December 21, 2017   

Third Week of Advent

Christmas is in the air and all around us! Saturday I was at the Cathedral in St. Cloud for the Concert of the St. John’s Boys Choir. That director knows how to get great sounds out of those young men.  The Cathedral is a big church and it was full! It was a great concert. My brother’s grandson, Ethan, is one of the singers.

We’ve had several wonderful concerts here, too. St. Francis Music presented the Choral Christmas Concert on the 10^th and the Orchestra Christmas Concert on the 15^th. The Beginners Orchestra played a few numbers to start the evening off. Lots of talent there!

We have had many Sisters serve as missionaries in Mexico, so the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is celebrated in grand style here. This is a picture of the display in the dining room.

Last Tuesday we had a retirement party for Jeff Odendahl, who has served as our Peace and Justice co-coordinator for many years. Thank you, Jeff, for keeping us updated on peace and justice issues and reminding us to write letters when issues demanded it.

That same evening the Dandee Lion Club ladies came to help decorate Christmas cookies. Everyone had fun.

On Thursday, we had a Retirement Party for Donna Field. She has worked as secretary to the Leadership Sisters for about 27 years. Thank You, Donna. (You probably know more about our Community than we do!)

Then that same evening the Lions Club came caroling…and have pizza with us. For them it was supper because they had been singing since 5 p.m., at 5 or 6 other places before they got here about 7:30.

One evening a group of Girl Scouts came to sing to us as we were finishing dinner. Having worked in elementary schools for nearly 50 years, I always really enjoy have youth come to perform for us. The other day the employees sang us a revised version of The Twelve Days of Christmas: On the first day of Christmas: One Franciscan Blessing, 2 flying bats, 3 yoga poses, four Tech HELP requests, 5 Sisters praying, 6 dozen cookies, 7 guitarists strumming, 8 urgent E-mails, 9 brand new donors, 10 sweepers sweeping, 11 maintenance requests and 12 balanced budgets.

The Christmas Eve Mass, Vigil of Christmas December 24^th, is at 7:30 p.m. with singing starting at 7 p.m. Come join us if you are in the area. 

Our Christmas Day Mass is at 8:30 a.m.  Again, come and join us if you are in the area.

May the GIFT of HIS LOVE bring you JOY this Christmas Season and throughout the New Year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

Sister Mary Lou