April 21-28, 2024
Friar's Footnotes by Fr. John Prenger, OFP
Alleluia He is Risen! We pray you enjoy a holy and glorious Easter Season!
Hello and Resurrection Love to all!!
Keep your theological virtue of hope alive! It is kind of hard in today's troubled world. Our Risen Lord Jesus the Christ REIGNS!!
Our upcoming weekend scriptures are Acts 9: 26-31; Psalm 22; 1 John 4: 7-16 (17-21) and John 15: 1-8. The Acts reading tells of Barnabas sponsoring the newly converted Paul to the Jerusalem disciples, because they didn't trust Paul's conversion. The first letter of John, chapter 4 calls us to love one another because God demonstrated His love for us in Christ's dying for our sins. And it further highlights that as we abide in God and God in us, fear is cast out, but that we must demonstrate our love of God by loving our sister and brother.
The gospel presents Jesus saying 'I am the true vine' and that we are branches and are to always stay connected to Him.
Chapel Schedule
Tuesday noon Eucharist (April 23), Fr. John presiding
(After that Eucharist, Franciscan Formation for our novice Shannon)
Thursday noon Eucharist (April 25), Fr. Jim presiding
Saturday 5 pm Eucharist (April 27), Fr. Jim presiding
(Note to any who follow our service on YouTube--both of our filming technicians (Jim Jantz and Micah Prenger) are unavailable this weekend, SO....it is very unlikely that our Saturday Eucharist will be on or posted.)
Other news: there will be a memorial service at our chapel on May 18 for Louis Van Drie, a very committed member of our worshipping community who died recently. The Eucharist will be celebrated at noon followed at 1 pm with a public time for expressing to the family what this wonderful man of faith has meant to any of you.
Please pray for all the volunteers from various churches who will be serving throughout Columbia this Saturday, April 27. I will be joining them. Our fellowship has been a part of this effort all 10 years that it has been done as a witness to Columbia.
SAYINGS OF THE SAINTS.
"The practices most pleasing to God are those which He himself imposes--to bear meekly and patiently the adversities He sends or which our neighbors inflict on us." St Mary Crescentia, Poor Clare (Franciscan sister)
"To be a healing presence at the heart of a wounded world." and "The sufferings of the world should find an echo in your hearts." Anna Dengel, founder of Medical Mission Sisters
"I do not seek to understand that I may believe; but I believe so that I may understand. For I believe this also, that unless I believe, I shall not understand." St Anselm
That's it. Carry the power and love of the Risen Christ wherever you go. Much Love!
Fr. John ofp
Padre’s Pontifications by Fr. Jim McNeely
March 2024
Grace and peace from the Priest-In-Residence! It’s been a year as of the 24th that you all have allowed me to serve the community by assisting Fr. John in priestly tasks. Truth is that this past year has been wonderful because of each of you. Your prayers and many acts of kindness and love fill me with joy and humility. Thanks for one of the best years of my whole life!
1. We have an early Easter this year (March 31). I hope you will make attending Holy Week services a priority…they are the very best services of the year in my view because of the power of the holiday and the dramatic way the liturgy dramatizes it.
2. The Columbia brood have studied Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together as part of our Lenten discipline. Those of you outside our area can read the book, which is a profound text on how to live together as Christ-followers. Many thanks to Jim Jantz, who has been simply spectacular in leading our discussions.
3. As we look ahead as a community of faith (including those not in the Order), I want to ask two important questions that became the focus of my Lent:
a. What does it mean to love Jesus deeply from the heart?
b. How can I be more welcoming to others to be a part of us and/or the wider community of Christ followers?
4. Money. I know too many clergy talk too much about this subject: too much guilt and haranguing. Truth is that neither Fr. John nor I take a salary from the community for our ministry because we don’t want to be a burden. You all pay my military retirement with your taxes, so you already contribute to my life. So why raise the subject? Because the Order is still on a cliff edge just paying for the basic expenses of the community. If you worship at another congregation, that group should be paid first. But if you are part of the Columbia community and participate in our sacramental life, we could use your support.
5. Did you know that we now have a Monstrance for worshipping our Lord through the Blessed Sacrament?
6. We are a sacramental community. This means that the idea of God’s grace coming to us through the rites and rituals of our faith is a critical part of our identity. I want to emphasize two important sacraments we need to embrace and use MORE. First, we need to be more aggressive about the Sacrament of the Sick. When you are ill or injured or facing a surgical procedure, please let me or Fr. John know. We want to make the Church’s ministry available to you. Second, we need to avail ourselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Yes, it’s become one of my favorite topics. There is nothing more healing than hearing God’s forgiveness for our faults and sins. Again, Fr. John and I stand ready to help you.
7. Finally (for this month), July 29th we are having a social/outreach event for the community. We plan to attend the Kansas City Royals baseball game. No sermons, homilies, or “religious” stuff. We are just going to a game and inviting our friends to meet our community. Next month I will ask who is thinking about attending and getting some numbers out to you all, cost wise.
Dr. Jim McNeely+
Parent, Priest, Person
