Minister's Note for April

Celebrating the Joy of the Resurrection

     Francis of Assisi truly lived for ‘Gospel to life and life to Gospel.’ We are called to do the same! We have lived a shared Lent in the form of the pandemic that seems to have started in Lent 2019 and continued to this very day. We are not out of this yet – but we can feel a hope and a light at the end of this very long tunnel.

     This month the Council wanted to embrace the joy that is Easter, this celebration of new Life, or our shared life in Jesus Christ. The gospels during the season of Easter are simply resplendent. We walk through this time of new belief, new beginnings, new understanding with the early Church. This is our journey too!

     Throughout this month of April, we ask you to take a fresh look at these amazing Gospels and what they mean for us. We will also be taking a deeper look at a married couple traditionally recognized as the very first members of the Order of Penance (later called the Third Order of St. Francis), Blessed Luchesio Modestini and Buonadonna Modestini.

      Their feast day is April 28.  Our Director of Formation, Jan DeSpain OFS, will be leading us in our learning more about this Franciscan couple. We'll also hear stories from Rock and Jan DeSpain about being called to Franciscan vocations both as individuals - and as a married couple.

Pace e Bene +
Laura Chun, OFS
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity