from Fr Dave Pivonka, TOR
“This Lent recognize that the Father sees you.”
Formation
Annual Day of Reflection – 2020
“We Hold God’s Earth”
When: Saturday, March 07, 2020
Gathering: 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Location: Franciscan Life Process Center, 11650 Downes St. NE, Lowell, MI 49331
Invited: All are Welcome!
Facilitator: Sr. Damien Marie Savino, FSE, PhD and Dean of Science and Sustainability at Aquinas College
Come explore the richness of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si: On Care for Our Common Home. Through teaching, prayer, and reflection, you will gain a deeper understanding of how
we can praise the Lord through our care of “Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us.”
Non-fraternity members are invited to join us. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. We will begin the day with 8:00 am Mass at St. Thomas the Apostle in Grand Rapids. For those going directly to the Franciscan Life Process Center, registration will open at 9:00 am.
Please complete the Registration Form (direct link here) for each attendee and send it with the $20 Conference Fee per person (checks payable to: Our Mother of Sorrows) to: Sue Southerton OFS, 10670–92nd St SE, Alto, MI 49302
Registration Closes: Friday, February 26th!
Divine Mercy Regional Fraternity’s Annual Day of Formation
“The Fruits of Daily Conversion”
When: Saturday, October 26, 2019
Registration: Begins at 8:30 a.m.
Gathering: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Location: Saginaw Ministry Center (Corner of Weiss & Wieneke Streets)
5802 Weiss Street, Saginaw, MI 48603
Invited: All people who are in formation, Professed Franciscans & Formation Team Members, are asked to join us at the Regional Annual Formation Day!
Focus: The Fruits of Daily Conversion!
Guest Speakers: Br. Robert Wotypka OFM Cap
Executive Director Capuchin Community Services and Joe Makley OFS, Regional Vice Minister St. Elizabeth of Hungary Region / New England
This year at our annual day of formation, we will be looking at ways to put our Franciscan call into action! Please consider joining us for this informative and experiential day away with your Franciscan sisters and brothers! It is often hard to regulate the temperature in our meeting room, so please plan on bringing a sweater in case one is needed. Do plan on attending as we look forward to seeing all of you there!
The option for Saturday Mass after the Gathering for those who would like to attend, is the 4pm evening Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Church located a mile from the center at 5376 State St., in Saginaw. We will have directions available for those opting to attend.
Conference Fee: $25.00 per attendee covers costs of a continental breakfast, lunch and keynote speakers. However, if you would like to contribute more than the required $25, and make a charitable contribution to the Divine Mercy Region, please do so as it is appreciated!
Please complete the Registration Form (on Fraternity Documents page – Direct link here) for each attendee and send it with the minimum $25 Conference Fee per person (checks payable to: Secular Franciscan Order, Divine Mercy Region) to: Michelle Bryk, OFS, 2229 Shetland Dr. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505.
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 19th! Please note there are no refunds after this date, and if applicable an additional $10 late registration
fee will be required. Any questions please call or email Michelle Bryk at 616-361-8489 or michellebofs@gmail.com
Overnight Fee: If you’d like to arrive Friday, October 25, 2019, then please check that option on the Registration Form and include the required additional room fee of $45. Available rooms are limited so please register early ASAP. There will be no evening meal served.
Divine Mercy OFS Regional Fraternity Annual Gathering
Below is a link to the registration form for this years annual regional gathering to be held August 10 ~ 12, 2018.
Day of Reflection Follow Up
Here (see links below) are some of the materials we used at our day of reflection. Amy sent the 12 weeks prayer for you. This is a powerful prayer that is suggested to be prayer from October through Christmas, but you can pick it up at any time and enter into the prayer now and use it until Christmas, or start at the beginning and pray your way through. It is very powerful and she wanted you all to have a copy.
Here is the link to the Jubilee of Mercy website in case you want to read the whole of the Papal Bull on the Jubilee Year of Mercy. It is well worth the read! I have attached the reflection we used at the day of reflection. It is a summary of the 25 points in the Papal Bull. Hopefully it will wet you appetite to read the whole thing!
Peace and All Good,
Michelle
Next Orientation Group Forming
The process of becoming a professed Secular Franciscan is a journey that involves three separate stages (the process of Formation) and culminates in a lifelong commitment to live the gospel following the example of St. Francis of Assisi. Our Mother of Sorrows will be starting a new group for those interested in beginning the first stage of formation – Orientation. This three month process will educate you about the Secular Franciscans and help you explore if you have a call to go further in the formation process. We will meet the 3rd Wednesday of the month at St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Grand Rapids. Please call Michelle Bryk, Formation Minister if you are interested in learning more or joining us in formation – (616) 361-8489.
Our Mother of Sorrows OFS 