tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22094035195577248452024-03-12T00:52:24.607-04:00St. Joseph Fraternity Secular Franciscans, Utica, NYR Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-71728293590328515852022-07-30T00:03:00.002-04:002022-07-30T00:12:41.637-04:00Fraternity Elects New Council<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPieMIOaUn1pagXa7CE5KwIivFtOz3GnTbbwZaYZXkJ0LsJwZL74KS_-LhXcvgBWtgdXT_1LsMtyNx1ErBM_XOB0109Ire5vNTSMa8sJ4ZBr-8xgoaYpu6xrPXbAxq29bD2B0ArUrOWO3kNJBE-W-3DatWF2LIs1sxJ0GVjj7CKM-OeJwUPugYQhx/s750/11StJosephFraternityCouncil-Utica_9680-1a.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="St. Joseph Fraternity Council" border="0" data-original-height="395" data-original-width="750" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzPieMIOaUn1pagXa7CE5KwIivFtOz3GnTbbwZaYZXkJ0LsJwZL74KS_-LhXcvgBWtgdXT_1LsMtyNx1ErBM_XOB0109Ire5vNTSMa8sJ4ZBr-8xgoaYpu6xrPXbAxq29bD2B0ArUrOWO3kNJBE-W-3DatWF2LIs1sxJ0GVjj7CKM-OeJwUPugYQhx/w400-h211/11StJosephFraternityCouncil-Utica_9680-1a.jpg" title="St. Joseph Fraternity Council" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Robert Stronach, Marsha Kistner, Ana Pereira, Concetta Carcone, Siosiana Merz.</b></i><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /> St. Joseph Fraternity conducted election of officers in July. <br /> <br />Robert Stronach, OFS, was elected to his second full term as minister.<br /> <br />Marsha Kistner, OFS, is the new vice minister. She previously served as a long-time secretary of the fraternity.<br /> <br />Siosiana Merz, OFS, is the new secretary. <br /> <br />Ana Pereira, OFS, is the new treasurer.<br /> <br />Concetta Carcone, OFS, was elected as formation director,</p><p><span></span></p><a name='more'></a>Concetta has been serving in that capacity since last November, when the previous formation director, Mary Stronach, OFS, was elected vice minister general of the order and was required to step down from holding a position at other levels of the order.<br /> <br />The newly elected council serves a three-year term. <br /><p></p><p></p><p>Regional Councilor Linda Robinson, OFS, presided over the election and
Regional Spiritual Assistant Sr. Pat Larkin, OSF, served as the
ecclesial witness.</p>R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-3891866196712728482022-02-13T14:29:00.004-05:002022-02-13T14:29:52.897-05:002 Make Permanent Profession<p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"></span></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMlgaXfxN9wHiLAZp9fE3kgrl4WTyHwgiLyX6s8yrhA7DXvy-1blRjxAW53pJVpFnaDe30MAfiwdl_vG4SyLaVDPKjxpyyqMR-cToO8lkakHtiMSzVXawVCiNvmN1lepyBc6EOQ-TmX6vqLeSyXsVHR8xZY40mwu3NfOLMy0u8qlkzXH0Xg-gbvXmx=s400" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ellen Benton and Siosiana Merz" border="0" data-original-height="391" data-original-width="400" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiMlgaXfxN9wHiLAZp9fE3kgrl4WTyHwgiLyX6s8yrhA7DXvy-1blRjxAW53pJVpFnaDe30MAfiwdl_vG4SyLaVDPKjxpyyqMR-cToO8lkakHtiMSzVXawVCiNvmN1lepyBc6EOQ-TmX6vqLeSyXsVHR8xZY40mwu3NfOLMy0u8qlkzXH0Xg-gbvXmx=w200-h196" title="Ellen and Siosi" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;">Ellen M. Benton and Siosiana V. Merz made
their permanent profession in the Secular Franciscan Order as members of the St. Joseph
Fraternity.</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;">It is no coincidence that they chose to make
their profession on Jan. 23, 2022 -- the feast of Saint Marianne Cope, who was
a member of St. Joseph parish at the time the fraternity was founded in 1859
(and, according to some, who was one of the first members of the fraternity).</span></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-family: "Courier New";"><span></span></span></p><a name='more'></a><p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;">The rite of profession took place during mass at St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church. Presiding were Fraternity Minister Robert Stronach, OFS, and Celebrant Fr. Richard Riccioli, OFM Conv. (Church of the Assumption, Syracuse). Concelebrants were Fr. Richard Kapral (St. Joseph & St. Patrock) and Fr. Kevin Bunger (St. John the Evangelist Church, New Hartford).<br /></span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><style><font size="3"><span style="font-family: times;">@font-face
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{page:WordSection1;}</span></font></style> </p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;">Ellen received a Catholic education at St.
Peter’s School in North Utica and at Utica Catholic Academy (Class of 1973).
After a 28-year career in real estate development in Florida, she returned to
her native Utica where she is evangelization coordinator for St. Joseph and St.
Patrick Church. Ellen is enrolled in an online course in Church Management
through Villanova University.</span></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span>Siosiana
was raised in the Methodist faith on the island of Tonga in the South
Pacific.<span> </span>She met and married her
husband, Douglas, while he was serving in the Peace Corps.<span> </span>She converted to the Catholic faith and
entered the Church in 1986 at the Church of St. Mark in North Utica. Siosiana
serves her faith community as a catechist for faith formation and an
Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. Siosiana is a mother of two,
grandmother of two, and resides with her husband of 39 years in North Utica.</span> </span></span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p class="MsoPlainText"> </p><p><style>@font-face
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{page:WordSection1;}</style></p>R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-61134818073938776612020-09-03T21:52:00.002-04:002020-09-04T14:59:34.890-04:002 Candidates Admitted to Order<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWCY3NsF_ef1zqbOMDXHvCtNuR2GpqayC3VzDoV-csiInSSZKh4lex2b11t9J9dGL2d7qPELdofll9OWTnlLcgemZq-AActU68GvARol4wXKjl2D7ODPda5rP-znx99Ovzos9GrVDtJI/s600/1IMG_1779sm.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="279" data-original-width="600" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyWCY3NsF_ef1zqbOMDXHvCtNuR2GpqayC3VzDoV-csiInSSZKh4lex2b11t9J9dGL2d7qPELdofll9OWTnlLcgemZq-AActU68GvARol4wXKjl2D7ODPda5rP-znx99Ovzos9GrVDtJI/w400-h186/1IMG_1779sm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Ellen Benton and Sociana Merz were officially welcomed into the Secular Franciscan Order as candidates during a Rite of Admission ceremony held during the June gathering. <span><a name='more'></a></span><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgni34qQnDphBjBhTIOFoUEfuFJ7MlBHh5-E_7yaEJr6lhs3aM53sGclo-NBzwfRzlVeVPIW02k84SGd3hlzX9j3tVBojScnmKlFLJlrLPsGKqWGYoOz40_mfVWdzFoiIfrxBL2nJTYw/s582/1Ellen_1796sm400px.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ellen Benton" border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgni34qQnDphBjBhTIOFoUEfuFJ7MlBHh5-E_7yaEJr6lhs3aM53sGclo-NBzwfRzlVeVPIW02k84SGd3hlzX9j3tVBojScnmKlFLJlrLPsGKqWGYoOz40_mfVWdzFoiIfrxBL2nJTYw/w275-h400/1Ellen_1796sm400px.jpg" title="Ellen" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Ellen Benton</i><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br />Because of the pandemic, only a few members of the fraternity joined the Council and Formation Team at the parish center chapel. Other fraternity members participated via Zoom video conferencing.<br /><br />Sociana and Ellen completed initial formation, and received a copy of the Rule of St. Francis and the Tau cross. </p><p>They now journey toward profession while completing the candidacy phase of formation.<br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98zY61kncXCwI_uKBoe_p2JLSqARcwwhV_Ja0Kxtr0hgflp9qQSxxN1Kd4yrvr-8ABrYumYSu_6ljswYftQLjxBoKBHn2jMHAd-9O-MoWEQgeGvqwSP0NZp-AN0TR4BbVBcVseCkTggI/s600/1Sociana_1821sm-600px.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sociana Merz" border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="600" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj98zY61kncXCwI_uKBoe_p2JLSqARcwwhV_Ja0Kxtr0hgflp9qQSxxN1Kd4yrvr-8ABrYumYSu_6ljswYftQLjxBoKBHn2jMHAd-9O-MoWEQgeGvqwSP0NZp-AN0TR4BbVBcVseCkTggI/w400-h285/1Sociana_1821sm-600px.jpg" title="Sociana" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sociana Merz expresses her joy to members tuning in via Zoom.<br /></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p></p>R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-39146334329610103252020-03-13T19:40:00.000-04:002020-03-13T19:40:05.470-04:00Fraternity Events Canceled Due to Coronavirus EmergencyWith the state of emergency over the coronavirus, the St. Joseph Fraternity Council decided to cancel the March 15th gathering, the April 1st council meeting and the April 4th Day of Reflection.<br />
