Another busy week here at the Motherhouse

Sunday, at the end of Mass, we had the commissioning of our new group of Franciscan Community Volunteers: Julia Sias, Anna Konopacky, Brandon Montgomery and Tamera Wiley. This is our second year of sponsoring Franciscan Volunteers. They will be working in the Saint Cloud area with those who are poor and needy. Individually they will grow in the three areas of service, community and spirituality.
Pictured are the new volunteers with the Franciscan Sisters of the Welcoming House.

Saturday evening we hosted the 50-year reunion of the class of 1961 from St. Francis High School. Twenty-eight ladies and many husbands attended the 5 p.m. Mass and had a delicious dinner afterwards. At the end of Mass they listed and lit a candle for the 11 deceased members of the class. Sr. Elise, staff member at the time these ladies were in school, gave an inspirational homily. Other staff, who were available, also attended the gathering.

On Saturday, too, it was announced that Kathy Whittington has been hired as the new Volunteer Coordinator. Now Jenifer Bash will become the new Health and Recreation Department Director. Welcome to both ladies to their new jobs.

Thursday, August 25th, feast of King St. Louis and patron of the Franciscan Third Order, we had the commitment ceremony of Elizabeth Black as a new Franciscan Associate. In her request to be an Associate she said, “I desire to be an Associate of this Franciscan Community of Little Falls, Minnesota because I wish to be sister to all of you and to all of God’s creatures. With you and with God’s help I want to make the world a more loving, just and peaceful community. Together with you, l want to carry the spirit of Francis and Clare into our world.” Elizabeth is pictured center with Franciscan Sisters and Franciscan Associate Ministers: L to R: Sisters Therese Lenz, Therese Furnstahl, Bea Eichten (Community Minister), Elizabeth, Judy Virnig (Franciscan Associate Co-Minister) and Geri Dietz (Franciscan Associate Minister)

Once a month the Values and Activities Committees, recognize and say thank-you to the staff of various departments. We recognize the Technology Department this month of August. Elsie and her assistant, Anne, help us all out by fixing our computer problems. They also “take care of” the sound system troubles in Chapel and St. Francis Hall and wherever else we have glitches. Thank you for your wonderful services, Elsie and Anne, pictured here with Sister Eileen.

Last week, also, Sr. Cordy finished the painting of the house where they did ministry in Tennessee some years back. The picture will be displayed at the current place of ministry in TN.

And last Wednesday we had a one-day Red Cross blood drive. Our goal was 80. We received 94 units of blood and 9 people were turned away for whatever good reasons. The Red Cross likes coming here as we always have many generous donors and meet our goal. The donors like our home-made cookies, too. Thank you, generous donors.

Last week we also finished a butterfly puzzle. And a live Monarch butterfly hatched. Sr. Bernice brought it for the Sisters to see before she released it outside (pictured below).

The Directors of Nursing will be here for their meetings Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

We have a Bilingual Mass on Friday.

Praise God with me that my broken ankle is healing nicely and I can wear two shoes again! Who would think that an exciting event? If you ever wore that big black boot, you’d know.

In a week we have Labor Day and the beginning of the new school year. Once a teacher, always a teacher. I always got excited about the beginning of the new school year…and I still do.

Pax et Bonum. Peace and all good.

Sister Mary Lou