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Franciscan Gold: 2nd edition (now only $20) April 18, 2009

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Join in the celebration of the golden anniversary of the first Tertiary in our region. Franciscan Gold is the history of the 50 years since the first member was admitted in Papua New Guinea in 1959, written by Denis Woodbridge. Copies can be ordered online using the link on the resources page for $20 plus $5 postage anywhere in the world.
Alternatively, cheques in Australian Dollars made payable to TSSF (WA) may be sent to The Provincial Secretary, TSSF, 5 Mandora Way, Riverton, WA 6148.

2009 TSSF Newsletter April 18, 2009

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The first 2009 edition of the TSSF Australia and East Asia Newsletter can now be downloaded from this link.

An Order of Penitents April 1, 2009

Posted by Ted Witham in : News , add a comment

The Third Order marks the Friday before Palm Sunday as The Day of Penitence. On this day, Tertiaries meet to remind ourselves that St Francis founded the Third Order as an order of penitents, that is, people who take their Christian faith seriously.

We ask God to continue to forgive and heal us as we prepare to remember God’s love for us as shown by Jesus on the Cross.

Many Tertiaries will pray this Collect on the Day of Penitence:

Lord our God,
grant us grace to desire you with our whole heart;
that so desiring, we may seek and find you;
that so finding, may love you;
and so loving, may hate those sins
from which you have delivered us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

May you find a blessing on your journey.

Ted Witham tssf
Minister Provincial

TEN HURRAHS FOR CHRISTMAS! December 23, 2008

Posted by Ted Witham in : Blogs, Franciscan, Spirituality , add a comment

It is easy for Christians to criticise Christmas with its consumerism and sentimentality for example. But as a Franciscan, I resist giving oxygen to the negativity of the Christmas critics.
St Francis was positive. The San Damiano crucifix told him to repair the church, not point out its ruins and its faults. So, I have compiled a list of the 10 Things St Francis would approve in our culture’s celebration of our Lord’s Nativity.

1. Christmas cribs and other Nativity displays which show the birth of Jesus in poverty.

2. People filling churches and flocking to Carols by Candlelight to be touched in some way by the story of Christmas.

3. Christmas lunches put on for the homeless and the poor.

4. Politicians taking real action to help the homeless.

5. The financial system reflecting on the fall of Wall Street, and looking for ways to lift the poor in developing nations out of poverty.

6. Families are gathering in joy.

7. Donors to Christmas Bowl, Christian Blind Mission, and countless other charities.

8. Artists, singers, writers of carols and poems communicating the Gospel story.

9. Peacemakers in Palestine/Israel… and everywhere else.

10. Muslims, Hindus and others, who love Christmas as well as Christians do.

Happy Christmas!

SSF Video on YouTube August 25, 2008

Posted by brnathan in : Franciscan, Presentation Resources, Resources , add a comment

I have uploaded my first attempt at doing a video to give people a brief overview of our community onto Youtube. Please visist YouTube and comment, rate, the video. Also if you use a social networking site such as MySpace, Facebook etc, or have a website or blog, please consider either embedding (the best option) the video in your site or linking to the site at YouTube. If you’re not sure how to link or embed the video to your website, blog, MySpace, Facebook etc, or to link to it at YouTube please email me and I’ll try and help.

You can view the video at YouTube here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhfkeAj37fU

Pax

Br Nathan-James SSF

Please feel free to send comments, thoughts suggestions to me also if you don’t want to post to this site, or YouTube. Email Br Nathan-James.

New Anglican Rosary Blog August 16, 2008

Posted by brnathan in : Blogs, anglican prayer beads, anglican rosary , add a comment

Honouring the ways in which lives have been touched through experiences of making and using Anglican Rosaries

After 5 years of facilitating workshops on making and using Anglican Rosaries (Anglican Prayer Beads) I decided it was time to stop talking about developing an online resource for people interested in making and using Anglican Rosaries and do it.

During prayer bead workshops time is given to allow participants to begin using the Anglican Rosary format to get intouch with their own pray-er, the spirit that prays within us all. Out of this comes some very rich expressions of connection and response to God through prayer in the form of prayers for use with the Anglican Rosary. I am always appreciative and profoundly impressed by the level of energy people put into this segment of the workshops.

