News from Brother Jay!

[Church_Militant]

I just got this note from him and, with his permission am sharing it with you all

Good morning Mike:

Thank you for your kind words.

I’m doing well, despite the heat. The temperature does not drop below 90 and the heat index is over 100 with very high humidity. I try to stay inside as much as possible.

With the grace of God and the assistance of a good physical therapist and a young brother in our community, I’ve made some progress. I no longer use the wheelchair. I now walk with crutches, the kind that have arm bands. I even take the dog for short walks, very short in the heat.

The brothers are doing well. The father of one of our brothers died in May. The family was destitute. Dad had been sick with cancer three times. This last time took his life. He was 66. The Franciscans of Life picked up the tab for the funeral expenses and the archbishop paid for the grave. Of course, this set us back financially. Our monthly income is about $3000.00 a month for seven people. But God has been good to us. Some people have offered us help.

Now we need help making our community known to promote some vocations. Miami is very dry when it comes to vocations. Like most metropolitan areas, the young are taught to climb the financial and corporate ladder. The idea of a life dedicated to God is never considered…

You ask what you can do for us. If we sent you the vocation material, would you be willing and able to distribute it in your area? Of course, don’t forget to pray for us.

Now we’ve taken on hospital ministry. We take Holy Communion to Catholics who are in condition to receive the Eucharist and spend time with those who can’t receive the Eucharist, but want to talk or to pray.

One of our brothers teaches computer science as the local community college. It was a choice between the college and one of four major universities in this city. We chose the college because the kids there are the ones who did not make it to the university. They cannot afford it or they don’t have the grades. In both cases, they are among those whom no one wants to educate.

Some people won’t teach them, because there is more prestige teaching at a major university than at a community college. Other people won’t teach them, because they consider that these kids won’t be at the top of the ladder in the world after graduation. These professors want to see their names in lights. Brother Bernard, who has a PhD in computer science is teaching at the college.

Brothers Tom, Chris and I continue to work with dads in crisis pregnancies and to run the men’s education program, Project Joseph, for the entire Archdiocese of Miami. We cover Broward County, Miami-Dade County, and Monroe County, including the Florida Keys. We go to five centers, including Saturdays.

Brother Leo has been very sick. But he’s on the mend. As soon as he’s stronger and the heat allows him to go out, he’ll go back to hospice ministry. He’s an RN who specializes in hospice nursing and has a theology degree with a focus on family.

I’m going back to teaching sacred scripture and Christology this coming Sep to our high school students at the local parish.

We’re preparing to open a “one room school house” for immigrants. We hope to teach them English, computer skills, writing skills, such as resume writing, interviewing skills, and teach them how to navigate the different services that exist in our area. There are many services for the poor. These agencies take in a lot of money and put out very little assistance to those who need it. We want to create a “school house” that will help people make use of these agencies and keep the agencies busy.

Right now, our community room looks like a warehouse. We have about 20 boxes of books and other materials, including laptops. We’re looking for a parish to host us, rent free and for volunteer teachers.

In October, it’s Respect Life Month and the Feast of St. Francis. The plan is to deliver a lecture series, prior to October 4th. We want to preach the Gospel of Life from a Franciscan perspective.

Other than praying the LOTH five times a day, spiritual reading, community meal, and private prayer, life is pretty quiet.

I’ve gone back to graphic design. It’s an old hobby that I learned years ago. I did it for a while and then dropped it. Now, I’ve picked it up again. I do it at night, before bedtime. It helps me to relax. When I hit the sack, I literally crash until early morning, which is a blessing.

One last thought, if you wish, feel free to share any part of this letter with the people in TC Forum. If they can donate a little something, they can do so through PayPal. Franciscans of Life or they can go to our website, franciscansoflife.org and donate through there.

I look forward to hearing from you. You know my email address. Our street address has not changed.

Franciscans of Life
9461 Palm Cir South
Pembroke Pines, FL 33025

I’m always your brother,

Br. Jay

 

[wild_thing]

What a lovely post. It is so interesting and inspiring to me to hear about religious life. I would love to make a donation and will do so, if saying so doesn’t go against any forum rules or anything.

 

[Dorothy]

How good to get news from Brother Jay!

 

[pianistclare]

Thanks fro sharing this! We all love Brother Jay so much

 

[Richard_White]

Very good to hear from him! God bless him, his brothers, and his ministry!

 

[tawny]

Thanks for sharing, Church Militant. Glad to hear from Br. Jay.

 

[jaimeleglise]

What a lovely, inspiring post. I hope everyone is able to give something.

 

[St_Francis]

Thanks for sharing the news from Brother Jay! I know whatever he does will be great, because his presence here was so helpful to so many. He was very kind to me and I am still grateful!

Keeping him in my prayers and hoping I may one day be in a position to offer material help to his group, which seems so thoughtful!

 

[OraLabora]

So glad to hear his health is holding and improving. Deo gratias!

 

[GLam8833]

“O grave, where is your sting?
O grave where is your victory?
Thanx be to God, who gives us
the victory thru Christ, the Lord.
Therefore be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of
the Lord, for our labor in the Lord
is not in vain” 1 Cor. 15:55-58

 

[NeedImprovement]

Will keep Brother Jay’s imtentions in prayer.

Thank you for the news on him Church Militant.

His contributions to CAF are HUGE , and I believe his Franciscan heart is too.

 

[ProVobis]

Very nice and inspiring.

Thanks, Br JR

 

[graciew]

Thanks for sharing,Church Militant!
So glad to hear about him and their ministry…

 

[Hmgbrd]

Thank you Church Militant! Praying for vocations and donations for Brother Jay and his deserving brothers!

 

[tradcathconvert]

Thank you so much for sharing this. It is always good to hear from Brother Jay!

 

[pianistclare]

Also happy the thread title was edited! LOL

 

[SKWill]

Prayers for Brother Jay and his community!