4/7/09

April 7, 2009

HOLY WEEK, Lent has gone fast And now we are into the holiest week of the year. The Palm Sunday events are special. The blessing of palms and the procession of palms is a favorite on-going memory. And for many of us palm weaving is also special. On Sunday, Sister Trudy Schommer and I were invited to Albertville to help with a palm weaving activity in the parish. We helped lots of “elders” and “youngers” Transform that long piece of palm into a beautiful work of art. Mary studied Sr. Cecilia’s Palm Weaving book and figured out how to make lovely things. I made lots of palm fish for children—young and old alike.

Saturday was special at out house. Our postulant, Isabel (Isa) Berrones and Sister Mary Dumonceaux, postulant minister, came from Mexico to stay with us until the end of June. This is Isa’s time to meet the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls and to continue to discern her vocation to our Community. The cold and snow are new to her since these are not what happens in home homeland in the tropics of Mexico.


Holy Week Services for the rest of the week at the Motherhouse are:
Holy Thursday 8 a.m. Morning Prayer
7 p.m. Eucharist followed by adoration until 10 p.m.
Good Friday 8 a.m. Morning Prayer
9:30 a.m. Silent Walk for Peace
11 a.m. Stations of the Cross both in Chapel and outside.
2 p.m. Good Friday Service
Holy Saturday 8 a.m. Morning Prayer
8 p.m. Easter Vigil Service Easter Sunday
8:30 a.m. Easter Sunday Eucharist

I want to talk a little more about the Silent Walk for Peace. We gather at the west entrance of the Convent to start our walk wit prayer and song. Various persons take turns carrying a large wooden cross to lead the procession. Then there are several stops throughout town. The first stop is at Maple Island Park where we pray for the healing of the earth. Our next stop is at the Veteran’s Memorial where we pray for our Military personnel and all veterans. At the Bank Square stop we pray for a just economic system in our world. At the Government Center we pray for our civic leaders. At the jail we pray for those imprisoned and our law enforcement officers. At our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School we pray for all children and teachers. We pray for Senior Citizens at Alverna Apartments. Our last stop is at St. Gabriel’s Hospital were we pray for the sick and all who care for them. This walk is a graphic reminder of some of the ways that Jesus still suffers in our world today.

May your Holy Week be HOLY. May the Lord bless you with peace and good ness this special week of the year. You, my readers, are in my prayers.

Pax et Bonum,
Sister Mary Lou

No comments: