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FRANCISCAN JUBILEE 2009 - page 2

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THE FEAST OF ST ANTONY AT ERITH

Franciscan sisters and brothers gathered at the Capuchin parish centre at Erith on Saturday, 13th June, the feast of St Antony of Padua. The day commenced with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the friary church. Devotions in honour of St Antony began at 12.00 noon, and included a sermon by Br Stephen Innes, OFM Cap, and veneration of relics of Saint Antony, one of which had been brought from the former Capuchin friary at Crawley. The liturgy finished at about 1.00 pm, with Benediction.

The host fraternity provided sandwiches and drinks for everyone present. In the afternoon there was a slide presentation by Br Stephen, with commentary, on the Giotto frescoes in the Upper Basilica of San Francesco in Assisi. Br Seamus Mulholland, OFM, gave a talk entitled "The Franciscan Contribution to the Church", in which he spoke about the early theologians and philosophers of the English Province, and mentioned the contribution of more contemporary friars such as Ignatius Kelly, Eric Doyle and Ninian Arbuckle.

The day concluded with Mass in the friary church, when those who wished joined the parish community for the first Mass of Corpus Christi. The Capuchin Minister Provincial, Br James Boner, presided at the Mass, and brothers of the Friars Minor and Friars Minor Conventual, and other Capuchin brothers, concelebrated. Br Stephen preached the homily.

All in all it was a joyful, prayerful and fraternal gathering in the excellent facility of the new parish centre at Erith, and, thanks to the warm sunshine, in the friary garden.

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A CELEBRATION AT GREYFRIARS CANTERBURY WHERE IT ALL BEGAN

To the left: Greyfriars Canterbury and the remains of the Franciscan buildings

The 10th September is a significant date in the Franciscan history of this country: on this day in 1224 Blessed Agnellus of Pisa and eight friar companions landed at Dover and moved on to Canterbury to make the first Franciscan foundation on this island. The place where eventually they settled with a church and friary which remained until the Dissolution in the 16th century is still marked by the Greyfriars building. On the 10th September each year is the liturgical memorial of Blessed Agnellus. On 10th September 1974, seven hundred and fifty years to the day after their first arrival, they returned to Canterbury and opened the Franciscan Study Centre by the University of Kent. And on 10th September 2009, eight hundred years after the beginning of the Order of Friars Minor, Franciscans of all sorts gathered at Greyfriars, Canterbury, to celebrate the eighth centenary of the Order. The celebration began in a marquee erected beside the Greyfriars building, where over a hundred people gathered together with the friars to celebrate a Mass on the very spot where once stood the high altar of the friars' church. The chief celebrant was Br Philippe Yates O.F.M., Principal of the International Franciscan Study Centre in Canterbury, who gave a homily underlining the significance of the day (click here to read this). After everyone had enjoyed a picnic lunch Br Philippe gave a lecture on the history of the Franciscans in Britain (click here to read this). The whole assembly then moved in procession through the streets of Canterbury to the Cathedral, singing Jubilate and carrying a banner proclaiming the reason for this rejoicing. In the Eastern Crypt of the Cathedral they relaxed to the sound of troubadour songs performed by a group of three musicians on a variety of period instruments. They then gathered aroung the tomb of John Peckham, Franciscan Archbishop of Canterbury (1279-1292), where they were led in a short service of prayer and reflection by Br Colin Wilfred, SSF. The day ended with the whole assembly attending the Cathedral Evensong sung by the boys' voices of the Cathedral Choir in honour of the Franciscan visitors.

: As they arrive, visitors browse through the books on display

: The congregation assembles

: with friars of all sorts

: Br James McCurry, OFM.Conv, proclaims the gospel

: Br Philippe Yates OFM preaches

: The moment of Holy Communion

: The group of singers leads the assembly

: The cconelebrants return to Greyfriars

: The afternoon lecture

: An attentive audience

: The procession sets out through the streets

: proclaiming the reason for rejoicing

: wending their way

: towards the Cathedral

: where they gather at the site of the martyrdom of St Thomas Becket

: Three musicians on period instruments

: perform troubadour songs

: Br Colin Wilfred SSF explains the significance of John Peckham at his tomb

: and leads the assembly

: in prayer and reflection

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A SYMPOSIUM AT WESTMINSTER

On Wednesday afternoon, 9th December 2009, a Franciscan Symposium took place at Westminster Cathedral Hall as part of the Eighth Centenary Celebrations of the Franciscan Order. The OFM Minister Provincial, Br Michael Copps, initiated the afternoon with an address on "Franciscan Ideals and Influence", followed by Sr Frances Teresa Downey, OSC, on "The Impact of Clare in Franciscan Life". There was an interval for tea which gave the large audience a chance to mingle and converse. Sr Clare Knowles, FMSL, then spoke om "The Canticle of Sir Brother Sun and Conversion" with the help of slides, the final speaker being Leon Davison, the National Minister of the SFO, on "St Francis and the Laity of his Time". The meeting was chaired by Br Seamus Mulholland, OFM.

To read the text of Sr Clare's talk on "The Canticle of Sir Brother Sun and Conversion" click here