Section:
companions
The Ringwood companions (formerly the lay associates of the Franciscan Sisters of Ringwood) held their monthly meeting on Sunday, November 16, 2003 at Mt. St. Francis in Ringwood. Each year the group selects a corporal work as a manifestation of their support for Franciscan ideals. This year the Companions are supporting the Honduran mission of the Capuchin Friars of St. Mary’s Province. Father Francis Gasparik, Director of Development for the Franciscan
The Ringwood Companions planned a Thanksgiving feast to show their appreciation for the sisters. The food was so delicious that they are now sharing recipes!
Friars, gave a presentation on the mission complex known as Casa de Maria. Staffed by a local group of Franciscan sisters, Casa de Maria includes a home for children who are developmentally disabled as the result of malnourishment or disease caused by poor sanitation. It also services the elderly poor who have no family, offering them a place to live. The needs of this ministry and its elderly residents are very basic: beds (which more closely resemble a folding bed rather than the Serta Perfect Sleepers most Americans enjoy), a storage cabinet for their few possessions, underwear, and screening for the windows to keep disease-breeding insects from entering the sleeping quarters. Father Gasparik spoke of the crime which makes it very difficult to send materials to the missions. As a result, funds are made available for purchases to be made locally in Honduras. Still, arrangements for transportation and security must be made to go to the nearest town, make the purchases, and get the goods back to the mission.
The companions will focus on helping the elderly who are so often overlooked
Companions tested their culinary arts and prepared dishes to share
because they are no longer "cute." The companions are saving their loose change for Casa de Maria; they began saving in October and will continue through May. They will pool their savings in May and present it to Father Francis for the needs of the elderly at Casa de Maria. The Ringwood companions welcome any other groups who would like to participate in this effort. Please contact Sister Clare Agnes Conforti, Mt. Carmel Convent; 47 Reid Avenue, Passaic, NJ 07055 for further information.
with the Sisters at St. Joseph Residence in Ringwood.
(This update was submitted by Felix Hosmer, Chairperson of the Companions in Ringwood.)