<br />R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-90316054547840271972019-09-23T14:56:00.000-04:002019-09-23T14:58:04.446-04:00Regional Chapter Elects Leaders<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSToF7WeZdIiWMZIHY53fouXGzmDNUVbiMVV0PXHK0re8zL_seT28hJYvuXqHHJvXKQB6TqPOlRxE7l1nVcXqeFrxhxrMK6_NQRr6F4PZIhBS7bwwQjDYw3FHmmnbCAPY4tGQJAZM6cpM/s1600/regional+leaders_1698a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1600" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSToF7WeZdIiWMZIHY53fouXGzmDNUVbiMVV0PXHK0re8zL_seT28hJYvuXqHHJvXKQB6TqPOlRxE7l1nVcXqeFrxhxrMK6_NQRr6F4PZIhBS7bwwQjDYw3FHmmnbCAPY4tGQJAZM6cpM/s400/regional+leaders_1698a1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<b>Joanne Lockwood</b>, OFS, a member of Holy Family Fraternity in Vernon, NY, has been elected minister of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Region for a three-year term. The election took place Sept. 14 in Syracuse.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Joanne served as vice minister of the region for the past three years, and before that, as regional secretary. She is also a past minister of St. Joseph Fraternity, Utica, NY.<br />
<br />
Other newly elected regional officers are:<br />
<ul>
<li>Vice Minister <b>Mary Momot</b>, OFS, of St. Patrick Fraternity, Buffalo, NY.</li>
<li>Treasurer <b>Craig Miller</b>, OFS, of St. Francis Fraternity, Binghamton, NY.</li>
<li>Secretary <b>Carol Onuffer,</b> OFS, of St. Peter Fraternity, Erie, PA.</li>
<li>Formation Director <b>Layna Maher</b>, OFS, of St. Thomas More Fraternity, Fonda, NY.</li>
<li>Eastern Area Councilor <b>Linda Quaranto</b>, OFS, of St. Francis Fraternity, Binghamton, NY.</li>
<li>Central Area Councilor <b>John Balmer</b>, OFS, of Our Lady of Angels Fraternity, Geneva, NY.</li>
<li>Western Area Councilor 1: <b>Roderick Quebral</b>, OFS, of St. Thomas More Fraternity, Kenmore-Cheektowaga, NY.</li>
<li>Western Area Councilor 2: <b>Barbara Quebral</b>, OFS, of St. Thomas More Fraternity, Kenmore-Cheektowaga, NY.</li>
</ul>
Appointed as regional spiritual assistants are Sr. <b>Pat Larkin,</b> OSF, of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, and <b>Mary Frances Charsky</b>, OFS, of St. Francis Fraternity, Binghamton.<br />
<br />
The region, which is composed of 22 local fraternities, encompasses most of upstate New York and a portion of northwestern Pennsylvania. It is one of 29 regions that comprise the Secular Franciscan Order in the United States of America.R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-91334180787292240092019-09-01T12:43:00.000-04:002019-09-06T15:18:41.082-04:00Celebrating 160 Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBm3lfimpyTYP668L1wY1K4a1eIpYPJ312-50Uz1PGmjXw84SjDyd5jisnHW00s8KYCDxnjbE4jrLqlVElD0-4pRwlaJ51DP2d_0MoY3OcCq7VD8nmwhptai55BTmG66w9gUTi6UnlqYg/s1600/Banquet_4770-8crp-a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="160th anniversary celebration at Irish Cultural Center" border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="1600" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBm3lfimpyTYP668L1wY1K4a1eIpYPJ312-50Uz1PGmjXw84SjDyd5jisnHW00s8KYCDxnjbE4jrLqlVElD0-4pRwlaJ51DP2d_0MoY3OcCq7VD8nmwhptai55BTmG66w9gUTi6UnlqYg/s400/Banquet_4770-8crp-a.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></div>
St. Joseph Fraternity celebrated 160 years by honoring individuals for work with the marginalized and by unveiling a saintly welcome sign.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><b><i>“Welcome to Utica. The Home of St. Marianne Cope.”</i></b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWyuj-FdrWMq8Z68ZxxylyM1nc-2OqlTFI8f-p0bihDxmbULJm2ZE4whhmFe0Jx0rwpxpu8_BGl71quKfyRIaxDi-TFDtZ1I6A3fi5wOZk_PvcX7b9qzy8fZ54uxxhuVc3Mh8PlqRrh8/s1600/Betty+Frank-sign_8729-51a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Betty Frank helped to unveil the "Welcome to Utica" sign." border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1440" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLWyuj-FdrWMq8Z68ZxxylyM1nc-2OqlTFI8f-p0bihDxmbULJm2ZE4whhmFe0Jx0rwpxpu8_BGl71quKfyRIaxDi-TFDtZ1I6A3fi5wOZk_PvcX7b9qzy8fZ54uxxhuVc3Mh8PlqRrh8/s320/Betty+Frank-sign_8729-51a.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Betty Frank helped unveil the "Welcome to Utica" sign.</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
St. Joseph Fraternity and City of Utica officials unveiled a street sign sporting those words, along with an image of St. Marianne, during the fraternity’s 160th anniversary celebration Aug. 18 at the Irish Cultural Center on Columbia Street (kitty-corner from St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church).<br />
<br />
The fraternity donated four signs, which the city installed at the north, south, east and west entrances to Utica.<br />
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Marcus Phillips, the mayor’s chief of staff, said the city was glad to work with the Secular Franciscan Order.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSox09l77qYasXRTdLSKrHnpTWyLntHetRY-MKBTg9tXZGPiUgqroIF-ndsPYDRHhfZt6v1dpZibFI83FEWox1emMtUyCwqPMQlbQwl_Z_JyNa5t5PQQHZhGTGpm_UOhhSwhobNH66Wc/s1600/Michael+Galime-Marcus+Phillips_8758-69a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Michael Galime and Marcus Phillips" border="0" data-original-height="715" data-original-width="1200" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSox09l77qYasXRTdLSKrHnpTWyLntHetRY-MKBTg9tXZGPiUgqroIF-ndsPYDRHhfZt6v1dpZibFI83FEWox1emMtUyCwqPMQlbQwl_Z_JyNa5t5PQQHZhGTGpm_UOhhSwhobNH66Wc/s320/Michael+Galime-Marcus+Phillips_8758-69a.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Michael Galime and Marcus Phillips</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
“The reason is because the Catholic tradition, which St. Marianne Cope represents, is kind of what made the city what it is today” with “a spirit of giving” that propels the area’s generosity in fundraising and being open to immigrants and refugees. He also singled out city sign department supervisor Mark Sokolowski for expediting the project.<br />
<br />
Common Council President Michael Galime read a proclamation from Mayor Robert Palmieri, honoring the fraternity. The fraternity also received a proclamation from County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr., declaring Aug. 18 as St. Joseph Fraternity Day in Oneida County.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSjBnph0wt4A14drjRTzPtlnn4AHagN9wmNqhBSTlY82c5Q5H67xAXVcH8cWSM8jYbN2JQv9swdngbpcdMTO2yY4SfyuMhY_U1xUI1y51nm4nqj1iyMzuzdHBQ-4yCL6k9XK37uPb9T8/s1600/Jo+Ginnity_1106-122a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jo Ginnity" border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="905" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSjBnph0wt4A14drjRTzPtlnn4AHagN9wmNqhBSTlY82c5Q5H67xAXVcH8cWSM8jYbN2JQv9swdngbpcdMTO2yY4SfyuMhY_U1xUI1y51nm4nqj1iyMzuzdHBQ-4yCL6k9XK37uPb9T8/s200/Jo+Ginnity_1106-122a.jpg" title="" width="125" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Jo Ginnity</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
State Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon was on hand to present an Assembly proclamation, recognizing the fraternity as the second oldest in the U.S. (founded in March, 1859), and join in honoring several individuals for their charitable works.<br />
<br />
Fraternity Minister Robert Stronach, OFS, presented the Silent Giver Award to Jo Ginnity, OFS, “for lifetime achievement for service to the Order, Church and Community.”<br />
<br />
Since Jo was in a nursing and rehab facility, he surprised her with the award via cell phone, and then the gathering sang “Happy Birthday” to her. <br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
Stronach then presented the St. Mother Marianne Cope Award to three individuals:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Ed Morgan</b>, director of Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen at St. Joseph-St. Patrick Parish, for coordinating the soup kitchen operation that served over 53,000 meals in the past year to the jobless, underemployed and homeless.</li>
<li><b>Marion “Duffy” Geary, OFS</b>, for her work with soup kitchens, food pantries and prison ministry. She is a member of Holy Family Fraternity in Vernon.</li>
<li><b>Elizabeth “Betty” Frank, OFS</b>, for her ministries at St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church as a professed Secular Franciscan for 70 years.</li>
