Local Heros

October 16, 2012

Happy Boss’ Day today to all who are in leadership positions.

Today is World Food Day, a good time to reflect on the realities and to ask what can be done to help people obtain the food they need for a basic livelihood. In developing countries almost 11 million children under the age of 5 die each year with malnutrition and hunger causing 60% of these deaths.

The big news for Little Falls last week was that native son, Dr. Brian Kobilka, won the 2012 Nobel Prize for Chemistry. He is a graduate of St. Mary’s Parochial School and Little Falls High School and currently is a medical doctor and professor and chair of molecular and cellular physiology at the Stanford University School of Medicine in California. He shares the prize with Robert Lefkowitz, a professor at Duke University in North Carolina. Congratulations, gentlemen.

On Wednesday, Oct 10th, we invited the five “Laundry Ladies” to the Convent for lunch as our way of thanking them for their 127 years of service. The on-campus laundry will be closed as of October 15th because of aging equipment and needed repairs. Our laundry services will be out-sourced. The ladies mentioned that this past summer was the hottest ever.

The state of Vermont was the Dining Adventure for the Month of October. Foods we had that day were: Ham-boiled dinner, corn meal muffins, 3-bean salad, and apple pie with Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Vermont was the first state to join the Union after the original 13 colonies and the first state to abolish slavery. A few other interesting facts are: state bird is the Hermit Thrush, state animal the Morgan Horse, state tree the Sugar Maple, state amphibian the Northern Leopard Frog, cooled water fish the Brook Trout, state butterfly, the Monarch Butterfly, warm water fish the Walleye. The largest employer is IBM. Vermont has more covered bridges than any other state.

During the Eucharistic Celebration, on Sunday, October 14th, we welcomed eleven new Associates. Fifty-two Associates celebrated their commitment of 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 years as Associates. All Associates present renewed their commitment. Franciscan Associates are men and women who wish to grow in Franciscan Spirituality. We have approximately 260 Franciscan Associates. Congratulations to our new Associates.

 

One of our volunteers, Larry J. Sharon, Chief Warrant Officer 5, was honored October 7th “for dedicated service from 14, August 1963 to 19 June, 2004” and was “inducted into the Court of Honor at Camp Ripley, MN on October 7, 2012 by order of the Adjutant of MN.” (Words from the award.) Four Minnesota National Guard soldiers were inducted into the Minnesota National Guard Court of Honor at this ceremony.

A number of us Sisters attended the Heartland Symphony Orchestra Concert at Charles Martin Auditorium last Saturday evening. It was a great concert. Josh Aerie is a great conductor and selected great music. Thank you, players for providing such a wonderful cultural experience in our town and in Brainerd.

The Bloodmobile will be here October 30, 31 and November 1st. Mark your calendars.

November 3rd is the date for our Fall Harvest Supper, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The menu is: fried chicken, sausage, garden vegetables, coleslaw, breadsticks, homemade bars and beverages. Again mark your calendar.

Give to the Max Day is November 15th. Any donation to our ministries received on that day will be matched, which will make your gift go even further. You can pledge now at www.GiveMN.org.

One more upcoming event: The Rose Ensemble will be performing Saturday, November 7th in our Sacred Heart Chapel at 7 p.m. ($12 and $9 for seniors and students) The Rose Ensemble is a vocal and instrumental group who do music from Medieval and Renaissance Italy. This program will be repeated at St. Mary’s Church in Alexandria, MN at 7 p.m. on November 8, 2012. This is another cultural experience you don’t want to miss.


If you are able to volunteer your time during any of these upcoming events, please call Kathy at 320-632-0691.

Showers are in the weather forecast. May the Lord send us good soaking rains on the earth before the ground freezes.

Peace and blessings,
Sister Mary Lou