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Friars' Writing Contest Winners Announced
Graymoor Spring Youth Service Event
Join the Friars For Lent & Holy Week Services
Toronto Week of Prayer for Christian Unity Focuses on Refugee Crisis
Symposium on Violence In The Name of Religion
The Need for Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue
Global Interreligious Issues
Share in our Ministry of Prayer
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Reach Out and Give of Yourself
Greetings from Fr. Bob ...
Upon awakening on the morning of Dec. 21, 1904, the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, Servant of God Father Paul of Graymoor heard in his mind the words that Christ said after feeding 5,000 people in the desert. "Gather up the fragments that nothing be lost." Christ fed them with five loaves and two fishes.
This led Fr. Paul to begin the Union That Nothing Be Lost (UNBL), a unique ministry of the Friars whose benefactors spend "the minimum on self, the maximum give to God and neighbor." By the time of his death in 1940, through the UNBL, this Apostle of Charity had been able to send $3,000,000 to support God's work in missions across America and throughout the world.
Each year, during Lent, the Friars pay special tribute to Fr. Paul's Union That Nothing Be Lost with UNBL Sunday and Self-Denial Week. For the past 80 years, loyal supporters of UNBL have continued to help fulfill Fr. Paul's commitment to God's work. Through their charitable support, the Friars' UNBL projects have included helping the homeless through food pantries, soup kitchens and housing projects; caring for the ill and addicted; working for ecumenical and interreligious understanding; caring for and educating orphaned and at-risk children; and providing special assistance to the elderly and disabled.
"I wish I could send more." I cannot tell you how many times I read that phrase in letters from our benefactors. So many people make real sacrifices in order to help support the ministries of the Friars. When I read these letters, I often think of the story of the widow's mite. The poor widow visits the temple where Jesus is sitting and puts all she has—two copper coins—into the temple treasury. And Jesus says, "I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all the rest." Why? Because they were tossing into the treasury out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty.
This woman had trust in God—a woman of faith. I am sure that the angels stood in awe of her sacrifice and trust in God. I would like to think that she was the first member of the Union That Nothing Be Lost. She truly practiced the UNBL principle of minimum for self and maximum for God.
We give the greater gift God desires when we give our security, a part of ourselves, as the poor widow did. However, our gift need not only be money. It can also be time, talent, and opportunity. It can be a smile, a touch, a gesture of friendship to someone in need.
Don't be afraid to reach out and give of yourself.
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Yours in Christ,
Fr. Bob Warren, SA
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FRIARS' WRITING CONTEST WINNERS ANNOUNCED
 Fr. Damian MacPherson, SA, Director of Ecumenical and Interfaith Affairs for the Archdiocese of Toronto, Fr. Dan Callahan, SA, Pastor of St. Joan of Arc parish in Toronto, Ont., and V. Rev. Brian F. Terry, SA, Minister General, present awards to winners of the Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity student writing contest co-sponsored by the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement and The Catholic Register. Students wrote essays on the chosen theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, "Called to Proclaim the Mighty Acts of the Lord" Winners selected were: First Place – Sharanya Tiwari, St. Augustine Secondary School, IPad 32GB; Second Place – Raquel Seara, Loretto College, Kobo Aura Tablet; Third Place – Vincent Pham, Chaminade College School.
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GRAYMOOR SPRING YOUTH SERVICE EVENT
 Get your hands dirty and help the Friars! On Saturday, May 7th, the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement invite 9-12th graders to a SPRING SERVICE EVENT of Tree Planting and Cleaning Sacred Shrines from 10am—6pm. Besides service, the day will also include 1)a pilgrimage experience to the sacred sites of Graymoor's "Holy Mountain," 2) learning about the Pope's call to care for our planet, 3) lunch and dinner, and 4) 4pm Mass with Fr. Brian Terry. (Mass will fulfill the Sunday obligation. Parents are invited to Mass and a BBQ afterward!)
For more information and to sign-up, contact Paul Krenzelok, Director of Discernment Ministry for Youth and Young Adults at: 845-424-2122 or pkrenzelok@atonementfriars.org. |
JOIN THE FRIARS FOR LENT & HOLY WEEK SERVICES
Graymoor Holy Week & Easter Events
Come to the Holy Mountain of Graymoor to pray, reflect and rejoice in the Resurrection during Holy Week.
Fr. Wilfred Tyrrell, SA, has been invited to preach a week-long Lenten Mission in Spanish to the parish of Corpus Christi/Holy Rosary and Our Lady of Mercy in Port Chester, NY staring March 14-18 at 7:15PM each night. For more information call (914)
He will also be leading a bilingual Walking Stations of the Cross the parish of Holy Cross/St. John the Baptist on 42nd St between 8th Avenue and 9th Avenue, on Good Friday in Manhattan, NY.
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TORONTO WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY FOCUSES ON REFUGEE CRISIS
 Father Damian MacPherson, SA, reported that the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity event in Toronto gathered hundreds of Christians together at a service for the plight of refugees. The clerics leading the prayers for more than 400 Christians on a cold Sunday, Jan. 25, included nine archbishops, bishops and moderators of nationwide churches and 21 ordinary pastors who covered a range of Christian communities from the Assyrian Church of the East, through several communities of Orthodox, Catholics, Anglicans and churches of the Reformation.
Cardinal Collins was the homilist for this special Week of Prayer for Christian Unity event "Called to proclaim the mighty acts of God (1 Peter 2:9). Fr. Damian MacPherson, SA, directs ecumenical and interfaith affairs for the Archdiocese.
