March 6, 2005
This weekend is a time of great joy for the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal.
On Saturday, March 5th ten young men will be invested in the habit of our community
in a beautiful ceremony late in the afternoon. On Monday, March 7th seven brothers
will make their first vows and prepare to live the full life of friars, having
finished the novitiate. When one considers that when we started eighteen years
ago there were only eight friars, the thought of admitting now seventeen to
one or the other stage of development is very encouraging. Those who attend
the ceremony particularly of the first vows are usually most impressed. We,
of course, are always hoping that we will have more and more friars to bring
into the order because of our expanding apostolates. When we started long ago
we only had the Padre Pio Shelter. Our work now is spread in three continents
and we’re expecting to expand in England very shortly as well as in the
United States.
It is a time to be grateful to God and to thank Him for blessing our little
community. Fr. Andrew and I always at Investiture and Profession, when we exchange
the sign of peace whisper, “it’s a work of God”. We know very
well as the two senior citizens that this is not something that we could have
done ourselves. We could not have just done it with divine assistance. It’s
not a matter of God assisting us it’s been a matter of us assisting Him
because He has led the way.
You’ll excuse me for feeling the presence of the Lord at these two ceremonies.
The presence of God the Father filling all of reality and calling each of His
children to Himself. The presence of His Divine Son who worked in this world
and who began the very evangelization that we wish to be part of through the
sacraments of the church and the call of St. Francis. We can feel the presence
of the Holy Spirit who inspires the scriptures and each one of us to follow
the Gospel.
I know that you will join with us in praying for our young brothers and sisters
that our community may continue to grow. It needs to grow in numbers, but most
of all it needs to grow in the spirit of Christ and in the following of St.
Francis. Thank you for your prayers and keep praying.
Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel, CFR
________________________________________________________________________________
www.franciscanfriars.com |
comments:
father benedict @
franciscanfriars.com |
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