity, Pope John XXIII
Fraternity, Saint Francis Fraternity, Our Lady of the Rosary Fraternity,
Saint Clare of Assisi Fraternity, Peace Fraternity, Saint Andrew Kim
Taegon Emerging Fraternity, Portiuncula Fraternity, and San Damiano
Fraternity humbly nominate, Brother David Buer, OFM, Regional Spiritual
Assistant and Saint Anthony Fraternity Spiritual Assistant for the 2010
NAFRA Peace Award. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David lives the poverello life. He is
humble, seeks only to help others, refrains from judging others, and
praises God in all he does. He has made a life time of seeking out our
poor and society’s forgotten men and women and serving them with
dignity, kindness, and love. He clearly understands that by serving
others will we find peace. He is a role model for not only Franciscans
or Catholics but for all people. He evangelizes through the way he lives
his life, using words if necessary. During the past year he has worked
to open a cooling station allowing homeless men to spend some time
inside a cool building during our blistering summers. This past winter
he was instrumental in convincing members of other faiths and
organizations to open a shelter for homeless men during the coldest
nights of the year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Most recently when Arizona passed a controversial
law on immigration, Brother David steadfastly continued his
humanitarian service to those who are crossing our southern deserts. He
knows the law does not serve the poor and the helpless and he is
tireless in his work to help them. He speaks to groups on the
humanitarian efforts that are currently going on in Arizona but more
importantly he lives it! There is no fanfare, nor boasting of what he
has done for years to help the poor. He simply serves his fellow
brothers and sisters with love and will continue to do so as others
still argue the law. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">He has managed to carve out time in his
exhausting schedule to facilitate a Franciscan Family Connections class
for our Region to help fulfill the need for local spiritual assistants.
His nature is to be accepting and encouraging as the
participants move through this course and eventually on to serve as
spiritual assistants. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">He truly deserves to be nominated for the NAFRA
2010 Peace Award. Brother David Buer, o.f.m., is from the Santa Barbara
Province of Franciscan Friars, California. Two fraternities in the Saint
Thomas More Region have provided some history of Br. David’s unwavering
service to our marginalized and too often forgotten brothers and
sisters. </span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; margin: 0in 0in 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">By Saint Margaret of
Cortona Fraternity of Secular Franciscans, Las Vegas, Nevada:</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David came to the Las Vegas, Nevada area
in the late 1990’s. He quickly recognized that even though Catholic
Charities and the Salvation Army provided overnight shelter and beds for
the homeless in Las Vegas, there was a tremendous need for a daytime
home for homeless men. In 1997 through challenging work and the awesome
task of raising the funds, Brother David opened Poverello House in Las
Vegas, near what is known as the Homeless Corridor, where many of the
homeless live. It is a welcoming place where homeless men can receive
two nutritious meals during their day’s stay. The homeless men are also
given clothing, blankets, and personal hygiene items, when needed.
Showers and laundry facilities are available and are regularly put to
good use. The men also can take naps on the beds or watch television or
play games for recreation. They can also sit and rest in the large
enclosed yard. Poverello House was established to provide a place where
homeless men could find a safe haven to rest and refresh themselves
before they began searching for a bed for the night. Poverello House is
open five days a week. In 2002, Brother David started a second Poverello
House in nearby Henderson, Nevada. It also welcomes homeless women one
day a week. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David made sure that the homeless were
and are respected. He exhibits this through his caring,
live-giving words he uses with all people, including those who may live
on the streets. His humble approach to life is demonstrated by giving
and serving our poor and marginalized brothers and sisters. Such as
Saint Francis said, “Preach the Gospel, use words if necessary.” Brother
David preaches the Gospel by his actions. He uses words
when necessary, especially when it involves housing, services, or laws
that affect the homeless. He became known to the Las Vegas
Mayor and the city council, when he would speak on behalf of the
homeless, whenever it was necessary. We, the Saint
Margaret of Cortona Fraternity, would also go to the city council
meetings with Brother David to face the mayor; to bring petitions
opposing any closings of facilities or services for the homeless that
the city was planning. The wintertime was the worst for
closing shelters. Brother David was the first in line to
fight for the rights of the homeless. We would also stand
in silent protest or walk with Brother David on the Las Vegas Strip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David has been an inspiration to the
Saint Margaret of Cortona Fraternity of Secular Franciscans. His
Franciscan spirituality, respect and caring for the homeless (our
present day lepers) and preaching the Gospel by living it, has changed
our lives. We have washed walls, cleaned toilets, painted
and have taken turns cooking at Poverello House. We still
do. Brother David is a man of peace. He simply serves others with
dignity and grace. He asks nothing for himself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David has taken members of the Saint
Margaret of Cortona Fraternity on walks through the Homeless Corridor in
Las Vegas to meet personally the homeless, to put faces and humanity on
the homeless. Those type of experiences opened our eyes
to see what the homeless have to go through in their everyday lives.
Walking the railroad tracks and seeing the tent cities gave us
all a greater appreciation for the blessings that the Lord has given us
and how much we need to give to our fellow brothers and sisters. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David would sleep on the streets and
spend vigil time for a number of days while fasting, taking in water
only. Many Secular Franciscans met him for prayers while
he was fasting. Secular Franciscans would also bring him
communion while he would be on the streets. On one of the
vigils, Brother David was interviewed by a local television station.
A woman watching the newscast saw her brother in the background.
She had not seen him in years. This is the Holy
Spirit at work.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David was also involved with Saint James
the Apostle Catholic Church in Las Vegas. His Franciscan Community
provided the Pastor for the parish, which serves primarily the African
American community. Brother David was always available to help with the
outreach programs. He was vital in securing and distributing food for
the needy people who live around the parish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David is always in motion, seeking to
help others. He never says “no” to anyone who needs help. He models
Franciscan spirituality and how a Franciscan can lead a life of helping
and serving others. He served as Spiritual Director of the Saint
Margaret of Cortona Fraternity of Secular Franciscans. The Secular
Franciscans learned a great deal from him by the way he lead his life of
peace and joy in all he approached. It was a great loss for them when
his order left Las Vegas and he was transferred to Arizona. The lessons
he taught them about being Franciscan continue to be valuable and
poignant in a city with so much neglect of their homeless populations. </span></div>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 114%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">By Saint Anthony
Fraternity of Secular Franciscans, Tucson, Arizona:</span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Saint Anthony Fraternity's prayers were answered
when Brother David became the Spiritual Assistant in 2005. He wished us
a Happy Liturgical Year as we began our Advent season in that year. He
reminded us that we live in the world, but also that we have another
clock as Catholics, as Franciscans - that the liturgical calendar alerts
us to spiritual realities that feed our souls that edify our humanity.
He has since shown us by example that he lives that truth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The first few months he was in and out of town -
the friars of the Southwest region of Saint Barbara Province in the
spring of 2004 elected him to serve on the Chapter Steering Committee
which required meetings in the San Francisco Bay area about every six
weeks. That work culminated with the Provincial Chapter at Mission San
Luis Rey in Oceanside, CA in January of 2006. At that time, he also
continued to serve on the board of Poverello House in Las Vegas, the
house of hospitality for the homeless.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">He had hoped to have Father Walter Holly, OFM, as
his mentor during those first months but our Lord called him home soon
after Brother David accepted. He said he was comforted on occasions
when he walked over to the cemetery down the road from the Mission to
visit his grave. He knew he had another Franciscan friend in Heaven who
was praying for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">He urged us to reach out to Poor Clare
Monasteries because it is important that the relationships with the
other branches remain strong. By praying with each other, we could
educate each other in our Franciscan journey. Since there were no Poor
Clare monasteries near us at the time, this was accomplished at one of
our meetings by the members writing a personal letter to the Poor Clares
in Roswell, New Mexico. Brother David sent the 15 letters in a manila
envelope to them. We received a little packet of materials including a
letter from the Abbess with the name of the 21 Sisters and 1 Postulant
there. This ultimately led to 39 pilgrims in the Saint Thomas More
Region to participate in a 500 mile bus trip to the Poor Clare Monastery
in Roswell. It was a pilgrimage to connect the Franciscan family of
friars, Poor Clare Sisters and Secular Franciscans. The pilgrimage
included a tour of San Xavier Mission led by Dr. Bunny Fontana, Mass and
supper at St. Joseph's Apache Mission in Mescalero, New Mexico a
12-hour day of prayer with the Poor Clares in Roswell, which included
three conferences by Capuchin Father McCreary. The bus was used for
times of prayer, song and audio CDs on "Francis of Assisi, A New Way of
Being Christian" narrated by Bill Short, OFM. Brother David coordinated
this trip.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David visits the home-bound members of
our Fraternity quite often. He enjoys those visits and urges those
members to write the stories of their Franciscan journeys. These were
published in the monthly newsletters.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">July 3rd of 2006, Brother David opened the doors
at Saint Francis Cooling Center for the homeless. It was in the
basement of an old building on Santa Cruz's property. With the help of
volunteers, the basement was fixed up to be usable. Two air
conditioners were installed along with a large kitchen sink. The
graffiti on the walls were cleaned up, a half dozen fans were brought
and inexpensive tables and chairs were gotten from St. Vincent de Paul.
Some cots were borrowed from the Interfaith Homeless committee. Funds
from a diocesan grant were received. Two port-a-potties were donated and
a new roof was installed when a monsoon storm tore the roofing off.
Thanks, to Father Bob Carney of St. Francis de Sales Church, two
freezers were donated. Reverend Bandon Wert at Southside Presbyterian
worked two days to help get the basement ready to open. They were open
from noon to 4:45 pm, 6 days a week until August 9. The Saint Francis
Cooling Center averaged 30 guests a day.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In the winter of 2007, after Brother David’s
attempt to get a shelter opened for the homeless failed, he instead
rented a van and went out each evening providing hot soup, hot
chocolate, bread, cookies and blankets to the homeless. The food was
generously provided by Caridad, a feeding program begun by Father Joe
Baker at Holy Family Church. From 6 - 9 pm, he and a helper patrolled
some of the washes in the area, Santa Rita Park, the streets near the
Convention Center, Santa Cruz Church, Millers Surplus, Ajo, and the
Santa Cruz River, the main library and any place they found homeless
camped. They continued six nights a week through February.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">He considers it a blessing to have worked almost
thirty years with the homeless - the Open Door community in Atlanta, St.
Francis Center in Denver, the Franciscan House of Mary and Joseph in
Chicago, the Catholic Workers in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and elsewhere.
He is still amazed at how blessed the work is when the poor and homeless
are treated with respect and dignity as we work to get their basic
needs met.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David recently opened a Poverello
Hospitality House here in Tucson similar to the one in Las Vegas. The
homeless can come by appointment to spend a day in a home where they can
take a shower, wash their clothes, get needed clothes and have a cooked
meal.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">When the homeless receive food, shelter, showers
and hospitality, it is good. But Saint Paul's challenging words remind
us that without love, it is nothing. We know this is true in other
areas of our lives. If we get into disputes, do we allow anger and
righteousness with our position disrupt our fraternal relations? With
love and mutual respect, we can defend our deeply held beliefs without
disrupting our relationships. As we go about our daily work, do we get
irritable with co-workers who we judge to not be carrying their weight?
Or do we recognize that Jesus calls us to 'forgive those who trespass
against us? Brother David asks us.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">He is very involved in the "No More Deaths"
movement which works with humanitarian help to the migrants coming
across the border. He regularly goes on patrol in the southern Arizona
desert near the Mexican border in order to provide water, shelter from
the sizzling sun, food and basic clothing items such as hats, sox and
shoes. Poverty has no boundaries so Br. David courageously serves all he
meets in the desert and stands up for the immigrants who are seeking a
better life. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David served Saint Thomas More Region as a
"de facto" Regional Spiritual Assistant for many months before being
officially installed as Regional Spiritual Assistant at the Pastoral and
Fraternal Visitation of the Region in July of 2008.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Brother David wrote a 20-page report for the
provincial on the Religious Brothers, Franciscan Saint Barbara Province,
1908-2008". The book, "Gregor Janknecht and the
Franciscans in Nineteenth Century United States and Europe" published by
the Academy of American Franciscan History Berkeley, CA has in the
Editor's Note inside: <i>Special thanks to Brother David Buer, OFM for
facilitating this project. Without his determination it would never
have come to fruition.</i> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">We are blessed to know Brother David as our
Region’s Spiritual Assistant. He provides compassion and concern to all
he meets. He offers ideas on how we as Secular Franciscans can reach out
to other Franciscans and has planned activities to do so. At our
Regional Council meetings, Executive Council meetings, workshops, days
of retreat, and pilgrimages, Brother David peacefully speaks and walks
the talk. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Peace and joy from Saint Thomas More Region:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Terry McCarthy, Sr., SFO, Minister, Saint Anthony
Fraternity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Madge Lange, SFO, Minister, Saint Margaret of
Cortona Fraternity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Rosie Roman, SFO, Minister, Pope John XXIII
Fraternity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Linda Raimundo, SFO, Minister, Saint Francis of
Assisi Fraternity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Robert Bundy, SFO, Minister, Our Lady of the
Rosary Fraternity and Region Treasurer</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Ron Muller, SFO, Minister, Saint Clare of Assisi
Fraternity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Lynn O’Connor, SFO, Minister, Peace Fraternity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Kathleen Ott, SFO, Minister, San Damiano
Fraternity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Michael Nam, SFO, Minister, Saint Andrew Taegon
Emerging Fraternity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Clarita Caswell, SFO, Minister,
PortiunculaFraternity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Carol Bundy, SFO, Region Formation Director</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Paul Winter, SFO, Region Youth Councilor</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Rosemarie LeClercq, SFO, JPIC Councilor</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Pat Nikolaisen, SFO, Region Secretary</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Bill Neu, SFO, Region Vice Minister</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Susan Simeone, SFO Region Minister</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cc: Pat Nikolaisen, Region Secretary</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>4.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u><span style="color: black;">Bishop Elias Chacour</span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">8604 Wandering Fox Trail # 408</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Odenton, MD 211113</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">May 3, 2010</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dear Tom,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I have enclosed some information on Bishop Elias
Chacour as my nominee for this year’s Franciscan Peace Prize. I
heard him speak several years ago at a peace conference, and have read
his first book, “Blood Brother.” He is a remarkable
individual, and, I feel, very deserving of this prize.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The enclosed material will indicate the many
reasons for my nomination, and the many accomplishments and awards
already received. This is a man who is dealing, on a daily
basis, with the struggles and challenges of being a peacemaker.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Please let me know if you have any questions. Peace.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Sincerely,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Teri Egan, sfo </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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ARCHBISHOP
ELIAS CHACOUR of the MELKITE GREEK CATHOLIC ARCHEPARCHY OF AKKO, HAIFA,
NAZARETH and all of GALILEE</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Bishop Elias Chacour (also Ilyas
Shakur), also known as Father Chacour and Abuna Chacour, is the first
Palestinian bishop to be born, raised, and educated in the Palestinian
Arab sector of Israel. Chacour rose to international prominence in
Europe, North America, Australia, and the Middle East as a peacemaker,
educator, and founder and president of Mar Elias University and its
related educational institutions in Ibillin, a Palestinian Arab village
located in the Galilee between Haifa and Nazareth. As a recipient of
numerous international awards and three-time nominee of the Nobel Peace
Prize, Chacour began to be recognized by Israeli leadership as a
prominent educator and advocate for the underprivileged Arab sector of
Israel. Chacour is the author of three books that highlight his life
story, including his work to build the various schools and university
that comprise the Mar Elias educational institutions. His writings also
tell of his philosophy and theology of nonviolence and work to transform
the impoverished Palestinian Arab communities of the central Galilee
through education of the youth of the region. Moreover, his commitment
to reconciliation and collaboration among the four major religious
communities of the Holy Land (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Druze)
continues to leave a legacy of peaceful coexistence, not only in the
Galilee, but globally.</span></span></div>
<h2 style="margin: 0in 7.5pt 7.5pt 0in;">
<u><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">PERSONAL</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"> HISTORY
</span></span></u></h2>
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Chacour was born on 29 November 1939 in the
village of Bir’am, in the upper Galilee of Palestine to a Palestinian
Christian family of the Melkite Catholic Church, the Byzantine Eastern
rite church in communion with Rome. When he was eight years old Chacour
and his entire village were evicted by Israeli soldiers during the 1948
Arab-Israeli War and became refugees in their own land. The Chacour
family fled with most residents of Bir’am to Jish, a neighboring village
in the Galilee. After two years of legal appeals to the government of
Israel, the residents of Bir’am were allowed to return in order to
celebrate Christmas in their original homes. But in September 1953, the
Israeli military destroyed the village just before the refugees tried to
return. As they reached the top of the hills overlooking their village,
they could see the smoke rising from their former homes.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Chacour family placed a premium on education
and remained close to the church. By the age of eleven, Elias was
convinced he wanted to become a priest. After completing his primary and
secondary education in Haifa and Nazareth he was sent to Paris by the
Melkite Church where he studied for the priesthood, graduating with a
degree in theology and biblical studies from the Sorbonne University in
1965. A few months after completing the degree Chacour was ordained a
priest in the Melkite Catholic Church and was promptly sent by his
bishop to the village of Ibillin. It was envisioned as a temporary
one-month transition, but has now become a lifetime assignment.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In 1968 Chacour received his master’s degree in
Bible and Talmudic studies from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, the
first Palestinian Arab to receive such a degree in that department.