</ul>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOxAi00lQHEQd5-qiWr82dK6u3SHIf7axjomHP75u1QDH5ZTN0TZzbqeYL-7rWHAAtD_nkW_QtmKlQwqY0zqVFeShQaLc5B5fYf_x8tsMyI2pN2LlG-3pVn6KMAnZjFuqk5h95BHcCGY/s1600/Honorees+with+Marianne+Buttenschon_8841-116a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Honorees Duffy Geary, Ed Morgan and Betty Frank with Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon." border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAOxAi00lQHEQd5-qiWr82dK6u3SHIf7axjomHP75u1QDH5ZTN0TZzbqeYL-7rWHAAtD_nkW_QtmKlQwqY0zqVFeShQaLc5B5fYf_x8tsMyI2pN2LlG-3pVn6KMAnZjFuqk5h95BHcCGY/s400/Honorees+with+Marianne+Buttenschon_8841-116a.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Honorees Duffy Geary, Ed Morgan and Betty Frank with </i></b><br />
<b><i>Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Stronach expressed his gratitude to a community of lay Carmelites from New Hartford, which sent a congratulatory message citing “160 years of faithful service in the spirit and love of the Franciscan charism” and announcing a $400 donation in the fraternity’s honor to Mother Marianne’s West Side Kitchen. The message was signed by Diana Evans, president of the Community of St. Joseph the Protector, Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites (OCDS).<br />
<br />
Stronach also quoted from a congratulatory letter from Tibor Kauser, OFS, minister general of the Secular Franciscan Order. Writing from Rome, Italy, he cited the fraternity’s “significant past” and “praiseworthy present” with its various ministries.<br />
<br />
Katie Koscinski, OFS, a fraternity member who serves on the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Regional Executive Council, presented a gift on behalf of Regional Minister Alfred Picogna – a framed collage of congratulatory messages from fraternities across the state.<br />
<br />
Rev. Richard Dellos, pastor of St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church, offered the invocation at the afternoon banquet, citing the beginnings of the Franciscan charism when St. Francis of Assisi heard Christ’s call to “rebuild my church.”<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXByThn_lZ9S-2uHIJnPakhYI5rS6LL4XjNYmK-v8JlVMJ7LpNOyYTcm0bRSlbpeyXnZEi9YQ11imGU62izXfl-3kbxcRVgwt2ZvRHJ8Ze3svZdNO53YwRlRB2lxDf98w_iJcFt14IVY/s1600/FrChristopherPanagoplos_8873-132a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fr. Christopher Panagoplos, TOR" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="723" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFXByThn_lZ9S-2uHIJnPakhYI5rS6LL4XjNYmK-v8JlVMJ7LpNOyYTcm0bRSlbpeyXnZEi9YQ11imGU62izXfl-3kbxcRVgwt2ZvRHJ8Ze3svZdNO53YwRlRB2lxDf98w_iJcFt14IVY/s320/FrChristopherPanagoplos_8873-132a.jpg" title="" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Fr. Christopher Panagoplos, TOR</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The celebration began earlier in the day with Mass across the street at St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church, where Franciscan friar Christopher Panagoplos, TOR, spoke of the fire of faith in a world that both subtly and overtly erodes Christian values and beliefs. He urged Christians to stand up for what they believe. <br />
<br />
In his banquet talk, Father Christopher (a national spiritual assistant for the Secular Franciscan Order) referred to the polarization taking place in public discourse, where people of different viewpoints argue even to the point of hatred, rather than listen and communicate. Secular Franciscans have a role in countering such division. <br />
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“The heart of Franciscan living is relationship. Relationship with God, with others, and with creation.”<br />
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He added: “For St. Francis, fraternity summarized his radical living in solidarity with all of humanity and creation… Francis’ starting point rested in the faithful recognition of his relationship to the other.”<br />
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He pointed to St. Joseph Fraternity’s 160 years of striving to live the Gospel not only in the footsteps of St. Francis, but also in the spirit of St. Marianne Cope, who grew up in the parish.<br />
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“You have been and still are responding to immediate needs and specific situations: feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, caring for and healing the sick, visiting those in hospitals and prisons; focusing on people’s distress, focusing with empathy.”<br />
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A video message from Jan Parker, OFS, national minister of the Secular Franciscan Order, brought the celebration to a close, with her singing the Blessing of St. Clare, “May you always be with God wherever you may be and may God be with you always.”<br />
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<b><i>Photo gallery of event </i></b><i>(photos by Alex Stronach & Bob Stronach) </i><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ofsusa/albums/72157710454065846" target="_blank" title="2019 St Joseph Fraternity 160th (Utica NY)"><img alt="2019 St Joseph Fraternity 160th (Utica NY)" height="333" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48588634157_484af51bd9.jpg" width="500" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-36633049234444940592019-07-01T18:17:00.000-04:002019-07-05T16:13:11.656-04:00Join Us for 160th Anniversary Bash<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4vjHvKkCioUBQjP6tNO_zS4Oqm2wvm9L9aYdxGm3X17vDpPltfOUVFzhAEfiAu5-fcoWUevIrkYK0OVVPcKLh_IpDgbB7SXUeH7hJWVLAIPDOax6lYeCE1wF8rFLtiKfPc2noRfOOX0/s1600/FrChrisPanagoplos_TOR_crop_0249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fr. Christopher" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu4vjHvKkCioUBQjP6tNO_zS4Oqm2wvm9L9aYdxGm3X17vDpPltfOUVFzhAEfiAu5-fcoWUevIrkYK0OVVPcKLh_IpDgbB7SXUeH7hJWVLAIPDOax6lYeCE1wF8rFLtiKfPc2noRfOOX0/s200/FrChrisPanagoplos_TOR_crop_0249.jpg" title="" width="149" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Friar Christopher is <br />the featured speaker.</i></b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
St. Joseph Fraternity is celebrating its 160th anniversary by honoring three people with the <i>Mother Marianne Cope Award </i>on Sunday, Aug. 18. <br />
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The celebration begins with 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church, 702 Columbia St., Utica, NY. The awards dinner follows at 12:30 across the street from the church at the new Irish Cultural Center. <br />
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<b><a href="https://stjosephfraternity160th.eventbrite.com/" target="_blank">Dinner tickets may be reserved here</a>,</b> or by sending a check to St. Joseph Fraternity of the SFO, c/o Katie Koscinski, 11 Matthews Ave., Utica, New 13502. Tickets are $30 per person (there is a slight surcharge if ordered online).<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
The featured speaker is Franciscan Friar <b>Christopher Panagoplos</b>, TOR. Father Christopher is a national spiritual assistant to the U.S. Secular Franciscan Order.<br />
<br />
The fraternity will present the <i>Mother Marianne Cope Award</i> to three individuals:<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Edward Morgan</b>,, director of Mother Marianne's West Side Kitchen, which serves daily lunch to the homeless, the unemployed and the underemployed.</li>
<li><b>Marion (Duffy) Geary</b>, OFS, who ministers to prisoners and who coordinates food pantry and clothing ministries. She also has volunteered in serveral soup kitchens. Duffey is affiliated with Holy Family Fraternity in Vernon. </li>
<li><b>Betty Frank,</b> OFS, who is celebrating 70 years as a professed Secular Franciscan and who played key roles in starting the Perpetual Adoration Chapel, the Divine Mercy celebration and the Mother Marianne Prayer Group at St. Joseph-St. Patrick Parish. She is believed to be the longest, living professed member of the Order in the U.S.</li>
</ul>
The <i>Mother Marianne Cope Award </i>is named after parish daughter St. Marianne Cope, a Franciscan sister who spent the last 30 years of her life caring for leprosy patients and their families in Hawaii.<br />
R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-57272326104085150952019-05-08T17:03:00.002-04:002019-05-08T17:09:14.028-04:00Fraternity to Host Discussion with Assemblywoman on May 19<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyFT7FCKQaem9i16qee4b0hzzRGeO14FdKhuC8wQia65IuJym0B9KuE7sMNH1jBthhHN_EjoDR-F4U3gG0-qj_LU4JyPw92ykI9smE7amCjGVmZPbH6ryBH2-YKuPYh3HBpG59bQQX0o/s1600/Mariane+Buttenschon119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Marianne Buttenschon" border="0" data-original-height="746" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyFT7FCKQaem9i16qee4b0hzzRGeO14FdKhuC8wQia65IuJym0B9KuE7sMNH1jBthhHN_EjoDR-F4U3gG0-qj_LU4JyPw92ykI9smE7amCjGVmZPbH6ryBH2-YKuPYh3HBpG59bQQX0o/s200/Mariane+Buttenschon119.jpg" title="" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Assemblywoman <br />Marianne Buttenschon</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
