Franciscan Fraternities gather in Imperial for annual retreat

The El Poverello of the Plains and the St. Stephen the Martyr Secular Franciscan Fraternities, pictured above, met in Imperial Sept. 9 for their annual retreat. The day began with a Eucharistic Adoration Holy Hour, followed with Benediction, the Holy Mass and communal mid-day prayer in St. Patrick Church with Fr. Lothar Gilde and Fr. Bernard Lorenz officiating. The noon meal provided leisure time to become better acquainted with the 16 Fraternity participants who had traveled from multiple locations in northeastern Colorado and southwestern Nebraska. During afternoon presentations, Sister Rochelle Kerkhof of Imperial focused on themes relating to St. Francis of Assisi’s life that touched on pilgrimage, “spirituality of place,” the fall of feudalism, rise of the middle class, landscape of Assisi terrain, the parents and personality of St. Francis and personal conversions that took place during his entire lifetime.