Members Attend 'Living Nativity'

Members of St. Joseph Fraternity enjoyed singing Christmas songs, seeing a live reenactment of the Nativity (a Franciscan tradition), and chatting with friars and other Secular Franciscans at Assumption Church in Syracuse on Dec. 15 – in place of the regular monthly gathering.

Members car-pooled to the 2 p.m. event, and returned to the Utica area for a fraternity holiday celebration at 4 p.m. at Symeon’s Restaurant.

Celebrating Sister Pat’s Jubilee

Sister Pat

Members of Utica’s St. Joseph Fraternity, Vernon’s Holy Family Fraternity, and representatives from St. Kateri Tekakwitha Region and the international order gathered on Sunday, July 21, to celebrate the 25th Jubilee of the fraternities’ spiritual assistant, Franciscan Sister Pat Schofield, OSF.

Sister Pat renewed her vows during mass at St. Joseph & St. Patrick Church, Utica. The celebrant was Franciscan Father Nader Ata, OFM Conv., from Assumption Church, Syracuse.

 Secular Franciscans joined Sister Pat’s family and friends in applauding her renewal and in praying over her.

2 Candidates Admitted to Order

Lisa Brouillette (2nd from left) and Karen Slocum (right) with Fraternity
Minister Robert Stronach, OFS, and Formation Director Concetta Carcone, OFS.

Lisa Brouillette and Karen Slocum were welcomed into the Secular Franciscan Order as candidates on Sunday, June 23, after they completed the inquiry phase of formation.

Lisa and Karen each received a copy of the Rule of St. Francis and the Tau cross.They now journey toward profession while completing the candidacy phase of formation.

Following the Rite of Admission, fraternity members individually embraced and welcomed them and then celebrated with refreshments.

Fraternity Elects New Council

Robert Stronach, Marsha Kistner, Ana Pereira, Concetta Carcone, Siosiana Merz.

 St. Joseph Fraternity conducted election of officers in July.
 
Robert Stronach, OFS, was elected to his second full term as minister.
 
Marsha Kistner, OFS, is the new vice minister. She previously served as a long-time secretary of the fraternity.
 
Siosiana Merz, OFS, is the new secretary.
 
Ana Pereira, OFS, is the new treasurer.
 
Concetta Carcone, OFS, was elected as formation director,

2 Make Permanent Profession

Ellen M. Benton and Siosiana V. Merz made their permanent profession in the Secular Franciscan Order as members of the St. Joseph Fraternity. 

 It is no coincidence that they chose to make their profession on Jan. 23, 2022 -- the feast of Saint Marianne Cope, who was a member of St. Joseph parish at the time the fraternity was founded in 1859 (and, according to some, who was one of the first members of the fraternity).

2 Candidates Admitted to Order

Ellen Benton and Sociana Merz were officially welcomed into the Secular Franciscan Order as candidates during a Rite of Admission ceremony held during the June gathering.

Fraternity Events Canceled Due to Coronavirus Emergency

With the state of emergency over the coronavirus, the St. Joseph Fraternity Council decided to cancel the March 15th gathering, the April 1st council meeting and the April 4th Day of Reflection.