Testimonials

Canticle was a gathering of the people of God, the Body of Christ, His Church. That is how I have come to describe the day. For only His faithful, I believe, could have been granted such still hearts through the cold and wet that accompanied our much-prayed-over exhibition, Mass, and feast in the fields of Gilbertie Farm for the Jubilee of St. Francis — God’s faithful, and those faithful friends to Ewa, whose Spirited devotion and generosity, together with her collaborator (mentor, encourager) Fr. Norbert, brought us all to that place.

I knew it as I was reading the verses of the Canticle alongside Ewa’s paintings (I would like to say she wrote them, though icons they are not [quite], these transporting portraits of Brother Sun, Sister Water, Brother Fire, Sister Death), listening closely to the music of a man I had not met in person and whose compositions I was hearing in earnest for the first time; I listened to learn when, where, how, to speak. (To Whom, I knew.) We – the young man reading beside me, the paintings, the music, and I – were in conversation, and I dared not quicken it for the sake of the crowd, though I wondered multiple times if I should. But one glance around at those gathered confirmed that stillness of heart held all, and set my own heart accordingly. I listened; spoke; listened.

The people of God — I knew it huddled under an umbrella and a wool blanket as Fr. Norbert proclaimed the Gospel from the lectern that Bilal, my fellow reader, had hand-built from a fallen tree. (His mother had woven it through with flowers.) I could not see that beautiful lectern during the Mass; I only heard an accented voice proclaim above the umbrellas: “My yoke is easy, and my burden light.” I was in the field, I was in the crowd, and I knew it. I knew it with my knees cushioned into wet grass and ground.

I knew it as we served wine at the stone wall, as well-wrapped guests urged us to take from offered plates. Fr. Norbert, with extraordinary eyes, was speaking of his retreat to Maine, his renewal from pouring himself out for so many, when someone bade us look to the skies.

Across the length of the farm, full and beaming lightly: a rainbow.

Canticle was, was, a gathering of God’s people. And He has smiled upon them.

Hannah Chomiczewski

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field…”
Matthew 13: 44

As “the wind blows, and we know not where it comes from, or where it goes,” that same Spirit, which ‘searches man,’ breathes holy ideas into those who, having been born of Him, are often unaware of destinations and beginnings.

There are times when, the the seed having been sown, the sowers having themselves been planted, the grain having ‘fallen to the earth and died,’ that the Psalmist’s prophecy is echoed and the servants are given to reap the firstfruits of their own sowing- sweetness, delight, hope, and peace.

Here one must “serve Him with great humility” and this requires a great effort at littleness. About this our Lord is most clear. How often we fail, and therein are given to learn.

So the Teacher in His Providence assembles His instruments, knowing we can do nothing on our own. Not unlike others, yet sole in His plan… a friar, a paintbrush, a community, a team, a farm and a “field.” And He submitted Himself to come, as He does, even sending the smallest child to remind, lest we forget- it was in this way He first came, and in this way He charged us to receive.

The Psalmist’s words recalled again, as the field was ‘made sweet by the autumn rain.’ The small offerings of water-patched knees, bent in reverence, pale in compare to the Blood which soaked the Knees that bore the streets of Jerusalem; but here a sign, the reason why those cobbles were borne- for us… a green pasture, and restful water.

Mercy, Providence, fidelity- “I will set my bow in the sky,” and set it He did.

“Bread to strengthen and wine to cheer,” knowing of what we are made… body and spirit, Communion and communion, Body of Christ… strength and suffering, bruise and beauty, ancient but new- and ever renewing… ‘bringing the manifold into One.’

Then they went, as sparks through stubble… treasure discovered now re-covered. The Spirit over all, dry bones become an army, the army now marching, the field left empty.

‘And the night opened its deep stillness.’ Despite our knowing, weakness perceives emptiness and shrinks. But a Lamp shining to which we do well to attend… this “night is bright as day,” and in it, the Seed of Resurrection… for many received Him.

Bilal Gilbertie

I am writing to thank you for inviting me to the most beautiful feast, a spiritual and emotional experience.

It was so well organized, beginning with the ticketing process and reminder messages as well as helpful tips about what to bring.  The art and meditations were awesome, they were deeply moving for me, and I felt so emotional throughout the entire experience. When I got home and all of the next day I felt drained. I can only imagine how you and your team felt.

Despite the time, energy and effort put in to make this happen, it came across as simple and elegant, just how St Francis would have liked it, I think. The music, the art and readers, and the Holy Mass, my gosh, very beautiful. Powerful. What struck me too, was that the “table” for the incredible feast was the stone wall. Again, the simplest and yet most beautiful.

And the light rain… well you can’t have a rainbow without rain and I felt like that marvelous rainbow was GOD’s applause.

Much congratulations and thanks to you and your team. I can’t really say enough to convey my gratitude for such a wonderful Sunday afternoon.

May GOD bless you all and keep you close.

Pam Gonzalez

On Sunday, The Feast of St. Francis lived up to its name! The gathering at the Gilbertie’s Farm was an astonishing experience of holiness, peace, and joy! We feasted on the incredible beauty of Ewa’s twelve visual meditations on St.Francis’ Canticle of the Sun and heard Fr. Norbert’s deeply moving meditations superbly read by Bilal and Hannah as they stood in front of each painting.

We feasted on silence in the holy pauses between meditations – for the entire hour you could hear a pin drop! We were showered with grace that literally fell from the sky in the warm rain that bathed us with blessings as we absorbed Ewa’s remarkable paintings and Fr. Norbert’s poetic words.