St. Joseph Fraternity is hosting a discussion of "life issues" with special guest, New York State Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon (D-Utica-119th Dist) on Sunday, May 19. The gathering begins at 2 p.m. in the St. Joseph-St. Patrick Parish Center, Utica, NY.<br />
<br />
Assemblywoman Buttenschon voted against the recently enacted legislation that allows abortions in the third trimester. She will provide an update on what is happening in the state legislature regarding life issues.<br />
<br />R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-6869147493622561422019-04-04T16:52:00.000-04:002019-04-04T16:52:06.020-04:00April Gathering to Discuss Immigration<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52QsAgsGqnPHFNQXy6N2RzaI6_xQ3prgqx79WfgdOZGJhaYW59a1PKtyP7C3ivlPagneYpxdMQB54o-YHw0z7SAhTdbb8jeKtMnLfOlKqnjSvZfExsmlQLamMrcRz7pAnxaEEXeHTt08/s1600/1Mary3244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mary Stronach" border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj52QsAgsGqnPHFNQXy6N2RzaI6_xQ3prgqx79WfgdOZGJhaYW59a1PKtyP7C3ivlPagneYpxdMQB54o-YHw0z7SAhTdbb8jeKtMnLfOlKqnjSvZfExsmlQLamMrcRz7pAnxaEEXeHTt08/s200/1Mary3244.jpg" title="Mary Stronach" width="148" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Mary Stronach, OFS</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhtZm52h51Gkv3kvo_otfa6yVx9l3R2SDGjuN8H74BIRfFzXUddprmANnC0Lhc_X137YeGBYk7y2_oC-5QRcCiNU8A6jqykh-fiJxgt_0lk3hApRALSAbv11AGsFNh4BpkHMf2k3ajxg/s1600/Katie+Koscinski_1624+crop-a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhtZm52h51Gkv3kvo_otfa6yVx9l3R2SDGjuN8H74BIRfFzXUddprmANnC0Lhc_X137YeGBYk7y2_oC-5QRcCiNU8A6jqykh-fiJxgt_0lk3hApRALSAbv11AGsFNh4BpkHMf2k3ajxg/s200/Katie+Koscinski_1624+crop-a1.jpg" width="138" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Katie Koscinski, OFS</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The April 14th gathering of St. Joseph Fraternity will feature a discussion on "Immigration and The Wall."<br />
Formation Director Mary Stronach, OFS, will lead a discussion of Catholic social teaching on the topic, and Vice Minister Katie Kosinski, OFS, will bring out the church's perspective on the pros and cons of the southern border wall.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>The monthly gathering gets underway at 2 p.m. that Sunday. It is a week earlier than usual because of Easter.<br />
<br />R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-12873429152224203502019-01-21T18:23:00.000-05:002019-01-21T18:23:29.735-05:00What's happening in formation?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkq9U2UaHVtEduQolTYwborONuHY54S8C3pcO689qawcwrOoDhqm5YEARwFvInY13iaQ0ptopXWffDyYzItFNp2hiuY_j1LVaObNxm01xxFQpNJexXpf1FWmRAjesXL8dg2Mh_3yKaFaw/s1600/Katie+Koscinski_1624+crop-a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Katie" border="0" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="300" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkq9U2UaHVtEduQolTYwborONuHY54S8C3pcO689qawcwrOoDhqm5YEARwFvInY13iaQ0ptopXWffDyYzItFNp2hiuY_j1LVaObNxm01xxFQpNJexXpf1FWmRAjesXL8dg2Mh_3yKaFaw/s200/Katie+Koscinski_1624+crop-a1.jpg" title="" width="121" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Katie</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4wt6JUbvFt-E_91_kiFK4-UKpuzttOxy1mQbQw5D77o0aQWLGuzr0gq8Ubzzxzj8IrvaBBTZFA_v1zDDouI6fC9a7PmWOZfijo_or11L_k6X2qv3cqZ0vUoRTCyYbn1yHXARQlp_zvY/s1600/BillGeary03293a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Bill" border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="230" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4wt6JUbvFt-E_91_kiFK4-UKpuzttOxy1mQbQw5D77o0aQWLGuzr0gq8Ubzzxzj8IrvaBBTZFA_v1zDDouI6fC9a7PmWOZfijo_or11L_k6X2qv3cqZ0vUoRTCyYbn1yHXARQlp_zvY/s200/BillGeary03293a1.jpg" title="" width="123" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Bill</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The fraternity’s <b>Enrichment Program</b> will be held on Wednesday, <b>February 6</b> at 4:30 p.m. Spiritual Assistant Bill Geary, OFS, and Vice Minister Katie Koscinski, OFS, will offer some thoughts on evangelizing – the perfect segue to helping to make this a more fraternal and evangelical world (Article 14 of the Rule). <br />
<a name='more'></a>We’ll be going to dinner at 6 p.m. at the new restaurant on North Genesee Street, <i>Tavolo.</i> Please consider coming to both or either. See you there!<br />
<br />
Our <b>next Gathering</b> will be Sunday, <b>February 17</b> at 2 p.m. Katie and I will be talking about Catholic Social Teaching and Immigration, in particular.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>— Mary Stronach, OFS, formation director.</i></div>
R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-29381722976492138572019-01-12T12:46:00.000-05:002019-01-12T12:47:49.450-05:00Order Honors Parish Nurse<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZypmYuPNO93CskOsobO6lQ4Pq8RoBDUaUpNPYmNC7-6R6XjdJEa2y51adEBh9FcyJ1YliKPyIjPxTSapbZgBZxP2aJBLPmLojQ4UN1GYBARXEdE_WyPLzKdQH6YjZD7AeGzhCAf80_Ck/s1600/1KathleenCarsten_7953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kathleen Carsten" border="0" data-original-height="163" data-original-width="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZypmYuPNO93CskOsobO6lQ4Pq8RoBDUaUpNPYmNC7-6R6XjdJEa2y51adEBh9FcyJ1YliKPyIjPxTSapbZgBZxP2aJBLPmLojQ4UN1GYBARXEdE_WyPLzKdQH6YjZD7AeGzhCAf80_Ck/s1600/1KathleenCarsten_7953.jpg" title="" /></a></div>
The Secular Franciscan Order in the U.S. recently honored a Detroit parish nurse with its "Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation" Award.<br />
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At the National Chapter in St. Louis last October, JPIC Chair Carolyn Townes, OFS, introduced the 2018 JPIC Award winner, Kathleen Carsten, OFS, as someone who lives her life with “two feet of love in action.” With one foot, she meets the immediate need; with the second foot, she addresses the issue.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Convert and OFS member since 2015, Carsten has worked as a faith community nurse for St. Aloysius Church in downtown Detroit since 1999. She serves the health needs of the poor and homeless of the area. Kathleen has built a relationship and an understanding of the elderly of downtown Detroit and, especially those who lived at Griswold Apartment Building, where in 2013 elderly residents were facing eviction under new ownership (with an expired Section 8 HUD affordable housing contract). Many of the elderly had lived in their apartment for over 30 years. <br />
Kathleen decided to do something.<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYStaAnbOt35J7FWyRsvgXHLL8G0cH4-El3e4j0hhE0HH1EuKeI2d-WiPQ504J0DIrsXICw7E4065hCZuEQuKDdb_2UYj8tdgx6V1TvslD755lL-6uzVFqPBkbTVTwyhSShrE7PdhSNho/s1600/1CarolynTownes-KathleenCarsten_7956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Carolyn Townes and Kathleen Carsten" border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="418" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYStaAnbOt35J7FWyRsvgXHLL8G0cH4-El3e4j0hhE0HH1EuKeI2d-WiPQ504J0DIrsXICw7E4065hCZuEQuKDdb_2UYj8tdgx6V1TvslD755lL-6uzVFqPBkbTVTwyhSShrE7PdhSNho/s320/1CarolynTownes-KathleenCarsten_7956.jpg" title="" width="245" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Carolyn Townes & Kathleen Carsten</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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“I contacted Dr. Garbette Garraway, a retired University of Detroit Mercy psychology professor. He also had a very active counseling practice. I shared with him the anguish of our elderly neighbors—he volunteered his time and expertise immediately to begin counseling the elderly residents.”<br />
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In the meantime, Kathleen discovered health issues due to renovations getting underway before the eviction deadline. It was the last week in January of 2014 and Kathleen was giving a routine health check-up to Johnny, one of the Griswold residents. He was having difficulty breathing in his apartment. There was dust everywhere. She called other residents and discovered that many of the elderly had chronic illnesses which were being exacerbated by the conditions in the building – filth, lead paint, elevators that were undependable – if available (one of the two elevators was dedicated to only construction workers.)<br />