I also hear numerous stories of the ways in which people’s lives have been touched by participating in a workshop or in their sharing of their experiences with others, often making and sharing Rosaries with friends, partners and even strangers. These rich stories give expression to the ways in which people’s lives have been enriched through offering others a tangible way to help people get intouch with or deepen their relationship with God.

The Anglican Rosary Blog has been conceived as a means of honouring the ways in which lives have been touched through experiences of making and using Anglican Rosaries. It is a collection of stories, examples of prayers, background material on prayer beads, and resources for making and using Anglican prayer beads. As a blog, it is designed to be interactive so if you have an interest in the making and use of Rosaries or Prayer Beads in the Anglican church please visit the Anglican Rosary Blog or email Br Nathan-James ssf.

New Edition of TSSF Newlsetter March 29, 2008

Posted by dwhite in : Franciscan, Provincial Newsletter , comments closed

The first 2008 edition of the TSSF Australia and East Asia Newsletter can now be downloaded from this link.

Friends of the Monastery October 26, 2007

Posted by dwhite in : Franciscan, News, Resources, Spirituality , 2comments

The ‘Friends of the Monastery inc.” is a non-profit organisation which was formed to care for the Monastery of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Stroud, after the Second Order Sisters vacated the premises and it’s future was uncertain.
We aim to preserve it’s Franciscan ethos, promote Franciscan spirituality and provide an oasis of spiritual and physical refreshment for weary souls and bodies who seek respite there; and a sacred space for parishes and other groups to hold retreats or workshops etc. We are committed to praying for the future of the Monastery. We work closely with the First Order Brothers, whose Hermitage is on the same piece of land, and who care for the grounds; and the Society of St Francis Association, Inc. who own it. We rely on income from hiring the Monastery out and on our ‘Friends’ membership fees to maintain it.
The unique mud-brick buildings of the Monastery, including the beautiful Chapel with it’s hand-made stained glass, rock and camphor laurel altar and Sister Angela’s woodcarving, are resonant with the prayers of the many hundreds of spiritual pilgrims who have found solace and strength there.
A labyrinth has recently been constructed, and everything lies peacefully in a natural bush setting. Please find a membership form below!
God’s peace be with you.

Pirrial Clift, tssf,
Chairperson of the Friends of the Monastery, Inc.
Friends of the Monastery Brochure

Prayer School St Philip’s Brisbane September 6, 2007

Posted by brnathan in : News , comments closed

Br Nathan-James will be holding a series of workshops on prayer from the 31st October to 4th November at St Philip’s Anglican Church. 115 Cornwall St Annerley QLD 4103.

Wed 31 Oct. 7pm – 9.30 pm.
The way of the cross: a universal reflection on Christ’s dying and rising. $10

Thu 01 Nov. 7pm – 9.30 pm.
Contemplating the San Damiano Crucifix. $10

Fri 02 Nov. 7pm – 9.30 pm.
An introduction to prayer, what it is and is not. $10

Sat 03 Nov. 9am – 12 pm.
Lectio Divina, the art of praying with the scriptures. $10

Sat 03 Nov. 1.30pm – 5.30pm.
The Jesus Prayer, praying the prayer of the heart. $15 (bookings essential, includes making a simple knotted prayer rope)

Sun 04 Nov. 1pm – 5pm.
Anglican Prayer Beads, rediscovering an ancient tradition. $20 (booking essential; includes opportunity to make your own Anglican Rosary)

Book and pay for all sessions prior to Wednesday 17 October and pay only $55 ($20 discount)

Discounts available for full time theological students, members of religious communities and concession card holders, please enquire.

For information and bookings please email Br Nathan-James or phone 0429 646427

For a full description of the content of the various sessions please see the Prayer School website.

Latest Franciscan Angles Online September 6, 2007

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If you cannot wait for the post and are dying to read the latest edition of Franciscan Angles, the newsletter of the Society of St Francis (Australia), wait no longer. Download and read the latest Frangles here.