Franciscan Saints and Blessed Feast Day
November 29
On November 29, the Franciscan family celebrates the Feast of All Saints of the Seraphic Order—remembering the countless Franciscan men and women who have lived out the Gospel of Jesus Christ by following the patterns of life left by Francis and Clare of Assisi. This date was chosen for the feast as Pope Honorius III confirmed the Rule of St. Francis on November 29, 1223.
For more information, see: https://www.franciscantradition.org/blog/feast-of-all-saints-of-the-seraphic-order/
Jean Kurtz OFS, was one of the founding members of Divine Mercy Fraternity, who passed from this life during the morning hours of November 29, 2000. During her last brief illness and hospitalization she was surrounded by family, friends and members of the Divine Mercy Secular Franciscan Fraternity.
Patricia Jean Kurtz was born May 5, 1935 in Sioux City, Iowa and moved to Vero Beach in 1985 from Anchorage, Alaska. She was a teacher in the Anchorage Borough School District for 22 years. During her tenure there she served as chairman of the English Department of Dimond High School, and taught honors English classes. She took special pleasure in helping students who had fallen behind to improve their reading skills. After moving to Vero Beach, she volunteered as a reading tutor at St. Helen Catholic Church.
Jean was one of the founding members of the fraternity and is sorely missed. She led a very holy life. This is how she came to know us. One day, in late 1992, Jean walked into St. Helen's Charismatic Prayer Group Meeting on a Thursday evening. At the appropriate time, she went to the microphone, and introduced herself and she asked: "Are there any Franciscans here?" Fred Schaeffer raised his hand, and Jean told him that she wanted to join the Secular Franciscans, and if he would please help her begin a Fraternity in Vero Beach. Fred had some Capuchin experiences when he was around 20-22, so he answered he would try.
It took many phone calls and much letter-writing to determine just what the procedure was to create a new Fraternity. The reason it was so extraordinarily difficult was because the SFO, formerly Third Order of St. Francis, had just begun the "regionalization" process in the USA and no one was particularly sure what to do with an emergent fraternity. But begin we did, and thanks to Jean, Fred, and also Corrine McCarthy (from Maine), the Fraternity was begun and in 1996 we received full Canonical Approval and became a member fraternity of Five Franciscan Martyrs Region (Florida and part of Southern Alabama).
Besides her enthusiastic membership in the Secular Franciscan Order, Jean volunteered to lead the Rosary at Alterra Sterling House on a regular basis. She also was instrumental in bringing EWTN on Cable-television in Vero Beach.
Strangely enough, after Jean passed away, the fraternity began to grow, at first slowly, then more came. We think she's praying for us up there, and we have not forgotten you, either. You're our sister in Christ, in Saint Francis, and you are in our hearts. Thank you for everything. She went to the Father on November 29, 2000. November 29th is the feast day of All Saints of the Franciscan Orders. Jean is with them now.
Written from her Obituary./Fred S.
Regrettably, Divine Mercy Fraternity is no longer active, that is, the four remaining members are being transitioned into Saint Elizabeth of Hungary Fraternity of Port St. Lucie.