Returning to Ibillin, he concentrated on the youth of Ibillin,
establishing a youth center and summer camp in addition to his regular
priestly duties at the church. However, Chacour noted that his ministry
would need to be enlarged beyond that of a village priest. From his own
youth, Chacour knew that most of the Arab villages did not have adequate
schools, libraries, or playgrounds, and that a university education was
beyond the reach of over 90 percent of the population. With over 50
percent of the Palestinian Arabs in the Galilee under sixteen years of
age, Chacour decided to focus his educational mission on several Arab
villages in central Galilee, such as Jish, Tarshiha, Mi’liya, Shefa Amr,
and Isifya, in addition to Ibillin. Within three years he established
kindergartens, public libraries, tutorial programs, and youth centers in
the six villages. Additionally, each summer he organized regional youth
camps that involved up to five thousand youth.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Chacour completed his Ph.D. in ecumenical
theology at the University of Geneva (Switzerland) in 1971 and again
returned to focus on his work in Ibillin and the neighboring Galilean
towns. After several years of planning, fund-raising, construction, and
appeals to the Israeli Ministry of Education for a building permit,
Chacour opened the Mar Elias High School with eighty students in 1982,
but without a building permit. Chacour’s persistence, combined with
international pressure from his many friends in Europe and North
America, eventually secured the permit and official status for the
school. Enrollment has steadily grown to approximately fifteen hundred
students, with the high school receiving numerous academic awards,
including taking first place in the Hebrew language (10th and 11th
grades) in the entire country of Israel in 2003.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In 1984 Chacour published his first book, <i>Blood
Brothers</i>, which describes his personal journey from the time of
his expulsion from Bir’am to the process of building Mar Elias High
School. The volume has been translated into twenty-seven languages.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Chacour was elected in 2006 as the Melkite
Catholic bishop of the Galilee. The Melkite Catholic community
represents the largest body of Christians in the Holy Land with the
majority living in the Galilee.</span></span><br />
<h2 style="margin: 0in 7.5pt 0pt 0in;">
<u><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">INFLUENCES</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">
AND CONTRIBUTIONS </span></span></u></h2>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Chacour was nurtured in the
Christian faith and by his devout parents, simple peasants who were
active in the Melkite Catholic Church. From an early age Elias learned
the centrality of peace, justice, reconciliation, and a strong sense of <i>sumud</i>
(Arabic: steadfastness), for his people, as was modeled and taught by
Jesus of Nazareth in the Sermon on the Mount, from whom Chacour drew
inspiration and vision. The tragedies that befell his people and his
family’s ordeal in losing their home and possessions in 1948 became the
seeds for his eventual commitment to serve the underprivileged
Palestinian Arab youth of Galilee through the educational institutions
and programs he established throughout his career.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black;">BIOGRAPHICAL</span></u><u><span lang="EN" style="color: black;"> HIGHLIGHTS </span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Name: Elias Chacour (Ilyas Shakur)</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Birth: 1939, Bir’am, mandatory Palestine</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Nationality: Palestinian; citizen of Israel</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Education: B.A., Sorbonne University (Paris), 1965; M.A.,
Hebrew University (Jerusalem), 1968; Ph.D., University of Geneva
(Switzerland), 1971</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="text-decoration: none;"><u> </u></span></span></h2>
<h2 style="margin: 0in 7.5pt 0pt 0in;">
<u><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">PERSONAL</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">
CHRONOLOGY:</span></span></u></h2>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">1965: Ordained to the
priesthood in the Melkite Catholic Church; parish priest in Ibillin,
Galilee</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">1982: Founds Mar Elias
High School in Ibillin</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">1995: Founds Mar Elias
Technological College in Ibillin</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">1997: Founds Mar Elias
Teachers’ Resource Center in Ibillin</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">1998: Founds Mariam
Bawardi Elementary School in Ibillin</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">2003: Mar Elias College
becomes Mar Elias University</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">2006: Elected Melkite
Catholic bishop of Galilee</span></div>
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<u><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">THE</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">
WORLD’S PERSPECTIVE </span></span></u></h2>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Since the late 1970s and each
successive decade, Chacour has traveled the globe spreading his message
of peace and reconciliation while also appealing for support for the Mar
Elias schools. His growing notoriety in religious and peace circles
brought a steady stream of international visitors to Ibillin, many to
spend several weeks in a volunteer service capacity, others for a short
visit to see Abuna Chacour and the high school. Churches and peace
organizations throughout Europe, North America, Australia, and India
have hosted Chacour where he has been welcomed as a popular lecturer, as
evidenced in the many awards and citations. He has been nominated for
the Nobel Peace Prize on three occasions: 1988, 1989, and 1994. Also in
1994, Chacour received the prestigious World Methodist Peace Award.
Among the previous recipients were former U.S. president Jimmy Carter,
Egypt’s Anwar Sadat, and Nelson Mandela of South Africa.</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In 1999 Chacour received two honors in France as
he was awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur by the president of
France, and later in the same year the Marcel Rudloff Peace and
Tolerance Award in Strasbourg. This was followed in 2001 by the Niwano
Peace Award from Japan, which came with a cash prize that helped build
the Niwano Peace Auditorium on the Mar Elias campus. The auditorium
opened in 2004 with a seating capacity of fifteen hundred the largest in
the Galilee.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Beginning in 1995, Chacour’s vision for
additional institutions of higher learning began to be fulfilled with
the opening of Mar Elias Technological College in October 1995. The
college was fully accredited by the Israeli Ministry of Education and
authorized to offer degrees in education and computer technology. In
1997 the Mar Elias Resource Center opened, offering both training and
resources for educators throughout Galilee, also the first for the Arab
population. In the fall of 1998 another school was added to the growing
Mar Elias group as the Mariam Bawardi Elementary School opened with the
first-grade class. Each year a grade has been added with the full six
grades now in full operation.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The next stage of the vision was realized in
October 2003 as the college became Mar Elias University, the first Arab
Christian university in Israel. Mar Elias offers three degree programs
with U.S. accreditation as a branch of the University of Indianapolis.
The university continues to serve the four religions of the Holy Land:
Jews, Christians, Muslims, and Druze, and its faculty also represents
the four religions. The university received accreditation from the
Israeli Ministry of Education’s Committee on Higher Education, with
authorization to grant degrees in computer science, communications and
marketing, and environmental science and chemistry.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In April 2002 Chacour authored his third book, <i>J’ai
foi en nous</i> , published by Hommes de Parole, Paris. The
international awards continued, such as the prestigious Peacemaker in
Action Award in August 2002 from the Tannenbaum Center for
Inter-religious Understanding in New York City. In December 2002 he was
awarded the Dante Alighieri Peace and Human Rights Award in Rome. In
2003 Chacour was appointed by the Vatican as consultant to the Holy See
Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, and later received the
Prix Meditérranée pour la Paix from the Accademia del Mediterraneo,
Naples, Italy. On 20 May 2003 he was voted Man of the Year by the Lions
Club of Israel.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The next building on the Mar Elias campus was a
long-term dream of Chacour, realized in the fall of 2005 with the
opening of the Church of the Sermon on the Mount. The majestic sanctuary
is a testimony to peace, reconciliation, and the inclusion of all
religions and people. The church quickly became the center of the
burgeoning campus of the Mar Elias Educational Institutions. Later in
2005 Chacour received the coveted Americas First Freedom Award in
Richmond, Virginia.</span></span><br />
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<u><span style="font-size: small;"><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">LEGACY</span><span lang="EN" style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"></span></span></u></h2>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Chacour is the first Palestinian
Arab bishop in the Melkite Church to be born, raised, educated,
consecrated, and a citizen of Israel. The new bishop was quick to point
out that he will retain his duties as the president of the Mar Elias
Educational Institutions, where he envisions an expanded campus with a
student enrollment of five thousand students from the entirety of
Israel, continuing his commitment to an inclusive student body of
Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Druze students and faculty. Having
started in 1982 with eighty-two students in a building without a permit
or electricity, the Mar Elias Educational Institutions now serve over
four thousand students. It continues to be the only private campus in
the history of Galilee where all of the religions of the region study
together with the vision of creating a common future built on respect
and justice for all. No other primary, secondary, or higher education
institution in Israel can make that claim.</span></span></div>
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">As an educator and man of peace, Bishop Elias
Chacour has pioneered an educational model of interreligious education
among the Christian, Druze, Muslim, and Jewish youth of the Galilee. His
capacity to dream large and solicit funding from multiple international
bodies have enabled him to build a significant system of institutions
within the Mar Elias complex. The true legacy of his work are the
thousands of young lives that have received not only an education and
vocational training skills, but a respect for each others’ religions and
cultures, and a model for successfully negotiating their differences
through nonviolent conflict transformation.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Some Additional Items on Bishop Chacour</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">*Recipient of the prestigious
Methodist World Peace Award (1994) [Past recipients include President
jimmy Carter and former Egyptian President Anwar Sadat]</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">* Some honorary doctorates: St.
Michael’s College (1989) Texas Wesleyan (1997) Duke University (2000)
and Indianapolis and Emory Universities (2001)</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">* “ From my perspective as a
believer and a diplomat, I take hope and comfort in knowing that amid
all the hatred, destruction and death, Father Chacour continues his
patient work, softening one heart at a time. He demonstrates how,
through humility before the Word of God and the never-ending struggle to
reconcile faith with the unhappy realities of this world, one
courageous man has illuminated the truth he learned [and that we could
all bear to learn]from another Man of Galilee: ‘Love your enemies and
pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in
heaven.’</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Blessed, indeed, is the
peacemaker.” </span></span></div>
<div align="right" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: right;">
<span lang="EN" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">James A Baker III, U.S. Secretary of State, 1989-1992</span></span></div>
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</span>
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<b>5.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Captain
Paul K. Chappell. </u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><i>Our Lady of Mercy Fraternity</i> nominates
Captain Paul K. Chappell for the </span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;">2010</span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;"> NAFRA Peace Award</span>. Captain
Chappell left his military career after serving seven years, including a
tour in Baghdad, to spend his life committed to “Waging Peace.” Paul
is committed to educating and inspiring people to rethink their old
ways of looking at war and peace. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">A young man in his late twenties, Captain
Chappell has taken a position with the <i>Nuclear Age Peace Foundation</i>
as Director of its <i>Peace Leadership Program</i>. He is
developing this free program to empower college students with the
leadership skills that are vital for waging peace<i>. </i><i><span style="font-style: normal;">Paul points out that the military is very
successful in recruiting and training, and the peace movement must do
the same. He has based his peace training on the training
he experienced at West Point. While he is particularly
committed to reaching young people, his programming and writings are, of
course, valuable to people of all ages. </span></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">His two books, <b><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">Will War Ever End?: A Soldier’s Vision of
Peace for the 21st Century</span></i> and <i><span style="font-weight: normal;">The End of War: How Waging Peace Can Save Humanity, Our Planet,
and Our Future </span></i><span style="font-weight: normal;">(May 2010)</span>
<span style="font-weight: normal;">challenge readers about war and
peace, and about violence and non-violence in ways that could profoundly
change the way people think. His logic and insight are
especially powerful coming from the perspective of a West Point graduate
and soldier. He is working on his third book,<i> PEACEFUL
REVOLUTION: How to Create the Future that Humanity Needs to Survive.</i></span></b></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">With
relentless energy, Paul travels throughout the country speaking to
colleges, high schools, veterans groups, churches and activist
organizations. He dispels the myth that “we need war to
end war” and encourages others to become leaders in waging peace.
He not only inspires but gives the tools for peacemaking
leadership. </span></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><i><span style="font-style: normal;">Archbishop
Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, said of Captain Chappell’s
latest book: </span></i>“… has given us a crucial look at
war and peace from the unique perspective of a soldier, and his new
ideas show us why world peace is both necessary and possible in the 21st
century. <i>The End of War</i> can help people everywhere understand
why war must end, and how together we can end it."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Submitted by:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Jim Hanna for <i>Our Lady of Mercy Fraternity</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">7494 Thackery Rd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Springfield, OH 45502</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">(937) 788-2257</span></div>
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<a href="mailto:peghanna@woh.rr.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: Times New Roman;">peghanna@woh.rr.com</span></a></div>
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<u><b><span style="color: black; line-height: 150%; text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">6.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></b><span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sr. Ilia Delio,
OSF, PHD.</span></span></u></h2>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Hi Tom, I had been praying about the peace award
and I would like to nominate Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF, PHD. Through her
writings, teachings as well as her international ministry, I feel that
she has done so much to foster peace, justice and the care for creation
around the world. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I feel she should be commended for the work she
is doing. It seems like everywhere I look I see something written about
her, or a lecture she will be giving, and I even saw her on television.
She is respected, loved and revered around the world.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I found this about her this evening:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF, Ph.D.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Sister Ilia Delio is a Franciscan sister
who holds doctorates in Pharmacology from the University of Medicine and
Dentistry of New Jersey Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and in
Historical Theology from Fordham University. She lectures
internationally in Franciscan theology/spirituality with a particular
focus on integrating Franciscan theology and contemporary questions.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">Sr. Delio has written <i>Simply Bonaventure</i> (2001), <i>Franciscan
Prayer</i> (2004), <i>The Humility of God</i> (2005), and <i>Christ in
Evolution</i> (2008). She also is a contributing author to <i>Care for
Creation: A Franciscan Spirituality of the Earth</i> (2009). She
served as Chair and Professor in the Department of Spirituality Studies
at the Washington Theological Union, where she also was Director of
Franciscan Studies. She is a member of the Commission </span>for the </span><a href="https://pod51000.outlook.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=78b6492cf2f540658f6781d75a72a364&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.franciscantradition.org%2f" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: Times New Roman;">Franciscan
Intellectual Tradition</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> that<span style="color: black;"> is sponsored by the English Speaking Conference
of Friars Minor. She currently serves as a Research Analyst for the
Franciscan Action Network and is a Senior Research Fellow in the
Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Thanks Tom, and God Bless You for the Work you
are doing to serve the Lord and the Franciscan Family.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Peace and Love, Mary Simmons, sfo</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Md. Pa. Del. Regional Councilor</span></span></div>
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<b>7.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u><span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;">Franciscan Connection of St.