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She made numerous complaint calls to the City of Detroit Building Department. She reached out to a St. Aloysius parishioner, Paul Novak, an attorney who volunteered his time. He and his staff met with about thirty residents and took their affidavits which were “more than enough to bring about a Verified Complaint for Injunctive Relief against Griswold Apartments.” On the same day that Paul and petitioners filed the complaint in court, the City of Detroit placed a “Cease and Desist” order -- all contract work had to stop.<br />
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Soon after, Kathleen and Paul met with Griswold residents, a construction manager and the building owner’s representative. In the seniors’ remaining three months at the facility, their physical health would not be further jeopardized. But their spiritual and mental health struggled from the lingering losses of close friends and community, and the rising anxiety of starting all over again. “Our work needed to continue,” said Kathleen. <br />
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The Senior Housing Protection of Detroit organization, known as SHP-D, was formed when the Griswold incident happened. Its focus was to make city planning and government officials aware of the plight of the poor seniors and to stress the need for continued low-income housing in Detroit. <br />
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Through this organization and through the work of Dr. Tam Perry, Wayne State University School of Social Work, her associates, the College of Nursing at Wayne State University, and St. Aloysius, the former residents of Griswold participated in research that revealed the effects of unplanned relocation stress (breaking up of social networks, grief, loneliness, trauma, lack of trust and whether older adults fit into a new Detroit). <br />
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The results of the efforts included:<br />
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* The new owners of two nearby Section 8 HUD apartments promised to keep the HUD contract for another ten years. Renovation of the apartments has begun, with seniors in residence. Careful attention has been made to make sure their health is not compromised by the construction.<br />
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* Key policy makers and Detroit’s mayor have brought senior housing to the forefront of their discussions<br />
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* SHP-D has contributed to the City's Affordable Housing Strategy. Members of the coalition gave public testimony in support of the Affordable Housing Trust Fund established in September 2017 and an Inclusionary Housing Ordinance which mandates that 20% of new housing developments be classified as affordable.<br />
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* The work has also served as a training ground for young adult students in nursing, social work, and urban planning.<br />
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-- by Mary Stronach, OFSR Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-66548104459598101972018-12-06T17:06:00.000-05:002018-12-06T17:39:49.974-05:00Christmas Party on Sunday, Dec. 16<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0Q2VvQtgwGTf22O8fwTCJEP3kDw58nLE2El6agUjYXE4fThW7UIJLXFDKpa9wW2lqYTykdQh3xGSyQgg2sg1PYQIy2MgCFPu88cHbf2T-MPX14BxP4D65CEVo2ZV6lQJiIOuHNXGZ60/s1600/Xmas+Relgious+Ornament+crop004sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="582" data-original-width="480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0Q2VvQtgwGTf22O8fwTCJEP3kDw58nLE2El6agUjYXE4fThW7UIJLXFDKpa9wW2lqYTykdQh3xGSyQgg2sg1PYQIy2MgCFPu88cHbf2T-MPX14BxP4D65CEVo2ZV6lQJiIOuHNXGZ60/s200/Xmas+Relgious+Ornament+crop004sm.jpg" width="164" /></a></div>
Instead of the normal monthly gathering at the Parish Center this month, St. Joseph Fraternity will hold its Christmas Party at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 16, at Kitlas Restaurant at <span class="w8qArf"></span><span class="LrzXr">2242 Broad St, Frankfort, </span><br />
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<span class="LrzXr">Members and guests will be able to order off a special menu. To reserve a spot, contact Mary Stronach, OFS, at 315-796-9284 or stronach@kateriregion.org.</span><br />
<span class="LrzXr"><br /></span>R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-47255038174237282502018-11-02T16:13:00.001-04:002018-11-02T16:13:49.223-04:00Fraternity Elects Servant Leaders<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4n83G9nGdPTXsEGXbRBZnPR7autEIFNd2gcww28I_d6UcgbzQ8NmWXp89dzhIONUfp0DQcIkYBqHzu9za-pgZMMgLMLXHwrkodICzZkffGkjl0Cz9exJuOIw1ZTiap4tDIzm0v9vLv0o/s1600/council+pic+from+link.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Servant Leaders Mary & Bob Stronach, Marsha Kistner and Katie Koscinski" border="0" data-original-height="214" data-original-width="309" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4n83G9nGdPTXsEGXbRBZnPR7autEIFNd2gcww28I_d6UcgbzQ8NmWXp89dzhIONUfp0DQcIkYBqHzu9za-pgZMMgLMLXHwrkodICzZkffGkjl0Cz9exJuOIw1ZTiap4tDIzm0v9vLv0o/s200/council+pic+from+link.tiff" title="servant leaders" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Mary, Bob, Marsha & Katie</b></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Professed members of St. Joseph Fraternity have elected servant leaders.<br />
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The minister is Robert G. Stronach, OFS. Other newly elected are:<br />
<ul>
<li>Vice Minister: Catherine "Katie" Koscinski, OFS.</li>
<li>Secretary: Marsha U. Kistner, OFS.</li>
<li>Treasurer: Mary LaRocco, OFS.</li>
<li>Formation Director: Mary T. Stronach, OFS.</li>
</ul>
<a name='more'></a>The elections took place Oct. 21 at St. Joseph-St. Patrick Parish Rectory. Presiding over the proceedings was Linda Quaranto, OFS, regional councilor with the St. Kateri Tekakwitha Region (covering most of upstate New York and northwestern Pennsylvania). Serving as the pastoral witness was interim Spiritual Assistant Bill Geary, OFS.<br />
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The newly elected, along with acting Spiritual Assistant Bill Geary, comprise a council that is tasked with guiding and animating the fraternity.<br />
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<br />R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-53751576208010404232018-05-22T23:15:00.001-04:002018-05-22T23:15:44.063-04:00Celebrating 50 Years of Priesthood<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouvvwbbjf9CDWCRz998bcV-WLb02WSyGhXNuwo5LRFw2XShyrvgqOyn3AdzsWPKuDAjOvb9jLaTIoOKxu_VV6q218qJtZlN7lxpg-EMviBIctvhJM-QUuKhKpqJOqlv4E1GSxq9fV638/s1600/IMG_0943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fr. LaFache and Fr. Dellos" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjouvvwbbjf9CDWCRz998bcV-WLb02WSyGhXNuwo5LRFw2XShyrvgqOyn3AdzsWPKuDAjOvb9jLaTIoOKxu_VV6q218qJtZlN7lxpg-EMviBIctvhJM-QUuKhKpqJOqlv4E1GSxq9fV638/s200/IMG_0943.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a>
Secular Franciscans joined in the 50th Anniversary Celebration May 20 for Fr. Richard Dellos and Fr. Anthony LaFache of St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church, Utica, NY. Several Fraternity members even served on the 50th Anniversary Committee.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Hundreds filled the pews at St. Joseph-St. Patrick for the 10:30 a.m. celebratory Mass, including religious, community and political leaders as well as friends and family from near and far.<br />
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Following Mass, 500 people packed Daniel's Banquet facility in New Hartford for an anniversary dinner.<br />
<a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZHVFX12IEsJlnmdD2" target="_blank">See more photos.</a>R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-81686889257332027652018-02-07T16:37:00.000-05:002018-02-07T16:37:11.626-05:00Regional Reps Visit FraternityRegional Councilor Linda Quaranto, OFS, and Sr. Pat Larkin, OSF, made a formal fraternal and pastoral visitation to St. Joseph Fraternity in January.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />Linda discussed the importance of the visitation and a need for increased Secular Franciscan vocations to fill the spiritual void that people are experiencing in the world. <br /><br />She encouraged fraternity members to trust in the Holy Spirit, and to not be afraid to take on fraternity responsibilities, embracing it as a team process.<br /><br />R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-7938570058192073832018-01-08T16:25:00.000-05:002018-02-07T16:44:55.859-05:00Franciscan Women for 21st CenturyA Franciscan Day of Reflection on Saturday, Sept. 16, sponsored by St. Joseph Fraternity, focused on three early Franciscan women and their relevance for the 21st century.<br />
