to Sponsor`s Easter Appeal

The Church of the Ascension, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem Israel –see pg.7.
Capuchins of Central Canada
2100 Jane Street
Toronto, ON M3M 1A1
Province of Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd
Luke 22:42, 44
42
“Father, if you are willing, take this
cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be
done.” 44“And being in anguish, he prayed
more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops
of blood falling to the ground.”
Photo: Inside the Church of All Nations,
Jerusalem, Israel. The rock on which Jesus
prayed. - Bro. Alan 2012
My dear sisters and brothers in Christ.
Greetings from the Capuchins!
Easter 2016
Again we find ourselves in the middle of the Lenten Season. The Season we are called to Fast,
to Prayer and to Give Alms. It’s a Season that challenges us to put on the brakes, take a
deep breath and regain that perspective that gives our lives meaning and purpose. For me it
is a necessary challenge. I get so caught up with the tasks at hand that I sometimes disconnect
from the awareness of why I’m doing what I do.
I believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, our Good Shepherd, is continuing his work on earth and
we are called to assist Him. When we lose sight of that trouble usually follows. We Capuchins
are asked to give everything to assist the Good Shepherd in caring not only for the People of
God but indeed for all of creation. Part of that caring is for our friars in Formation.
Two friars, Michael and Fadi are in Simple (Temporary) Vows and Michael will be graduating
this year with his Bachelor’s degree. Our two Novices, Vince and Akram are doing well and
hope to make their First Vows in the summer. Our two Postulants, Sunil and Alex, are also
doing well and are hoping to enter Novitiate this summer. There are also several other young
men who are discerning a vocation with us. Having six men in Formation is a real blessing for
us but as you might expect it is also very costly.
Please keep us all in your prayer and be as generous as you can. Be assured of our prayer for
you and those you love.
Have a wonderful, Spirit-filled Easter!
Bro. David Connolly, OFM, Cap.
Minister Provincial
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Answering God’s Call
from our PostPost-Novitiate Program
(Your donations at work for the Church)
In this season of Lent, we are called to look not only inside of
ourselves but also outside. We must be concerned with what is going
on around us in our world. The common temptation is to be
concerned only with our needs and not of those who are less
fortunate than us or who are suffering violence from corrupt
governments. As we look for answers to the many fundamental
questions in our society, we must also look to God and His strength to
sustain us. This strength is His love which overpowers all other things
especially violence and the various forms of injustice.
The Church teaches us to be concerned with social justice, that is, to be aware and attentive
to those who are poor and lack the basic necessities that we take for granted in our
everyday life. I too am constantly reminded of the many ways that I need to be aware of
whether during Lent or outside of Lent. Sharing of our goods with others who are in need
brings to mind the many refugees who we welcomed into our Country this year and those
who are still coming. Let us open the door of our hearts this Lent and begin our journey
together to strengthen others with our love and commitment to the dignity of the human
person. May we never forget to be aware that everyone has a right to life and to natural
resources such as water, food and clothing. One of the many ways that we can spend our
time in Lent is volunteering at Saint Francis Table or any other outreach program that
serves the poor. In addition to this, we can also adopt an ecological Lent where we reflect on
our choices that can have a profound effect on our environment. Whichever form we
choose, it is crucial that we take our concerns and difficulties to the Lord in prayer which in
turn nourishes the soul.
We can look to the life of Blessed Oscar Romero of El Salvador who saw the needs of the
poor who were and still are marginalized in his country and responded with an abundance
of love that led to his martyrdom. Francis of Assisi was so captured by the love for the
crucified Christ that he devoted his life to the lepers and outcasts. We must not be afraid of
the truth but be witnesses to Christ and His love. In addition to this, Pope Francis has asked
us to consider the spiritual and corporal works of mercy this Lent and how we might
respond. In our materialistic culture, we take many things for granted yet, we have to listen
to the cry of the poor. I believe this is the calling that I have been given as a Capuchin: to be
attentive and alert for the less fortunate, the poor in our world and around us. Jean Vanier
described the poor as everyone who is in need. We are all in need. The poor remind me that
it is necessary to look within myself and do what I can with what is available to me to be of
service to my brothers and to the poor. The response that is needed is compassion, humility
and generosity to grow in our faith and live a life of holiness.
