Graced with God’s great blessings

We had some hot and humid days these past days…and half an inch of rain Saturday morning. Praise God. It sounds, too, like there will be more rain some of the next days this week. May the Lord protect us from violent storms.

Wednesday, July 18, Sister Justina Bieganek, age 100 ½, mentioned to her friend, Maxine Strege, and also to her two sisters who came to visit, that she needed to pick out her funeral outfit as she would need them soon. The next day she was having difficulty breathing. With family and Sisters around her, she went to meet her Lord and God at 2 a.m. on Friday, July 20th. At her 100th birthday celebration in January, 2012, she said that “each step of my life, I have been graced with God’s great blessings,” concluding that, “my life has been better than good.” Paul Mbav, in a condolence note about Sister Maristell (who died July 6th) said, “In Africa we say, ‘when an elder dies, it is like a library that has been burned down.’” With the deaths of two of our elders, it truly is like two libraries have burned down!

The middle of next week, July runs out. Then comes August 1st and the Green Fair Folk Festival from 4 to 8 p.m. on the west lawn of St. Francis Convent. We are expecting 6o vendors. There will be activities for children and musical entertainment: fiddlers, the U Rock bands, Sestri and others. One big attraction is always the fresh bread for peanut butter and jelly bread. Come join us.

Friday and Saturday, 27th and 28th, the St. Francis High School class of 1964 will have their reunion here. Welcome.

Have a good week.

Peace and blessings,
Sister Mary Lou

June is time for Community Gatherings

Many things to write about.

Saturday we had the Funeral for Sister Eileen Theis. Many Family and Sisters present for a great send-off for her. May she be enjoying life to the fullest with Jesus. God bless you, Sister Eileen. We are depending on you to pray for us now, too.

From Friday afternoon to Sunday I was at Secular Franciscan Order meetings in Buffalo, MN. Saturday evening we had a prayer service for all who had died since our meeting a year ago. We had 9 Sisters who went to heaven in the last year. Each Fraternity and each religious community lit one candle for their deceased members.

Much activity around here getting ready for Community Days next week when all the sisters will be here for meetings starting Sunday evening and going on through supper on Wednesday. There are many bulletin boards set up with information for us to read. One almost needs a check-list to make sure some were not forgotten. I have not yet started the ones in the Gathering Space of Chapel.

But, first, on Sunday morning we will celebrate the seven sisters who have been in Community for 60 years. Congratulations Sisters Phyllis Hennek, Colette Toenies, Pat Zangs, Elise Saggau, Maurita Bernet , Helen Hassler and Anita Jennissen.

On May 29th we had a prayer service in celebration of the Sisters’ many works and ministries. Plans were to have it outside by the Our Lady of the Highways Shrine. But because it was so windy and chilly we moved into Chapel. On Sunday, June 3, there was a Celebrate the Sisters Service of Gratitude, Grace and Support for Sisters Service at St. Mary’s Cathedral in St. Cloud, MN. My guesstimate was that there were over 300 present for the event. The songs, testimonials, and litany of intercessions were all beautiful. To me the most touching part was after we were all standing for the intercessions, the leader asked all those who were not Sisters to sit down and sing a blessing over the many Sisters who were present. Thank you to the Planning Committee Members. We Sisters are grateful for your support.

Last night we watched a video, Not My Life, on Human Trafficking. It was had to watch because of the inhuman ways so many humans are treated. The definition of trafficking is: Slavery is a social and economic relationship in which the person is controlled through violence or threat of violence, is paid nothing and is economically exploited. A few facts: 80% of international victims are women and girls..50% of international victims are children…$32 billion: total yearly profits generated by human trafficking industry.

The next Red Cross blood drive is scheduled for June 19-21.

We have a Girls’ Camp going on June 26-28. That will be a lot of excitement. Please pray for a dry few days. Last year, I believe, they had to some adjusting of the schedule because of the rains.

Please pray for us the days of our meetings—June 10 through 13th. Thank you.

Peace and God bless you.
Sister Mary Lou

Today is sunny and bright

How can it be that we start the month of June tomorrow! Today is sunny and bright and I love it. We had about an inch and a half of rain over the past weekend. The Mississippi River is really moving right along now! A few weeks ago, I saw rocks at the bottom of the dam that I’d never seen before. They are talking about flooding north of Little Falls. We won’t have any here. May we continue to have sufficient rain during the growing season…free of damaging storms.

We have had many events happen since I last wrote my blog. Tuesday evening Sister Eileen Theis, age 84, went to heaven. Her Wake will be tomorrow evening at 7 p.m. and her Funeral will be Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Motherhouse Chapel. May she be enjoying Life with the Lord. God bless you, Sr. Eileen, for all the good you’ve done your many years as a Franciscan Sister.

Tuesday evening, also, our Employees, Associates, Volunteers, friends, family members and supporters had a prayer service “Celebrating the Sisters.” They extended gratitude to the Sisters for their many ways of ministering both here in Little Falls and throughout the world. They sang a blessing over us. It was a most meaningful service and brought tears to the eyes of many of us. Thank You.

Sunday, I attended the 17th Memorial Service at the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley. This cemetery opened in 1994 and already has over 4,300 burials there. The Richfield Symphonic Band adds a very special touch with their beautiful music. I am always touched during the laying of the Wreaths and to see the veterans stand when their branch is called. This Cemetery is one of the top four most beautiful Veterans Cemeteries in the nation. Thank you, Veterans for your service to our country. We remember you.

May 24th, was Graduation for the Continuing Education Center. This program takes place at what used to be St. Francis High School—ground floor and one room on 1st floor. Their class motto is “Remember yesterday, Dream for tomorrow, Live for today!" A good motto for each of us. There were 16 graduates this year. Birchell Renae Brummer received the scholarship from the Franciscan Sisters.