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SYMPOSIUM ON VIOLENCE IN THE NAME OF RELIGION
 Fr. Damian MacPherson, SA, participated in an interfaith panel in Toronto. In a world where we see numerous acts of violence done in the name of religion – or in the name of God – religious faiths speak out against such violence. LOGOS Christian Community, Hillel at York and the Islamic Arts of York and Intercultural Dialogue Institute York University, hosted this interfaith panel on this timely topic. Father MacPherson and clergy from Judaism, Christianity and Islam talked about their own faith traditions on why such religious violence is not condoned. |
THE NEED FOR ECUMENICAL AND INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
 Rev. Jim Gardiner, SA, of the Franciscan Monastery, Washington, D.C. will be addressing students at Trinity Washington University on Wednesday, March 30, 10:30 am in the Social Hall on "The Need for Ecumenical and Interfaith Dialogue.
"This is an attempt to respond to a felt need among concerned students: why aren't we talking with one another across faith lines?" said Fr. Gardiner. In his talk, he will offer an overview of Roman Catholic theology from the past fifty years to help answer that question and to hopefully whet appetites for further investigation.
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GLOBAL INTERRELIGIOUS ISSUES
 On Thursday, March 3, Rev. Elias Mallon, SA, Director of External Affairs for the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), will provide the keynote address at University of St. Michael's College, in Toronto. "The Quality of Mercy is not Strain'd" will be the focus of his talk and an interfaith panel discussion that follows. The event begins at 3:15pm and will be held in Robert Madden Hall Carr Hall. The keynote address will take place from 5:30-7:30pm. For more information call 416-926-1300.
Father Mallon authored an important article in the February 29 issue of America Magazine, the leading Catholic journal of opinion in the United States and the only Catholic weekly magazine in North America. In the article, "A Global Peril: The state of religious freedom today," he highlights the suffering of religious minorities around the world, and encourages our society "… to work courageously within and between our traditions to build a world in which freedom of religion is not merely an idea but a reality."
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SHARE IN OUR MINISTRY OF PRAYER
Perpetual Novena >>
The Perpetual Novena to St. Anthony continues daily.
Learn more about the Perpetual Novena to St. Anthony.
 Upcoming Special Novena:
We invite you to share your special needs and intentions with us as we invoke the miraculous power of St. Anthony's intercession in Thirteen Tuesdays of Special Masses beginning Tuesday, March 15th.
Thirteen Tuesdays of Special Masses to St. Anthony >>
The Graymoor Spiritual Union >>
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 will do next. At these times, the special remembrances of prayers and condolences from friends and loved ones are truly heaven-sent gifts.
When you are in need of a special expression of caring for a friend or loved one in honor of their dearly departed, send a Perpetual Remembrance Enrollment Card in the Graymoor Spiritual Union. Your gift will bring comfort and also support the good works of the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement. A large selection of cards are available at:
www.AtonementFriars.org/MassCards.
This Month's Featured Card >>
 Prayers of Comfort Perpetual Mass Enrollment
The "Prayers of Comfort Perpetual Mass Enrollment" Mass is a beautiful enrollment booklet filled with prayers for sorrow and hope.
And most importantly, it offers remembrance in the daily Masses and prayers to the dearly departed and their loved ones.
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Click here to subscribe to this newsletter
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Pre-Register Online
•Tue. Mar. 15 - Fri. Mar. 18
SENIORS IN RECOVERY
•Fri. Mar. 18-Sun. Mar. 20
MATT TALBOT MEN
•One Day – Sunday, Mar. 20 – 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM $35.00 for the day, lunch included.
THE SPIRITUAL DIRECTIONS – LENTEN MINI-RETREAT
•Wed. Mar. 23 -Sun. Mar. 27
HOLY WEEK RETREAT
Flyer
Please join us for a
CORNED BEEF AND
CABBAGE BUFFET
Sunday, March 13th
Friar's Dining Room ~ 5th Floor at 12:30 PM
Donation: $20.00 Adults - $10.00 Children
Under 6 Years Free
Please make your reservations by Wednesday March 9th
Flyer
•Fri. Apr. 1-Sun. Apr. 3
PRAYER AND MEDITATION
ON-GOING MEETINGS AT GRAYMOOR
• Bible Study:
The Book of Isaiah
Wednesdays
9:30-11:00 am
John XXIII Parlor
5th floor
Flyer
• Overeaters Anonymous
Saturdays 8:30-9:30 am
Flyer
PRAYER MEETINGS
• St. John's Prayer Group
St. Pius X Chapel
Thur. 7:30 pm
RECOVERY MEETINGS
• AA, NA, SA, Al-Anon, OA
Contact the
Graymoor Spiritual Life Center:
GSLC@AtonementFriars.org
(845) 424-2111
www.GraymoorCenter.org
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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.
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OUR MINISTRIES:
Graymoor Spiritual
Life Center
The Graymoor Spiritual Life Center, a ministry if the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, is a Retreat and Conference Center, providing programs and rental facilities for the spiritual and educational needs of individuals, families and organizations in the Atonement Franciscan spirit of at-one-ment.
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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, study, research and information in ecumenism: theological, pastoral, social and social.
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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.
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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.
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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. Joan of Arc Parish, Toronto Ontario, Canada
St. Joseph the Worker, Richmond British Columbia, Canada
St. Joseph’s Church, Tsurumi-ku Yokohama, Japan
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