May, 2017

Dear Brothers,

May the graces of this Easter Season be with you!

I want to invite you to the 2017 Annual International Fraternity Meeting. Our hosts this year will be the Fraternities in Boston and Providence. We will be meeting from July 30-August 4 in Attleboro, MA at the La Salette Retreat Center.

To concelebrate Mass you will need a letter of suitability. Here is pertinent information for requesting that letter from your diocese:
Dates: July 30-August 4 (Adjust if you will be coming earlier or leaving later).
Reason: Participating in the Annual Fraternity of Priests Meeting, held this year at the La Salette Retreat Center
Contact person: Fr. Cyriac
Address of location: La Salette Retreat Center, 947 Park St., Attleboro, MA 02703
Local Bishop: Bishop Edgar M. Cunha S.V.D., D. D.
Diocese: Diocese of Fall River, 47 Underwood St, Fall River, MA 02720

Our presenter this year is Dr. Ralph Martin. He is the president of Renewal Ministries, the co-host of the EWTN programs The Choices We Face and director of graduate programs in the new evangelization at Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit. Ralph Martin has authored numerous books including The Fulfillment of All Desire and The Urgency of the New Evangelization . He has spoken all over the world and is a consultant to the Pontifical Council on the New Evangelization.

The registration cost which includes the conference, lodging, and meals will be $425. As in previous years, the Fraternity Board at our recent meeting has agreed on a travel reimbursement up to $300.00 for those from North America and up to $1000.00 for those from Europe, Asia, and Africa. Please alert us beforehand on the registration form that you will need a reimbursement and enclose a copy of your paid airfare bill. If an individual brother needs more financial assistance, please contact me by e-mail at franco@stpeternr.org. It will be up to each of you to arrange your flights to either Logan Airport in Boston, MA or Green Airport in Providence, RI. Try to arrive during the afternoon or evening of July 31. The brothers from these Fraternities will arrange for transportation from the airport to the La Salette Retreat Center. Transportation to the airport at the end of the conference will also be provided.

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 indicate this name on your registration form. Even if you are not attending the conference, you may nominate a brother for this award.

Please join us at the conference and try to make the decision soon. Keep the conference and Ralph Martin in your prayers. And pray for all the brothers in the Fraternity, especially those participating in this wonderful gathering.

In Christ,

Fr. Bob Franco
Chairman

National Shrine of Our Lady of LaSalette

Attleboro, Massachusetts
https://lasaletteattleboroshrine.org/ 

LaSalette Shrine