The Annual Third Order MICM Communion Breakfast 2005
The annual Third Order MICM Communion Breakfast is one of the highlights of the year at the Saint Benedict Center in Still River, Massachusetts. It is held in April, the month dedicated to the Holy Eucharist. This year the special event took place on Saturday, the ninth of April. Members and their guests attended the 8:30 Mass which was offered for the intentions of the Third Order and then gathered at the Bull Run restaurant for a hearty breakfast.
Central to this gathering was the guest speaker, Father John Donovan, one of the chaplains at the Saint Benedict Center. He easily captivated the audience with his engaging style and his impromptu anecdotes, and as Father would put it, “That's another story…”
The theme of the spiritual talk was “The Holy Family of Nazareth”. Fr. Donovan focused on the Holy Family as the model for all families, which he described as the nucleus of the Church. He explored some of the problems in the modern Church and the direct relationship they have with the disintegration of the family in today's world. Some of the forces he cited as having a negative impact on the family and subsequently on vocations were divorce, infidelity, homosexual marriage, abortion and feminism. A family upbringing which is strongly rooted in the Faith as well as the prayerful example of the parents provide the basis for 
vocations, according to Father. He also stressed the importance of men and women maintaining their respective traditional roles in the family and the Church, in order to foster vocations. Father recited a few lines from the poem “1887” by A. E. Housman in which the fulfillment of the duty of fatherhood is rendered paramount to the fulfillment of God's Will.
All agreed that Father “hit the nail on the head” and we are grateful to him for sharing with us his insights.
About the Third Order MICM
The Third Order is comprised of lay men and women who are consecrated to Mary according to the method of St. Louis Marie de Montfort while participating in the apostolate and doctrinal crusade of Saint Benedict Center. Spiritual and corporal good works are performed via committee participation, and a small monthly fee is collected to fund Masses and flowers as requested by the Third Order for various intentions and occasions. General meetings are held monthly to report on activities and progress, as well as to plan upcoming events. A spiritual talk is given by the Superior and the Act of Consecration is renewed at these meetings which, as a rule, take place after Benediction. Associate Membership is available for those who are not able to participate fully due to location.
For further information, please write to:
Third Order MICM
PO Box 1000
Still River, MA 01467
or email
streramo@saintbenedict.com