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<a name='more'></a><br />
The speaker, Kevin C.A. Elphick, D. Min., discussed St. Angela of Foligno, Lady Jacopa, and Mother Juana of the Cross.<br />
<br />Members of three other fraternities attended: Holy Family in Vernon; St. Thomas More in Fonda, and St. Francis in Binghamton.<br />
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A member of the Franciscan Brothers of the Resurrection, Elphick works fulltime for the Department of Veterans Affairs as a supervisor with the Veterans and Military Suicide Prevention Hotline.<br />
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He holds a Doctorate in Ministry from Graduate Theological Foundation. He earned his master’s degree in Franciscan Studies from St. Bonaventure University, and a master’s in Religious Studies from Loyola University, Chicago. He is a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. He taught at St. Bernard’s Institute as adjunct faculty. He is an inaugural board member with the St. Marianne Cope Shrine and Museum in Syracuse. He serves on the Executive Committee of the Franciscan Federation.<br />
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In May of 2017 he presented a paper on St. Francis of Assisi with the Franciscan Institute Panel at the International Congress on Medieval Studies at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, and in July delivered a paper on the Third Order Franciscan, Mother Juana de la Cruz (1481–1534), at Leeds University, England. This paper is being incorporated into a forthcoming book from the University of Amsterdam Press. <br />
<br />R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comUtica, NY, USA43.100903 -75.23266443.008148500000004 -75.3940255 43.1936575 -75.0713025tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-80230248874552274252017-03-26T16:45:00.000-04:002017-03-26T16:49:32.582-04:00‘Very Awesome’ Anniversary<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMubMPlS0DJLKZn109ap-_27wPbESZ8vGTKCOjk0YVfFAVpVUDQAiNZwSBQ-utuhBg5mT_qHiAvnbqyDbuhmT_rXoNfI_VQuFZ3_SABYSkKO9lGvs7BYOZwg9CUsBFkhOYBESAgOjXfcw/s1600/FrRichardDellos_1640a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fr. Richard Dellos" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMubMPlS0DJLKZn109ap-_27wPbESZ8vGTKCOjk0YVfFAVpVUDQAiNZwSBQ-utuhBg5mT_qHiAvnbqyDbuhmT_rXoNfI_VQuFZ3_SABYSkKO9lGvs7BYOZwg9CUsBFkhOYBESAgOjXfcw/s200/FrRichardDellos_1640a1.jpg" title="" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fr. Richard Dellos</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Having Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in a parish may be a rare achievement.<br />
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But celebrating 25 years of 24/7 adoration "is very awesome," Fr. Richard Dellos declared.<br />
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The pastor of St. Joseph and St. Patrick Parish in Utica was addressing over 200 people on March 4 who gathered to celebrate the silver anniversary with Mass and brunch. They came from a host of parishes in the Eastern Region of the Syracuse Diocese, and they all spend an hour or more each week in the Adoration Chapel at St. Joseph & St. Patrick.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Father Dellos pointed to the impact of Eucharistic adoration.<br />
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For Pope John Paul II, he said, "the Eucharist gave strength and meaning to all his activities."<br />
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Pope Francis, he noted, sees Eucharistic Adoration as restoring a "sense of the supernatural."<br />
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"Wherever there is 24/7 Eucharistic adoration," Father Dellos said, "there will be a stronger robust parish with lots of confessions." That's because "people of such a parish are aware of the majesty of God and want to be close to Him." It also helps people to better appreciate the sacredness of the Mass, he said, or as John Paul would put it: "to rekindle Eucharistic amazement."<br />
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He said St. Teresa of Calcutta regarded time spent with the Blessed Sacrament as the "best time you'll spend on earth."<br />
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Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, he added, put it another way: "The greatest love story of all time is continued in a tiny white host."<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsow23jQnYQYrHzQh9vICdiNMTByXMKlVRkL5RvYXUx4YG4lXFYhjDoFN0R8-j44GdHsCMl82eDqmDM3kHdbGQSqSFM6NKAbe8K7gERqiCryimhMLYtNUGu8vYxkf1p2WiIepGzfSVbI8/s1600/RoseMarieRoberts-BettyFrank_0162a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rose Marie Roberts and Betty Frank" border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsow23jQnYQYrHzQh9vICdiNMTByXMKlVRkL5RvYXUx4YG4lXFYhjDoFN0R8-j44GdHsCMl82eDqmDM3kHdbGQSqSFM6NKAbe8K7gERqiCryimhMLYtNUGu8vYxkf1p2WiIepGzfSVbI8/s320/RoseMarieRoberts-BettyFrank_0162a1.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rose Marie Roberts and Betty Frank</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Adoration Coordinator Rose Marie Roberts referred to another love story -- that of the woman who was the driving force behind Utica’s Perpetual Adoration. <br />
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"We're celebrating 25 years and we're honoring you, Betty," she announced to Elizabeth “Betty” Frank, OFS.<br />
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Betty, a Secular Franciscan, co-founded the Adoration Chapel with then-pastor Fr. Antone Kandrac, OFM Conv., after they both received a powerful "call" while attending a conference in Syracuse.<br />
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Never one to miss a moment to promote praying before the Eucharist, Betty gave marching orders to the crowd:<br />
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"What you can do is to go out and spread the word. Invite people to come. The younger, the better."<br />
<br />R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-14889292934699609472017-01-08T17:34:00.002-05:002017-01-08T17:34:58.288-05:00Brunch Celebrates Life of FraternitySt. Joseph's Fraternity held its annual "Christmas" party on Jan. 8, with members, spouses and Franciscan-hearted friends gathering for the Sunday buffet brunch at the Radisson Hotel-Utica Centre.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Eighteen people participated.<br />
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Minister Bob Stronach, OFS, opened the festivities with the Bessing of St. Clare of Assisi, which urged the steadfast pursuit of "prudent happiness."<br />
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Mary Stronach, OFS, distributed pieces of paper, which sported the name of an attribute or quality, such as Brother Light, Sister Justice, Sister Giver, Sister Generous, Brother Persistent. She asked everyone to ponder the attribute each received and think about ways to incorporate it in his or her life in 2017.<br />
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During the meal, fraternity friend Ellen Benton, evangelism coordinator at St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church, announced that the parish would celebrate the 5th anniversary of St. Marianne Cope's feast day with a triduum featuring services and speakers from Jan. 21 to 23.<br />
<br />R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-14004851194899406312016-10-07T17:19:00.001-04:002017-01-07T10:22:39.187-05:00Fraternity Has New Servant Leaders<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWI0I-2cVLNWDnA97WIwsNP9oe1X_GlU5vjr9j9LviVHBvvpYaJaRD4VwVs6890xHYXdRXTuq9vhL-taPVgT5OiRXBtPnBQlwr8eOy6BWp3OAWL8SYsGd0Hc3tuM6G_1pwiE4xRtseexA/s1600/Bob08628a+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Robert Stronach" border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWI0I-2cVLNWDnA97WIwsNP9oe1X_GlU5vjr9j9LviVHBvvpYaJaRD4VwVs6890xHYXdRXTuq9vhL-taPVgT5OiRXBtPnBQlwr8eOy6BWp3OAWL8SYsGd0Hc3tuM6G_1pwiE4xRtseexA/s200/Bob08628a+crop.jpg" title="" width="116" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Robert Stronach</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
St. Joseph Fraternity boasts a new servant leadership team.<br />
