OUR AGENDA FOR LENT: BE GOOD NEWS
Greetings from Fr. Bob ...
February 13th is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. Sometimes, I think, we Christians have given Lent a bad name. The first preface for Lent announces "this joyful season". Still for many of us it is the season of gloom and giving up, of ashes and lashes, when it is gray outside and purple inside and when we feel guilty about not feeling guilty.
I am not about to change the cry the Church borrows from Christ – "repent." But, I would like to accent the positive in Lent. On Ash Wednesday we hear "the Kingdom of God is at hand – repent and believe in the gospel." The question is how can we, the baptized, get people to believe in the gospel?
Our agenda for Lent is to be good news. How do we do this? I am not going to suggest something complicated or obtuse. What I am suggesting is a simple act that we can all try whether we are children or adults. Every day of Lent look to do the noble thing no matter how small. Do the better thing, the nice thing, and the small but kindly thing. Let me give you an example.
I want to tell you about a young man, Jeff, a resident of Christopher's Inn. He was mandated by a judge to go into a drug recovery program. He was uncooperative and incorrigible. Jeff would normally be asked to leave. We cut him some slack because if he left he would go to jail. But he was still a problem client.
It was a very cold winter and a company had given a large consignment of blankets to the Inn, more than we could use. We decided to take some blankets to the city and give them out to the homeless. A friar and five men went in the van to distribute the blankets. By some mistake, Jeff was included. When they arrived at the location a large crowd of homeless gathered around the van.
When all the blankets were given out, the men got back in the van to return to the Inn. Jeff was in the front seat next to the friar and it had started to snow. When the friar looked down, Jeff had no shoes on. The friar asked, "Jeff, where are your shoes?" Jeff answered, "I gave a man a blanket but he had no shoes so I gave him mine." It was a gospel moment. From that time on, Jeff's whole attitude changed. He started to cooperate with the program and today he is a leading member of our alumni association.
During Lent try to be a more noble person. Take some of the energy that goes into burnishing your exterior image and build the interior life. Because of our baptism, we are called to bless and Lent is a time to recall both how we are blessed and how we bless others. One day when Jesus asks, "Who did you reach out to, who did you help?" It would be wonderful to be able to list a whole bunch of people.
Jesus, of course, will use other words even though they mean the same thing. He will say, "When I was hungry, you fed me. When I was thirsty, you gave me to drink. When I was sick, you visited me." The question I leave you with is — This lent if anyone is looking for Christ, will they find him in you or will they have to turn away and look for another?
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Bob Warren, SA
The 2013 Week of Prayer celebrated by the Friars at Graymoor and elsewhere, was again a joy-filled time.
Services were held at Graymoor and surrounding Churches. Several of our Friars also participated in Services held in other locations throughout the Northeast.
For the Graymoor-related events there were guest speakers invited from several Christian Denominations – Presbyterian, Baptist, Roman Catholic, and the Bruderhof Community. Each spoke on this year's Theme: "What Does God Require Of Us?"
Lent is the season of penance and prayer before Easter.
This year, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 13th, and ends on the Saturday before Easter, Holy Saturday, March 30th.
Fr. Jim Puglisi, SA, Minister General and Fr. Bob Warren, SA, share about the meaning of Lent and the celebration of the Lenten Season.
The Confirmation of a child is a special day for family and friends. As part of Confirmation the youth will take the name of a Saint. The Friars would like to offer you the opportunity to obtain a truly unique gift: A CD containing an Ave Maria Hour Episode that depicts the story of the life of a Saint which corresponds to the Confirmation name. There are 13 Saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary are available. Each CD is offered for a suggested donation of $10 plus $2 shipping/handling.
Franciscan Friars of the Atonement commit their lives to fulfilling founder Fr. Paul Watton's vision of At-One-Ment for all of God's people.
Fr. Damian MacPherson, SA shares his personal experiences in being part of this rich Franciscan charism as a Friar of the Atonement.
This is the third in a series of videos in which the Friars share the practical and fulfilling rewards which life in a religious community offer in today's world.
We are sure you are aware, so pardon us for reminding you, that the Friars hold several special events including: Benefactor Appreciation Days - held around the country and several times each year here at Graymoor, as well as other special fund raising events. (See the calender on the right hand side of this page for details.)
Upcoming: Florida Benefactor Appreciation Days >>
Benefactor Appreciation Days not only provide an opportunity to meet with the Friars, but also include a Mass, complimentary luncheon and a brief update about the Friars' Ministries.
