March 15-22, 2026
Friar's Footnotes by Fr. John Prenger, OFP
Hello to all!
Our upcoming weekend scriptures are Ezekiel 37: 12-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8: 8-11 and John 11: 1-45. The gospel is the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead establishing that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. The Ezekial reading is the Hebrew scripture (i.E. Old Testament) that prophesies that God will pour Spirit into us and raise up His People again. And the section of Romans emphasizes that the Spirit that raised Jesus from death will also raise up our mortal bodies. These scriptures in Lent promise us Resurrection and when we get to Easter, we celebrate that it actually happened to Our Lord and will happen for us too as we stay connected to Him.
Chapel Schedule
Noon Tuesday Eucharist (March 17, the feast of St Patrick), Fr. John presiding
+++++ALSO, at 7:30 pm, FRANCISCAN FRATERNITY BUSINESS MEETING on GoToMeeting. Remember that we are proposing new roles of servant leaders at that meeting.++++
NO EUCHARIST THURSDAY, MARCH 19, as there is a gathering of the clergy of our Central Diocese in St. Joseph
5 pm Saturday Eucharist (March 21), Fr. John presiding
Please remember and pray with our diocesan clergy this Thursday into Saturday as we gather for fellowship, visioning and prayer.
SAYINGS OF THE SAINTS
"Nothing that is truly human is foreign to me." St Augustine, quoting a Roman poet, Terence)
"I am the food of grown men: grow and you shall eat me. And you shall not change me into yourself as bodily food, but into Me, you will be changed." St Augustine in book 7 of his confessions
"Not the goods of this world but God
not riches, but God
not honors, but God
not distinction, but God
not dignities, but God
not advancement, but God
God always and in everything. St. Vincent Pallotti
Again, God bless us as we are in this season of Lent. Love to all,
Fr. John ofp
Padre’s Pontifications by Fr. Jim McNeely
September 2025
A Pastoral Statement
September 16, 2025
As a community of people committed to following the example of Saints Francis and Clare, we are stunned by the senseless violence that occurred last week, which ended in the murder of Charlie Kirk. We condemn in the strongest possible language the use of violence and hate against anyone, regardless of their political leanings.
We call for all Christian people – and especially those who follow a Franciscan calling – to embrace the virtues of peace, love, toleration, and compassion. Pray earnestly for the repose of the soul of our brother, Charlie Kirk. Pray for his wife and family. Pray for those involved in this shooting. And most of all, pray for those who found pleasure in the senseless murder of an innocent person.
As a community of faithful followers of Jesus, we call all people to re-examine our hearts and find new ways to be Christian examples in our communities. And we renew our belief that real compassion is found not in loving those easy to love, but those who challenge our comfort zones and disagree with us on any level.
-Fr. John Prenger, OFP
Pastor and Protector of the Order
-Fr. Jim McNeely
Priest in Residence and Friend of Francis
