Snapshot: Easter Hope

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Br. Michael

When life feels like it is in shambles,

when it feels broken, tattered, and torn,

when we feel perched on the edge

wondering what is next,

if there is a tomorrow…

hope is always cradled within,

resting secure,

held by love,

held by the promise,

of new life.

Hope breaks free

from the limitations of life,

inviting us to rise up,

 

 

God of Easter,

your love never dies

leading us through the valley of death

into an authentic new life.

 

As we begin the festival of Easter

may our hearts know

they are always cradled

where hope lives

and that we too

rise to new life

for your love

holds us secure

forever.

Amen. Alleluia!

 

Easter Blessings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

Easter Weekend at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre

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Easter Weekend at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre

Many people have come in pilgrimage over the years to pray the Way of the Cross during Holy Week, especially on Good Friday.

 

Individuals and small groups who wish to come to the Mount during the Triduum (Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday) to pray the Way of the Cross are welcome to do so. If you do come to pray outside, please dress appropriately, especially wearing proper footwear. The trails may be slippery.

 

There are two trails for the Way of the Cross.

Trail 1 is on the South side of Retreat Road across from the main entrance to the Mount. It makes its way up the hill looping down just past the start point.

Trail 2 is across the West lawn on the North side of the property. It makes its way down the ravine in a loop.

 

 

Please be mindful of parking and pedestrians in the parking lot.

Please ensure that no garbage is left on the grounds. Garbage Bins are available.

Please respect the quiet and peace of the Mount.

 

For Good Friday and Holy Saturday Washrooms only will be available at Mount St. Francis Retreat Centre. The Centre itself is closed for the Easter Triduum, please check out local church websites or www.catholicyyc.ca for Triduum Mass Times.

 

Easter Triduum Blessings

During these Holy Days,

we remember

feet washed and a meal shared,

an angry mob, a cross carried,

the Son of Man crucified and buried,

that death is not the end of the story.

Our God is a God of surprises!

We walk by faith and not by sight alone,

seeking Christ in the midst of life,

planting our hope in Him who lives.

 

Peace and All Good to you!

Easter Blessings and Greetings from the Friars and Staff at Mount St. Francis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

Snapshot 6: Holy Week – Encountering Christ in the Everyday 

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                – Br. Michael ofm

Love gazing on the loved

The loved gazing on Love

Mercy overflowing

Known in my anguish

A place of refuge

Hope restored

Strength

Freedom

Redeemed

 

 

God of Every Heartbeat,

your love is present in our living,

made known in the love of your Son.

 

The cross is our strength,

and the way which leads to life,

may we be more aware of this gift

in the encounters during this Holy Week.

Amen.

 

 

Photo Credit: Dmytro V.

(Lviv, Ukraine)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

Snapshot 5: Not Condemned

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– Br. Michael, ofm

 

As I rise up

in the morning light

the voice of God

catches my attention.

 

I am not condemned,

rather I am sent

to go in the way of life,

a new person,

my sinfulness left behind.

 

Scripture Inspiration: John 8.1-11

 

 

God of Love,

so often I feel caught up in my sinfulness,

and yet each time I feel trapped

you write on my heart:

“You are not condemned.”

 

May I carry this message into my living

so as not to condemn others

rather to be an encounter of your mercy.

Amen.

 

 

Photo Credit: Melita F.

(Lake Ontario, Grimsby Lake Front)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

Snapshot 4: True Prodigal Freedom

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– Br. Michael, ofm

 

Freedom

from moonrise to moonrise

we all seek freedom.

We must look into our living, asking ourselves:

where am I squandering my freedom?

where am I stealing freedom from others?

when am I truly free to taste and see God’s goodness?

 

The Prodigal Father,

The Prodigal Son,

The Elder Son,

each ask us to seek true freedom,

freedom found in the

compassion and mercy of God

which is good, very good.

 

 

 

 

Scripture Inspiration: Luke 15, Psalm 34

 

 

 

 

 

God of Freedom,

this season of Lent speaks to us of your prodigal love

and how your love is the gift of true prodigal freedom.

 

As we continue into the middle of this Lent open our eyes to see clearly

the true freedom which you offer us from sunset to sunset

and how we can embody the goodness of this freedom

with actions and words of compassion and mercy.

Amen.

 

 

Photo Credit: Cadence H.

(R.M. of Chester, SK)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

Snapshot 3: Love Bears Fruit

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– Br. Michael, ofm

 

Your name forever,

O God,

is that of love.

Even when we

masquerade it

or perverse it

you remain faithfully

I AM WHO I AM

you who are

love and mercy in abundance

from one generation to the next.

 

 

You call us to bear fruit,

for we are planted in you.

