When one came to the first tree he said, "This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter," and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew that the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.
At the second tree the woodsman said, "This looks like a strong tree, I should be able to sell it to the shipyard." The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.
When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true.
One of the woodsmen said, "I don't need anything special from my tree, so I'll take this one", and he cut it down.
When the first tree arrived at the carpenter's, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.
The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat. His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying kings had come to an end.
The third tree was cut into large pieces and left alone in the dark.
The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams. Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do.
The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.
Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree. One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and He stood and said
"Peace" and the storm stopped.
boat.
At this time, the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its
Finally, someone came and got the third tree. It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill.
When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because
Jesus had been crucified on it.
The moral of this story is that when things do not seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in
Him, He will give you great gifts.
Each of the trees got what they wanted, but not in the way they had imagined.
We do not always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that
His ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.
“St. Lawrence of Brindisi”
S E C U L A R F R A N C I S C A N O R D E R
Robert Metz, Minister (631) 475 -3426
Fr. Matthias Wesnofske, Spiritual Asst. (212) 564-9070 x 244
Loretta Corcoran, Chief Promoter (631) 886-2422

FRANCISCAN DAY OF PRAYER
Places, Dates & Times
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
495 No. Ocean Avenue, Patchogue, NY
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Formation Classes
Franciscan Crown Rosary
Liturgy of the Hours/Benediction
Social
*Formation
12:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
*On going Formation
"Francis and Sacred Scripture" is this month's formation theme. Please refer to chapter C 6, page 52 of “Share The
Good News”, and review questions Q 1 thru Q 7. A reflection on this topic shall be brought to us by Judy.
Thank you. Tony.
* * * A/O * * *
Common Fund Activity: Month of November
Income $462.00 minus Expense $426.00 equals $36.00
REMINDER
It’s a part of the Rule, unless for good reason, that you should attend meetings. However, you should send in your Attendance envelope and your offering for the Fraternity’s Common Fund.
Fair Share will be due this coming January!
The Council wishes you and your loved ones a Blessed Christmas:
Bob, Judy, Tony Loretta, Martha and Fr. Matt
We will be having a baby shower to close the 2011
SPIRITUAL ADOPTION PRAYER PROGRAM it will take place in the Chapel at the December Gathering.
The gifts we need are:
Baby food, baby formula, diapers (large), layette items and baby clothes (newborn to 18 months) if anyone has old playpens or high chairs they would be welcome. Put your gifts in the basket by the altar.
By the grace of God we heard that Felicia (Fay) Chrzanowski has died. Janet Russo spotted her OBIT in the Newsday and called Gert.
No one from the family notified us of her death. She died on
November 12 th . Fay was Professed on November 13 th 1966 (45 years). She was a long and faithful member of our Fraternity, so it is never too late to say a prayer for her, God always hears the prayer of the faithful. May God bless You!
The Three Trees
Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, "Someday I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty."
The second tree said, "Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take kings and queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. Everyone will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull."
The third tree said, "I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill and look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me."
After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees.
(continued on back page)

