Christmas Blessings

December 22, 2014 First full day of winter.

We are in the Fourth week of Advent. In a few days we celebrate the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. May Christ bless each of us with many blessings this Holy Season.

Last week we brought to a close the end of an era. For 45 years the Franciscan Sisters operated the Clothes Review. These last many years it has been housed here on St. Francis campus. From now on the ministry will be handled at “New 2 You” a new Thrift shop in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club on the west side of Little Falls. I stopped there on Saturday to see it for myself. It is really nice. Besides clothes they have household items, furniture and every so MANY other things. (A few of the employees, wearing attire from the Clothes Review, furnished a little entertainment at lunch.)

Last Thursday we had our Sister/Employee pot-luck lunch and also the drawings for the many baskets. The proceeds went to the Boys and Girls Club. The total exceeded our expectations. We raised $1,577. Thank you to all who supported this effort. One of our Franciscan goals is to support at risk youth. Support of the Boys and Girls Club helps us reach that goal.

Saturday I drove out to the Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley. I knew that on December 13th there was a short ceremony and then LOTS of volunteers went to work to put a wreath with a red ribbon at each of the 3,800 grave sites. In 2006, 5 wreaths were placed—one for each branch of the military. The program has grown. The wreaths will be removed on January 31, 2015. Let us pray for the families of these and all military families.

Christmas Eve Singing starts at 7:00 p.m. Mass is at 7:30 p.m. followed by refreshments and visiting in St. Francis Hall after Mass.

Christmas Day Mass is at 8:30 a.m.

Rejoice… 

In the Spirit of Christmas which is PEACE, 

 the Miracle of Christmas which is HOPE, 

 and the Heart of Christmas which is LOVE.

Merry Christmas!

Peace, health and safety to you and those you love,
Sister Mary Lou