When we fail to do so,

you tend to the plant of our life

and once again give us the chance

to bear fruit in love

for eternally you are

I AM.

 

God, the great I AM,

you know us each by name and love us beyond our knowing.

In these Lenten days and challenging times

guide us in your ways of love and mercy

so, we may bear fruit of love and mercy in this hurting world,

trusting that you are with us now and in generations to come.

Amen.

 

 

Scripture Inspiration: Exodus 3.1-8a, 13-15 and Luke 13.6-9

 

 

 

 

 

Photo Credits:

Claire Z., Collingwood Cove, AB

John V., Edmonton, AB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

Lent 2022

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Lent 2022 at

Mount St. Francis Retreat

41160 Retreat Road, Cochrane

 

 

Twilight Retreat – After the Winter Slumber

March 22  – 6:00 pm

Registration at 6:00 pm, Supper at 6:30 pm

Evening includes a guided reflection, time for quiet, and prayer.

 

 

 

Day Away – Life-Giving Spirit

April 6 – 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Registration at 8:30 am with Coffee and Muffins.

Day includes presentation, quiet reflection, Eucharist, noon meal and prayer.

 

 

Holy Week Retreat: Charity of the Cross –

A Woman’s Mercy, A Man’s Help: The Call of the Cross

April 13 – 9:00 am – 3:00 pm   or   6:30 – 9:00 pm

 

Guided by St. Francis and St. Clare’s love of the cross this Holy Week Retreat

provides the opportunity to enter into the Paschal Triduum with hope.

Retreat includes a guided reflection, time to walk the Way of the Cross,

the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation,

thoughtful activities, time for quiet and a delicious meal.

 

 

Day Retreat begins with 8:30 am Registration. Coffee and Muffins served.

Twilight Retreat begins with 5:30 pm Registration. Time for quiet until supper.

 

$30/retreat

                             

To register: 403-932-2012  mtfrancis@shaw.ca

Monday-Friday 9 am – 4:30 pm

www.mountstfrancis.ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

Snapshot 2: Transforming to Glory

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by Br. Michael, ofm

“Citizens of heaven”*

the great apostle Paul

calls each of us.

 

“It is good to be here,”**

the great apostle Peter

declares in a moment of glory.

 

Transfigured,

the appearance of Christ:

dazzling, glory-filled, Chosen One.

 

This Lenten reminder of transfiguration

is a nudge for us to look at what

needs transforming in our lives

so as to again and again

move from glory to glory

present here and now,

listening to Him who is our life,

dwelling with him for we are his

and have the honour of sharing

citizenship with Him.

 

Wisdom! Let us be attentive!

 

Transfigured Jesus,

you don’t simply razzle-dazzle

us with your glory,

rather you call us to glory

by transforming our lives

to the pattern of your love.

 

Fill us with an eagerness

for this transformation

today, tomorrow

and all the days of this Lent.

Amen.

 

 

 

* – Philippians 3.20

** – Luke 9.28-36

 

 

Photo Credit: Vincent I.

St. Basil Ukrainian Catholic Church, Regina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

Snapshot Week 1: Breakthrough

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by Br. Michael, ofm

When tested to exhaustion,

in our daily trials,

when temptations taunt us,

in the uncertain wilderness,

light does breakthrough

calling us to trust

standing upright with dignity.

 

Our God is with us in all our troubles. (Psalm 91)

 

 

Jesus,

full of the Holy Spirit,

you gift us with your Spirit.

May we be brave enough

to utilize and embody

the gifts of your Spirit

in our daily Lenten living,

so as to live in communion with you.

Amen.

 

Photo Credit: Matt Z.

Bragg Creek, AB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

             

 

 

 

Lent 2022: Snapshots

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by Br. Michael, ofm

Lent 2022: Snapshots

 

It is said that a photo is worth a thousand words. Photos can often call us to pay attention to our heart and cause us to listen to what is being said in our soul. For Lent 2022 these weekly reflections will be focused on a photo. Seven friends each sent me a photo that they took, which stirred their hearts and captured their attention. I in turn have spent time with each photo and crafted a brief reflection for us to sit with during these weeks of Lent.

 

I invite you into these Lenten weeks, to come and be, come and listen, come and see. Like Lectio Divina “divine reading” is letting God speak to us through scripture, this is Visio Divina – “divine seeing”, letting God speak to us through the photo.

 

Lenten Blessings.

 

 

Ash Wednesday: Growth

 

We arise from ashes,

called to be ambassadors

heralding hope,

transformed from seed to flower

during these forty days

even in the most unlikely of places.

 

Christ Jesus,

in this Lenten Season

be our nourishment

so that we may grow

to radiate more like you.

Amen.

 

 

Photo: MJP