Canonical Establishment

After a long wait of almost ten years and a hurricane or so, Our Lady of the Pearl has been approved for canonical establishment. The date of our canonical establishment is set for August 23, 2008. It will be held at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Center, Pearlington, MS. Friends and family are invited.

St. Joseph Church was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina with only the steps remaining. The Center is towards the back of the grounds.

Archbishop Rodi Signs Official Documents for Canonical Establishment

The dream of Our Lady of the Pearl members for canonical establishment began before the first members were professed on October 17, 1999. This long and rigorous journey is coming to an end at last. Approval has been given by St. Teresa of Avila, our sponsoring fraternity in New Orleans, St. Joan of Arc Region and the Provincial Delegate of the OFM.

In the final step in the approval process for canonical establishment, members of Our Lady of Pearl met with Archbishop Thomas Rodi in Biloxi, Mississippi, on July 8, 2008. The Archbishop signed the official documents, also giving his approval. The canonical establishment and the Mass have been set for August 23rd.





Pictured above, sitting from left to right, Carol Heavey, SFO, Eileen Chapoton, SFO, Archbishop Thomas Rodi, and Bobbye Maggio, SFO. Standing from left to right, Bob Palmer, SFO, Ouida Tomlinson, SFO, Ann Seale, SFO, and Patty Palmer, SFO.

Miracle of the White Deer

by Patty O'Neil Palmer, SFO

I want to share a little miracle with all of you. It is a tiny part of the Katrina Stories we all experienced in 2005

On the afternoon of July 21, 2005, Bob and I were at home, at our farm. Outside of our bedroom window one can see our grotto of St. Francis. It was hot, as only the deep south can experience in July. I came inside to cool off and grab a short nap.

Bob woke me up. He was excited and told me to hurry and peek out the window. We both stood bewildered and dumbfounded at what we saw. There, in broad daylight, was a breathtaking snow-white doe, peacefully grazing near St.Francis. It wasn’t an albino because it had brown eyes.

I was not completely sure the deer was real. I’m still not. It was perfection in every way. Deer are never snow white. Wild deer never show themselves in the daytime, unless they are pets of some kind. Never, in 30 years, have deer been that close to my house. That was a Thursday.

On Saturday, July 23rd 2005, there was a Regional meeting. This meeting was special because national visitation was scheduled. I believe Father Loren Connell OFM attended. Much happened that day, so I am told. Our canonical establishment was delayed. We were heartbroken.

Yet the mystical, white deer continued to visit often, during the next days. We were overjoyed! Then, Bob and I briefly left the farm for a family reunion with his brothers. We returned mid-day August 27, 2005. You know the rest of the story. Katrina bore down on us all Monday, August 29, 2005.

Standing in the wreckage that was our home, I felt that nothing would ever be the same again. If I ever felt total despair, about my entire life, it was the last week of August 29, 2005.

Everything was gone. Our SFO community was scattered and homeless. My family, children and friends had to stay where they fled for safety. My home was uninhabitable. My daughter’s home was destroyed. Two sons were homeless. Grandchildren were in school in Alabama, not New Orleans. Bob had fallen from the roof, broken his leg and was helpless in a cast. Dear ones were reported dead or lost. It is the story we all share.

I never expected to see my mystery deer again. I was sure it probably perished in the storm. The deer, however, was seen again….luminous, white in its perfection. Yes, it was still alive. What Joy!

The day came when members of Our Lady of the Pearl were able to gather at Ann Seale`s to share our pain and receive strength from each other. This was the last time I saw the white deer.

Jeff felt it was the sign of new beginnings for the SFO. What I am sure of is that it was a miracle called hope sent to all from the lover, St. Francis and his best friend Jesus. This is why I need to share.

News of Our Canonical Establishment

We have learned that our Bishop has approved our canonical establishment. We are very grateful and are awaiting news of the next step.



The photos of the white deer are for Bob and Patty who have been blessed with visits of beautiful white deer on their farm.

H20 Project - Lent 2008

Congratulations to Eileen for her work with the H20 project and to Our Lady Academy, Bay St. Louis, MS! Eileen reports that Our Lady Academy raised $745.53 during the H2O project for Lent this year. The money will go this year to the Sister Water Project, a group of Franciscan nuns working with providing water in South America and Africa.

Bye Bye Commissions, Hello JPIC

At the October 2007 meeting of the National Fraternity Council, there was a decision to accept the recommendations of the ad hoc committee on the Commissions to restructure the Apostolic Commissions to one Justice and Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) Committee.

The following is from the Proposal of the ad hoc committee on the Commissions, as revised and approved on October 5, 2007:

• “The structure of the Apostolic Commissions will cease in its current form. In its place will be a Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation (JPIC) team (up to 4 persons) with a keen awareness of Articles 14-19 of the SFO Rule and of the social issues before the USCCB.”

JPIC team members will be appointed by the National Executive Council. Regional fraternities are to collaborate with the JPIC team and information will be disseminated to the local fraternities by the Region.

For more information, to go to the Winter 2007 issue of TAU, pages 10-13, here. Also go to the Spring 2008 issue, page 23, here.

Monthly Meeting - March 11, 2008

Our monthly meeting was held on Tuesday, March 11, 2008, at 10:30, Little Francis House, Pearlington, Mississippi. We began with prayer from the Ritual, and our guests were welcomed.

We prayed the Liturgy of the Hours Morning Prayer and then joined hands to offer our petitions and prayers to God, for our friends and family and for ourselves.

Our homework to prepare for ongoing formation was to read chapter 9 in both books. John presented the teaching, which focused on our Franciscan way with Francis and Clare in Rainbow Too and Rule 13.

Brother Juniper spoke to us about the death of Lazarus. The Jews believe that up until the third day, the soul is still there. Christ was away four days and that was so he could prove that nothing is impossible with God. God can raise even the dead.

After formation we recessed for lunch and then reconvened for our business meeting.

Our minutes and treasurer's report were presented and approved along with the blog and website report.

Bobbye, Carol, John and Ouida attended the quarterly regional meeting in Baton Rouge on March 8th. Ouida gave a written report which is posted on Pearls On The River blog. Brother Juniper gave additional information on the spiritual assistant’s program.

Eileen has taken the H2O Project to the Catholic schools in Hancock County again for Lent.

Bobbye told us about our $210 gift to St. Vincent de Paul and how it was used to assistant a young mother and her one-year old child who had been living in her car for about two weeks. This young woman was working and had saved $350 but lacked sufficient funds to move into a trailer. Because of our donation, St. Vincent de Paul was able to assist her so that she and her child were no longer forced to live in the car.

We closed our meeting in prayer.