Word Document "The Cord" for March 2016, Secular Franciscan Order

1. THE CORD
San Luis Rey Fraternity of the
Secular Franciscan Order
Mission San Luis Rey, Oceanside, CA.
Gathering March 6, 2016
Mass in the Serra Center at 10:00 AM
Community Prayer in the St. Clare Chapel after Mass
Lunch in the O'Keefe Lounge from 12:00-12:50 PM
General Meeting in the Guadalupe Room from 1:00-3:00 PM
Council Meeting will follow at 3:00 PM
Future Meetings:
April 3, 2016, May. 1, 2016 June 5, 2016
We all know Padre Pio, but who is St. Leopold Mandić?
by Patty Knap 02/09/2016
Pope Francis venerates the remains of Padre Pio and St. Leopold Mandić in St. Peter's
Basilica on February 6, 2016. (Credit: © L'Osservatore Romano)

2. The bodies of two saints now lie on view in the Vatican at the request of Pope Francis
for the Jubilee of Mercy. One is Padre Pio (St. Pio of Pietrelcina) who is the world-
renowned stigmatic priest from Italy. The other is St. Leopold Mandić. Pope Francis
asked the Capuchins to bring the relics of St. Padre Pio and St. Leopold to Rome for
Ash Wednesday and for the commissioning of the “missionaries of mercy.”
Most of us are familiar with Padre Pio, but who was St. Leopold?
St. Leopold was also a Capuchin priest like Padre Pio. Born the youngest of 12 children
in 1866 in the Montenegro area of Croatia, he was called Bogdan as a child.
Throughout his life he suffered from severe abdominal pain as well as a severe
stutter. Along with these ailments, chronic arthritis deformed his posture and hands. His
bent spine gave him a height of just 4'5". He had poor eyesight and was usually in pain.
Despite his lifelong physical problems, his was a life of faith and sacrifice.
At 16, Bogdan began his studies at the Capuchin Seraphic School in Italy. He took the
religious name, Brother Leopold, and made his Profession of Vows at 17. Brother
Leopold was ordained a priest in Venice in 1890. He wanted to become a missionary in
Eastern Europe, which was under siege by religious conflict, but his request was turned
down because of his poor health. He was instead stationed at several friaries around
Venice. He began to teach about the early Church Fathers at a school in Padua, where
he became well known for his devotion to his students and his hours spent in prayer
each night.
Besides one year in an Italian prison during World War I for refusing to renounce his
Croatian nationality, Brother Leopold would spend most of the next three decades
devoted to spreading the faith in Padua. From his small cell, he would spend up to 15
hours a day hearing confessions and giving spiritual direction. He was known for his
constant prayer, fasting, and sacrificing. His dream was to reunite the Catholic and
Orthodox churches by going to the Orient, but that never happened. He became known
as the Apostle of Confession and Apostle of Unity. He wrote a famous prayer for
ecumenism, and was known to prophesy and to levitate.
When his superiors would say he was too lenient with the people who came to him for
confession, he would respond, “If the Lord wants to accuse me of showing too much
leniency toward sinners, I'll tell him that it was he who gave me this example, and I

