February 15-22, 2026
Friar's Footnotes by Fr. John Prenger, OFP
Hello to all,
Well, it is here. LENT and its 40 day personal preparation for Holy Week and The Triduum (Three Days: Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil) begin for us this week. May this be a blessed and Christ-centered time for us.
The readings for the first Sunday of Lent are Genesis 2: 7-9, 3:1-7; Psalm 51; Romans 5: 12-19; and Matthew 4; 1-11. The Genesis account is the mythic story of humanity's fall as our whole race was tempted by the Serpent. The Romans' text is St. Paul's beautiful description about our FALL from grace through the first Adam and our salvation through the second Adam--The God-man, Jesus the Christ. The gospel is Matthew's account of Satan's temptation of the One who would SAVE us by His stripes which heal and forgive us. These texts are a powerful way leading us to recommit and reorient as DISCIPLES who are serious about bringing Christ, our Lord to our world that definitely needs Salvation.
Special thank you to Bishop Chris Keough ofp as he joined us to lead the Eucharist at the chapel last Thursday. We were wonderfully surprised by our sister Suzanne Bastin ofp and her son Sam, who joined us too. It meant for a wonderful celebration.
Also, we are blessed to now have a PATRIARCH for our worldwide communion, Archbishop Charles Jones. He was chosen last week as our various Archbishops sought consensus in the Holy Spirit. Hold him in constant prayer, that he be faithful in his special call to lead us and be a bridge-builder in our Church Communion, which is within the CATHOLIC and ORTHODOX CHURCH worldwide. (And always pray for the Unity of the whole Body of Christ so that we will be a witness to the world.)
Chapel Schedule
This week we (any who can gather with us) are going to do a fellowship meal together beginning at the chapel at 6 pm to celebrate MARDI GRAS on Tuesday February 17 and will follow it with a solemn beginning of Lent with a simple ASH WEDNESDAY LITURGY with the imposition of ashes. That means that there WILL NOT be a service on Ash Wednesday itself. Should anyone be unable to be at our celebration Tuesday evening and wish to receive ashes, Fr. Jim and I will make them available for the asking.
Noon Thursday Eucharist (February 19), Fr. Jim presiding
5 pm Saturday Eucharist (February 21), Fr. John presiding
NOTE WELL: Franciscan Fraternity business meeting on GoToMeeting at 7:30 pm Saturday, February 21. Two items: Fraternity members accepting new leadership roles of service and the financial report.
SAYINGS OF THE SAINTS
"God regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed." And "Our sanctification did not depend upon changing our works, but in doing for God's sake that which we commonly do for our own." Brother Lawrence, the Carmelite lay brother whose work is THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD.
"The day of my spiritual awakening was the day I saw and knew I saw all things in God and God in all things." Mechtild of Magdeburg
That does it for me. Have a wonderful and insightful Lent!
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
