Dear Siblings & Friends,
We the Council have two things to bring to you:
First:
After much deliberation, and in consultation with our hosts in Missouri, we are moving this year’s Order of Ecumenical Franciscans Chapter/Convocation to August 10-13, 2020 at the Pallottine Renewal Center, Florissant, MO. God willing, of course. If all goes well, it will begin at 4 pm Monday August 10 and end with lunch Thursday August 13. (The usual ability to arrive a day early is not possible this year.)
The cost is $300 and can be paid at Chapter. In fact, please don’t pay if you haven’t already done so. Scholarships are available.
We need for you to register online if you haven’t already done so (those who already have don’t need to re-register), so we can get a good idea of how well Chapter may be attended. Registrations after June 24 will entail a late fee of $50. And we really need to know no later than July 27 so that Pallottine can prepare for our arrival. Please contact the Registrar if you would like to cancel your registration.
Know that our hosts have informed us that they have been taking the safety of all who come there very seriously, for example, installing extra hand sanitizer stations throughout the complex. We are also going to be putting together some “care kits” of individual hand sanitizers and other health essentials for our attendees.
Your council will of course stay tuned to current events. It may still be problematic to travel and gather together physically in August. If that is the case, we will be cancelling Chapter this year entirely, and will announce such as soon as it becomes clear. We will explore the possibilities of a “virtual” Chapter if necessary.
Second:
We the Council want to reach out to everyone in the Order during these difficult times. We are all struggling with the many aspects of the coronavirus pandemic. Around the world we have many members who are in the front lines, helping those around them. And we are all taking care of ourselves as best we can, as we need to. Our needs for spiritual companionship are great nowadays, and not being able to physically get together doesn’t help. We just want you to know that we, your Council, are here to listen. We invite anyone in the Order to contact any of us for a conversation via any of the ways of communication at hand, be it phone calls, texts, email, snail mail, Zoom, Skype, ….
Let us bear one another up as we proceed through this valley–together.
Peace and All Good,
The OEF Council
Bruce James Kay
Jacoba Ketchum
Betty Lou Leaver
Markie Oliver
Juniper Robertson