3. haven't even died for the salvation of souls as he did.” Leopold would often remark, “Be
at peace; place everything on my shoulders. I will take care of it.” He once explained, “I
give my penitents only small penances because I do the rest myself.” At nighttime, he
would spend hours in prayer, explaining: “I must do penance for my penitents.”
Brother Leopold was known to be especially fond of expectant mothers and young
children. He set up orphanages for children without parents. He had a deep devotion to
the Virgin Mary who he referred to as “my holy boss,” and he prayed the Rosary
regularly. Each day he celebrated Mass at the side altar in the Little Office of the Virgin
Mary. Then he would go around and visit the sick in nursing homes, hospitals and
homes. He also visited sick Capuchin friars in the infirmary, encouraging them to keep
the faith.
Leopold used to repeat to himself: “Remember that you have been sent for the salvation
of people, not because of your own merits, since it is the Lord Jesus and not you who
died for the salvation of souls... I must cooperate with the divine goodness of our Lord
who has deigned to choose me so that by my ministry, the divine promise would be
fulfilled: ‘There will be only one flock and one shepherd’” (John 10:16).
Brother Leopold suffered from esophageal cancer, which would ultimately lead to his
death at age 76. On July 30, 1942, after an entire night of prayer and a previous day
hearing confessions nonstop, he collapsed while preparing for Mass. He was brought
to his cell where he was given the Last Rites. Friars gathered at his bed sang “Salve
Regina,” and when they got to the words, “O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary,”
St. Leopold died while singing the final words.
The church and part of the friary where Brother Leopold lived were demolished by
bombs during World War II, but as he predicted, his cell and confessional were left
unharmed. He stated before his death, “The church and the friary will be hit by the
bombs, but not this little cell. Here God exercised so much mercy for people, it must
remain as a monument to God’s goodness.” Pope Paul VI beatified Leopold on May 2,
1976, and St. John Paul II canonized him during the Synod of Bishops on October 16,
1983. Leopold is hailed as the “Apostle of Unity.” His feast day is July 28.
Read more: http://www.ncregister.com/blog/pattyknap/we-all-know-padre-pio-but-who-is-st.-
leopold-mandi/#ixzz3zvBORsun

4. Notes from our Vice Minister,Ongoing Formation
Let’s look at paragraph 18 of Our Holy Rule: “Moreover they should respect all
creatures, animate and inanimate, which ‘bear the imprint of the Most High,’ and
they should strive to move from the temptation of exploiting creation to the
Franciscan concept of universal kinship.”
As Dave suggested, just take one paragraph of our Holy Rule, and how would you re-
write it? When I look at it, it tells me to look at things with the thought, “Do/Treat unto
others as you would want them to do unto you.” If you were an animal or plant, just how
would you feel when in need of water, as both need water, clean water, to live? Plants
wither and die just as animals get sick and die without water. We need to find ways to
clean things using less water, and especially fewer chemicals, as chemicals just
contaminate the water so that it can’t be used until it is filtered and cleaned, many times
with more chemicals. Just think about it.
In continuing with Laudato Si, we are going to look at a couple of thoughts on Chapter
3. The first thought will be, “How can we both appreciate and respect the progress
that technology has afforded us and still be cautious of the evils that can
accompany such technology?” Q. 1 page 165 of the thicker book.
When I think of technology, I think of computers, cellphones, medical equipment
involving computers… etc. Just how do the computers and other technology help,
hinder… our society in its care of our planet, and in our journey to God?
The second thought, “Reflect
on this statement: “We cannot
Now just look at the faces in
these two photos, note the smiles
in the one w/out the electronics.
Does that give a hint as to where
electronics belong at the
‘dinner,’ or other meal table?
This is just one example, I’m
sure that you can come up with
many more.No phones; results in interpersonalsharing Phones; no interpersonal sharing.

5. We cannot “presume to heal our relationship with nature and the environment
without healing all fundamental human relationships.” What does this mean to
you? How can you begin to heal your “fundamental human relationships?” Just
how can we heal our relationships within our families, our communities and the world?
Just how can we do this as a Fraternity (brotherhood of like-minded persons) doing our
best to walk in the footsteps of Christ, and St. Francis?
FormationRemindersfrom Sandy Baden,Formation Director
Classes are held the Saturday before the meeting, Please call Sandy at
760-209-4466 for more information.
God Bless,
Sandy Baden, OFS
Director of Formation
Anniversaries of Profession
(Professed)
Mar. 8, 2009 David York (7 years)
Mar. 9, 1997 Mary Behnke (19 7ears)
Mar. 9, 1997 Patricia Dominguez (19 years)
Mar. 20, 1994 Marjo Gray (22 years)
Memorials
March 2, 1995 Amanda Martineau
March 9, 2012 Thomas F.M. Siersma
March 11, 2012 Thomas Siersma
March 15, 1995 Robert Wells
March 16, 1989 Gertrude Brown
March 28, 2001 Katherine Kundinger
Birthdays
March 2 Virginia Villicano
March 9 Edna Patterson
March 26 Karron Esmonde