Louis, Missouri</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The St. Clare Regional Fraternity is eager to
nominate the Franciscan Connection of St. Louis, Missouri for the 2010
NAFRA Peace Award.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Franciscan Connection is an outreach program
begun and staffed by OFM priests and/or brothers of the Sacred Heart
Province since 1991. During its almost two decades of outreach and
service to the poor and marginalized of south St. Louis City, the friars
have provided for the care and needs of those in the area around St.
Anthony of Padua Church, the provincial headquarters-a neighborhood very
much in transition, were refugees and ethnic minorities have replaced
the once traditionally white population, where small stores and
businesses have closed and buildings been boarded up and where a sense
of urban decay has crept in. The Franciscan Connection began to provide
emergency help to single mothers, to under-employed dads, and to the
frail elderly of the community. A little financial assistance on a high
utility bill, for example, could often save a home bound senior citizen
from another night without electricity or heat; a backpack of school
supplies and a voucher for new shoes could ready a young child for their
first day in the classroom; bus tickets could provide the means to a
job interview or getting to that doctor appointment; or a Christmas
basket could brighten a family's whole holiday. The home repair
ministry directly helps widows and other low-income families make their
homes more safe, secure and healthy places in which to live. In
addition, the friars offer one-on-one support to those who come to their
door, addressing the needs of the inner spirit while leading them on to
other area resources and encouraging them in their pursuit to become
self-sufficient. Each year, over 500 families in need benefit from
direct emergency assistance, home repairs and other support. Countless
others receive helpful information and referrals.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">While the friars in service at the Connection
perform their ministry, they in turn inspire countless lay volunteers,
from young teens to retired seniors, to join them through use of their
time, talent and treasure in the service of God's children. Through the
friars’ organization and direction, the Connection involves hundreds of
people in carrying out the ministry the Connection seeks to provide.
Volunteers come from throughout the area as well as other states to
assist in one day, one week or longer projects. They have sought and
received grants, as well as materials and specialized work crews from
various companies and foundations. And it is through witnessing these
friars preach the gospel through their action and love, that many of us
have been led to a deeper appreciation of the Franciscan charism and the
love of neighbor that is spoken of in the Gospel. As Secular
Franciscans, many of us have been able to assist these dedicated friars
in their work and participate in the spread of God's kingdom on earth.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In order for you to witness more fully the
extent of the service provided by the Franciscan Connection, we
encourage you to view their website </span><a href="https://pod51000.outlook.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=78b6492cf2f540658f6781d75a72a364&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.franciscanconnection.org%2f" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: Times New Roman;">www.franciscanconnection.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Because of the peace joy, dignity and love these
friars spread to their area of south St. Louis City and the lessons
they share with volunteers and donors, the St. Clare Regional Fraternity
nominates the Franciscan Connection and all its former and current
friar staff members for this year's NAFRA Peace Award.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Sherry Stevenson, SFO </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><i>Sherry added in a later email: </i>We
have previously submitted the Franciscan Connection as our regional
fraternity 2010 Peace Award nominee. In last week's archdiocesan
newspaper, a beautiful article appeared showing how the Connection
changes and adjusts to the needs of the community as well as the changes
in personnel, but still gives totally to the people of God.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">We thought you would like to read the article
concerning these dedicated men who staff the Connection. We encourage
you to visit </span><a href="https://pod51000.outlook.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=78b6492cf2f540658f6781d75a72a364&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.stlouisreview.org%2f" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: Times New Roman;">www.stlouisreview.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> for the article on The Franciscan Connection
and Brother Donald.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Thank you for your consideration of this most
worthy group.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Peace and All-Good</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Sherry Stevenson, SFO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Regional Minister</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">St. Clare Region</span></div>
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<b>8.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Char Hipp
SFO</u></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Greetings Tom, I was given a verbal nomination
for the Peace Award - in return I informed them that there must be a
write up. They are in the process of doing so. The name of
the person is Char Hipp, sfo. She is the infirmarian of the St Joseph
Fraternity in Appleton WI.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">She is a past Minister of the same fraternity.
For the past 20 some years she as written, visited, talked on the phone,
kept tract, and so very much more of all the active and inactive
members of this fraternity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">At one time this St Joseph Fraternity had over
100 members. She has dedicated herself to the care of these folks -
seeing that they are kept informed of the activity of the fraternity as
well as seeing to their personal and spiritual needs in relation to the
fraternity.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">All of this while raising a family of I believe
12 or more children - grandchildren and great grandchildren that I can't
even begin to say. She also nursed her husband in his final days. I
believe they were married over 50 years. She is a model of
a blessed individual, wife, mother, grandmother and to top it off a
active member of her parish but at the heart of it all a Secular
Franciscan who truly has lived the Gospels.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I hope this is not too late to enter her into
the nomination process for the Peace Award.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I am sure more will come regarding her.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Thank you Tom - you inspire me to strive for
more!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Peace and All Joy,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Ken sfo</span></span></div>
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<b>9.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b>Immaculee
Ilibagiza</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cecilia Telles, SFO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">4221 Santa Rita Street</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">El Paso, Texas 79902</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">June 25, 2010</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dear Mr. Bello,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Peace and greetings to you and God willing all is
well with you.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I am submitting a nomination for the NAFRA Peace
Award. The name of the person I am nominating is Immaculee Ilibagiza.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">She is a Rwandan genocide
survivor who survived in a bathroom with 7 other women for 91 days while
surrounded by killers hunting for them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Author of 3 books-a portion of
the proceeds of her books go to the <i>Left to Tell</i> foundation which
helps the children of Africa build better lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Her books contain inspiring
stories about survival, prayer, faith and above all forgiveness.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">She is establishing a Foundation
to help survivors heal from the pain and evil of genocide and war.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Forgiveness, faith, and prayer
and the rosary are the messages that she hopes to spread through her
speaking engagements, seminars, books, CD’s and television appearances.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The beauty of her messages is
that they all inspire a wonderful peace that comes through the power of
forgiveness, faith, prayers and the rosary.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I am submitting this nomination on behalf of my
fraternity. Saint Patrick Fraternity of El Paso, Texas. Our Minister is
Adelina Frisbee and I am the Formation Director of our Fraternity.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Sincerely yours in Christ,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cecilia Telles </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>10.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Deacon
Mark Keely</u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I nominate Deacon Mark Keely sfo of the Little
Portion Fraternity in Tahlequah, Oklahoma; for the 2010 NAFRA Peace
Award. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Deacon Mark Keely is my minister. He has always
conducted our full fraternity meetings with a spirit of peace. He has a
calm character and is a gentle and soft spoken man. He does not let
emotions rule his intuition and intellect. Deacon Mark is a faithful
servant of God who is dedicated to prayer by his assisting at Mass,
leading the Liturgy of the Hours, and letting the Holy Spirit guide our
monthly and bi-monthly meetings. Deacon Mark lives the gospel passage,
"I am the way, the truth, and the life." He promotes peace by
constantly referring to the gospels and the SFO rule and constitutions.
Deacon Mark gives a clear message of who Christ is by his example of
calm and humble leadership. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Sincerely with all P & G,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Stephen Lafferty sfo (Little Portion of
Tahlequah, OK.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Minister Mark
Keeley is indeed a prayerful, dedicated, humble, and holy person. I
heard a parishioner make the comment that Mark is a holy man. He is well
respected by all and he strives every day to live a Franciscan life. He
influences by example and good works. He can always be counted upon to
assist anyone who needs his help. He blesses, and prays for people every
day.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">We are blessed to
have him as our minister.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Blessings, </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mary SFO</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<b>11.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Gaylord
A. Nelson</u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Hello,
Tom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">One
of the members of St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity in St. Clare Region
gave me a nomination for the Peace Award. The gentleman’s name is
GAYLORD A. NELSON. Mr. Nelson is a former Wisconsin governor, senator
and founder of Earth Day. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Thank
you,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mary
Wainscott, SFO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Minister,
St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Here
is the nomination:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dear
Mary, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
I am sending this man’s name Gaylord A. Nelson to be put on the
list for the Peace Award. It takes a lot of people to focus on how
precious the Earth is and here is one man that brought the attention to
National Level and established Earth Day to raise attention to the care
and restoration of our environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">
Thank you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <wbr></wbr>
Sincerely in Our Lady of Guadalupe </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <wbr></wbr>
and St. Francis of Assisi,</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <wbr></wbr>
Cindy Siple RN, SFO</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><i>Editor’s
Note:</i> This nominee sent a picture from the newspaper of Gaylord
Nelson which I was unable to include. The caption for the
picture read: “Gaylord A. Nelson, a former Wisconsin governor, senator
and founder of Earth Day, stands in a prairie of blooming wildflowers at
Governor Nelson State Park in Waunakee, Wis., in 2001. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<u><b><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">12.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;">Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, OFM, Cap.</span></u></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Nomination for the NAFRA Bearers of Peace
Award</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, OFM, Cap.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><u>“A nominee should have made significant
efforts in the generally defined area of Peace:”</u><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cardinal O’Malley OFM, Cap. <i>has</i>
made significant efforts in the area of Peace by being a force
for healing in the priestly sexual abuse scandal in the Archdiocese of
Boston, Dioceses of Fall River, MA and Palm Beach, Florida. He is
continuing his efforts to bring healing and peace to Ireland since he
has been appointed by the Pope in this recent endeavor. <span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">His ways of healing and peace
were to personally reach out and to get to know the victims, he set up
systems within the church to offer pastoral care for the victims of
abuse and to speedily resolve the legal disputes. He arranged for the
victims to meet with the Pope personally in New York and confidentially
shared his knowledge of the extent of the victims. Victims were heard
and their concerns were taken seriously. The local archdiocese became
more transparent in dealing with the abuse and its victims and thus
became a source of healing and peace.</span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> Please see the
attached biography for more information.</span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Nominated by: St. Francis Fraternity, Andover
Massachusetts</span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">(St. Elizabeth of Hungary Region)</span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Respectfully submitted on behalf of the
Fraternity Council,</span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Francine Gikow, sfo</span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Email: </span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"><a href="https://pod51000.outlook.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=78b6492cf2f540658f6781d75a72a364&URL=mailto%3agikows%40yahoo.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="color: #000099;">gikows@yahoo.com</span></span></a>
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Phone: 978-749-0880</span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Address: 41 Sagamore Drive</span><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Andover, MA 01810</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cardinal
Sean Patrick O’Malley, OFM, Cap</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cardinal of
the Boston Archdiocese</span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Biography*:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Patrick O’Malley was born in
Lakewood Ohio on June 29, 1944. He was received into the Capuchin
Franciscans on July 14, 1965 and took the name “Sean” in honor of St.
John the Apostle. He was ordained a priest in 1970. He holds a Masters
degree in religious education and a P.H.D from Catholic University in
Spanish and Portuguese literature. In 1973, he ministered
to the Latinos in the Washington D.C. area and in 1978 he was appointed
episcopal vicar for the Portuguese, Hispanic and Haitian communities.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> In 1984, he became
coadjutor Bishop of the Virgin Islands and became Bishop there in 1985.
Later in New England, he became Bishop of Fall River, MA during
the priest sex abuse scandals of Fr. James Porter and also in Palm Beach
Florida where he also tried to settle the scandals of priestly sexual
abuse.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In 2003, the Pope made Sean
Patrick O’Malley, Archbishop of the Boston Archdiocese where he also
inherited a huge priest sex abuse scandal from Cardinal Bernard Law who
eventually resigned. In 2006 he became a Cardinal.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> When Sean Patrick
O’Malley became Cardinal in Boston, he breathed new life into a church
wounded by priest sexual abuse. He actively reached out to the survivors
in a pastoral manner and directed the diocese’s lawyers and insurance
companies to quickly settle with the victims. He enacted a
zero tolerance policy of sexual abuse and <span lang="EN">instituted
one of the first comprehensive sexual abuse policies in the Roman
Catholic Church</span>. He also led a delegation of abuse victims who
met with the Pope in New York so that their voices could be heard. He
has done much for the healing of priest sex abuse in the Roman Catholic
archdiocese of Boston. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> The Archdiocese of
Boston is a much more open and transparent Church since Cardinal
O’Malley came. He is the only Cardinal to have a personal blog (<a href="http://cardinalseansblog.org/" target="_blank">cardinalseansblog.org</a>)
and has had podcasts as well, during the holidays. Now he
has been asked by the Pope to assist the Church in Ireland in their own
sex abuse crisis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Cardinal O’Malley is and has
been a force for healing in the church during the priest sexual abuse
crisis and is an agent for peace among those who have been victimized in
the church (both directly and indirectly). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">*Biographical background taken from the on-line
encyclopedia, Wikipedia</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<b>13.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u><span style="color: black;">Jim O’Neill, SFO and Barbara O’Neill, SFO </span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">Blessed John XXIII Fraternity, nominates Jim
O’Neill, SFO and Barbara O’Neill, SFO for the St. Francis Peace Award.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">One cannot think of either Jim or Barbara without
considering the other. They truly exemplify the meaning of the term
“helpmates”. However, each one has worked individually for peace within
the Order and within the worldly political arena. Jim was instrumental
in negotiating and bringing to resolution the formation of our Region
from the previous Provincial model. For many years, Barbara and Jim
served as the SFO presence, indeed the Franciscan presence, as non-
governmental observers at the United Nations. Finally, Barbara’s
leadership for our Region has been that of sharing her wisdom to lead
each fraternity to enflesh our Rule with peaceful solutions to the very
real, everyday, nitty-gritty problems that ensue with fraternal life.
Both Jim and Barbara have always been accessible to lend a Franciscan
“ear” when called upon. Living in a peaceful manner themselves,
encouraging others both in the Order and those not in the Order to make
peaceful decisions, and by their presence in their respectful leadership
roles they express in their lives what we each hope to live in ours.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">Thank you for considering Jim and Barbara for
this year’s Peace Award.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">Respectfully submitted,</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">Jean A. D’Onofrio,SFO</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">Minister Bl.John XXIII SFO Fraternity</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">St. James</span><span style="color: black;">, New
York</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">June 9,2010</span><span style="color: black; font-size: 10pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<b>14.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></b><u>Alan Ouimet SFO</u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">St. Conrad's Fraternity, Annapolis, MD nominates:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Alan J. Ouimet, SFO<br />Founder of Franciscan
Family Apostolate (FFA) and continues to operate it today.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Website: <a href="http://www.openhearts.org/sponsor/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.openhearts.org/<wbr></wbr>sponsor/index.html</a><br />93
Country Way<br />
Madison CT 06443 <br /><a href="mailto:ffaindia@att.net" target="_blank">ffaindia@att.net</a></span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><i>Following is from the website:</i>The FFA
was founded in 1971 by Alan Ouimet, SFO. For the first 8 years, Alan
worked with a parish priest in India whom he contacted through a mutual
friend. The organization came to the attention of the, then, Msgr. Peter
Chenaparampil who was forming a Bishop's Relief Fund in the Alleppey
Diocese. It was at that time that Msgr. Peter asked the Canossian
sisters to provide a member of their community to oversee the program in
India, a post which they continue to fill today. When Msgr. Peter was
elevated to Bishop of the diocese, the FFA moved forward with him.
