Minister's Note for July

The Gift of Encounter

We have been gifted the legacy of the missionaries and those who have shared the Faith before us. I myself am a cradle Catholic, receiving the gift of the Faith from my parents, who through my Dad received it across generations, presumably to that intrepid Englishman, St. Patrick (yea, he was English and brought the Faith to Ireland).

In our Cord this month you will find articles where our Faith has been beautifully shared by missionaries, martyrs, and everyday Catholics. In our region of the country, we owe a particular debt of gratitude to the Franciscan Friars who brought the faith to California. The friars continue to share the Faith in all sorts of ways, one of which being the summer Twilight Retreats at Mission San Luis Rey.

The Twilight Retreats offer the opportunity for Mass in St. Clare’s Chapel, dinner at the Retreat Center dining room, and a spiritual talk. On June 30th , Corrine Helena, Pam Pert, and I attended a talk on ‘The Spirituality
of Encounter’ as connected to Pope Francis’ letter, Fratelli Tutti. Br. Keith talked about ‘Encounter’ as described by Pope Francis in his many writings as encompassing:
 
• Welcoming – Drawing close
• Discerning – Sensing need
• Accompanying – Responding Concretely
• Integrating – Conversion and participation
 
I hope and pray that each time we gather as a Fraternity (evening vespers, monthly gatherings, Outreach visits, or just meeting one another for coffee), that we are open to an ‘Encounter’ in this deeper, more meaningful sense. That we come to each other with open hearts, open minds, and
open to responding, and open to change.

Laura Chun, OFS
Minister, San Luis Rey Fraternity