6. Let us Pray for our brothers and sisters, especially:
- Clara Sau Ho, Tuan’s mother who is in critical condition, Dr. says there is
“No hope.” Prayers asked for her departing…
- For the safety of David our Minister in his journeys during this busy
time of year for him.
- Mary Behnke, for healing of her arm after a fall in November. Also
for her general health and well-being.
- Marilyn Pollack – whose husband, Mike, passed away last month
- Pat Dominguez, for strength and support as she cares for her husband Pepe.
- For Pope Francis, Bishop Robert McElroy, for our pastors, priests, deacons and
consecrated religious, including those in lay orders and institutes.
- For the victims of the atrocities of ISIS throughout the world.
- For all the other Secular Franciscans served by the fraternity’s outreach
program.
- All of our Fraternity members, especially: our council members, our brothers
and sisters who are in formation, our elderly and or homebound who aren’t able
come to our fraternity gatherings.
- Members of all three Orders of the Franciscan Family who need our prayers.
New, or missing requests, email Carol at, carol_imhoff@yahoo.com or TEXT me
at 760-717-7608
From, “3rd SUNDAY OF LENT” St. Joseph Sunday Missal” © 1999 page 1132
Theme: The Need of Ongoing Reform: As long as you are in the process of growing,
you are alive. As far as our physical condition is concerned, at a certain moment we
feel that the process of decay has set in. True, we can slow it down by keeping
ourselves in good shape, and a whole industry is even helping us to do so. But we
cannot stop the process of getting old.
It is different, however, with our growth as persons. We are most aware of our personal
growth during the years of formation: students in school, engaged partners getting to
know and love one another, religious during the novitiate. The key to a happy and
meaningful life is to keep growing. Paul speaks of “maturing in Christ.” This is a lifetime
job.
The Lenten Season is a time of paying renewed attention to our growth as persons. Am
I approaching the design God has in mind for me? In the Liturgy we are confronted with
Moses who experienced God in the desert, and the Lord Jesus speaking of reforming
our lives. Reforming is not an instant happening. It is an ongoing process. Am I growing
as a person?

7. Photo/SocialPage
.
And the writing on the board says…
Calendar 2016
Mar. Apr – Carol
May June = TBD Election Setup
Jul = Profession
Aug = elections, picnic Aug 28th and 29th
Sept = New Council
Oct = Transitus (TBD)
[Basically what is happening in the next 6
months.] Editor
Dave, your points on 'humility'are just awesome.

8. Oh, last but definitely not least, remember your donation
envelope for the Common Fund. The box will be waiting for you.
Or mail to: Edward Upson
5058 Nighthawk Way
Oceanside CA 92056
FRATERNITY COUNCIL
Minister
David A. York, OFS
Home: 619-227-1414
capeX8R@mac.com
Vice Minister
Newsletter Editor,
Email Prayer Requests
Carol Imhoff, OFS
760-717-7608
carol_imhoff@yahoo.com
Formation Directress
Sandy Baden, OFS
760-305-8984
stbadenofs@att.net
Treasurer
Edward Upson, OFS
760-758-4801
mauiquest@aol.com
Secretary
Prudy Hrisanthopoulos, OFS
Home: 760-941-4868
nonook@cox.net
Councilor
Vacant
Councilor
Penny Johnson, OFS
Home: 760-599-4211
penjohnvista@yahoo.com
Councilor
Barbara Upson, OFS
760-758-4801
mauiquest@aol.com
Spiritual Assistant
Sr. Madeline Fitzgerald, OSC
760-295-0611
mfitzgerald@stfrancis- vista.org