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Blessing of the Animals

October 4, 2025

It was a good turnout

The blessing begins!

Our New Franciscans

Left to right: Shawn Dickey, Elizabeth Brownlee, Barbara Henry, Michael O’Rourke

Profession Rite was held June 28, 2025 at Holy Family Catholic Church, Davidsonville, MD. Celebrated by Fr. Patrick Monahan, assisted by Brother Michael Meza.

A Retreat Day sponsored by the Pope Saint John XXIII Secular Franciscan Fraternity was held on Saturday March 4, 2023 in Unity Hall at Holy Family Church. The day opened with an opportunity for Adoration, Rosary and Confession, followed by a Eucharistic Celebration in Holy Family Catholic Church

Immediately following the Mass, Our Franciscan Sister, Joyce (Penny) Jones, received the Sacrament of Baptism.

The morning session focused on encouraging and inviting our youth to learn more about Secular Franciscans. Approximately twelve youth attended the retreat day along with thirty adult fraternity members and guests. Our featured morning speaker was Denis Castillo, OFS Regional Youth Director and Lucio Perez, OFS Youth Co-Chair. They gave dynamic resentations on why we need our youth and how to engage them to get involved. We must be examples for them by showing them, through our lives, why our faith is important!

The afternoon session was primarily for the Secular Franciscans and was focused on “How to Live Our Franciscan Values”. Brother Michael Meza, OFM, Cap spoke to us on how to continue to radically change and to be in a state of constant conversion always through commitment to living Gospel values Gospel to Life and Life to Gospel! We must keep our eyes focused on the cross and the life of Jesus as He illuminates our paths to lift-up the Kingdom of God as St. Francis of Assisi showed us by his life!

Three new candidates to our Fraternity, Michael O’Rourke, Barbara Henry, and Elizabeth Brownlee celebrated the Rite of Admission on June 7, 2023.

Shawn Dickey celebrated the Rite of Admission on July 5, 2023.

The TAU Ceremony formally welcoming inquirers, Elizabeth Brownlee, Barbara Henry, and Michael O’Rourke to the Secular Franciscan Organization as Candidates to continue their studies in Formation.

Profession photos taken on May 13, 2023, for Patricia Sullivan and Joyce (Penny) Jones who were Professed as Secular Franciscans. Father Patrick Monahan, OFM Cap was the principal celebrant for this Rite of Profession, which was followed by a reception for the community to share in the joy and beauty of this day for Penny and Pat.

Minister, Ron Van Nest, OFS; Spiritual Assistant, Brother Michael Meza, OFM Cap; Joyce (Penny Jones), OFS; Patricia Sullivan, OFS; Formation Director, Jeanne Catrow, OFS; Father Patrick Monahan, OFM

Pat Sullivan and Penny Jones laying a Bouquet of Roses at Our Lady’s statute during the Profession Ceremony

Additional Profession Pictures for Pat Sullivan and Penny Jones on May 13, 2023

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Let us remember, in our prayers, all the intentions and needs of our Pope St. John XXIII Fraternity brothers and sisters. Let us especially remember to pray for the following loved ones in our lives God has summoned Home to be with Him and all those in Heaven.

John Cobis, OFS, one of the pioneers who worked to get this fraternity started, went into the gentle hands of Sister Death during the early morning hours of July 21, 2023. He was a model Catholic man – Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, Knight of Columbus, Member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Member of the Order of Secular Franciscans. In seeking justice for all he was also a Delegate member of the State Legislature of Vermont. In his earlier years he was a career Senior Petty Officer in the Navy and retired as a Chief Hospital Corpsman.

The Secular Franciscan Fraternity of Holy Family Catholic Church in Davidsonville invited all neighboring churches of every denomination to join us as we celebrated the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi with the annual “Blessing of the Animals”. This annual event was started by St. Francis, who on the first weekend in October in his time, called for anyone who wished to have their animals blessed by him to bring them to the Cathedral where he was. Thousands came with every sort of livestock and creature! In remembrance of his blessing, this annual Franciscan tradition took place on Sunday, October 1st at 12:30 pm behind Holy Family Catholic Church in the back parking area. This was a well-attended ecumenical event. All participants, including the animals, had a fun, wonderful and enjoyable day. For our animal guests, they received holy medals, snacks and treats, and each animal was blessed individually!

The Pope St. John XXIII Franciscan Fraternity sponsored a dinner meal with the Winter Relief Program at Holy Family Catholic Church on Thursday November 23, 2023. The menu was pot roast, mashed potatoes, carrots, salad, and fruit pies for dessert. The team worked hard to prepare the meal for our brother and sisters who attended the program. There was laughter, joy, and fellowship as we shared a meal together. It was an honor and a privilege to serve our neighbors in need!

Each year the Fraternity of Pope St. John the 23rd takes some time to celebrate the Christmas season with an annual gathering of all Fraternity members for a Christmas party celebration. As usual, the party is a potluck of wonderful dishes, each brought by the Fraternity members, as we share favorite recipes and food we all love to eat! The whole Fraternity enjoys the fellowship, casual gathering, and old-fashioned Christmas fun. Each member has a chance to enjoy the wonderful association and collection of their brother and sister Fraternity members, and the fun it is to gather as a “true family”! We pray before the meal, and then feast together and visit and enjoy each other’s company. This is truly a family gathering. What a joyful and wonderful time together!

Elected members were: Minister:

Vice Minister:
Secretary:
Treasurer:
Formation Director:
Councilor-at-Large:

Ann Marie Pessagno, OFS
Joe O’Dea, OFS
Mary Rohde, OFS
Judy Hool, OFS
Jeanne Catrow, OFS
Eugene (Duke) Jones, OFS

We welcome the new members of the Council, Joe O’Dea, OFS and Eugene (Duke) Jones, OFS, and thank them for volunteering for these positions. We thank Laura Benso, OFS for her unwavering support and dedication to the Council. We also want to acknowledge our long-term Minister and Founder of this Fraternity, Ron Van Nest, OFS, whose commitment to servant leadership was always remarkably stellar!

Pope St. John XXIII Fraternity continues to bear much fruit, and all glory to God for those who have answered His call to follow St. Francis to bring the Gospel to others. During our January and February Fraternity meetings, we welcomed Genevieve DiUlio, Sonia Balboni, and Jean Schaefer as Inquirers to our Fraternity.