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October 2012

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Source of Pride

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By Jack Wintz, OFM

Brother Maynard Shurley, along with other Native Americans across our land, is delighted that Kateri Tekakwitha will be canonized this month.

When asked about the news of Kateri Tekakwitha’s October 21 canonization, Brother Maynard Shurley, OFM, replies, “It’s about time we have a Native American saint!” The 56-yearold Navajo friar saw the news as a great source of pride for all Native Americans when St. Anthony Messenger interviewed him in New Mexico last February.

Brother Maynard was born close to the Navajo reservation in a small town east of Gallup, New Mexico. He serves as the local minister or guardian of the small Franciscan friary at Tohatchi, New Mexico, on the reservation. He was recently elected to the provincial council of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, based in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Brother Maynard speaks to the people in either Navajo or English, as needed. He walks easily between cultures.

Jack Wintz, OFM, is senior editor of this publication and editor of Catholic Update. He is also author of Friar Jack’s E-spirations, a free newsletter accessible at FriarJack.org.

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Theophilus of Corte: If we expect saints to do marvelous things continually and to leave us many memorable quotes, we are bound to be disappointed with St. Theophilus. The mystery of God's grace in a person's life, however, has a beauty all its own.
<p>Theophilus was born in Corsica of rich and noble parents. As a young man he entered the Franciscans and soon showed his love for solitude and prayer. After admirably completing his studies, he was ordained and assigned to a retreat house near Subiaco. Inspired by the austere life of the Franciscans there, he founded other such houses in Corsica and Tuscany. Over the years, he became famous for his preaching as well as his missionary efforts. </p><p>Though he was always somewhat sickly, Theophilus generously served the needs of God's people in the confessional, in the sickroom and at the graveside. Worn out by his labors, he died on June 17, 1740. He was canonized in 1930.</p>

God doesn't abandon people just because an accident happened. He doesn't abandon people who are the victims of poor judgment or of evildoers. He is always there. It's up to us to find him.

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	St. Isidore the Farmer
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