May the graces of Lent be with you!
I want to invite you to the 2019 Annual International Fraternity Meeting. We are joining the Priests, Deacons and Seminarians Retreat of Franciscan University of Steubenville this year.
We will meet the day before the retreat begins. Please plan to arrive by Sunday evening, June 16. We will meet on Monday morning and afternoon before the formal retreat begins on Monday evening, June 17. It will end on Friday, June 21 at Noon. The University has agreed to provide on-campus lodging for Sunday night if you are registered for the event.
The theme of this year’s retreat is Unbound. Registration information for members of the Fraternity is enclosed in this mailing. Visit https://steubenvilleconferences.com/events/pds/ for more information.
The registration cost which includes the retreat, lodging, and meals will be around $600.00. In addition to the usual assistance with travel expenses, the Fraternity Board has agreed to also assist with retreat expenses. The Board will reimburse up to $300 for travel expenses and $200 for retreat expenses. For those from Europe, Asia and Africa, the Fraternity will reimburse up to $1000.00 for travel and $400 for retreat expenses.
To register, please fill out both of the forms. Return the conference registration form along with payment directly to the Franciscan University Conferences (address on the form). The enclosed Travel, Reimbursement and Brotherhood Award form is to be filled out and returned to the Fraternity of Priests post office box.
If additional financial assistance is needed, please contact me by e-mail at franco@stpeternr.org. It will be up to each of you to arrange your flights to Pittsburgh International Airport. Try to arrive during the afternoon or evening of Sunday, June 16. The earlier those arrangements are made, the easier it will be to organize pick up to the airport. Depending on your departure time, transportation to the airport at the end of the retreat will also be provided by Franciscan University or the Fraternity.
IMPORTANT: All priests and deacons in attendance at a Steubenville Retreat must submit a Letter of Good Standing to the Registration Office at Franciscan University of Steubenville. The template for such a letter will be included in your Registration Confirmation email. This letter is due no later than May 24, 2019. If you are unable to have the letter to us by this date, please call or email us so that we may best accommodate you; 740-283-6315 or conferences@franciscan.edu. Unfortunately, if we do not receive your letter before the start of the retreat, we are not permitted to allow you to attend. We thank you for your time and understanding!
This meeting is open to all members of the Fraternity of Priests. However, I do want to make a special appeal to local Fraternity leaders. Our gathering strengthens our bonds of fraternity and clarifies our mission of service to our brother priests and to the Church.
As usual we will cover some business at the meeting, in particular the election of new board members. Please pray that the Lord provide us with men willing to serve the Fraternity at large. We will also be nominating a brother for the Annual Brotherhood Award. Please fill out the Annual Brotherhood nomination form. Even if you are not attending the retreat, you may nominate a brother for this award.
Please join us. Do keep this retreat in your prayers and all the brothers in the Fraternity, especially those participating in this wonderful gathering.
In Christ,
Fr Bob Franco, Chairman
STEP 1: Choose a Registration Method
You can either register online or mail/fax in a registration form. This will register you through Franciscan University Conferences.
STEP 2: Request a Reimbursement
Download the Reimbursement form to obtain travel reimbursement from the Fraternity of Priests. This also contains the Brotherhood Award nomination form.