January 2007          

May the Lord give you His peace!

On April 28, 2007, our community will celebrate our twentieth anniversary. In the history of the Church, twenty years is a very short period of time. We are only getting started! Last year I focused on various aspects of vocational discernment in a generic way, that is to say, advice for discernment of any vocation. This year I will focus on various aspects of the CFR way of life in particular.

 
For the young man who is seriously considering a religious vocation, there are many options: Diocesan Priesthood or a religious order. The Holy Spirit has inspired so many different charisms in the Church. The mere thought of all the different orders could make your head spin! It would take years to visit all of the many communities in the USA. To complicate matters, there are many different franciscan communities: OFM, OFM Conventual, OFM Capuchin, TOR, CFR, FI, FPO, FBP, MFVA, OSF, and SA in the USA alone!! What to do?
 
With the help of a good spiritual director you can visit the orders which best match what you are looking for. Therefore, this year I will focus on various aspects of the CFR charism and way of life.
 
N.B. The official "two-week visit" for those men hoping to join us as Postulants in September 2007, will be July 16-30, 2007 (We are flexible if you can not make those dates). Please let us know soon.
 
N.B. Men in Europe: We will host a vocation discernment weekend at St. Fidelis Friary (Canningtown, East London, England) on February 16-18, 2007. Please contact Br. John Paul if you are interested:
tel. 207 474-0766
 

I will be away on the following dates during January:
  • 26-Jan 2 Home visit with my family in Indiana
  • 2-4 Various CFR meetings (pray for me!)
  • 11-14 Youth 2000 Retreat in Crookston, Minnesota
  • 20-22 March for Life in Washington D.C. There is a right turn at the end of the March, we always congregate somewhere on that corner. Mass on Sunday, Jan. 21, 12 noon with Fr. Groeschel; also 8 p.m. at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (info). Many friars will be at a Youth Rally and Mass on the morning of the March. This Mass is on Monday, Jan. 22, 10 a.m. at the MCI Center - come early (info).

Check it out...

CAPUCHIN SAINTS IN JANUARY (ETC.):
3rs
6th
12th
16th
- St.Berard & Companions First Franciscan Martyrs (1220)
29th

+ Winter 2006 Grayfriar News here.


We are praying for you and your discernment everyday, especially on Wednesdays. Let us set our hands to the plow in the Lord's vineyard and not look back! "The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor"
(1 Cor 3:8).
 
God bless you,

Fr. Luke Mary Fletcher, CFR 
Saint Joseph Friary
523 W. 142nd Street
New York, NY 10031
(212)281-4355
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