CELEBRATE WITH US!
CHRISTMAS PARTY

You are invited! Bring spouse. Join with Franciscans on a Sunday afternoon in December to celebrate the Lord’s birthday. Let us sing with the angels, “Glory to the Newborn King.” Food, fellowship and fun, beginning at 3:00 p.m, on December 13th, with Our Lady of the Pearl, Secular Franciscan Fraternity.

PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU ARE COMING!

scribe564@bellsouth.net

Location: Bay St. Louis, MS

Directions will be given via e-mail.

The Transitus on October 3, 2009

(Photo – left to right: row one Judith Jendrey, Edith “Toni” Balot, Patty Palmer, Sandy Williams, Mary Lou Duncan; row two Patricia Shanholtz, Bobbye Maggio, Liz Shaw, Ann Seale, Pat Houghton; row three L. J. Reiss, Bob Palmer)

On October 3rd, Secular Franciscans, representing four fraternities, gathered in the chapel of St. Augustine’s Seminary in Bay St. Louis to honor Saint Francis of Assisi with the Transitus. All Franciscans and the public were invited to this event by Our Lady of the Pearl, a Secular Franciscan fraternity. The Transitus is a Franciscan devotion to ritually remember the passing of Saint Francis from this life into God. It is observed each year on October 3rd, the date St. Francis passed away. Our Lady of the Pearl meets in Pearlington and Bay St. Louis and plans to make the Transitus an annual tradition. The other three fraternities represented were Blessed Marianne Cope (Gautier), Our Lady’s Little Portion (Columbia) and St. Teresa of Avila (New Orleans).

Transitus - October 3, 2009

The Transitus of Saint Francis will be held on October 3, 2009, at 3:00 p.m, in the chapel of St. Augustine Seminary, Bay St. Louis, MS. Go to Transitus page here. Everyone is invited.

Elections - August 29, 2009

Our Lady of the Pearl held a special meeting on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at 10:00 , Little Francis House, Pearlington, Mississippi. The meeting was held for the purpose of electing officers. This was our first election after canonical establishment. We were joined by Jeff Rameriz, SFO, Regional Minister, Sr. Fidelis Hart, OSC, and our Spiritual Assistant, Brother Juniper Crouch, OFM.

Jeff opened our meeting with prayer from the Ritual, and presided over our election process. The following members were elected to the office indicated and installed by Jeff, according to the Ritual.

MINISTER: Bobbye Maggio, SFO

VICE MINISTER: Ann Seale, SFO

SECRETARY: Ouida Tomlinson, SFO

TREASURER: Bob Palmer, SFO

FORMATION DIRECTOR: Patty Palmer, SFO

COUNCILOR: Karen Leake, SFO

We celebrated with joyful fellowship and a delicious lunch.

St. Clare's Feast Day - August 11

Left to right, MaryLou, Ouida, Patty, Bob, Sister, Karen, Bobbye, L.J.

Our Lady of the Pearl did not have a formal meeting in August because our meeting date fell on August 11th, St. Clare’s Feast Day. Rather than the usual meeting, members journeyed to the St. Clare Monastery in New Orleans for Mass and to celebrate with Sr. Fidelis her 75th year of religious life. We were also joined by MaryLou of Our Lady’s Little Portion in Columbia. After Mass and spending time with Sister in the lovely gardens of the monastery, the seven of us went to lunch together. It was a wonderful day with great fellowship and time spent with our Mother of Pearl, Sr. Fidelis.

News from the Council of Our Lady of the Pearl

ONGOING FORMATION: The Council wants to encourage everyone to take our formation book on Franciscan prayer to adoration and journal. (Franciscan Prayer by Ilia Delio, OSF, available at amazon.com for $10.36.)

TRANSITUS AND COME AND SEE. The Council decided to have the Transitus of Saint Francis on October 3, 2009. (The customary date is always October 3rd, prior to St. Francis’ feast day on October 4th.) It will be held at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of St. Augustine Seminary with a reception to follow. The public will be invited, including Regional fraternities as well as those who might be interested in Saint Francis or becoming Secular Franciscans, making the event also a ―Come and See. An invitation will be issued via the Gulf Pine newspaper, church bulletins, and other means.

ELECTIONS. Electrions will be scheduled soon (we hope in August).

REGIONAL MEETINGS: Regional meetings are scheduled the second Saturday of each quarter. The next two are October 10th and January 9th.

MAY CROWNING AT DUNBAR VILLAGE: We had a May Crowning for the residents at Dunbar Village. Also assisting was the Angel ministry from Our Lady of the Gulf. We had someone to play the piano and the Angels led the singing. A priest was also present. There were fresh flowers and prayers. Everyone was given an image of the Sacred Heart. All in all, the residents loved the visit and asked that we come again soon, not waiting until next year. A good ministry!!

Portiuncula: the Little Portion: Being Thought Insignificant And Unbalanced

Portiuncula: the Little Portion: Being Thought Insignificant And Unbalanced