Dear Friends,

Greetings in the Lord from the Franciscan Friars of Our Lady of Consolation Province!

The Easter Season, a fifty-day journey, reflects the profound experience of the Lord’s Resurrection, the promise of our resurrection, and the experience of Pentecost, sending us, disciples of Jesus, to witness the Love of God for God’s creation.

“Behold I make all things new.” (Revelation 21:5) Friar Wayne Hellmann shares the human experience of “transition,” birth from the womb to a new world, childhood, adulthood, etc. The Easter days leading us to the Pentecost experience are days of great “transition” into new life.

The Pentecost experience of being sent to preach and live the Gospel of Jesus calls us Franciscan Friars to embrace and welcome everyone from all cultures. Friar Tim Unser shares the addition of a new residence hall to the house of formation (San Damiano Friary, San Antonio, Texas). The new residence hall lets us welcome Franciscan Friars from other countries and cultures to receive the education needed to prepare for ministry in their country of origin.

Friar Michael Laskey introduces Brother Olive Tree as a metaphor for the abiding image of peace of the olive tree because it takes years of cultivation to bear fruit. Franciscans are still hearing the call of Jesus, sending us to do the hard work of prayerfully preaching peace in our world today. “Nourished by the apostolic roots of Brother Olive Tree, we strive to cultivate new ways of sharing the Gospel of Peace, with only an olive branch to guide our feet along the more difficult path of peace and friendship.”

We friars will continue to remember you, our dear friends and companions, in our daily prayers and devotions.

May God bless you and fill you with the Peace of our Lord!
Sincerely in Christ, St. Francis, and St. Anthony,

Fr. John Elmer OFM Conv.
Spiritual Director