Still Time to Register for Upcoming S.A.L.T. Conference

Our Lady of Indiana Regional Fraternity

SPIRIT AND LIFE TEAM CONFERENCE

(S.A.L.T.)

Location:  University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, IN

Date:  Friday, July 15, 2011 to Sunday, July 17, 2011

Arrival/Registration: Friday, July 15 @ 7:00 p.m.

Departure: Sunday, July 17 – around noon

***DUE TO THE FOCUS OF THIS FORMATION EXPERIENCE MEMBERS SHOULD ATTEND ALL SESSIONS***

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Fraternity: _______________________________________________________

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Please include payment with registration form

Full conference – no overnight:                              $30.00 ____________

(Includes Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday morning conferences and 4 meals)

With overnight accommodations (two nights):          $60.00 ____________

(Please bring towels - Microwave and refrigerators will be available

 for food prep and storage if desired.)

Shared conference meals provided will be Saturday breakfast,

 lunch, dinner and Sunday breakfast.

Coffee and juice provided Saturday and Sunday morning at conference site.

Any questions contact Frank Vargo 574-304-4362 or bfjvargo2@comcast.net

Return completed registration by JULY 1, 2011 to:   Sharon Roberts

                                                                               4300 W. Friar Drive

                                                                               Muncie, IN 47304

PLEASE MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO “OUR LADY OF INDIANA REGION”


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The Most Popular Writings of St. Francis of Assisi

I was re-reading the Introduction to my all time, hands down, favorite book: Francis and Clare: The Complete Works. According to Father John Vaugh, OFM, a former Minister General of the entire Order of Friars Minor who wrote the Introduction, the most popular writing of St. Francis are:

• Rule of 1223
• Testament
• Canticle of Brother Sun
• True and Perfect Joy

I bet you will find these four documents interesting. They have fascinated historians, scholars, and just regular folks for 800 years.

My list is a little different. I like the others, but here are my favorites:

• First Version of the Letter to the Faithful
• Admonitions
• Office of the Passion
• The Prayer Inspired by the Our Father

I like logic. Three of the early Franciscan intellectuals, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Bonaventure, and Blessed John Duns Scotus were all scholastically trained, so they probably were quite adept at logic. Here is a bit of logical reasoning.  If Bob, who is a Secular Franciscan, really wants to be a good Secular Franciscan then he needs to be very familiar with the Gospels and the writings of the early Franciscans. Bob is not very familiar with the Gospels and the writing of the early Franciscans. Therefore, Bob does not really want to be a good Secular Franciscan. (Uh oh!)

Here is a little more logic. If Bob, who is a Secular Franciscan, is very familiar with the Gospels and the writing of the early Franciscan then he can be a good Secular Franciscan. Bob is very familiar with the Gospels and the writings of the early Franciscans. Therefore, he can be a good Secular Franciscan. (Whew, what a relief!)

The last word: READ!

New Leadership for the People of Peace Fraternity

On June 5, 2011, the People of Peace fraternity elected new leadership that will serve for three years. Here are the results of the election:

• Minister: Gary Ziegler, SFO
• Vice Minister: Mary Stickelmaier, SFO
• Secretary: Helen Burke, SFO
• Treasurer: Jack Hill, SFO
• Formation Director: Bob Golobish, SFO
• Councilor: Clare Bain, SFO
• Councilor: Mary Jane Blankenship, SFO

The election was held in the community room of the Ruth Lilly Student Center at Marian University. Twenty-three members were present. Jan Stezel, SFO and Mary Stickelmaier, SFO served as tellers and Jim Walsh, SFO served as the secretary. Kathleen White, SFO from the Our Lady of Indiana Regional Fraternity was the presider. After their election, the new leadership stood before the fraternity and recited The Apostle's Creed. 

Three cheers for Joe Stetzel, SFO the outgoing minister and the others for their service to the fraternity. 

A Pragmatist's Arguments for the Existence of God

I like logical reasoning, which I must admit is a bit unusual for a Franciscan. I like this argument for free will from William James, an American pragmatist philosopher. It would be true for the universe of discourse of beliefs.

Anything not disproved that is of practical value to one's life to believe ought to be believed.
Free will isn't disproved.
If free will is of practical value to one's life to believe, then it ought to be believed.

I applied the same line of reasoning to the existence of a personal God.

Anything not disproved that is of practical value to one's life to believe ought to be believed.
The existence of a personal God isn't disproved
If the existence of a personal God is of practical value to one's life to believe, then it ought to be believed.

I like this argument from James, as well.

The belief in God gives practical life benefits (courage, peace, zeal, love, compassion, mercy, etc.)
All beliefs that give practical life benefits are pragmatically justifiable.
The belief in God is pragmatically justifiable.

Prescription for a Well-balanced Local SFO Fraternity

St. Rose of Viterbo SFO Fraternity in Terre Haute hosted Friar Martin Bitzer, OFM, Conv., General Spiritual Assistant to the Secular Franciscan Order on Saturday, April 2. He was visiting from Rome, Italy. Friar Martin is in Terre Haute to attend a brief course at Indiana State University. 


Friar Martin urged those attending his presentation to "live and love the SFO rule." He also encouraged everyone to work hard to strengthen the foundation of the SFO, i.e., local fraternities. Like a well-balanced four-legged chair, a fraternity should spend equal amounts of time 1) praying together, e.g., celebrating mass, 2) ongoing education, i.e., learning more about Franciscan spirituality 3) just being together, and 4) either individually or collectively engaged in apostolic activities . (If the former, it is important to share with other fraternity members what they are doing.) He also suggested that a local fraternity should meet four (4) times a month, devoting each gathering to one of the four activities.