Let us begin our journey of conversion this Lent together by discovering Christ in the poor
with the joy of the resurrection!
Bro. Michael Mascarenhas, ofm, cap.
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Capuchin Burse Report
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December 2015
$15,635.96
Capuchin Burse Report
January
January—
— February 2016
For further details, or to register please visit our website www.capuchins.ca
or contact Bro. Alan Gaebel, ofm, cap. at [email protected] /or/ 416.241.3101 x245
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Please Pray
For these men in our Formation Programs
Our Men In Formation
Bro. Fadi Touma ofm, cap.
Bro. Michael Mascarenhas ofm,cap
Vince Thomas – Novice
Akram Esho - Novice
Alex de Melo, Postulant
Sunil D’Costa, Postulant
Joseph Lee, Candidate
and for these men currently in Discernment with us
Franco Ciccello, Windsor ON
Anton Gunaratnam, Toronto ON
Jonah Herman, Windsor ON
Deny Mutaganda, Toronto ON
Paolo Sorrentino, Windsor ON
John Motaz Kadan, Toronto ON
Blake Daly, London ON
Martin Ngo, Toronto ON
Peter Delanghe, Cambridge ON
Cody Theagali, Scarborough ON
Gary O’Neil, Toronto ON
Josh Santos, Simcoe ON
W
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Front Cover Photo:
After the Muslims conquered the place in 1187, they converted the church into a mosque, which is why the place
has two names – the Mosque of the Ascension or the Church (or Chapel) of the Ascension. The Muslims do not
believe that Christ is the son of God but do recognize him as an important prophet, which is why they turned
the church into a mosque. It's easy to overlook this chapel, which is diminutive and decrepit. Thought to mark
the site where Jesus ascended to heaven (Luke 24:50-51), it was built in the Byzantine era, reworked by the
Crusaders and then converted to a mosque by Saladin in 1198. An unusual feature of the tiny building is that it
contains what has been traditionally regarded as the last impression of Jesus’ right foot on earth before he
ascended into heaven.
Today, this place enjoys a special status – it is usually used as a mosque except on the day that Christians mark
Jesus’ ascension to heaven; for that one day, it becomes a church. This is the only place in the world that serves as
both a church and a mosque.
Bro. John Frampton from St. Francis Table recognises our
volunteer Mrs. Pat Stephens for her work in folding, stuffing
envelopes and helping to prepare our newsletters for mailing.
Pat who is 85, has worked in the background of all our
newsletters including this one which is issued five times a year and
the St. Francis Table newsletter which is issued four times a year.
Thank you Pat, for your dedication and service to the Capuchins!
Please join us in prayer
as we prepare to gather
this May, 2016, for our,
8th
Provincial Chapter
of Elections.
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THE CAPUCHIN LEGACY PROGRAM
As Christians and Catholics one of the most important
tasks we have is that of faithful stewardship. This is
beautifully expressed in Pope Francis’ “Laudato Sii”
which gives thanks for our interdependent relationship
with all of God’s creation, in which each one of us shares.
This same spirit also finds resonance in a quote by the
Venerable Fr. Solanus Casey, OFM, Cap (d.1957) who
stated, “The only science that gives purpose to every
other science is the science of religion – the science of our
happy relationship with, and our providential
dependence on God and our neighbour.”
One of the most important and faith filled acts of this
stewardship that you can do; is to make certain that
you have a current Will and Power’s of Attorney in
place. This is YOUR loving remembrance for others and
an act of love that is returned a hundred-fold in your
reaching out and assuring “new life” for others.
Have YOU considered what your legacy will be?
Our Capuchin Saints and Blesseds
Not only can you leave a gift of financial remembrance but gifts of Life Insurance, Stocks, Bonds or
Property may also be gifted through your will.
For further information please contact:
Bro. Alan R. Gaebel, ofm, cap.
Development Office
2100 Jane Street
Toronto, ON M3M 1A1
416.241.3101 ext.245
[email protected]
PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING YOUR DONATION ONLINE ITS
EASY, SAFE AND SECURE!
YOUR Online Donation can be made at: www.canadahelps.org/dn/13657
Tax receipts for all online contributions are issued directly from
CanadaHelps.org and are immediately available when you make your donation.
Your donations will continue to appear in our
Benefactor reports and your information
will remain private and not be shared, traded
or sold
.
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