Today, Bishop Stephen Athipozhiyil continues to give his support to the
activities of the FFA to relieve the distress of the poor in his
diocese. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Franciscan Family Apostolate presently
assists over 1300 destitute families in the district of Alleppey,
Kerala, South India with monthly food subsidies, housing, medical
attention and self-development programs.<br />
<br />St. Conrads has been sponsoring a family for more than 10 years.
Our first family became self-sufficient. We are now supporting a second
family.<br /><br />Joan Faltot<br />Secretary, St. Conrad's Fraternity<br />Annapolis,
MD</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">- - - - - - - - - - </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dear Tom,<br />The following person is nominated as
a recipient of the NAFRA Peace Award: Alan Ouimet. He has been an SFO
since 1967.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Alan is Founder and President of the Franciscan
Family Apostolate which cares for the destitute in India. (You can
view the Franciscan Family Website.) He is the founding director of
Heart2Heart USA, Inc. which cares for HIV/AIDS children in Kenya. Alan
is also the founding director of the Connecticut Urban Education
Fund which cares for at-risk children in New Haven, CT.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Joan Geiger, Minister, in the name of the Tau
Cross Region, makes this nomination.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">- - - - - - - - - - </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Tom, Jan, Ken, & Stephanie,<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"> </span>On behalf
of Father Solanus Casey Region as its minister, I would like to
nominate Alan Ouimet, Founder and President of Franciscan Family
Apostolate to be the recipient of the NAFRA 2010 Peace Award. Alan
Ouimet is a Secular Franciscan who lives in Madison, CT and is a member
of St. Pius X Fraternity in Middletown, CT. He was professed in 1968.
The Franciscan Family Apostolate is a ministry that enables a person to
support a poor family in India. Please visit </span><a href="http://www.openhearts.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: Times New Roman;">http://www.openhearts.org</span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> to learn more about the Franciscan Family
Apostolate. The Franciscan Family Apostolate was founded in 1971 or
somewhere around there. Please feel free to contact me if any of you
have any questions. My phone number is (860) 828-0878. Thank-you for
your consideration.<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Pax et Bonum,<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Sally Haddad, SFO<span style="font-size: 2.5pt;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Minister of Father Solanus Casey
Region</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 8.5pt;"></span></div>
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<b>15.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u><span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;">Jeffrey Raymond Proulx, SFO
(Deceased)</span></u></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Nominee: Jeffrey Raymond Proulx, SFO (Deceased)</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Nominated by: Fraternity of Mary, Queen of
Peace, St. Paul, MN. Queen of Peace Region (written by Mary Marshall,
SFO)</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Down’s syndrome never proved to be an obstacle
for the late Jeffrey Proulx, SFO, as he lived fully his Franciscan
vocation. Jeff, who professed into our fraternity on September 14, 1977,
was the personification of peace.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Because Jeff was our fraternity's official
"greeter", no "stranger" ever visited our fraternity. With an extended
hand and</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">"Hi! I'm Jeff. Welcome!” a new friend instantly
materialized. Jeff demonstrated infinite patience with his fraternity
siblings and was willing to perform any act of service asked of him-from
assisting at Mass to bringing a cup of coffee to a sister with
a walker.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Jeff possessed a deep sensitivity to the
feelings of others feelings and had a remarkable ability to empathize
with a suffering brother or sister. Through shared tears, a clasped
hand, or perhaps an embrace, Jeff was able to cross that unseen barrier
to truly become one in spirit with another soul. That perpetual optimism
and calm strength that resided in Jeff seemed to transfer to those in
need. From Jeff's soul it could truly be said that "peace is flowing
like a river". </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Jeff's life in the world included a career as a
kitchen worker at a large corporation, a Special Olympian, and a Boy
Scout. At his wake, an entire room was needed to display all his medals,
ribbons, and wards. Several rooms were needed to seat his countless
friends, who testified to having known the same man of peace as our
fraternity had. (In fact Jeff was such a peacemaker that he managed to
be both a Vikings and a Packers fan, and he had the wardrobe to prove
it!). </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">On September 12, 2009, Jeff's physical heart
failed, and he died. But the Franciscan heart of Jeffrey Raymond Proulx,
SFO, is alive and well and will live on forever at the Fraternity of
Mary, Queen of Peace. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">P.S. Less than six months after Jeff's death,
his older brother, the internationally renowned liturgical composer
Richard Proulx, followed him to eternity. One can only imagine the
canticle of peace the two must be singing together. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Submitted by</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Michael Young, sfo</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>16.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';">
</span></b><u>Fr. Regis Scanlon OFM Cap.</u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">June 18, 2010</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Penitents of St. Francis, a fraternity of the
Secular Franciscan Order, wishes to nominate our Spiritual Assistant
Father Regis Scanlon, OFM Cap. for the Peace Award.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">For over ten years Father Scanlon has labored and
served thousands of prisoners in Colorado jails. Many of the prisoners
were Mexican nationals. Father Scanlon never inquired as to their
immigration status. The only “papers” he cared about were the Gospel and
the sacraments. Having gone to Mexico to learn Spanish he offered mass
and the sacraments in Spanish. All of this he did with one vocal cord,
the other paralyzed. His compassion often spoke louder than his voice
and many Mexicans returned to the practice of the faith. Only a serious
heart condition forced his retirement from prison ministry. In fact from
his sickbed he had to be ordered under obedience to leave prison
ministry, so reluctant was he to leave his flock orphaned without an
immediate successor. Fr. Scanlon left prison ministry in April 2010.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Secondly, Father Scanlon, after personal appeal
by Mother Teresa of Calcutta, now Blessed Teresa, offered countless
retreats and workshops to the multi-cultural community of the
Missionaries of Charity, both in Mexico and the United States. Once
again Father Scanlon displayed his compassion and priestly zeal “sin
fronteras” [without borders]. The only boundary he cared about was
Christ’s love. He also provided priestly service to AIDS victims served
by the Missionaries of Charity in Denver.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Finally, Father Scanlon was instrumental in
establishing a home for women released from prison. Many of these women
had gone from abusive e homes to austere jails. After
their release, there was no place they could return to except the
streets and a life that would soon return them to jail. Father Scanlon
established a transition home where the women would receive the love and
support they needed to rebuild their lives. Once again Father Scanlon
helped heal their violent past with the peace of Christ.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">For all these reason, we believe that Father
Scanlon OFM Cap. should be recognized with a Peace Award.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Larry Brooks SFO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Minister, Penitents of St. Francis</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">(with the approval of the Council of the
fraternity)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">1367 S. Gaylord St.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Denver, Colorado 80210</span></div>
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<b>17.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Fr. Paschal
D. Siler, OFM Cap. </u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Nominee:
Father Paschal D. Siler, O.F.M. Cap.<br /><br />Father Paschal is the
pastor of St. Labre Mission to the Northern Cheyenne people in Montana.
He has ministered to the Cheyenne people for nearly three decades.
Despite being past retirement age (he will turn 77 in August) and coping
with diabetes, Father Paschal drives many miles to serve three
widespread parishes on the reservation, due to a lack of priests. This
includes his regular 240-mile round trip to visit the sick in the
hospital. During the severe Montana winters, these drives are
hazardous.<br />
<br />In February students at the St. Labre Indian School honored Father
Paschal for his long and continued commitment to them and to the
Cheyenne Native Americans. He is a well-loved pastor to a community too
often afflicted by broken families, addictions, unemployment and
poverty.<br />
<br />Throughout his life Father Paschal has followed in Christ's
footsteps, emulating St. Francis, by freely pouring out his own life in
love and service to those on the margins of American society. Father
Paschal offers his flock the only true peace, the "peace which passes
understanding", the "peace which the world cannot give."<br />
<br />We first met Father Paschal in the early 1980s in Saudi Arabia where
he was an undercover priest. (Many Americans do not know that the
practice of any religion other than Islam is forbidden in that
country.) Father Paschal brought the sacraments to the Catholics at the
American Embassy. At great personal risk, he also celebrated
clandestine Masses for the larger expat Catholic community in Saudi
Arabia. His ministry was a great source of comfort and strength to
Catholics far from home. Finally he was arrested celebrating Mass with
Filipino dockworkers, held in a warehouse at the seaport of Jeddah. He
was jailed, initially denied access to American consular officers,
treated disrespectfully, and deported weeks later.<br />
<br />In earlier years Father Paschal served in his order's soup kitchen
in Milwaukee, providing for the homeless and destitute in that city.
From 1966 to 1974 he was the Vice Postulator for the cause of
canonization of Venerable Solanus Casey, a member of the same order.<br />
<br />We heartily recommend to the committee Father Paschal D. Siler for
the 2010 Peace Award. He is a model to all, and particularly to all
Franciscans, of someone who daily lays down his life for God's people.
Old age, disease and weather do not deter this priest!<br />
<br />Submitted by Brian and Susan Majewski, SFO (Holy Family Fraternity,
Manassas, VA)<br /><br />Address: 9369 Dahlia Ct., Manassas, VA 201110<br />email:
</span><a href="https://pod51000.outlook.com/owa/redir.aspx?C=78b6492cf2f540658f6781d75a72a364&URL=mailto%3abrianmajewski%40msn.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: Times New Roman;">brianmajewski@msn.com</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Phone: (703) 895-8018</span></div>
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<b>18.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Stephanie
Sormane SFO</u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dear Ken and Peace Award Committee,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The St Bernardine of Siena Fraternity would like
to nominate Stephanie Sormane. Stephanie has worked for peace and
justice for many years. She does this quietly without making a fuss
about her accomplishments. As a member of FAN, Stephanie has devoted
herself to promoting FAN amount the SFO fraternities. She actively
educates Franciscans about issues that have to do with peace and
justice. She is passionately committed not only promoting FAN, but also
making the connections with issues of peace and justice and our
Franciscan Tradition.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Stephanie is also the PJIC Councilor for the
Mother Cabrini SFO Region and helps to create awareness and educates
members of the Region that challenge our understanding of what it means
to live justly in the world.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The integrity of her life is a clear witness to
peace.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Thanks for your consideration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mary Beth Murray</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> Minister, St Bernardine of
Siena Fraternity</span></div>
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<u><b><span style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="font-size: small;">19.</span><span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;">Starcross Community of Annapolis, CA </span></u></h2>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Starcross is a
small autonomous community of lay people trying to live quiet lives in
the monastic tradition and offering encouragement and affirmation to
gentle folk on all spiritual paths. The members are Br. Toby McCarroll,
Sr. Julie DeRossi and Sr. Marti . Their home is in the coastal hills of
Sonoma County, California. Here are some excerpts from their website
that talk about their work. The most well-known is their
work with orphans of AIDS victims and children with AIDS.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #817e1b;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">AIDS +
Starcross</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #817e1b;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Children
with HIV/AIDS</span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">From February 1986
to the present the AIDS pandemic has been a part of our life at
Starcross. It's a story of people, mostly children, and of dreams. It
started one night a few weeks after David, our adopted son, was born. A
TV news program showed a picture of a toddler in a walker tethered to a
doorknob in an empty hospital hallway. He was one of a growing number of
children with HIV/AIDS warehoused in hospitals. They were called
"Boarder Babies." Many were afraid to provide them with a normal home.
The United States had no national public health policy on AIDS. Agencies
were cautious. It was assumed the children would not live long. We
looked at happy David and back to the</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">TV. It was wrong.
These kids deserved to experience life no matter how short that might
be. We had a big house but we were worried about handling medical issues
from our rural location. Dr. Marshall Kubota, the remarkable physician
responding to the people living with AIDS in our county, told us "At
this time we have no medical answers. What these children need is love."
So it started.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">There were a lot of
friends; doctors, nurses, social workers, lawyers, judges, journalists,
and neighbors. But there was also a lot of fear in those early years.
We were denounced in public meetings. The county dump would not take our
garbage. Store clerks would not touch our money. A volunteer fireman
would not respond to a call for help. Some social welfare and
educational agencies responded to us with panic and hostility.
Fortunately other officials did not. To us, we were simply offering to
provide a home for a few children made homeless because they carried a
deadly virus.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The negative
reaction surprised us. It was painful and very time consuming. In time
it passed - but there were new challenges. For reasons we could not
understand we caught the attention of the international, national and
regional media. An ABC-TV producer tried to explain that "in a sea of
despair because of AIDS you represent something hopeful." As the story
spread, so did the calls from people impacted from the pandemic. Mothers
without family and with AIDS who did not have long to live were trying
to make responsible plans for their children. We could only take a few
children. Sister Marti became a one-person hub for putting people in
need together with those opening their hearts and homes. Other
well-meaning people wanted us to become an agency for Children with
AIDS. We just wanted to be a few people responding to a need by
providing a home and love for children as individual children, each with
a right to be cared for lovingly.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">It was hard for us
to have a normal home life. Some well-known people moved forward to
provide us with protection so that we could simply focus on the
children. Several authors visited and became close friends: Dr.