The Feast continued with magnificent cello music that surrounded us and with singing that lifted our hearts during the outdoor Holy Mass. We feasted on the Body and Blood of the One we gathered to praise and whom Francis loved so dearly. The time expanded to hold eternity and us in the Holy Spirit’s deep embrace! It ended- or continued !! – with another feast- this time with an amazing amount of food and drink brought by the hundreds who had gathered.

All that feasting was capped off with a rainbow that stretched across the farm’s sky and signaled God’s blessing on the feast and us! A rainbow is God’s Covenant Sign that He will always be our God and we will always His people! The Feast now continues in our hearts – having been fed with more holiness and beauty than mere words can describe.

Lynn Harrington

The Feast with St. Francis has had a remarkable impact on my life, and I see the fruit of the experience, the 100 fold, as the days and weeks have passed.  I was incredibly blessed to watch the Canticle Project unfold and bloom through the “fiats” of so many.  They listened to and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to bring many threads together to weave the tapestry of The Canticle Project.  First, the beautiful paintings, then the powerful meditations by Fr. Norbert Siwinski, then music by Michael Ferrari, capturing the essence of each painting, then the location of the fields at Gilbertie’s Farm.  But the Lord wasn’t finished with His creation.  He added even more threads of the elements, sound, fragrance, ambiance for further reflection.

Praise God for Ewa’s listening heart, so awed by the beauty of creation and the words of St. Francis, she offered to be Our Lord’s humble paintbrush, and through this exhibition,  our eyes were opened.  With the life-giving meditations of Fr. Norbert, we were brought into each painting, into a place of wonder and awe.  And the music added another beautiful golden thread.  As all of these threads were brought together, the fields and landscape color added another beautiful thread.  The smell of the grass and the leaves continued to deepen our 3 dimensional experience of God’s beauty.  Ewa’s husband Pawel had painstakingly covered each painting with translucent plastic to protect the art from the mist and drizzle. Then, as the exhibition began, he revealed each painting one by one, bringing to mind how Our God reveals Himself and His truths to each of us.  Occasionally the wind rustled the plastic, and the sound was a torrent of water, floods of grace flowing, cascading, over us.  The feel of the mist and drizzle created an atmosphere of contemplation, reminiscent of the hush of snow that covers and quiets.  The Lord continued with His own soundtrack for the exhibition, adding elements as each painting was revealed.  As we all meditated on the painting of Sister Moon with the beautiful deer and lights in the distance, a dog in the neighborhood barked, and it seemed that the deer lifted his head to listen to the bark.  The wind picked up as we focused on the painting of wind, and my ears became tuned to all that was around me in a way that was different – seeking, finding, drawing close to Him, leaning in.  What would the Lord add next to His soundtrack?

During Mass, the rain increased and created such a sense of intimacy – of being held together with all those souls  – under the shelter of His wing in a timeless quiet.  At the end of Mass, the sky began to clear in small places, and my heart hoped for the rainbow at sunset. This answered prayer was such an indication of His promise and His pleasure.  It was a perfect ending to a beautiful, powerful exhibition, a fully immersive experience incorporating all of our senses in praise of Our Lord.

As I continue to reflect on the experience of the Canticle Exhibition, there is a beautiful and lasting “after glow”; this exhibition has changed my life. Prior to this, my pathway to spending time with the Lord was in silent prayer, often indoors.  I close my eyes and talk with Him – praise, gratitude, thanksgiving, adoration, pouring out my heart to Him, attempting to let go of the senses, sitting quietly and listening deeply. Since the exhibition, I feel compelled to go outside – to marvel at His glory, so powerfully shown in the beauty of creation especially this time of year – the brilliant blue skies, the radiant leaves of all different colors, creatures scurrying preparing for winter, the glorious sunsets painting the sky every shade of red, orange, pink, the full moon bathing the world in its beautiful glow.  For me, there has been a slowing down, a deeper appreciation, and a deeper communion with God in all of this splendor, so gratuitously provided for us, and too often I have been too distracted to notice.

May we all continue to “go out”, to walk out into creation, to marvel at the beauty of a single leaf created by His paintbrush so that we might be astounded by His presence and glorify him.  Thank you, Lord, for this incredible collaboration, this beautiful tapestry, which brought us on a path to experiencing God in a profound love of His creation.  Open the eyes of our hearts, that we may we see You in every situation, in every place, and at all times.

Liz Sweeney

My sister Karen told me about you and your project, St. Francis’ Canticle a couple of months ago. I have visited St. Marys many times and been impressed by the music of Michael Ferrari and my sisters Karen Mattera and Nancy LaRocca. When I heard that your art, combined with Michael’s music, the poetry of Fr. Nobert, cellist Gjorgj Kroqi, Karen’s voice, and the tech help of her husband John, I wanted to be there that day.

Arriving at Gilbertie’s Farm seeing the paintings covered by plastic blowing in the wind, it only added to my anticipation. The Holy Mass was very touching, Sister Rain making her presence felt by all. The readings of the poetry with Ewa’s beautiful paintings on the easels told us of God’s love and St. Francis’ love of the earth and nature. As a feast brought by the many guests was being enjoyed, a rainbow appeared in the sky stretching from one end of the farm to the other. God was surely there, and so was His beauty.

Thank you Ewa, for your yes to God, and all who participated in this uplifting experience.

Kathleen Becce

My name is Beata, and I am from our Franciscan parish, Saint Michael the Archangel, in Bridgeport, CT. During the Canticle Feast, I saw the Fullness of God’s creation, which Saint Francis, in his simplicity and yet with such beauty, wanted to pass on to us as his Testament for future generations. It is about giving thanks to God for everything we have and for everything that surrounds us. Saint Francis saw it this way and wanted everything to be as it was meant to be: the rain, the wind, the sun, the moon… everything in its complete fullness. All the paintings are beautiful, but the one that touched me the most was Sister Death.

Beata Sidorowicz

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