February 19 – Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center, N. Palm Beach, FL
February 20 – Embassy Suites, Fort Lauderdale, FL
February 21 – MorningStar Renewal Center, Pinecrest, FL
February 25 – Hilton Naples, Naples, FL
February 27 – Bethany Center, Lutz, Fl
February 28 – St. Michael the Archangel Parish, Sarasota, FL
April 11 - Benefactor Day at Graymoor
For more information, contact Lisa Koesling at (845) 424-2137, LKoesling@AtonementFriars.org
We look forward to sharing these times with you — as it is you ... that make them special for us!
ENROLLMENT CARD OF THE MONTH
Many of you visit our website on a regular basis to enroll loved ones in the Graymoor Spiritual Union or to participate in our Ministry of Prayer through our Novenas.
Each month we feature one of our Enrollment Cards.
In Loving Memory with St. Francis Mass Enrollment >>
When someone dies, the sadness and grief can be unbearable. Those closest to the deceased often feel like they’re not sure how they will go on, or what they’ll do next.
The St. Francis "In Loving Memory" enrollment is a beautiful, oversized enrollment booklet filled with prayers of comfort and hope. And most importantly, it brings the grace of daily Masses and prayers and special Novenas to the dearly departed and their loved ones.
Especially for you in the New Year:
 IS NOW AVAILABLE! |
 CERTIFICATE |
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St. Francis Chapel, Graymoor
Discernment Weekend
March 15-17 at Graymoor
|
• Fri. Feb 8- Sun. Feb 10 • Fri. Feb 22- Sun. Feb 24 • Fri. Feb 22- Sun. Feb 24 • Fri. Mar 1- Sun. Mar 3 LENTEN EVENTS • Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013,5:30 pm to 7:00 pm ON-GOING MEETINGS AT GRAYMOOR • Bible Study:
• Overeaters Anonymous
PRAYER MEETINGS
RECOVERY MEETINGS |
Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
Headquartered at Graymoor in Garrison, NY, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement is a Roman Catholic religious community with social, pastoral and ecumenical ministries in the United States, Canada, England, Italy, and Japan.
OUR MINISTRIES:
Graymoor Spiritual Life Center
In the Franciscan tradition of hospitality, Graymoor Spiritual Life Center welcomes individuals and groups of all faiths for spiritual retreats, meetings, conferences and pilgrimages.
Located on a mountaintop overlooking the Hudson River Valley, facilities include overnight accommodations, large dining room, a library, three chapels, as well as meeting/seminar facilities.
Centro Pro Unione
Christian Unity and
Ecumenical Research
The Centro Pro Unione, founded and directed by the Society of the Atonement, is an ecumenical research and action center. Its purpose is to give space for dialogue, to be a place for study, research and information in ecumenism: theological, pastoral, social and spiritual.
Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute
Graymoor Ecumenical & Interreligious Institute promotes Christian unity and interreligious dialogue in North America through its monthly (except August) journal, Ecumenical Trends, Lecture Series, and Week of Prayer for Christian Unity resources.
St. Christopher's Inn
Residential Shelter & Substance Abuse Treatment Center
St. Christopher's Inn is a temporary shelter dedicated to the rehabilitation of men in crisis. Today the Inn shelters over 1,200 men per year, most of whom suffer from alcohol and/or drug addiction.
Our mission is to offer a continuum of quality health care services that facilitate physical, emotional, and spiritual healing by providing chemical dependency treatment, primary health care, and temporary housing.
Parish Ministries /
Atonement Centers
The Friars of the Atonement serve in parish ministries throughout the world. To visit parish websites, click on the link below:
St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, Apex, NC
Christ the Redeemer Roman Catholic Church, Sterling, VA
Chapel of Our Savior, Brockton, Massachusetts
St. Odilia Catholic Church, Los Angeles CA
St. Joan of Arc Parish, Toronto Ontario, Canada
St. Joseph the Worker, Richmond British Columbia, Canada
St. Joseph’s Church, Tsurumi-ku Yokohama, Japan
2013 Special
Events Calendar
Benefactor Appreciation Day at Graymoor
Thursday, April 11
Sunset on The Hudson
Thursday, May 9
Heritage Day at Graymoor
Thursday, June 13
Sponsor Appreciateion Day at Graymoor
Thursday, September 5
Sharing Hope Celebration Dinner
Friday, October 11
Thanksgiving Benefactor Appreciation Day at Graymoor
Friday, November 1
Atonement Friars eNews is the monthly e-newsletter of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement
P.O. Box 300, Garrison, New York, 10524, Tel. (845) 424-3671, Fax 845-424-2168
Contact the Friars at: Info@AtonementFriars.org