MINISTER’S MESSAGE
“The Christmas Crèche”
Today the Nativity scene is celebrated in every church and most every Christian home throughout the world; let’s reflect on how it all came about with the article written by one Lorrie Brown a freelance writer from Maine.
“Saint Francis of Assisi is credited with creating the first nativity scene, as a way to make the Christmas season a time of peace and goodwill. In 1224, Saint Francis had the idea of creating a “living” recreation of the birth of Jesus, as a way to bring the
Christmas spirit to the local villagers’. It is believed that local shepherds, guarding their flocks out-side the small Italian town of
Greccio inspired him. Saint Francis had real people dressed in biblical robes, and real animals positioned outside a cave on the outskirts of Greccio. In the manager was a life sized wax figure of the infant Jesus. On Christmas Eve, families traveled far and wide to witness the – spectacle. Saint Francis urged the people to rejoice in the season of Christ’s birth and remove hatred from their hearts.
Over time the presepio, as it was called in Italy, grew in popularity.
Other towns began featuring them and soon people had individual nativity scenes in their own homes. Wealthy families hired famous sculptors to make their nativity scenes. One of the most famous nativity scenes in Italy is displayed at the Basilica of Saint Cosmos
& Damian in Rome. Originally built in Naples during the 17 th
Century, it measures an impressive 45 by 20 feet and features hundreds of wooden figures along with his living nativity scene.
Saint Francis sought the help of music to teach his congregation about the birth of Jesus Christ. According to Tristam Coffin in his book, “The Book of Christmas Folklore”, Saint Francis is credited with singing the very first Christmas carols, by adding religious lyrics to everyday tunes. The result was the Italian lauda, which was incredibly popular for the next two hundred years.”
I wish all of you and your families a Happy and Holy
Christmas season
Pax et bonum. Bob
* * * * * * * * * *
The FORMATION Perspective Nov.13th 2011
By: Tony Vissicchio, SFO by " GOD'S GRACE “
Brothers and Sisters in Francis,
In Baptism, thru the sharing of the Most Holy Trinity's Divine
Life with us, we were blessed with the gift of God's grace by the merits of Christ our Lord. From eternity, in His timeless Plan of Salvation, the Eternal Father willed to send us His only begotten Son Jesus, to show us His own vision of the world, make us aware of the boundless love He has for us and His desire to regain us into His eternal Kingdom. In His infinite goodness and generosity, as a manifestation of His great love for His Creatures, God bestowed upon us the abundance of His divine graces.” Everything is grace" said St.
Paul, for, thru grace, we can aim at a loving relationship with
God as the very heart of our life, in the blessed notion that
God's grace truly permeates every aspect of our existence. We must however diligently avoid the fallacy of seeing God's grace as our guaranteed pass to heaven without entering into due consciousness of its true nature, and caring to remain humbly mindful that ultimately we are indeed still accountable to God for how we lead our earthly life.
We were furthermore endowed with God's own nature in our human endeavor to intimately reach out to Him, and, as the clearest sign of God's faculties in us, perceive God's divine essence radiating throughout creation to become the magic force that leads the universe, giving total meaning to man's life and immeasurably enhancing our God given prerogative to know, seek and achieve the divine miracle of love. How blessed we are. How divine His aura on us, how great the Almighty God
God bless you. .
Tony.

Please remember in your charity to pray for:
Ill Franciscans – Bob Metz and Bill Sosnicki
Deceased Franciscan – (December)
Edwin Daly
Frank Vincenti
Margaret Burns
Agnes Ferral
Francis Warren
Joanne Mabli
Edward Russo
Erskine Van Houten
2005
1997
1996
1992
1990
1989
1981
1970
There is a Mass said each month, by Fr. Matthias Wesnofske for the living and deceased members of our Fraternity.
Special Intentions -
Shaun Conversion & health, coping with pain, Steve Schwetz domestic crisis, Tina Vigliotta for health complications.
Friends & Relatives – Morris Family to become more spiritual, please pray for John and my children, Schumacher family, Corcoran family, my nephew Kevin is still in coma, all my children & grandchildren return to faith, Lucia help healing my sister Grace Santangelo, Pepper
Cangelosi and Lorraine Lindner’s friend Eric for eye surgery.
WEDNESDAY IS PRAYER DAY!
We pray for our Fraternity’s holiness and for an increase in vocations to our Fraternity and the Secular Franciscan Order.
FOOTNOTES:
The following are asked to bring to the December Gathering:
Martha Sconfienza,
½ gal. of milk.
Pamela M. Seagroatt, cake, cookies or donuts.
Theresa Stamm, cake, cookies or donuts.
Maria Vissicchio, cake, cookies or donuts.
HAPPY DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS :
Barbara Woessner, December 22nd
DECEMBER PROFESSIONS:
Eileen McGee, 24
Tina Vigliotta, 24
Janet Russo, 38 th th th
Anniversary
Anniversary
Anniversary
* * * A/O * * *
New Pentecost Fraternity is sponsoring a Day of Recollection. It will be on Saturday, December 3 rd
at The Franciscan Chapel of St.
Anthony High School, 275 Wolf Hill Rd., Melville, NY 631 271-2020.
Brother Richard Contino, OSF will present “To “The Stable”
For reservations contact: Pete or Alicia D’Amato at (631)
331-7680. Fee: $15.00 per person payment in advance would be appreciated. Bring a brown bag lunch, beverages and pastries served for breakfast.
* * * TTT * * *