FEASTDAY IN THE FRANCISCAN CHURCH


Friday 13th June 2008 was a day of great celebrations in the Franciscan Church of St Stephan.The 0900hrs Mass had a large congregation who heard Father Benno speak about St Anthony of Padua.He is the Patron Saint of the Bavarian Province of the Franciscan Order.
     St Anthony was born into a rich family in Lisbon,Portugal in the year 1195. He was educated in the Cathedral School and then against the wishes of his family,entered the Augustinian Abbey of St Vincent.
    Due to pressures of the world he asked to be moved and was transferred to Santa Cruz Monastery in Coimbra.It was here that he was ordained.Shortly after he met 5 Franciscans who were going to Morocco to preach to the muslims there.He was inspired by there life of poverty and charity.On hearing that they had been martyred,Anthony prayed about his vocation.He asked his superiors to allow him to transfer to the Franciscan Order.
       He suffered much sickness in his life.He accepted it humbly and  was  always obedient to his superiors.One day he was ordered to speak a sermon as no one else could do it.After that it was realised that Anthony had the gift of preaching.He was sent to preach all round Lombardy in Italy.
He died on 13th June 1231 in the Poor Clare Convent at Arcella aged 36 years old.He was canonized on 30th May 1232 by Pope Gregory IX.    

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Father Sigfried Grän.OFM (R.I.P.)
Born:9th June 1935
Father Sigfried Grän died at 1730hrs
on the 23rd June 2008.

The Funeral of Father Sigfried Grän took place at the St Stephan Franciscan Church in Füssen at 1030hrs on Thursday 26th June 2008.Father Maximilian Wagner,Provincial  of Bavaria's  Franciscan Community  presided at the Requiem Mass which he concelebrated with 15 other Franciscan Priests.Many other members of the Franciscan order were also present,as were members of Father Grän's  family.
  Father Wagner during his homily told about the life of Father Sigfried and also his love of the Alatsee since moving to Füssen in 2005.Father Sigfried had been a Priest since 26th July 1959,having joined the Franciscan Order on 15th August 1953 when he was given the name Sigfried.His name before joining the order was Horst Alfons.

The Mass was very moving as was the farewell blessing given before the procession from the church to the St Sebastian Graveyard.Within the graveyard the Franciscan order have their own area for burial.After prayers asking Our Father in Heaven for mercy on the soul of his beloved priest,all the members of the Order filled past the coffin and sprinkled Holy Water on it with many giving their personal blessing as well. The family of Father Grän then also sprinkled the coffin with Holy Water and put some soil on the coffin.
MAY HE REST IN PEACE

He spent his last day playing the organ for the Franciscan Feast celebrations.The Bavarian Provincial visited Füssen to celebrate Mass for  those  celebrating Jubilees and distinguished Birthdays.Father Maximilian Wagner,Provincial of the Bavarian Province personally thanked Father Sigfried for his wonderful Piano & Organ playing during the Mass.
After his midday meal, he went with Brother Bertram by foot to the Alatsee and walked around it.Since his retirement he had spent many hours pursuing his two beloved hobbies,music and painting.He had hoped to exhibit his paintings of the Alatsee  in July 2008.He wrote the following for the Exhibition.
It was a place he loved as it reminded him of the Franciscan monastery's he had served in but with natural background rather than walls.The Alatsee is very deep and it can be terrifying as it reminds us of the abyss's that can be found in some men's souls.
When Father returned into the Franziskerplatz he suffered a fatal heart attack and died.Father Benno,OFM was able to give Father Sigfried the  sacrament of the sick before he passed away to his reward.May He rest in Peace!We remember also all the Franciscan community in Füssen who were greatly surprised by Father Sigfried's sudden Death

Franciscan Monastory and Church of St Stephan

 MASS TIMES

MONDAY TO SATURDAY:DAILY AT 0900HRS

(Prayers to St Anthony of Padua and Blessing with his relic follow Mass every Tuesday,the day he died.)

SUNDAY MASS & HOLYDAYS OF OBLIGATION:0800HRS & 1000HRS

CONFESSIONS/SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
SATURDAYS
0830-0900 HRS
1400-1430HRS

Stations of the Cross:
1600hrs Every Friday during Lent

May Devotions:
1930hrs Every Monday,Wednesday & Friday during May.(Except 1st May)

CONFESSIONS ALSO BY REQUEST ASKING AT THE MONASTERY OR TELEPHONING FOR AN APPOINTMENT.

FRANZISCANERKIRCHE
Sonntag Hl.Messe 08.00 u. 10.00 Uhr



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 FÜSSEN FRANCISCANS WEBSITE

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Franziskanerkloster St. Stephan
 
Franziskanerplatz  1, 87629 Füssen
Tel: (0 83 62) 91 53-0

 Fax: (0 83 62) 91 53-20

E-mail:fuessen@franziskaner.de

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(Inside the Franciscan Church-below)



The Cloister Outside and Gardens









THE FRANCISCAN GRAVEYARD


The Franscicans look after the chapel in the East Allgäu Hospital.Mass is celebrated for patients,staff and families.

Mass is celebrated at 1800hrs,Sundays,Tuesdays & Thursdays.

(Hospital Chapel Photo below)


APPOINTMENT.





Painting Exhibition of the works of Father Sigfried Grän .OFM. R.I.P.



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Monday 23rd June 2008


FATHER PROVINCIAL OF THE FRANCISCANS VISITED FÜSSEN

On Monday 23rd June 2008,The Father Provincial of the  Franciscan Order visited the  monastery  in Füssen.Father Maximilian Wagner was the main con- celebrant along with 16 other priests at the 1030hrs Mass.

          The Provincial was visiting to celebrate that Father Askanius is celebrating 70 years as a priest.Father Dagobert celebrates his golden Jubilee to the priesthood.Father Michael celebrates his silver Jubiliee as a priest and Father Heriburt is celebrating his 75th birthday.

There were 15 others priests and brothers from other parts of Bavaria who also received a small gift and certificate to remember the jubilee,birthday or other event they were celebrating.

        During the Mass Brother George a young brother sang and danced a song about the life of a Franciscan.

The whole celebration was very uplifting and the Franciscan hospitality and poverty in Spirit shone through.The Franciscan community in Bavaria celebrated with joy,hope and love.It was a great moving spiritual experience.
          The whole day was covered by Father Werner Reischmann ofm who took photos and will write about the day in the Franciscan Publications of which he  is Editor.Father Reischmann was also a receipient of  a  gift and certificate from  Father Maximilian Wagner,Franciscan  Provincial  in Bavaria.
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