Elizabeth Kübler-Ross, <i>On Death and Dying</i>; Randy Shilts, <i>And
the Band Played On</i>; Paul Monette, <i>Borrowed Time</i>. But what was
a normal day for us in those early years between 1986 - 1996? Sister
Julie wrote: "Caring for desperately ill children brought out
incredibly intense emotions. The deaths were more devastating than we
could have imagined. There were sleepless nights followed by days of
fighting bureaucracy. But we took utter delight in the world of the
babies - reveling in each of their little victories." It was a bit
hectic. We had 4 toddlers learning to walk. We were milking cows and
trying to keep our Christmas tree farm going. Whenever there was a
conflict the needs of the children came before the needs of the farm,
and so money was an issue as well. Some of the children
died. That was very hard. But they had lived well. Others came. Some
died and some lived. Two who tested positive were found clear of HIV
when the tests became more sophisticated. We had adopted them and they
are very much a part of our family now as healthy teens.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Children with AIDS
are no longer a major problem in the United States. Medicine has found
strategies to greatly reduce the transmission of the HIV virus from
mother to child. It is now down to 1% transmission. Adults and children
can now live with HIV/AIDS much longer with antiretroviral medication
and proper care.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="color: black;">Romania</span><span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In December 1989
the communist regime was violently overthrown in Romania. Immediately,
unbelievable stories came out. At least 120,000 abandoned children were
living in sub-human conditions, most of them had AIDS because of the
practice of reusing needles for injections. Shortly afterwards, Toby
went over accompanied by veteran journalists Robin Weiner (a producer),
Alex & Franci Bruckner (camera and sound.) None of them were
prepared for the horror they discovered and started communicating to the
world. Four segments on <i>Prime Time Live </i>filming Brother Toby’s
activities revealed that these children were left to die from starvation
and neglect. Each TV presentation averaged 17 million viewers. This
helped turn the spotlight on the situation. On January 17, 1991 we were
able to open our House of Hope, "CASA SPERANTA", in Constanta. Until
1994, Starcross directed the daily operations at Casa Speranta.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Work in Africa</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Sub-Saharan Africa
has one of the world's highest HIV/AIDS infection rates. Without access
to medications, large numbers of adults die quickly. Children would
ordinarily have gone to live with aunts and uncles - but soon those too
are dead. In some areas whole generations are missing. Only elderly
grandparents and children were left. There is barely enough to keep a
child alive and no money for education. We were asked by
an ordinary person, who found our name in a book, to found a program in
Uganda. We needed to provide not only food, medicine, and education for a
child but to do it until they were well launched in life. Hope was what
we were cultivating. It took awhile for a child to believe again in "a
bright future" as they put it. We gathered co-workers from our group of
AIDS orphan sponsors and formed Starcross Kin Worldwide (SKW), a
separate non-profit corporation with a board of directors. Brother Toby
and then Sister Julie served as the CEO. Many children come to SKW
malnourished, suffering from repeated bouts of malaria. Some are
disabled by anxiety and sever emotional trauma. A few have HIV/AIDS. If
there is a viable family, we support the family. When the last adult
dies the child comes to our House of Hope in Kampala.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">For a copy of their
newsletter please look here: </span><a href="http://www.starcross.org/pdfs/sharings10summer.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: #000099; font-family: Times New Roman;">http://www.starcross.org/pdfs/<wbr></wbr>sharings10summer.pdf</span></a></span></div>
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<b>20.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Fr. John
Stowe</u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">2010 NAFRA Peace Award Nominee, Father John Stowe</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mary Immaculate Fraternity</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">El Paso, Texas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Father John Stowe joined the Franciscans at age
19. He was the youngest one in the candidacy program-the first step in
the formation, or entry process. “I was reluctant to tell most of my
friends, but nobody was surprised, everybody was supportive,” says
Father John.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Father John Stowe was ordained to the priesthood
on September 16, 1995 and became an associate pastor at Our Lady of
Mount Carmel Parish. Later Father Stowe was named pastor of Our Lady of
Mount Carmel. Bishop Armando X. Ochoa named Father Stowe moderator of
the curia and vicar general on December 24, 2002. While moderator of the
curia, Father Stowe served as administrator of Our Lady of the Valley
Parish July 1, 2005 through November 2, 2009. He has been elected vicar
provincial of Our Lady of Consolation Province of the Friars Minor
Conventual. During the past 15 years, Father Stowe has been active in
projects to foster interfaith dialogue and understanding and has taught
courses at Tepeyac Institute at the Diocese of El Paso, Texas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">As Father John accepts this new ministry to the
friars of Conventual Franciscan province Carey, Ohio, he says he does so
with great affection and gratitude for having been sent first to El
Paso. He served two parishes in Ysleta, the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo,
providing sacramental ministry to Sierra Blanca and Dell City and other
places on an ad hoc basis, he worked with the bishop and other diocesan
ministries, including conferring the sacrament of confirmation upon
thousands of young people, participating in the formation of permanent
deacons, sharing his love for the Church’s history through Tepeyac
courses, advocating for justice and for genuine participatory democracy
through EPISO, and helping to bring living wage job training to El Paso
through Project Arriba, promoting justice for immigrants and the reform
of broken and unfair immigration laws, spiritual advisor for two
fraternities of Secular Franciscans, sharing and exchanging pulpits with
Rabbi Back of Temple Mount Sinai, discussing our Christian faith with
members of the Islamic Center, and other privileged sites of ministry
too numerous to count. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Through intensive investigations on sensitive
matters for the Church, which were assigned to him as Vicar General and
Moderator of the Curia in the Diocese of El Paso (Texas), he was
instrumental in bringing about peace and justice in areas such as
Liberia, the Honduras, Ecuador, and Africa.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The following are comments from those that have
been privileged to know Fr. John and share in his spirituality and love
of God:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Sister Nancy Hansen of the School Sisters of St.
Francis offers the following statement on Father John: “Friar John Stowe
has been instrumental in building bridges between religions. He has
brought people of the Jewish and Islam traditions to encourage
understanding. He worked alongside of Rabbi Bach and others to teach
about these religions at Tepeyac, the Diocesan School of El Paso.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The minister of Mary Immaculate Fraternity, Ysela
Sanchez states: “I have admired Fr. John since I attended a Franciscan
Spirituality conference which he led at Tepeyac Institute in 1997. I
have found him to be tireless in his work for the Lord, and as a
Franciscan Friar. Not only does he work for Peace on a large scale with
the Diocese, internationally and locally, but he takes the time to
educate. For example, he worked that we could have the Transitus of St.
Francis, a yearly re-enactment of the final hours of St. Francis, the
Blessing of animals, and many Franciscan events such as the Stations of
the Cross, and the Christmas crèche. His humility is exemplary and he
inspires by example.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">From our Formation Director, Rose Cano: “Fr. John
has always been a great advocate for justice and peace both locally and
internationally. He is inspiration to our fraternity and to me for us
to follow. He walks the talk as a Franciscan.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Secretary of Mary Immaculate Fraternity, Gigi
Gregory states: “I have always respected Fr. John’s spirituality and
his dedication to educate us in our journey as Franciscans. We were in
the process of understanding the ‘Catechism of the Catholic Church’
through his guidance and untiring teachings. He kept us informed of
different events that we could attend that would inspire us to reach for
peace and social justice in our area. He, with God’s help, will
continue to encourage other people in their journey to God.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Secular Franciscan and member of Mary Immaculate
Fraternity, Mary Ellen Vega says: “My life as a Catholic has been
enriched with the knowledge that my priest (Father John) is also my
friend and brother. We are truly a family with God as the head. This is
what I have learned from my brother, Father John Stowe; we are totally
complete as a people because we are all totally saved by God’s love for
us.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Secular Franciscan and Mary Immaculate
Fraternity, Oscar Casarez gives this statement: “What comes to mind when
I reflect on Fr. John is of a simple servant who is full of the Wisdom
of God and a perfect example of St. Francis of Assisi in today’s world.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Secular Franciscans and members of Mary
Immaculate Fraternity, Hector and Letty Ramirez say: “The very first
time we heard Father John give one of his lectures to our fraternity, we
were mesmerized; he made everything seem so simple; it’s easy to follow
Christ, it’s all in us…no more excuses…and for this, we will always be
thankful that our Lord put him in our paths.” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">From one of our newest professed members, Cissy
Castro: “…Father John Stowe studies God’s Word and Catholic Church’s
teachings fervently. He applies what he has learned carefully serving
God’s people whole-heartedly. Father John Stowe is a very good example
of: Living a life from Gospel to life and life to Gospel. He tells us to
ask ourselves, ‘What God wants us to do in each situation?’…he
encouraged us to promote peace and justice and to seek first God’s
kingdom. …To reach out and go beyond our comfortable zones. He also
encouraged us to study the Gospel well, study our faith well, study
human history well to keep up with current events and to apply our faith
to current events of the world.”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Past Regional Counselor and long time member of
Mary Immaculate Fraternity, Viola Marquez: “Father John’s Franciscan
Spirit of authentic love, joy, and peace witnesses to people who
encounter him no matter where he goes. The charisms of the Holy Spirit
are most definitely at work in him as his humble life radiates the
meaning of gospel living. His example continues to draw countless many
to do as he does to follow our Lord Jesus. His encouraging words of
wisdom and understanding have taught us to take care of the poor and
marginal and to be a voice for the voiceless in a peaceful loving way.
As busy as he is with the demands of his priesthood, he always finds the
time to visit and minister to anyone who calls on him with such
tenderness and care, a true reflection of a shepherd. As a spiritual
director, Fr. John’s gift of listening and discerning God’s movement in
my life has deepened my relationship with God as I know it has with many
others. God has gifted Fr. John in a mighty special way whose life in
return is a gift to us. We are so blessed!”</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Therefore, it is with great pride and honor, that
the Mary Immaculate Fraternity in El Paso, Texas, offers the nomination
of Father John Stowe for the 2010 NAFRA Peace Award.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Ysela Sanchez, Minister</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mary Immaculate Fraternity of El Paso, Texas</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">10400 Shannon Place, El Paso, Texas 79925</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">PH. No.: 915-598-4158</span></div>
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<b>21.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Reta
Tombaugh</u></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dear Tom,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Santa Maria de las Montanas Region of the
Secular Franciscan Order would like to nominate Reta Tombaugh for this
year's Peace Award. Reta has spent the last ten years working with
women (and their children) in crisis because of unplanned pregnancies,
emotional and physical abuse. Healing the scars from physical battering
is often less painful than the scars from years of emotional abuse and
her program is structured to address the barriers of emotional
instability, lack of education, and unplanned pregnancies. Women work,
go to school, or get vocational training while pregnant. Once the child
is born they prepare to transition to greater independence by working
through various stages of the program. Parenting classes, mental
health, trauma and sometimes substance abuse treatment are integral.
All women are invited to discover their spiritual self. Prayer, and the
healing from violence that comes through prayer, is part of their daily
routine. A chapel is available 24 hours a day. Reta is not only a
strong practicing Catholic but a member of the Secular Order since
1996. The organization, Maternity of Mary, functions through charitable
giving from donors throughout the local community. Reta represents the
best of what "in the trenches working for peace through non violence"
means. We can look to her example for practical solutions, peaceful
solutions, to some of the most violent barriers women and children face
today.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Thank you for the opportunity to present this
nomination for the National Peace Award.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Peace from the Santa Maria de las Montanas
Region of the Secular Franciscan Order. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dolores J. Walker, SFO</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Regional Formation Director</span></span></div>
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<b>22.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></b><u>Ron
Wakefield </u></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <wbr></wbr>
<wbr></wbr> </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Secular Franciscan Order</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">St. Francis Region</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Office of the Minister</span></div>
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<span lang="FR"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">8121 Barrington Dr.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="ES-VE"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">La Mirada, CA 90638</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><a href="mailto:paoli@roadrunner.com" target="_blank">paoli@roadrunner.com</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">June 25, 2010 </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Deacon Tom Bello, SFO</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Minister, National Fraternity </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">1710 Chesterbrook Vale Ct.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">McLean, VA 22101-3244</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dear Tom and the members of the Peace Award
Committee: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I am writing to nominate, on behalf of St.
Francis Region, Ron Wakefield for the annual Peace Award given by NAFRA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Ron is a professed member of Our Lady of
Guadalupe Fraternity that meets in Whittier, CA, and is a member of
their council. He is an outstanding clarinetist, and was a
studio musician for many years. He gave up that very
lucrative work when he felt the Lord was calling him to work with
children, and he took a job as a junior high school band director in an
area with a heavy Hispanic population and gang problems. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">What he has done with the band is hardly less
than miraculous. But even more impressive is the work he
has done - with his band - with disadvantaged children. He
started by taking some of his band members to give a concert for the
mothers and children staying at the Catholic Worker home in Santa Ana,
CA. When several of the children “wished” they could play
an instrument, Ron started taking some of his band members down there
to teach the children. He provided the instruments for the
children - often bearing the cost out of his own pocket - and
supervised the student teaching being done. He took six of
those students with his band to New York City to give a concert at
Carnegie Hall!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Since then he has expanded his “kids helping
kids” program to hospitals, homeless shelters, and agencies for abused
and neglected kids. In August of 2010 he led kids on a
concert tour in China, where they performed and taught music lessons at
orphanages. His former students have started similar
programs in Baltimore, Harlem, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">He was invited to speak earlier this summer at a
conference in England on Spirituality in Music Education. After
everyone had spoken, he was asked to speak more and tell the educators
in more detail just how he had managed to do what he has done. As
a result of that conference, it appears the program is spreading all
over western Europe. Since returning, he has been asked to
speak at the University of Arizona and help the educators there to
start a similar program.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">I am enclosing Ron’s resume, which tells worlds
more about him and what he has accomplished, along with a brochure
describing the program*, and a copy of a news article that appeared this
year. Many Franciscans in this Region have been involved
in helping raise funds for this program, and many have heard his band or
small groups from it. I spent the first half of my life
as a concert pianist and can say, from a professional perspective, that I
have never heard a junior high band that sounds like this one. His
band is the <u>only</u> junior high school band ever invited to march
in the Tournament of Roses Parade, and they have done that twice.
They have performed in Carnegie Hall four times. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">This past year, Ron did not even conduct the
concerts, including the one in Carnegie Hall. He had
student conductors do the entire program. Some of the
conductors were from his band, and others were former members who were
now in high school or college. A large number of
disadvantaged children from the various shelters here in CA and from the
centers on the east coast, went to New York with the band and performed
with it there, including a young girl from Haiti who had lost her leg
in the earthquake.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Another most amazing aspect of Ron’s work is that
in every concert he has managed to program religious music - either
“classics” recognized by all, or religious tunes incorporated into music
specially arranged for the band. The band members appear
on stage with the boys in tuxedos and the girls in long, formal black
gowns. They are well groomed, and very well mannered when
meeting the audience at receptions after concerts. It is
difficult to believe they are 12 - 14 year olds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">What Ron has done and is doing with these
children - both the ones in his school band and the ones living in
various shelters and hospitals - has changed their lives. With
experiences like they’ve had, they have been totally removed from the
potential status of failure, or gang, or worthless. They
are and will be part of the peace efforts that are needed to change this
world, instead of part of the problem. Ron himself is the
most humble person you could ever imagine, very soft-spoken, and
totally dedicated to doing God’s work. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Our Region urges you to give strong consideration
to Ron Wakefield to receive the Peace Award for 2010.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Peace and God Bless.</span></div>
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<span lang="ES-VE"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Sylvia L.
Paoli, SFO <wbr></wbr>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="ES-VE"> </span>Minister,
St. Francis Region <span style="color: #993300;">
</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #993300;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> <wbr></wbr>
</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">* <i>Editor’s note: </i>We apologize that were
unable to format the brochure in a way to include it in this document.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">BIO OF RON WAKEFIELD</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Clarinetist/Conductor
Ron Wakefield has performed extensively around the world including in
Canada, Mexico, Europe, and China. His interest in contemporary music
yielded more than 100 new musical works written for and dedicated to
him. He has performed with many Southern California
Orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic. He has also
performed with Mexico's Orquesta Sinfonica de Xalapa, and has recorded
for Lorimar and Columbia Pictures. In 1985 he starred in the West Coast
tour of the Broadway show "The Lady and the Clarinet". While the
Los Angeles Times called Mr. Wakefield "...a splendid soloist..." , the
Bern Post (Switzerland) described him as "...subtle and expressive..."</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">His North Park
Middle School Band from Pico Rivera, California is the only middle
school band to ever march in the world famous Pasadena Tournament of
Roses Parade (1997 and 2005), and they have performed in Carnegie Hall
four times. The band also performs frequently for homeless shelters,
children's hospitals, senior centers, and other social agencies.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In recent years Mr.
Wakefield has become most interested in providing musical outreach
opportunities for disadvantaged children. In his "kids helping kids"
program he leads his students to teach music lessons to children in
hospitals, homeless shelters, and agencies for abused and neglected
kids. In August, 2010 he led kids on tour to China where they performed
and taught music lessons at orphanages. Mr. Wakefield has founded
music outreach programs on the East Coast in Baltimore,
Harlem, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mr. Wakefield and
the North Park Middle School Band recently returned from the East Coast
where they performed in a children's hospital and in Carnegie Hall,
bringing together children from all of the outreach programs from coast
to coast. Also included in the performance was a young girl from Haiti,
who lost her lower left leg in the January, 2010 earthquake.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mr. Wakefield
speaks frequently at educational conferences on the subject of
Social Justice in Education. He has been a guest speaker at USC, UCLA,
and will speak in England this summer at a conference on Spirituality in
Music Education.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">One of his future
plans involves bringing disadvantaged children from his East Coast
outreach project to California to perform at Disneyland. </span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">In his "younger"
years, Mr. Wakefield enjoyed climbing mountains. To his credit are the
world famous peaks of Mt. Rainier, Mt. Kilimanjaro, Mexico's Pico de
Orizaba, and Switzerland's Matterhorn.</span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Mr. Wakefield
received his musical training at USC and is a professed member of the
Secular Franciscan Order.</span></span></div>
</div>
<br />Vickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591017349277964184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484496548384752022.post-20103875402465243552010-06-18T22:24:00.000-04:002010-06-18T22:24:37.917-04:00Secular Franciscans passionate about serving othersWe hope that all Ministers (both Regional and Local) would consider asking your local diocesan or even local newspaper to "publicize" your Permanent Professions.
