Fr. Dennis Koopman, O.F.M. Biography    Fr. Dennis Koopman, O.F.M., was born and reared in northeastern Iowa.  Once graduated from Loras College, Dubuque, IA, he attended the Franciscan St. Joseph Seminary, Westmont, IL, and in 1965 was professed in the Franciscan Order, Sacred Heart Province, St. Louis, MO.  After theological studies at Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, IL, he was ordained to the priesthood, June 13, 1970.    Having obtained a Masters degree in Chemistry at the Univ. of Iowa, Iowa City, Fr. Dennis subsequently taught chemistry and algebra for 20 years at Quincy University, Quincy, IL, a Franciscan University.  For most of Fr. Dennis’ teaching years, he was active in and held leadership positions for Worldwide Marriage Encounter and for Engaged Encounter.  He organized the marriage preparation programs for west- central IL, in the Springfield Diocese.  Issues of family life and parish life were his pastoral ministry while teaching at Quincy University.    After attending the Vatican II Institute for Theological Renewal for priests at Menlo Park, CA, in 1994, Fr. Dennis began his full-time ministry of preaching Parish Missions.  He has been full-time in the preaching ministry ever since then.  He is a member of the Franciscan “Ministry of the Word” team for Parish Missions, and holds a Certificate in preaching from the Aquinas Institute of Theology in St. Louis, MO.    Currently Fr. Koopman lives with five other Franciscan Friars at St. Gratian Friary, Countryside, IL, a near-southwest suburb of Chicago, three suburbs straight west of Midway Airport. Email-StGratian@aol.com     Franciscan Ministry of the Word   PARISH MISSIONS   WE ARE FRANCISCAN FRIARS OF THE SACRED HEART PROVINCE ENGAGED IN PREACHING THE WORD OF GOD. OUR APPROACH IS SHAPED BY THE DIRECTIONS OF THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL AND THE SPIRIT AND LOVE OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI AND HIS DEDICATION TO THE GOSPEL LIFE. Awakening Our Faith in Challenging Times In a time when violence and evil have visited our lives how does the Gospel message of Jesus Christ call us to respond? How is God present to us? How do we live His message of love and reconciliation and at the same time seek justice? How do we find healing for our pain? DAY ONE: Living in the embrace of God's Love. In the face of violence and injustice it is indeed tempting to abandon our belief in a God of Love. We proclaim that God does indeed hold us in a loving embrace, giving us both the strength to carry on and the ability to reach out to all those in need. DAY TWO: Forgiveness as the path to Peace. In a world that more and more seeks to resolve conflict through retaliation, punishment and violence, we proclaim a God who is merciful and always seeks to forgive. In accepting his gift of mercy for ourselves, we are then called to be peacemakers by forgiving those who have wronged us. At the same time we must wrestle with the truth that real peace and reconciliation cannot come about without justice. DAY THREE: Healing the human heart. In spite of the advances made in medicine and technology, suffering and sorrow still afflict the human heart, due to sickness, injustice, or the violence that is so rampant in today’s world. We proclaim that through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ people of today will find healing and restoration. DAY FOUR: Called to be witnesses of the Good News at the dawn of a new millennium. Renewed and restored to life through Love, Forgiveness and Healing, we are called to share this life with all by spreading the Good News to men and women of today. WHAT The Franciscan Ministry of the Word offers a four-day Parish Mission. We focus our attention on the mystery of Jesus. Each morning we offer a Mass with a homily; in the evening a service of preaching and prayer to further develop the theme of the day (God's love, reconciliation, healing, evangelization). We also have presentations for the Religious Education and Parochial School children, the teenagers, and we visit your shut-ins. WHY The Mission is an opportunity for the parish community to heal hurts and divisions to experience what it means to be a parish to develop a spiritual vision to prepare for deeper participation and commitments to gather in the inactive to offer forgiveness to anoint the sick to encourage the lonely to revitalize itself WHEN A team of two friars (one friar for smaller parishes) presenting the Mission would arrive on Saturday to preach at all the weekend Masses. The Mission lasts from Monday through Thursday. At least a month before the Mission, the friars will meet with the parish staff to help in the publicity and preparation. WHO We hope to involve as many as possible in the Mission: Music Ministry, Ushers, Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers, Altar Servers, Publicity, Hospitality, Witnesses, and Drivers. In this way the Mission becomes more a parish effort. THE FEE We charge the parish no fee, but on the last day ask for a donation from those attending the Mission.  SISTERS RETREATS 1-  With St.Francis of Assisi as our guide, enbracing the mystery of the Incarnation. 2- What is intimacy with Jesus as found in the Gospel and the First Letter of John. WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER WEEKENDS Fr. Dennis can be reached at: ST. GRATIAN FRIARY 5536 So. Edgewood Ave. Countryside, IL 60525-3426 (708) 482-4546 FAX: (708) 482-8676  </FONT