Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • December 20, 2024 9 Thanks to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, for prayers answered. LD Are you called to the Secular Franciscan Life? The Secular Franciscan Order was established by St. Francis of Assisi more than 800 years ago. Their purpose is to bring the Gospel to life where members live and work. Secular Franciscans look for ways to embrace the Gospel in their lives and try to help others to do likewise. The St. Marianne Cope Fraternity of the Secular Franciscans meets on the second Sunday of each month after the 11:30 a.m. Mass in the St. Thomas the Apostle Parish Religious Education Building in Long Beach. A meal is included. Stop in and see what we are all about. For more information, contact Princy Harrison at (228) 342-2372 or princy- harrison@gmail.com . Our Lady’s Little Portion Fraternity meets on the third Saturday of the month at noon at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Columbia. For more information, contact Pattie Goloskie at (954) 647- 8790. Would you like to give more time to God, but wonder how to do that when your life is so busy? Do you long for holiness, and feel a need for support in growing spiritually? Perhaps your heart has been moved by stories of St. Francis of Assisi, or the Peace Prayer attributed to him, and you are seeking that same holy simplicity, true peace and perfect joy? If so, Christ may be calling you to explore the Secular Franciscan life. We would be happy to meet with you to share about the Franciscan journey. We invite you to contact us. The Secular Franciscan Order is an order within the Catholic Church, founded by St. Francis of Assisi during his life time, and canonically established in 1221 by Pope Honorius III. Our foundations come from the desire of ordi- nary people living in the times of St. Francis who wanted to join his new order. St. Francis counseled them not to leave their families or abandon their work in the world, but to embrace the Gospel in the ordinary circumstances of their lives. He wrote a Rule of life for these men and women who came to be known as the “Brothers and Sisters of Penance.” In later year these brothers and sisters were called members of the Third Order of St. Francis. Today we are known as Secular Franciscans, and our ini- tials are “OFS”. The Secular Franciscan Order is made up of women and men, single or married, or members of the diocesan clergy. We live in our homes and with our families but come together on a regular basis with our local Franciscan communities which we call Fraternities. Generally, we gather in fraternity once or twice a month to pray, to share with one another about our lives, and to continue our life long journey of formation. Both individually, and as fra- ternities, we engage in apostolic work and various ministries, with a particular outreach to the poor and marginalized, and a focus on peace, justice and care of creation. As Franciscans we are called to prayer and contemplation, as well as to an active presence in the world. The Secular Franciscan Order is a world-wide Order with over 300,000 members. In the United States there are over 600 local fraternities and approximately 12,000 professed members. The Holy See has entrusted the pastoral care of the Secular Franciscan Order to the Franciscan Friars of the First Order and Third Order Regular who serve as spiritu- al assistants to the OFS. Admission into the Order is gradually attained through a time of initiation and a period of forma- tion. It is a journey that involves three stages, culmi- nating in Profession. Profession is a solemn ecclesial act by which the candidate publicly affirms their personal commitment to live the Gospel according to the Rule, and a commitment to the fraternity. To be admitted to the Order a person must be a fully initiated member of the Catholic Church. In the United States the minimum age for perpetual profes- sion is 21; for temporary profession, 18. Youth and young adults who may be interested in Secular Franciscan Order , but are not ready to make a life- long commitment, may be interested in our program for Franciscan Youth. Hour of Grace Hour of Grace is a time of encounter with our Lord Jesus Christ present to us in the most Holy Sacrament of the altar; an opportunity to lift our voices and hearts to Christ in worship as He pours His graces upon us. This Hour of Grace takes place on the First Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Nativity Cathedral located at 870 Howard Avenue, Biloxi. Come and be renewed by the Lord! 2025 Dates for Hour of Grace January 2 February 6 March 6 April 3 May 1 September 4 October 2 November 6 December 4 To advertise in the Gulf Pine Catholic , call 228-702-2109 for more info, or email smccusker@biloxidiocese.org. The newspaper is mailed to over 12,000 Catholic homes every other week.