What a wonderful story this is, and St. Clare Regional Minister Sherry Stevenson reported that they had a great turnout and numerous inquiries about the Secular Franciscan life as a result of this story.<br />
<br />
Please don't let our "bright, new lights" be hidden under the bushel basket!<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN">Secular Franciscans
passionate about serving others</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">By Jennifer Brinker | <a href="mailto:jbrinker@stlouisreview.com" target="_blank">jbrinker@stlouisreview.com</a>
</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<img src="http://stlouisreview.com/sites/default/files/article-images/137252/SecularFranciscans_0604.jpg" />
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Image by Lisa A. Johnston </span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span lang="EN">Pure joy is in Debbie
Schisler's voice.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Since childhood, Schisler
knew in her heart she wanted to help others. That carried over into
adulthood. And next week, the 53-year-old wife and mother of five will
make an even stronger commitment to that way of life as she is professed
as a member of the Secular Franciscan Order.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Schisler, a parishioner at
Immaculate Conception in Arnold, is one of five individuals who will
make their profession as Secular Franciscans next week as members of the
St. Francis of Assisi Fraternity in Oakville. They formally will become
part of a larger community of Franciscans that pledge to live the
Gospel message, following in the ways of St. Francis of Assisi. The
saint exemplified virtues including obedience, charity, humility,
poverty, simplicity and wisdom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Secular Franciscans are
individuals who live as married or single laypeople. They can also be
diocesan priests and permanent deacons. They strive to live the virtues
of St. Francis by using their individuals gifts, given by the Holy
Spirit, within their families, workplaces and even parish life,
according to formation director Rita Baughman.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Baughman said that there are
many examples of those who wish to become Secular Franciscans. "We have
young people, senior citizens. People like the simplicity, the
deepening of the spirituality we try to emphasize. St. Francis had many
dimensions, so people are attracted for different reasons." She stressed
the main requirement for someone joining the community is a love for
the saint and a desire to live their lives in his spirit.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Schisler was exposed to the
Franciscan way of life at an early age. Her father's youngest brother
was a Franciscan priest.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">"I just loved his
lifestyle," she recalled. "He just seemed so free and loving."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">She also recalled a simple
memory from her own childhood, a time she shared her crayons with a
fellow classmate, only to be chastised by other children for doing so.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">"I thought, 'Isn't that what
we're supposed to do?'"</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Schisler knew she wanted to
spend the rest of her life helping others, but it wasn't until about
four years ago, when an aunt died, that she recognized that there was a
community of Catholics living the life she already had.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">That aunt, buried in a brown
habit, was a member of the Secular Franciscans. "I didn't know anything
about them before that. So I started searching on the Internet about
Secular Franciscans."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Prior to their profession,
Secular Franciscans undergo formation, which generally takes about three
years, sometimes longer, depending on the individual, said Baughman.
There are several stages, including an orientation, which offers
individuals an introduction to the community; inquiry, a formal period
of initiation to learn more about the Franciscan way of life at a deeper
level; and candidacy, a final period of initiation and immersion to
prepare for the permanent commitment as a Franciscan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">After their profession,
Secular Franciscans continue their formation through monthly group
meetings. They also are involved in several apostolates, including
assistance to the Poor Clare Sisters, participating in local
fund-raising efforts, helping with the Franciscan Connection, a ministry
that provides outreach to the poor, and teaching school children about
the life of St. Francis.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">While she was going through
formation, Schisler said she was seeking a "set of rules -- something
that was black and white." But instead, she developed an understanding
that the commitment was more about emphasizing a way of life and not so
much about following rules. "I learned that being a Franciscan is living
with dignity while helping others to live with dignity."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Schisler said Baughman
explained to her that "when you profess, you become part of a community
of support. That's what drew me to this."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">After profession, it will be
life as usual for Schisler. During the week, she babysits for her three
grandchildren. She also serves as a second-grade PSR teacher at
Immaculate Conception, a role she has had for the past two decades. She
volunteers as an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and
participates in a small faith-sharing community at the parish. She
especially enjoys working with PSR students at a time when they receive
the Sacrament of Reconciliation and First Communion.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">The difference is that being
a Franciscan "formally will hold me accountable," she said. "It will
make my everyday living more conscious of it."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">"This is an ongoing
conversion," said Baughman. "It doesn't just stop at profession. We're
constantly striving to become more Franciscan in our manners, in our
mindset and in our lifestyle."</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><br />
<hr align="center" size="1" width="100%" />
<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Profession</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Five Catholics will profess
as members of the Secular Franciscan Order next week. They include Suzee
Irwin, Epiphany Parish in South St. Louis; Debbie Schisler, Mimi
Siebert and Beverly Tedeschi, all of Immaculate Conception Parish in
Arnold; and Deacon John Wainscott of St. Justin Martyr Parish in Sunset
Hills.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">All are welcome to attend
the Mass and profession, especially those interested in becoming a<br />
member of the Secular Franciscans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN">WHEN:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 9</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">WHERE:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
Poor Clare Monastery, 200 Marycrest Drive in Oakville</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN">INFO: </span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">To<br />
learn more about the Secular Franciscans, call Sherry Stevenson at (314)<br />487-5058
or e-mail her at <a href="mailto:sherrysfo@yahoo.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">sherrysfo@yahoo.com</span></a> [2]</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span lang="EN">ON THE WEB:</span></b><span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
<a href="http://www.nafra-sfo.org/" target="_blank" title="www.nafra-sfo.org"><span style="color: blue;">www.nafra-sfo.org</span></a>
[3]</span></div>
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><br />
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<span lang="EN" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span lang="EN">Secular Franciscans</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">The following are current
statistics on the Secular Franciscans in the United States:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">* 14,722 professed members</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">* 2,143 members currently in
formation</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">* 674 Secular Franciscan
fraternities, with an additional 80 that are emerging</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">* There are 11 fraternities
and 209 professed members in the St. Clare Region, which includes St.
Louis, Oakville, Normandy, O’Fallon, Cape Girardeau, Mo.,
Boonville/Jefferson City, Mo., Rolla, Mo., Springfield, Mo., Belleville,
Ill., Granite City, Ill., and Evansville, Ind.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">* The Secular Franciscans
are part of the Third Order of St. Francis, which was founded by the
saint in 1221. It includes members who form fraternities as well as
isolated tertiaries, hermits and pilgrims. Franciscans of the First
Order include the Friars (priests and brothers), both Capuchin and
Oblates, and was founded by St. Francis in 1209. The Second Order
includes the Poor Clares, monasteries of cloistered women religious who
profess the rule of St. Clare. The foundation for that community was
created in 1212.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN">All content copyright (©)
2010 Saint Louis Review. All Rights Reserved. </span></div>Vickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591017349277964184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484496548384752022.post-83868484951476129462010-03-31T12:59:00.006-04:002010-03-31T13:54:54.452-04:00Visibility, Prayer and Defense<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2A6uAXvU5p6LoU6V-cFAQzO0o0qZ-LE7zUjUsBP5UCgoO-o5eoKrYRvphPRV3ogLqk2rUcwnM7BmZMpN48E-n5bTGCDHYOzhWpVLDgo4i0ZlBJyo28oexvUW3MMC5WTg-iSMlxLTZal2M/s1600/PictSanDam3large.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454845733188319458" style="WIDTH: 220px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2A6uAXvU5p6LoU6V-cFAQzO0o0qZ-LE7zUjUsBP5UCgoO-o5eoKrYRvphPRV3ogLqk2rUcwnM7BmZMpN48E-n5bTGCDHYOzhWpVLDgo4i0ZlBJyo28oexvUW3MMC5WTg-iSMlxLTZal2M/s320/PictSanDam3large.gif" border="0" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Beloved National Family,</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>
As we approach the Triduum, the three Highest and Holiest Days of the Church’s Year, please permit your unworthy National Minister to make three requests from you: Visibility; Prayer and Defense.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>First, visibility. Our International Fraternity has urged “Presence in the World” as one of our priorities at the last International Chapter (</strong></span><a href="http://www.ciofs.org/doc/kia8/kia8en06.htm"><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>http://www.ciofs.org/doc/kia8/kia8en06.htm</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>). During these High Holy Days, many of us will be gathering with our Diocesan Bishop at the Chrism Mass and with our clergy, religious and lay faithful at Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday liturgies. Please, at all times wear your Tau Cross and introduce yourself as a Secular Franciscan following Christ to the Cross in the footsteps of Sts. Francis and Clare. Greet your Bishop, your Pastor, the clergy and religious with “Peace.” Offer your service, support and prayers. If possible, sit at these liturgies with brothers and sisters from your own local fraternities. Be Franciscan! Be peaceful! Be visible!
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Second, prayer. Let us now and always pray for one another, especially now as we gather at these Solemn Liturgies. Our Lord will be so close to us during these three holiest days. Intercede for all our Secular Franciscan family and for all our Franciscan Order.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>May I ask you to pray for three things in particular: one, pray for Youth. As far as I know, we have only one “officially constituted” youth fraternity in the whole United States. Most of our fraternities have few if any members in their twenties, thirties or even forties. Pray that we may attract more youth into our Order and be more “youthful” ourselves, regardless of our physical ages!
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Two, pray for Spiritual Assistance. Pray always to the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray that we ourselves may be more Spiritually-minded. Pray for all of our Spiritual Assistants. Pray that we may have more “capable and well-prepared” (General Constitutions Article 88.1) Spiritual Assistants for all of the fraternities-- local, regional, national and international--in our Order.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Three, pray for Unity in our Fraternities, in our Families, in our Church, in our Country. Why do we tear each other apart? On his last night, our Lord prayed fervently “that they may all be one, as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us” (John 17:21). We are called to be “Instruments of God’s Peace,” and we can’t get along: fellow Franciscans, blood relations, fellow Catholics, fellow Americans. Please pray that we might “(d)o nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those of others. Have among yourselves the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:3-5).
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Third, and finally, defense. St. Francis knew that Holy Mother Church could never be perfect as long as it had sinners in it like him and me. He knew the failings of brother priests. Still, he knew that he could only receive the Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament from their hands. Still, he was always faithful to the Holy Father. Let us never be afraid or ashamed to speak in defense of Holy Mother Church, her Holy Father, Bishops and Priests.</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>
My beloved sisters and brothers of penance, as you know, the Holy Spirit is the only Advocate that the Church, the Holy Father or we need. We may have read or heard about the recent stories in the New York Times and the Associated Press, but we may not have heard reported two other voices, which I share with you, one from Father Thomas Brundage, JLC, and the other from Archbishop Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>First, Father Thomas Brundage, the then-presiding judge for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee gives first-person account of church trial: (<a href="http://fratres.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/the-just-judge-setting-the-record-straight-in-the-case-of-abusive-milwaukee-priest-father-lawrence-murphy/">http://fratres.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/the-just-judge-setting-the-record-straight-in-the-case-of-abusive-milwaukee-priest-father-lawrence-murphy/</a>)
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>By Fr. THOMAS BRUNDAGE, JLC
For CatholicAnchor.org
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>To provide context to this article, I was the Judicial Vicar for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee from 1995-2003. During those years, I presided over four canonical criminal cases, one of which involved Father Lawrence Murphy. Two of the four men died during the process. God alone will judge these men.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>To put some parameters on the following remarks, I am writing this article with the express knowledge and consent of Archbishop Roger Schwietz, OMI, the Archbishop of Anchorage, where I currently serve. Archbishop Schwietz is also the publisher of the Catholic Anchor newspaper.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>I will limit my comments, because of judicial oaths I have taken as a canon lawyer and as an ecclesiastical judge. However, since my name and comments in the matter of the Father Murphy case have been liberally and often inaccurately quoted in the New York Times and in more than 100 other newspapers and on-line periodicals, I feel a freedom to tell part of the story of Father Murphy’s trial from ground zero.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>As I have found that the reporting on this issue has been inaccurate and poor in terms of the facts, I am also writing out of a sense of duty to the truth.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>The fact that I presided over this trial and have never once been contacted by any news organization for comment speaks for itself.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>My intent in the following paragraphs is to accomplish the following:
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>To tell the back-story of what actually happened in the Father Murphy case on the local level;
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>To outline the sloppy and inaccurate reporting on the Father Murphy case by the New York Times and other media outlets;
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>To assert that Pope Benedict XVI has done more than any other pope or bishop in history to rid the Catholic Church of the scourge of child sexual abuse and provide for those who have been injured;
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>To set the record straight with regards to the efforts made by the church to heal the wounds caused by clergy sexual misconduct. The Catholic Church is probably the safest place for children at this point in history.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Before proceeding, it is important to point out the scourge that child sexual abuse has been — not only for the church but for society as well. Few actions can distort a child’s life more than sexual abuse. It is a form of emotional and spiritual homicide and it starts a trajectory toward a skewed sense of sexuality. When committed by a person in authority, it creates a distrust of almost anyone, anywhere.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>As a volunteer prison chaplain in Alaska, I have found a corollary between those who have been incarcerated for child sexual abuse and the priests who have committed such grievous actions. They tend to be very smart and manipulative. They tend to be well liked and charming. They tend to have one aim in life — to satisfy their hunger. Most are highly narcissistic and do not see the harm that they have caused. They view the children they have abused not as people but as objects. They rarely show remorse and moreover, sometimes portray themselves as the victims. They are, in short, dangerous people and should never be trusted again. Most will recommit their crimes if given a chance.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>As for the numerous reports about the case of Father Murphy, the back-story has not been reported as of yet.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>In 1996, I was introduced to the story of Father Murphy, formerly the principal of St. John’s School for the Deaf in Milwaukee. It had been common knowledge for decades that during Father Murphy’s tenure at the school (1950-1974) there had been a scandal at St. John’s involving him and some deaf children. The details, however, were sketchy at best.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Courageous advocacy on behalf of the victims (and often their wives), led the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to revisit the matter in 1996. In internal discussions of the curia for the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, it became obvious that we needed to take strong and swift action with regard to the wrongs of several decades ago. With the consent of then-Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland, we began an investigation into the allegations of child sexual abuse as well as the violation of the crime of solicitation within the confessional by Father Murphy.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>We proceeded to start a trial against Father Murphy. I was the presiding judge in this matter and informed Father Murphy that criminal charges were going to be levied against him with regard to child sexual abuse and solicitation in the confessional.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>In my interactions with Father Murphy, I got the impression I was dealing with a man who simply did not get it. He was defensive and threatening.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Between 1996 and August, 1998, I interviewed, with the help of a qualified interpreter, about a dozen victims of Father Murphy. These were gut-wrenching interviews. In one instance the victim had become a perpetrator himself and had served time in prison for his crimes. I realized that this disease is virulent and was easily transmitted to others. I heard stories of distorted lives, sexualities diminished or expunged. These were the darkest days of my own priesthood, having been ordained less than 10 years at the time. Grace-filled spiritual direction has been a Godsend.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>I also met with a community board of deaf Catholics. They insisted that Father Murphy should be removed from the priesthood and highly important to them was their request that he be buried not as a priest but as a layperson. I indicated that a judge, I could not guarantee the first request and could only make a recommendation to the latter request.