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Robert Stronach, OFS, (formerly vice minister) is now minister, succeeding Joanne Lockwood, OFS, who stepped down due to work commitments.<br />
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Others on the team are:<br />
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<a name='more'></a>-- Vice minister <b>Cynthia Barres</b>, OFS (formerly treasurer).<br />
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-- Secretary <b>Marsha Kistner</b>, OFS, succeeding Roberta Mickey, OFS, who is moving out of state.<br />
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-- Treasurer <b>Katie Koscinski,</b> OFS.<br />
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-- Formation director <b>Concetta Carcone,</b> OFS.R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-16202785837608892002015-12-01T19:59:00.001-05:002015-12-03T15:03:23.890-05:003 Make Profession into Order<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVsyK6DgM4JEeRQsjvFecqKE-bVZxbLIUMuqDGYAAGbhaaswcG6J0-f32wB_HSXUhSrd_b8MZg2YqZSCtxCrUKVxSqJ5RsMEgC3jR59BjXHDGSGe7yQ-oiFTk8W99Bz65W6TpTp28_pg/s1600/Walt-Doris-Concetta_2201crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="New Professed Members" border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqVsyK6DgM4JEeRQsjvFecqKE-bVZxbLIUMuqDGYAAGbhaaswcG6J0-f32wB_HSXUhSrd_b8MZg2YqZSCtxCrUKVxSqJ5RsMEgC3jR59BjXHDGSGe7yQ-oiFTk8W99Bz65W6TpTp28_pg/s320/Walt-Doris-Concetta_2201crop.jpg" title="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Walt Raymond, OFS; Doris Horton, OFS; Concetta Carcone, OFS.</i></td></tr>
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UTICA, NY -- St. Joseph Fraternity and the Secular Franciscan Order have three new professed members. <b>Concetta Carcone</b>, OFS, <b>Doris Horton</b>, OFS, and <b>Walter Raymond</b>, OFS, made their professions during an afternoon mass Nov. 22 at St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Fratermnity Minister Joanne Lockwood, OFS, presided over the profession ceremony along with Fr. Linus DeSantis, OFM Conv., who came from the friary at Assumption Church in Syracuse. Fr. Richard Dellos, pastor, concelebrated mass with Father Linus.<br />
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Following mass was a reception in the parish center.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAONbwn1BXEQuMJypfRJwbMJRC4JfjbpjkXl5hFFMMlQdg3Qrigwr0W8zPqOw5Bb3AHPQB77Hh8lFWGmH3AktqUJiMQNXTl4kBQMbuIAmG-cTPWxowxzs03caJ99lCfDDkQOaAYmx5bo/s1600/Concetta-Doris-Walt-CutCake_2206aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Newly professed cut a celebratory cake." border="0" height="381" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTAONbwn1BXEQuMJypfRJwbMJRC4JfjbpjkXl5hFFMMlQdg3Qrigwr0W8zPqOw5Bb3AHPQB77Hh8lFWGmH3AktqUJiMQNXTl4kBQMbuIAmG-cTPWxowxzs03caJ99lCfDDkQOaAYmx5bo/s400/Concetta-Doris-Walt-CutCake_2206aa.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The three newly professed members cut their celebratory cake.</i></td></tr>
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<br />R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-46421125746765730062015-11-30T14:47:00.000-05:002015-12-03T15:12:26.140-05:00Member Elected Internat'l Councilor<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeopyC-FnnW5jQ-X-ifrqzXmODWO3hdxaeHbjYKYcujO986jjrk-KInPkhTWHD5T6523xhA315_D44umyQvOQI7PDLusKDc_PrvRnQDhOxplrmXZS0phpTyPmF-8YbYAhMDDZPGpVpPY/s1600/Mary+Stronach_0356crop1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mary Stronach" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbeopyC-FnnW5jQ-X-ifrqzXmODWO3hdxaeHbjYKYcujO986jjrk-KInPkhTWHD5T6523xhA315_D44umyQvOQI7PDLusKDc_PrvRnQDhOxplrmXZS0phpTyPmF-8YbYAhMDDZPGpVpPY/s200/Mary+Stronach_0356crop1a.jpg" title="" width="132" /></a>Fraternity member Mary Stronach, OFS, has been re-elected international councilor, representing the U.S. at the international level. Her election at the October national Chapter of Elections required her to step down as newly elected formation director of St. Joseph Fraternity. The Fraternity Council has appointed Secretary and Formation Team Member <b>Roberta Mickey</b>, OFS, as Formation Team leader.<br />
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Former formation director for St. Kateri Tekakwitha Region, Mary has served the national fraternity as public relations co-chair and the international fraternity as an interpreter-translator. She teaches Spanish at Utica College, is outreach coordinator for the Multicultural Association of Medical Interpreters (MAMI), and operates Stronach Associates public relations consulting. R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-22970297536995698032015-09-21T22:55:00.001-04:002015-09-21T23:39:45.079-04:00Members Elect Fraternity Council<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pml76RewaBUeePOC1t-TYYZRkdaE_3AR71oT68hrxzQmIks6O19TweMHH_meMX4meHq3ZlOVBiXocrGv7NfQcjPYVBf5A7x2Iy_KjjUnfvdPx2Jqbj7J0IMwG8jDZXvhZE7pqMjvD_0/s1600/SrCaritas_9811a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sister Caritas" border="0" height="143" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Pml76RewaBUeePOC1t-TYYZRkdaE_3AR71oT68hrxzQmIks6O19TweMHH_meMX4meHq3ZlOVBiXocrGv7NfQcjPYVBf5A7x2Iy_KjjUnfvdPx2Jqbj7J0IMwG8jDZXvhZE7pqMjvD_0/s200/SrCaritas_9811a1.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Sister Caritas</b></i></td></tr>
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UTICA, NY -- Professed members of St. Joseph Fraternity elected their Fraternity Council for the next three years during their monthly gathering Sept. 20 at St. Joseph-St Patrick Parish. They also welcomed Sister Caritas, a visiting Franciscan who operates an orphanage in Uganda.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>The leaders are: <br />
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<li>Minister: <b>Joanne Lockwood</b>, OFS, elected to her second three-year term.</li>
<li>Vice Minister: <b>Robert Stronach</b>, OFS.</li>
<li>Secretary: <b>Roberta Mickey</b>, OFS.</li>
<li>Treasurer: <b>Cynthia Barres</b>, OFS.</li>
<li>Formation Director: <b>Mary Stronach</b>, OFS (who completes a term as international councilor in October).</li>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaa1znrRXa6xI1Q10Nsly_B02mbzi5fSi9Is4vJ2LMMJsDU9sVJcHrap8IKezFk9sSPn2i4U1yYlTjDUcoJPtTZ4SiVbNwl3vUqVPS33Ldb7j6faWVa0LiE04Z2_PNBznGzwZRaW3xBU/s1600/council_9848a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Fraternity Council" border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKaa1znrRXa6xI1Q10Nsly_B02mbzi5fSi9Is4vJ2LMMJsDU9sVJcHrap8IKezFk9sSPn2i4U1yYlTjDUcoJPtTZ4SiVbNwl3vUqVPS33Ldb7j6faWVa0LiE04Z2_PNBznGzwZRaW3xBU/s400/council_9848a1.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>From left: <b>Cynthia Barres, Roberta Mickey, Joanne <br />Lockwood, Mary Stronach, and Robert Stronach.</b></i></td></tr>
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<b>Linda Quaranto</b>, OFS, regional councilor for St. Kateri Tekakawitha Region, presided over the elections, with Spiritual Assistant <b>Bill Geary</b>, OFS, serving as the pastoral witness.<br />
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Participating were 16 professed members, three candidates, one inquirer, and three observers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznywP3feiawneZAwwfLg3hK1x_P5uGCcB-6UVjL-uzCy79_PU2qxoTYAjeQiIDJIYptnGSA6Jfo41Dy9prfzz3Mdh1_NCZvAPuay8C-0E6P5E3-IYUDSd8_W0olggTQe8yWEnvCB16xo/s1600/SrCaritas_9817a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sister Caritas" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznywP3feiawneZAwwfLg3hK1x_P5uGCcB-6UVjL-uzCy79_PU2qxoTYAjeQiIDJIYptnGSA6Jfo41Dy9prfzz3Mdh1_NCZvAPuay8C-0E6P5E3-IYUDSd8_W0olggTQe8yWEnvCB16xo/s200/SrCaritas_9817a1.jpg" title="" width="90" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Sr. Caritas</b></i></td></tr>
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Among the observers were National Councilor <b>Mary Frances Charsky</b>, OFS, and Sr. <b>Caritas Barajingitwa</b>, LSOSF, a Franciscan sister who operates Holy Family Vocational Orphanage in Uganda (rescuing children whose parents died of the AIDS epidemic). She is visiting the U.S. to receive the U.S. Secular Franciscan Order’s Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Award.<br />
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Members voted to have the fraternity donate $250 to the orphanage, plus contributed another $250 out of their own pockets, bringing the total donation to $500.<br />
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<a href="https://goo.gl/photos/6HDBg72xhGhYtXDj8" target="_blank">PHOTO GALLERY</a><br />
