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 November 15th, 2008
Richmond, Virginia
My dearest Oblates family and friends:
I still savoring the joy that we all shared during our Chapter meeting in the beautiful city of Richmond, VA. The fellowship was wonderful, the prayer time uplifting and the decisions made historical.
We ordained our beloved brother, John-David (The Rev. Ken Ellis) as Deacon in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church in a ceremony that was moving and at times, emotional.
But the most relevant decision was to join the Franciscan Brothers of the Divine Providence and becoming their Oblates branch, the Franciscan Oblates of the Holy Spirit.
By making this decision we are now part of the worldwide Franciscan family, Bishop Delgado has become our Episcopal Visitor and spiritual leader and our Prior, Fr. Richard Lewis has become the Warden of the Oblates. We have also gained a Mother House, a place that we can hold our meetings and our members can hold their retreats. This also allows some of our members to enter monastic life if they so desire. We have much to gain and nothing to loose. I have stepped down from all positions of all authority and place myself under the authority of Bishop Jose M. Delgado, HFP. If you want to know more about our new family please visit www.hermanosfranciscanos.org.
I want to thank all of you for your love, support and tolerance during the last five years, now is time to move to this next chapter of our life. Fr. Richard Lewis will provide effective leadership and Bishop Delgado will be an excellent Episcopal Visitor.
During the last month or so I have been dealing with my transition as Regional Chaplaincy Administrator in the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Moving from Virginia to the Metro D.C area and learning my new job has been challenging but the Lord has been with me.
Also during this time here in the United States we went through a historical presidential election. I received e-mails and correspondence from all sides and what disappointed me the greatest was to see how many Christians put their trust in and believe that one political candidate or another is the answer to the problems of our world. Christ is the answer my dear ones and we are the body of Christ. As one that spent a great deal of time in politics in his younger years I can tell you, there is no one political candidate that can really solve the problems of this world, only Christ can and I believe that we as Christians should not waste an ounce of our energy in partisan politics when there is a need to proclaim the Gospel. Exercise your right to vote but please do not compromise your Christian testimony no matter how good your candidate is or how bad the opponent is.
I leave you with these words from Philippians 4:
Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
I remain always your servant,
+Jesus-Manuel, FOHS |