In the summer of 1998, I ordered Father Murphy to be present at a deposition at the chancery in Milwaukee. I received, soon after, a letter from his doctor that he was in frail health and could travel not more than 20 miles (Boulder Junction to Milwaukee would be about 276 miles). A week later, Father Murphy died of natural causes in a location about 100 miles from his home
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>With regard to the inaccurate reporting on behalf of the New York Times, the Associated Press, and those that utilized these resources, first of all, I was never contacted by any of these news agencies but they felt free to quote me. Almost all of my quotes are from a document that can be found online with the correspondence between the Holy See and the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. In an October 31, 1997 handwritten document, I am quoted as saying ‘odds are that this situation may very well be the most horrendous, number wise, and especially because these are physically challenged, vulnerable people. “Also quoted is this: “Children were approached within the confessional where the question of circumcision began the solicitation.”
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>The problem with these statements attributed to me is that they were handwritten. The documents were not written by me and do not resemble my handwriting. The syntax is similar to what I might have said but I have no idea who wrote these statements, yet I am credited as stating them. As a college freshman at the Marquette University School of Journalism, we were told to check, recheck, and triple check our quotes if necessary. I was never contacted by anyone on this document, written by an unknown source to me. Discerning truth takes time and it is apparent that the New York Times, the Associated Press and others did not take the time to get the facts correct.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Additionally, in the documentation in a letter from Archbishop Weakland to then-secretary of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Archbishop Tarcisio Bertone on August 19, 1998, Archbishop Weakland stated that he had instructed me to abate the proceedings against Father Murphy. Father Murphy, however, died two days later and the fact is that on the day that Father Murphy died, he was still the defendant in a church criminal trial. No one seems to be aware of this. Had I been asked to abate this trial, I most certainly would have insisted that an appeal be made to the supreme court of the church, or Pope John Paul II if necessary. That process would have taken months if not longer.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Second, with regard to the role of then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), in this matter, I have no reason to believe that he was involved at all. Placing this matter at his doorstep is a huge leap of logic and information.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Third, the competency to hear cases of sexual abuse of minors shifted from the Roman Rota to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith headed by Cardinal Ratzinger in 2001. Until that time, most appeal cases went to the Rota and it was our experience that cases could languish for years in this court. When the competency was changed to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, in my observation as well as many of my canonical colleagues, sexual abuse cases were handled expeditiously, fairly, and with due regard to the rights of all the parties involved. I have no doubt that this was the work of then Cardinal Ratzinger.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Fourth, Pope Benedict has repeatedly apologized for the shame of the sexual abuse of children in various venues and to a worldwide audience. This has never happened before. He has met with victims. He has reigned in entire conferences of bishops on this matter, the Catholic Bishops of Ireland being the most recent. He has been most reactive and proactive of any international church official in history with regard to the scourge of clergy sexual abuse of minors. Instead of blaming him for inaction on these matters, he has truly been a strong and effective leader on these issues.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Finally, over the last 25 years, vigorous action has taken place within the church to avoid harm to children. Potential seminarians receive extensive sexual-psychological evaluation prior to admission. Virtually all seminaries concentrate their efforts on the safe environment for children. There have been very few cases of recent sexual abuse of children by clergy during the last decade or more.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Catholic dioceses all across the country have taken extraordinary steps to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults. As one example, which is by no means unique, is in the Archdiocese of Anchorage, where I currently work. Here, virtually every public bathroom in parishes has a sign asking if a person has been abuse by anyone in the church. A phone number is given to report the abuse and almost all church workers in the archdiocese are required to take yearly formation sessions in safe environment classes. I am not sure what more the church can do.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>To conclude, the events during the 1960’s and 1970’s of the sexual abuse of minors and solicitation in the confessional by Father Lawrence Murphy are unmitigated and gruesome crimes. On behalf of the church, I am deeply sorry and ashamed for the wrongs that have been done by my brother priests but realize my sorrow is probably of little importance 40 years after the fact. The only thing that we can do at this time is to learn the truth, beg for forgiveness, and do whatever is humanly possible to heal the wounds. The rest, I am grateful, is in God’s hands.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Father Thomas T. Brundage, JCL
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Editor’s note: Father Brundage can be contacted at brundaget@archmil.org or by phone at (907) 745-3229 X 11.</p>
<p>Second, Archbishop Dolan (<a href="http://fratres.wordpress.com/2010/03/28/full-text-n-y-archbsp-dolan-defends-pope-remarks-at-palm-sunday-mass/">http://fratres.wordpress.com/2010/03/28/full-text-n-y-archbsp-dolan-defends-pope-remarks-at-palm-sunday-mass/</a>):
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Archbishop Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New York, made the following remarks at the conclusion of Palm Sunday Mass in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral in New York on Sunday, March 28, 2010.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"May I ask your patience a couple of minutes longer in what has already been a lengthy — yet hopefully uplifting —Sunday Mass?
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"The somberness of Holy Week is intensified for Catholics this year.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"The recent tidal wave of headlines about abuse of minors by some few priests, this time in Ireland, Germany, and a re-run of an old story from Wisconsin, has knocked us to our knees once again.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"Anytime this horror, vicious sin, and nauseating crime is reported, as it needs to be, victims and their families are wounded again, the vast majority of faithful priests bow their heads in shame anew, and sincere Catholics experience another dose of shock, sorrow, and even anger.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"What deepens the sadness now is the unrelenting insinuations against the Holy Father himself, as certain sources seem frenzied to implicate the man who, perhaps more than anyone else has been the leader in purification, reform, and renewal that the Church so needs.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"Sunday Mass is hardly the place to document the inaccuracy, bias, and hyperbole of such aspersions.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"But, Sunday Mass is indeed the time for Catholics to pray for “ . . . Benedict our Pope."
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"And Palm Sunday Mass is sure a fitting place for us to express our love and solidarity for our earthly shepherd now suffering some of the same unjust accusations, shouts of the mob, and scourging at the pillar, as did Jesus.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"No one has been more vigorous in cleansing the Church of the effects of this sickening sin than the man we now call Pope Benedict XVI. The dramatic progress that the Catholic Church in the United States has made — — documented again just last week by the report made by independent forensic auditors — — could never have happened without the insistence and support of the very man now being daily crowned with thorns by groundless innuendo.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"Does the Church and her Pastor, Pope Benedict XVI, need intense scrutiny and just criticism for tragic horrors long past?
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"Yes! He himself has asked for it, encouraging complete honesty, at the same time expressing contrition, and urging a thorough cleansing.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>"All we ask is that it be fair, and that the Catholic Church not be singled-out for a horror that has cursed every culture, religion, organization, institution, school, agency, and family in the world.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>“Sorry to bring this up … but, then again, the Eucharist is the Sunday meal of the spiritual family we call the Church. At Sunday dinner we share both joys and sorrows. The father of our family, il papa, needs our love, support, and prayers."
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>These three requests I repeat: Visibility, Prayer and Defense. Through the intercessions of Sts. Francis and Clare and all the Franciscan saints, canonized or known only to God, through the petitions of our Patroness, Our Blessed Mother, may the Lord grant us, our fraternities, our families, our Church, our Nation, our Earth every Peace and Blessing during this Holy Week, Triduum and Easter Season.
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Peace and love,
</strong></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Tom </strong></span></p>Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01910111080710992708noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484496548384752022.post-33886550405137284392010-03-19T16:00:00.000-04:002010-03-19T16:00:31.248-04:00Secular Franciscan hopes to land chapel at Mitchell<p>This article is from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
See the original at <a href="http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/86694057.html">http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/86694057.html</a>.
Suzanne McKinney is a Secular Franciscan in the LaVerna Regional Fraternity.</p>
<p>The full text of the article is included here to ensure that it continues to be available to our readers. </p>
<h2>Parishioner hopes to land chapel at Mitchell</h2>
<p>By Annysa Johnson of the [Milwaukee] Journal Sentinel
<p>Posted [on the newspaper's website]: March 5, 2010</p>
<p>For years, travelers would stop at St. Stephen's Catholic Church on S. Howell Ave. for a moment of prayer before flying out of Milwaukee's Mitchell International Airport.</p>
<p>That changed last fall when the 162-year-old congregation moved to its new building in Oak Creek.</p>
<p>Soon, though, travelers of all faiths may find a new place for prayer and meditation - in the airport itself.</p>
<p>St. Stephen's parishioner Suzanne McKinney of Cudahy is spearheading an effort to build an interfaith chapel at Mitchell, modeling it after facilities at Chicago's O'Hare and Midway airports.</p>
<p>"Travelers are often under stress, and they need a little time for peace," said McKinney, who has founded a nonprofit organization, Interfaith Airport Chapel of Milwaukee, to promote and fund the chapel.</p>
<p>Airport spokeswoman Pat Rowe said the proposal is preliminary and must be approved by the Milwaukee County Board, which oversees Mitchell. Airport management is open to the idea but has stressed that any facility would need to be welcoming to people of all faiths.</p>
<p>"Our understanding is that it would not endorse any particular religion or view of God," Rowe said. "Some people may want to use it as just a quiet place to meditate."</p>
<p>That's the plan, said McKinney, a devout Roman Catholic who belongs to a religious fraternity known as the Secular Franciscans.</p>
<p>"Each chapel is different," she said of the 151 around the world that are affiliated with the International Association of Civil Aviation Chaplains. "Some are just a meditation room, some have full-time chaplains. They're as varied as you can imagine."</p>
<p>Milwaukee's profile will depend on the faith communities that choose to participate and how much they want to invest in a presence there.</p>
<p>The Chicago chapels, which will mark their 50th year in November, are open around the clock, offering regularly scheduled Catholic, nondenominational and Muslim services.</p>
<p>"These are the three faith groups in Chicago that wanted to do ministry here, but we have many others on our board of directors," said Susan Schneider, chapel administrator.</p>
<p>Created originally for employees whose schedules kept them from their religious obligations, they've become a mecca for travelers, drawing as many as 150,000 visitors annually just through the O'Hare chapel, she said.</p>
<p>McKinney was inspired after a visit to the lay ministry department at Cardinal Stritch University, where she learned that some graduates may go on to work in so-called mobility ministries - on cruise ships or traveling circuses, airports and truck stops.</p>
<p>It made her think: Does Mitchell have a chapel? The answer was no. So she set about creating one.</p>
<p>The group is looking at about 600 square feet in the Mitchell parking garage, accessible through the walkway that connects the ramp to the terminal.</p>
<p>It's beefing up its board of directors, working with an architect who has expertise in liturgical design, and planning a capital campaign with a target of around $300,000.</p>
<p>And they're hoping to incorporate some elements of the old St. Stephen's Church.</p>
<p>"We've received some stained-glass windows, some marble from the sanctuary, a few pews," said McKinney.</p>
<p>"No statues, no crosses, because it will be interfaith. But it's going to be a beautiful, spiritual place."</p>
<p>For information</p>
<p>The Interfaith Airport Chapel of Milwaukee can be reached at P.O. Box 402, South Milwaukee, WI 53172, or by calling (414) 570-9906.</p>Vickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591017349277964184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484496548384752022.post-73866547180371338122010-01-19T00:03:00.001-05:002010-01-19T00:05:08.089-05:00COME AND MARCH FOR LIFE IN PRAYER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nafra-sfo.org/images/SFOsMarchForLife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://www.nafra-sfo.org/images/SFOsMarchForLife.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div>
<br />
<p> On Friday, January 22, 2010, I invite you to come and join me if not physically, then please, spiritually in the annual March for Life down Constitution Avenue in Washington, DC, past the United States Supreme Court.</p>
<p> If physically and if you know the National Gallery of Art on the National Mall in front of the U.S. Capitol, we will meet on the steps of the National Gallery of Art West Building on 7th Street between Madison Drive and Constitu tion Avenue just opposite the skating rink.</p>
I will be wearing the same green parka with the same banner that you see in the picture above. I am on the far left.</p>
<p>We have been having a bitterly cold and windy January so far, so please dress warmly in layers. We will not stay outside any longer than we need, and we will march.</p>
<p>If you cannot join us physically, and you are reading this on or before January 22, I would ask you to pray the following prayer from the National Basilica:</p>
<p>"Our Lady of Guadalupe, we turn to you who are the protectress of unborn children and ask that you intercede for us, so that we may more firmly resolve to join you in protecting all human life. </p>
<p>Let our prayers be united to your perpetual motherly intercession on behalf of those whose lives are threatened, be they in the womb of their mother, on the bed of infirmity, or in the latter years of their life.</p>
<p>May our prayers also be coupled with peaceful action which witnesses to the goodness and dignity of all human life, so that our firmness of purpose may give courage to those who are fearful and bring light to those who are blinded by sin. </p>
<p>Encourage those who will be involved in the March for Life; help them to walk closely with God and to give voice to the cry of the oppressed, in order to remind out nation of its commitment to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness for all people.</p>
<p>O Virgin Mother of God, present our petitions to your Son and ask Him to bless us with abundant life. Amen."</p>
<p>If you are reading this message after January 22, please pray:</p>
<p>"O God, our Loving Creator, all life is in Your hands from the moment of conception until death. Help us to cherish our children and to be grateful for the privilege of sharing in Your work of creation. Bless all those who defend the rights of the unborn, the poor, the handicapped and the aged. Enlighten and be merciful toward those who do not value the gift of life. Help them to seek and find you. Grant that by our care and respect for all people and all life, we might be a sign of Your Love in our world today. We pray as always in Jesus' name. Amen."</p>
<p>Permit me to close by repeating those marvelous words of Pope John Paul II in his 1988 apostolic exhortation, <i>The Vocation and the Mission of the Lay Faithful in the Church and in the World (Christifideles Laici)</i>:</p>
<p>"The inviolability of the person, which is a reflection of the absolute inviolability of God, finds its primary and fundamental expression in the inviolability of human life. Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights -- for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture -- is false and illusory if the <i>right to life</i>, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition of all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination (38)."</p>
<p>We Seculars have felt that need to march, to pray, to witness to Life: Secular Franciscans For Life (Pro Vita)! Please come and march with us in prayer!</p>
<p>Peace and Life,</p>
<p>Tom Bello, SFO<br />
National Minister</p>Vickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591017349277964184noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484496548384752022.post-41593205312080445342009-12-13T20:00:00.000-05:002009-12-13T20:00:50.176-05:00Materials for the introductory videoHere's what you need to customize the video for your fraternity's use:<br />
<br />
1) <a href="http://www.nafra-sfo.org/VideoResources/WhoAreWeNational.ppt">The PowerPoint presentation</a>. This is the version customized for the National Fraternity.<br />
2) <a href="http://www.nafra-sfo.org/VideoResources/Dream%20of%20the%20Heart.mp3">The MP3 file with the music</a>. Right click on the link to the left and click "Save link as." The MP3 file will need to be placed in the same directory as the PowerPoint file. Note that it is a large file (over 3.5Mb) and may take a little while to download.<br />
3) Microsoft PowerPoint and the free iSpring PowerPoint to Flash converter (available at <a href="http://www.ispringsolutions.com/">www.ispringsolutions.com</a>). I was also able to convert PowerPoint to Flash using OpenOffice (a free office suite), but it didn't incorporate the music. You can also Google for other ways to convert PowerPoint to Flash if you don't have PowerPoint.<br />
<br />
If you want to see the video for a local fraternity, it's available <a href="http://www.nafra-sfo.org/VideoResources/PresentationFrancis.swf">here</a>. <br />Vickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591017349277964184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484496548384752022.post-26731794641416044092009-12-13T19:15:00.000-05:002009-12-13T19:15:58.994-05:00The making of an introductory SFO videoMore from Mary Lou Coffman, SFO, about the making of their introductory video on the SFO. In a subsequent posting we will include links to the materials needed to adapt it to your own use.<br />
Vickie Klick<br />
<br />
<div>
About a year and a half ago, our Fraternity had arranged to have a
sister from a local convent come to give a talk on centering prayer.