<br />R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-32298092748655838202014-12-26T14:14:00.002-05:002015-09-21T23:53:11.244-04:00Fraternity Celebrates Christmas<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJgPGveloJeHXzUvtEjK_WCCWZjs0csBzCzSmhwz59T_6IXt1OHk95EiQC-_tNzdfz79BgPSZAyJ1mbRukmc1_72P_DiXUYMBXh8KXFkrttdV_AhU8iezyoxEjpltOy8vsSE6FglmL6c/s1600/IMG_8641c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="61" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRJgPGveloJeHXzUvtEjK_WCCWZjs0csBzCzSmhwz59T_6IXt1OHk95EiQC-_tNzdfz79BgPSZAyJ1mbRukmc1_72P_DiXUYMBXh8KXFkrttdV_AhU8iezyoxEjpltOy8vsSE6FglmL6c/s1600/IMG_8641c.jpg" width="75" /></a></div>
Twenty seven fraternity members and guests celebrated Christmas dinner together Sumday, Dec. 21, at Swifty's Restaurant in Utica.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssvffb4CNEFbcPbhPGpkvtUhenD3rQSi-fgJ4o0At8PZvgl6q4prVyxzd33kv8zkuz6sgBguMF5W-8vzxuG3R_3xDQvLFCsvxwGPsFlJvg4p8vFrYFA9IikHMJL6ZKIuqcv9jt-i2VUw/s1600/IMG_8650c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhssvffb4CNEFbcPbhPGpkvtUhenD3rQSi-fgJ4o0At8PZvgl6q4prVyxzd33kv8zkuz6sgBguMF5W-8vzxuG3R_3xDQvLFCsvxwGPsFlJvg4p8vFrYFA9IikHMJL6ZKIuqcv9jt-i2VUw/s1600/IMG_8650c1.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Fraternity Minister <br />Joanne Lockwood, OFS</i></td></tr>
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The festive meal was sprinkled with spirit, from <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIrG-6yITtQ6hLXvj2Nk2h8TWjm1gWSDDhCz6Yzs9VT-kM_H_3Gxj0231YXkgkmg0oAnew5kWDK6sA31y5Gd4oeWHrsLbmu8DgBTcWtHNXtO9MSbn4xn0dRXwMT0N8k0X0d7zUdJUrbQ/s1600/IMG_8645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIrG-6yITtQ6hLXvj2Nk2h8TWjm1gWSDDhCz6Yzs9VT-kM_H_3Gxj0231YXkgkmg0oAnew5kWDK6sA31y5Gd4oeWHrsLbmu8DgBTcWtHNXtO9MSbn4xn0dRXwMT0N8k0X0d7zUdJUrbQ/s1600/IMG_8645.JPG" width="130" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jeannette Williams, OFS</i></td></tr>
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the opening prayer led by Minister Joanne Lockwood, OFS... to a formation talk on the nativity by Katie Koscinski, OFS... to discussing the public expression of the real meaning of the season (such as a firehouse "Happy Birthday Jesus" sign).<br />
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Donations were collected for the Christ Child Society to help young children in need. Jeannette Bernadette Williams, OFS, spoke of the Society's founder, Mary Virginia Merrick, and led a prayer for her canonization.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsD372hM7A27Jtyc427IYqydvQpxf0unXsujYsH3YAa4xnBZcJljpuqC5nd77gjXoGzcdOB2qkKb2xqYtdAOofMv-kU7AARlUj8fFF7wM8nCgo9F9zy9-OkAX8_o4wGhcrz9eWMigCbQ0/s1600/IMG_8641c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Katie Koscinski" border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsD372hM7A27Jtyc427IYqydvQpxf0unXsujYsH3YAa4xnBZcJljpuqC5nd77gjXoGzcdOB2qkKb2xqYtdAOofMv-kU7AARlUj8fFF7wM8nCgo9F9zy9-OkAX8_o4wGhcrz9eWMigCbQ0/s200/IMG_8641c.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Katie Koscinski, OFS</i></td></tr>
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Extra food from the buffet was donated to Mother Marianne's West Side Kitchen.<br />
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<a href="https://flic.kr/s/aHsk6xhvkN" target="_blank">Photo Gallery </a></div>
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<br />R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-64388122346732087312014-07-05T01:10:00.001-04:002015-09-21T23:43:07.327-04:0070 & 65 Years of Profession<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKqQF5k2wzUpQN5bLYzU2gGPtY2azMhKsuWGrZtuw8QVdl6akw4B8ZztXvKS6GUTR4LdKznS0_RfkODv74zxRdwkDmiwuzpGAy-8sGhBx-sIzmTFEEPYepuc7xmentMMugzFmbwjwrl4/s1600/CakeF0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Anniversary cake" border="0" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtKqQF5k2wzUpQN5bLYzU2gGPtY2azMhKsuWGrZtuw8QVdl6akw4B8ZztXvKS6GUTR4LdKznS0_RfkODv74zxRdwkDmiwuzpGAy-8sGhBx-sIzmTFEEPYepuc7xmentMMugzFmbwjwrl4/s1600/CakeF0001.jpg" title="" width="150" /></a></div>
Members of St. Joseph Fraternity recently honored two long-time Secular Franciscans -- Joseph Schmitt, OFS, and Elizabeth (Betty) Frank, OFS, who this year celebrate the 70th anniversary and 65th anniversary, respectively, of their professions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPzwB7NMKODQSDqio3kO-7DyulNDDeeKuKptvwmgxqeslt_civRVi_Ds4DvoJSgXumWxqdX3DncvkZ9G6-jPaSOtAcVQQePlpVLU-wzyv_5xzt4ZhKcegfpnmG5O1BKKynQgFSfaGB6A/s1600/JoeSchmitt08429a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Joe Schmitt" border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPzwB7NMKODQSDqio3kO-7DyulNDDeeKuKptvwmgxqeslt_civRVi_Ds4DvoJSgXumWxqdX3DncvkZ9G6-jPaSOtAcVQQePlpVLU-wzyv_5xzt4ZhKcegfpnmG5O1BKKynQgFSfaGB6A/s1600/JoeSchmitt08429a1.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joe Schmitt, OFS</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHntFae7_qc2jWjxW51DJEZ1vxm_NqE6jI9foeto0CSV3LRyDX2JPdlBRDbC6J3h8X3kfYAg50xU1gxG5VS7LCMW8e35oWVOcPY34p7zy6PKl5_8ZvxP7sLZe4XEJgv9ypymjWQ8XKHA/s1600/Betty+Frank2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Betty Frank" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSHntFae7_qc2jWjxW51DJEZ1vxm_NqE6jI9foeto0CSV3LRyDX2JPdlBRDbC6J3h8X3kfYAg50xU1gxG5VS7LCMW8e35oWVOcPY34p7zy6PKl5_8ZvxP7sLZe4XEJgv9ypymjWQ8XKHA/s1600/Betty+Frank2.jpg" title="" width="140" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Betty Frank, OFS</td></tr>
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Members hailed Joe's years devoted to social justice, the fraternity and the rosary. "No one can mention Joe without remembering his stories as a railroad engineer and his enduring love for trains," noted Minister Joanne Lockwood, OFS.<br />
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Betty spoke of how her love for St. Francis and the Rule influenced her life. She recalled transitioning between the older and newer versions of the Rule, with the current one more joyous.<br />
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"Now the fraternity is more community centered," she said.<br />
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Her advice to those in formation: "Become acquainted with the other members; they are humble and do a lot of charity on their own."R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2209403519557724845.post-32941138158832871772014-03-23T15:46:00.001-04:002014-03-23T15:50:47.950-04:00200 Celebrate St. Joseph's Table<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-COWwOwPX-o_6762SmJHJIYIaQ9vPd6LqAsqDja8otVKrMD2mxRGUp5RJ2m2xxntKn_DIzapZ-DGgoNLZqNtmTfeuJxZ-Tv1LiWVl36hPxTdDNjO7zAMlc2d7cAkyI5Wkn_w0LMt0D4/s1600/RickRoberts2276a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rick Roberts" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-COWwOwPX-o_6762SmJHJIYIaQ9vPd6LqAsqDja8otVKrMD2mxRGUp5RJ2m2xxntKn_DIzapZ-DGgoNLZqNtmTfeuJxZ-Tv1LiWVl36hPxTdDNjO7zAMlc2d7cAkyI5Wkn_w0LMt0D4/s1600/RickRoberts2276a1.jpg" height="100" title="" width="70" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Rick Roberts</i></td></tr>
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The celebration of St. Joseph's Feast Day -- first with mass and then song and refreshment at "St. Joseph's Table" -- "truly was a success," reports Rick Roberts, OFS, who helped organize the event. The celebration took place March 19, with mass at St. Joseph-St. Patrick Church on Columbia Street in Utica, followed by a procession to the parish center for St. Joseph's Table.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Roberts elaborated: "According to Father (Richard) Dellos (pastor), about 200 people attended the Mass and he was pleased to see such a turnout in honor of St Joseph. We had media coverage including WKTV. Interestingly, the reporter from WKTV commented, 'It’s really great to see so many people in the same room all getting along so well.' …It was very well received, had a lot of compliments, and positive feedback from everyone. There were several good discussions about Saint Joseph and people were interested in learning more about him and in sharing their knowledge of him."<br />
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The history of St. Joseph’s Table dates back several centuries "when there was a severe famine in Sicily," noted Roberts. "The people prayed to St. Joseph for relief. The prayers were answered and the famine ended. The people then prepared a table with foods they had harvested. After thanking God and St. Joseph with prayer and song, everyone shared in the celebration at St. Joseph’s Table. Today, the tradition of St. Joseph’s Table continues in America and is wide spread throughout the Catholic Church." R Stronachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11105103062240404904noreply@blogger.com