On Sunday, February 2, the Holy Father Pope Francis (the first member of a religious order to be elected Pope in nearly 200 years) spoke about the importance of religious life:

“Every consecrated person is a gift for the People of God on a journey. There is much need of their presence, that strengthens and renews the commitment to spread the gospel, to Christian education, to charity for the most needy, to contemplative prayer; the commitment to a human and spiritual formation of young people, of families; the commitment to justice and peace in the human family.”

The universal prayer intention for February is:

“That the Church and society may respect the wisdom and experience of older people.”

The intention for evangelization is:

“That priests, religious, and lay people may work together with generosity for evangelization.”

Our Province is blessed by the presence of our senior Friars, who continue to be sources of wisdom for all, and continue the great work of evangelization around the United States.

Friars Fr. Ken Gering and Fr. Simon Sauer take their places before concelebrating Mass on Christmas Eve 2013.

Friars Fr. Jude Rochford and Fr. Juniper Cummings prepare to celebrate Mass at the Health Care Center where they reside.