Two days before our meeting, Sister Charlotte became ill, and we were
left scrambling for a topic of discussion and way to launch the
discussion.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We handed out 3x5 cards and told each person to complete the
sentence: I am a Secular Franciscan because I am looking for. . . .
Each person wrote one phrase on a card; the cards were passed in,
shuffled and read. We were deeply moved to hear all of the reasons to
become a Secular Franciscan. As we discussed the ideas, it became clear
that these were the reasons that it's necessary to pray, and we were
prepared for the following month, when Sister Charlotte was able to
come and talk to us.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Our webmaster posted the ideas on our Fraternity website. They can be found at <a href="http://sfoonline.net/who_we_are.php" target="_blank">http://sfoonline.net/who_we_<wbr></wbr>are.php</a>.
Then I made them into two standup posters with photos of our various
activities; we used the posters at our annual parish Ministry Fair.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Our Webmaster created a movie, which he posted on our Web site. I
thought that was terrific, so I sent a link to our Regional Minister,
Mary Thuman. She liked it a lot, and asked if we could make one for
each fraternity in our region. I didn't know how to modify the movie,
so I created a PowerPoint presentation, and changed the information to
be specific to each Fraternity (30 in all!). Then I used ISpring to
make a movie of each presentation.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
We showed the PowerPoint at our annual meeting in November, and
gave each fraternity a CD of their material. Tom Bello was there and
liked the idea a lot, and asked if we could present it nationally.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
At that point, I had to make a confession. Our Webmaster had
downloaded the music that's in the background. I did a little digging
and discovered that it's in the process of copyright, and I surely
didn't want to have a national movie with bootlegged music. I don't
think that would say anything good about the integrity of Secular
Franciscans.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
I tracked down the composer and told him what we're doing, and he
kindly gave permission to use the music as long as nothing was being
sold and if we would use the attribution language he sent. I added a
final page to the presentation, giving credit to everyone who had a
part in putting it together.</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
Editor's note: Mary Lou has adapted the presentation for the National Fraternity. It is available at <a href="http://www.nafra-sfo.org/VideoResources/PresentationNational.swf">http://www.nafra-sfo.org/VideoResources/PresentationNational.swf</a><br /></div>
<br />Vickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591017349277964184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484496548384752022.post-24259287433409817052009-12-02T20:53:00.001-05:002009-12-03T19:47:54.587-05:00Who We Are - Introductory video about the SFOI'll be posting a nice introductory video about the SFO from St. Margaret of Cortona Regional Fraternity. We hope to have Mary Lou Coffman, SFO, one of the producers of this video, share how this came to be made and how other regional and local fraternities might do something similar. Stay tuned...Vickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591017349277964184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484496548384752022.post-29917843070919351922009-11-24T11:46:00.002-05:002009-11-24T12:42:31.336-05:00The Franciscan Connection: An observer's perspective on Don Ryder, SFO and his workThe following was written by Bob Stronach, SFO, about Don Ryder and his work (including how he used the $2000 prize for the Peace Award). Bob and his wife Mary are responsible for Public Relations for the National Fraternity. Bob's blog is <span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.westsidekitchen.org/blog/index.html" target="_blank">http://www.westsidekitchen.<wbr></wbr>org/blog/index.html</a></span><br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
The Franciscan Connection<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
While in New Mexico recently, I met a man who prays and then acts. He seems
to have a deep prayer life, somewhat contemplative, which opens him up
to hearing the promptings of God.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
His name is Don Ryder. He's a Secular Franciscan. And he was in Albuquerque
to accept the National Franciscan Peace Award from the Secular
Franciscan Order.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
He has worked in soup kitchens and shelters. He has traveled with church
groups to Jamaica to build churches, clinics, and homes for the poor.
While in Jamaica, he met a missionary priest from Kenya who suggested a
visit to his African homeland.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
That led to a trip to Kenya to help build a church and repair homes. While
there, he got to visit a Maasai tribal village in the semi-arid Great
Rift Valley. Six months after returning home to Wausau, Wisconsin, Don
got an email from the Vatican describing a worsening drought in Kenya.
He emailed a Kenyan contact, who confirmed the Maasai were particularly
hard-hit. Livestock were dying. People were sick and dying. Infant
mortality was high. Maasai women had to travel by foot up to 15 miles
one way to fetch water from dirty waterholes or contaminated streams.
Some were getting raped enroute. <br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
Don prayed. He decided to open the Bible at random. His eyes fell to John's
Gospel, where Jesus, hanging on the cross, cries out, "I thirst."<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
"That impacted me," Don recalled. "It hit me that the Passion continues today with our Maasai sisters and brothers."<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
But he also thought, "Who am I? What can I do?"<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
He tried to put it out of his mind. He couldn't. A few days later he
opened the Bible again, deliberately avoiding the Gospel of John. This
time his fingers fell to a passage in Mathew where Jesus says, "I was
thirsty and you gave me drink."<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
"Bam!" he said.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
He recalled thinking, "I'll see what I can do, but it's in your hands, Lord." <br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
He did some research and decided to raise money to drill a well. It would cost over $60,000.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
He spoke to his parish priest about it and the parish got involved. He
brought it up to Secular Franciscans and his fraternity jumped on
board. Romey Wagner, the man who would become his co-leader, stepped
forward. <br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
Soon donations started coming. Coins from school children. $2,000 from a
young couple. Word spread. Dollars arrived from all over the country.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
They completed one well, drilling down 400 feet. It has a tank and pump
house powered by a diesel engine. It's now providing clean water for
between 4,000 and 5,000 Maasai and 100,000 head of cattle. Just last
month they completed a second well, further north. This one is powered
by a windmill. They ran pipe to a school with 400 students and are
running pipe to a dispensary. Now that it will have running water, Don
hopes it will be upgraded to a hospital.<br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
Since the scarcity of water can lead to harm, even war, the Kenyan water
project caught the imagination of the Peace Award Committee. <br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
The award came with a $2,000 stipend. It didn't take long for Don to give
it away, wiring it to a priest in Kenya who helped with the water
project and who, with funds from the Vatican, built a church in the
vicinity of the second well. But he ran out of money and couldn't
furnish it. Then Don learned the priest and the people decided to
dedicate the church to St. Francis of Assisi. <br />
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
So now there is a St. Francis Church in Kenya's Great Rift Valley that's
going to have pews and other furnishings, thanks to Don's Franciscan
Peace Award.<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
<br /><br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
-- Bob Stronach, SFO<br />
</div>
<div style="margin: 0pt;">
<br />
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />Vickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591017349277964184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6484496548384752022.post-48111208708920713812009-10-29T20:57:00.001-04:002009-10-31T19:05:17.900-04:00Don Ryder’s comments upon receiving the 2009 National Peace Award<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri,sans-serif;">This is what Don Ryder, SFO, had to say when he was presented with the 2009 National Peace Award by the National Fraternity (NAFRA) of the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States. </span></span><br />
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="justify" lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom: 0in; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
Thank you! Let me tell you that I am most humbled by this honor and I accept this recognition and award on behalf of those people I’ve tried to serve, the...
<br />
<ul>
<li>Working people in our communities.</li>
<li>Men in our prison system.</li>
<li>Hispanics in California.</li>
<li>Maasai tribe in Kenya, East Africa.</li>
</ul>
I also accept this on behalf of the many people I’ve worked with in this service and the many who have supported it financially and in other ways.<br />
<br />
Not speaking at a national gathering like this before, I asked a few of my Franciscan sisters and brothers for some tips. I’ll do my best to follow the advice I received. I will...
<br />
<ol>
<li>Make some introductions.</li>
<li>Lay a foundation for an explanation of the work I’ve been involved in.</li>
<li>Tell about my work locally, nationally and internationally.</li>
</ol>
I prefer not talking about myself; in fact I’m rather uncomfortable doing it. I like the words attributed to St. Francis, "Preach the Gospel, only use words if you must."<br />
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We were reminded at prayer today that we are "children of God." Our God is a Triune God: God the Father loves the Son; God the Son loves the Father; this love between them is the Holy Spirit. So here we have the Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier who lives in us. God first loves us, which enables us to love our sisters and brothers.<br />
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We are Eucharistic people; we are <b>blessed</b>, we are <b>broken</b>, and we are<b> given</b> – one to another. We are all good!<br />
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As Franciscans, we are people of the TAU. That means we are people of…<br />
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Transformation<br />
Action<br />
Unity<br />
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We are the Mystical Body of Christ. We are all One. We are all connected. When one of us suffers, we all suffer. Together we can celebrate the ordinariness of our lives. We are living in our God and our God is living in us. So how do we experience this God in the ordinariness of our lives? Does God not speak to us through nature, through art, through other people, through silence? What does this look like in the busyness of our everyday lives? Let me bring it down to the basics for us with examples from my life, my journey. In this, you’ll see yourselves because we’re all one. It may appear that I’m bouncing all over the place, but pay attention and connect the dots because it will all come full circle.<br />
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Yes, God does speak to us, and for me, God seems to speak to me especially through my wife, Yvonne. Just last week, she pointed out to me the little "anger streak" that seems to still run through me. By the way, this was also confirmed to me just two days ago by our daughter who told me that I can still "red line" pretty quickly. You know, they are both right. I have to admit the plank in my own eye. I will continue working on improving. But the point is (and it’s good news) that God still uses us as instruments in spite of our failings.<br />
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About some of the work I’ve been involved in...<br />
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As I tell you about the international work, you’ll see how the Mystical Body works. The seeds of "service to others" were sown within me as a child by the example of my mom and dad and further cultivated by the Benedictine nuns at St. Patrick’s Grade School and Regis High School. It was back then that the first thoughts of mission work in Africa came to me. But it wasn’t until about 10 years into our marriage that Yvonne and I decided to go to work in Nigeria, West Africa, with our 3 children. This turned out to be just another "brilliant" decision on my part. [That’s a little touch of Don’s dry sense of humor.] Actually it was a harrowing experience. We ended up in the middle of a coup, where the military was attempting a takeover of the government. We were held at gun point, all 5 of us. But with the help of some agents at the airport in Lagos, which was surrounded by the military, we were able to board a plane and get out of Africa.<br />
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It was disappointing to not be able to fulfill our work there, but we were grateful to get out with our skin still on. Although back in the states, we still had to deal with the trauma of the experience. In time we settled into making a living and raising our family, never anticipating a return to Africa.<br />
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Then almost 30 years later we had an opportunity to do some humanitarian work with Tom and Mary Pat Roovers who coordinate activities of "Helping Hands" through St. Mathew’s Parish in Wausau, Wisconsin. This included construction projects, home visits and a teacher in-service in Jamaica. It was in Jamaica that Romey Wagner and I first met. (Romey and Don are co-leaders of the Kenya Water Projects.)<br />
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<b>Maasai tribe in Kenya, East Africa</b>: Through the extraordinary work of Tom and Mary Pat, we did return to Africa, this time to do humanitarian work in Kenya, East Africa. Initially we worked among the Kikuyu tribe but we also had an opportunity to learn about the Maasai tribe and visit one of their villages. The Maasai live in the semi-arid, Great Rift Valley. Here they rely primarily upon their livestock for food and infrequent rain falls for water.<br />
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Six months after returning from this trip to Kenya, we learned about the serious drought that was impacting the Maasai people. The women and young girls would, in some cases, travel up to 15 miles one-way to carry back water from stagnate water holes that were used by wild animals as well as their own livestock.
The men and young boys would leave for extended time periods, consequently disrupting family life, in search of water for their livestock. Lack of good, clean water was resulting in transmission of waterborne diseases and death to infants, the elderly and the sick. Learning about this situation required a response. Romey Wagner stepped forward and he and I became co-leaders of the effort that has become known as the <b>Kenya Water Projects</b>.<br />
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Through the efforts and support of many, many people, our Maasai sisters and brothers, to date are now drawing good, clean, safe, life-giving water from two wells. And this is making all the difference in the world --- for them it means life! Because of you and others, the infant mortality rate in this area is improving; basic hygiene is improving; general health among the Maasai is improving; their education is improving because children can stay in school rather than searching for water with their parents; their diets will become more balanced as they apply drip-irrigation techniques for growing fruits and vegetables; and we are encouraging them to plant trees, which they can now water, in an effort to re-claim some of the semi-arid land of the Rift Valley and live in balance with the environment.<br />
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As my co-leader, Romey Wagner, puts it, "We will always be drilling a well." So any others interested in helping to bring life-giving water to the Maasai can make a contribution online through the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, at <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.cfoncw.org">www.cfoncw.org</a>.<br />
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<b>Hispanics in California:</b> Work among our Hispanic sisters and brothers in California was with the Good News Center, operated by Sr. Kenneth. This involved a soup kitchen serving a noon meal 5 days a week and on special holidays, and a thrift shop providing second-hand clothes to those in most need. Medical and dental services were provided by volunteer doctors. A very exciting aspect of this center was the new family housing on site, where an entire family could come and live for a specified time. This not only provided a safe haven but also training in basic skills, including the English language, enabling them to then transition into main stream society.<br />
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<b>Men in our prison system</b>: This consisted of conducting workshops for selected prisoners, using the book "The Inside Story." After reading the book, prisoners discussed specific questions in small groups, sharing their perspectives with each other. Then the group as a whole came together to learn from the group intelligence and harvest their collective wisdom --- realizing there is goodness in all people no matter what has happened in the past. I encouraged them to make a plan for how they wanted to spend the rest of their life --- even if they were locked up, they could still be free --- it is their choice.<br />
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And now for the transition, the transformation...<br />
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We all know the story of St. Francis being instructed to "Rebuild my church, as you can see it is falling apart." At first, Francis took this literally and began collecting stones and materials and physically began to rebuild the little church of San Damiano in 1205. As Francis was transformed, he came to "see" with the eyes of a mystic and realized it was the Kingdom he was helping to build. And is this not the same with us? Do we not often start out with projects from a literal perspective and are we not eventually transformed through them and begin to see with the eyes of a mystic? Does this not lead to Unity?<br />
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So let’s begin to connect the dots... <br />
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What starts out with silent prayer --- being and listening --- opens us to our "yes" response, which leads us to action. Through our action, our everyday activities, we are transformed, and through this transformation we realize our unity. It all happens not only to us but through us. We are all One. We are already there --- here --- now! And it’s always been this way.<br />
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<b>Working people in our communities</b><br />
As circumstances unfolded and I found myself facing a different but similar situation, I realized that, not unlike the Maasai, others are thirsting too --- thirsting for peace. In an effort to help improve the work environment I began discussions with various work groups. This led to me helping them in their efforts to identify those core values that they all wanted to live by within the work environment. This included all employees; front line workers, management, and the board/council. These people not only identified core values but they asked themselves what these values look like in the work place. Consequently, they listed the corresponding behaviors for their values. (To see a list of these core values and related behaviors, visit <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.ci.wausau.wi.us">www.ci.wausau.wi.us</a>. Under "Visit" click on "Mission & Core Values".) What this highlights is the goodness that lies within all people. As all parties are given an opportunity to express themselves, and as they all listen to each other, they discover the things we all have in common. By focusing on the things we have in common rather than on what divides us, we begin to experience more peace. And in a spirit of peace we are able to better discover together solutions to our joint challenges. One work group has chosen as their focus the caption, "FOR THE GOOD OF ALL."<br />
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Connect the dots...<br />
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So whoever we are and wherever we are, we can make a difference. As Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world." Let us celebrate......Peace <br />
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Don with woman at the well.<br /></div>
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Elders enjoying a drink of water with their cattle<br /></div>
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Romey and Don planting tree with the Maasai (the Chief is in blue)<br /></div>
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<br />Vickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16591017349277964184noreply@blogger.com0