Last week we also had an afternoon treat of Banana Splits to celebrate our Senior Sisters—That’s nearly everyone who is on Campus!

The St. Francis Music Center had a recital of their little dancers. They are so cute and they had such a fun time performing their little recital pieces.

Half a dozen Sentence to Serve men came one day to pull rhubarb. And the next couple day Sisters were busy cutting the rhubarb and getting it ready for freezing. I saw many 5-gallon pails heading toward the freezer. Long after the rhubarb growing season is over, we will continue to have tasty rhubarb desserts.

Sr. Ruth had a plant sale. Many happy customers stopped by to get her beautiful tomato plants.

God bless you. Travel safely. Sister Mary Lou

Here comes winter again?

Here comes a little taste of winter again.  We had just a dusting of snow here last night…and about 1 1/3 inches of rain over the weekend.  Thanks you, God, for the much needed moisture…and for protecting us from storms.  And, God, please take care of those who suffered losses because of the tornados and storms.

Today, April 16^th is the date on which in 1209, Pope Innocent III approved the first Franciscan Rule and the Order received its canonical status.  On this date, many Franciscans throughout the world formally renew their commitment to the Franciscan way of life.  We will do so today. (And on Saturday at the Secular Franciscan Spring Retreat, the Secular Franciscans renewed their Commitment.)  

Our vows of poverty, chastity and obedience are NOT private vows intended only for our own personal piety and salvation.  Ours are public vows offered to the Church for the building up of God’s presence here on earth.  By pronouncing our vows publically, we express our commitment to faithfully live our charism, which is our unique gift to the Church.

On Saturday 73 Franciscans attended this retreat sponsored by the Elk River Fraternity of Secular Franciscans.  The program folders were unique and beautiful.  They were pictures of St. Francis drawn by the Kindergarten, first and third graders of St. Andrews School in Elk River.  Thank you, children.  The retreat day was very good.

Saturday evening a number of us attended the Heartland Symphony Orchestra concert at Charles D. Martin Auditorium here in town.   We were privileged to be at the world-premier performance of the North Country Suite, 2011, composed by Rick Sowash (b. 1950).   This piece of music was commissioned by the Heartland Symphony Orchestra in commemoration of the 35^th anniversary of ithe Orchestra’s founding.  The North Country suite has five movements:  Spirit of the North, Northern Lights, Father of Waters, Boreal Forest, Into the Wind.    It is a beautiful piece of music.  It reminded me of the Grand Canyon Suite.  Echo Kowalzek, age 80+, led the clapping for Johann Strauss, Senior’s Radetzky March, Op.228.  It is tradition to clap with the music for certain parts of the March.

Then on Sunday afternoon St. Francis Music Center presented the Sforzando String Orchestra and the Con Brio String Orchestra Spring Concert.  These sixty musicians are fantastic.  I thank them for sharing their talents with all of us.  Celo V’ec is to be commended for his teaching and directing these two orchestras.  Again, the chapel was filled.  Listening to great music was a good way to spend time on a dark and rainy day.

This is Severe Weather Awareness Week.  We will take part in the tornado drill on Thursday at 1:45 p.m.  We will go to the tunnel as our place of safety as we do during a tornado.  Let us pray that we don’t need to go there for a “real” tornado.  Have you figured out where you will go if there is a tornado in your area?

Saturday, April 21^st we have a Spaghetti Supper fund-raiser.  We start serving at 4:30 p.m.   Come for a good meal and good visiting.

Next Monday, April 23^rd, is Earth Day.  We will have a Prayer Service at 2 p.m. and we will also plant two trees.  Everyone needs to be responsible to care for Mother Earth—to protect our land, air and waters from contamination and pollution.  Spirit of God, open my eyes to Your wonders and my ears to Your Mysteries.

My blessing for you today is from today’s Morning Prayer:  “May God enlighten the eyes of our soul to guide our feet in the way of that peace which surpasses all understanding.”                                             

Sister Mary Lou

What a celebration it was! Sister Justina turns 100 years old!

Yesterday was the big celebration of Sr. Justina’s 100 Birthday. And what a celebration it was! At Mass, the St. Francis Community Chorale sang along with our Sisters’ choir and the congregation. Fr. Ken Brenny, her first cousin, was the presider and homilist. The Chapel was full. We had LOTS of guests for dinner. And in no time at all it was time for the Open House. Again, LOTS of guests! Sr. Justina was in good form and was enjoying all the goings-on.

There were letter greetings from Governor Mark Dayton, President and Michelle Obama, Bishop John F. Kinney and the New York Foundling Home.

Also, yesterday afternoon at 4:10 p.m., Sister Cabrini Loerzel, age 87, went to heaven. Sisters had been sitting with her the past several days. Her Funeral will be on Friday.

Retreat for about 50 Sisters starts tonight at 7 p.m. Fr. Giles Schinelli, TOR, is the director. “Contemplating the contours and challenges of ongoing conversion: St. Francis and the Salutation of the Virtues,” is the theme. That’s quite a title! “A Salutation of the Virtues” is one of the writings/prayers of St. Francis.

The Stephen Ministers from Anoka were here the 13--15th. Our Sr. Rita Barthel was working with the group when they first started coming here in 1986. Joan Bednarzyk has been coordination this retreat the past 21 years. After this year someone else will be doing that job.

Bloodmobile Report: Our goal was 240 units. We received 229 units. And 20 others came but could not donate. So I would say we had a very successful event. There will be another Blood Drive n April.

Last week we honored the Finance Department. The clever bulletin board display showed enlargements of paper money bills with the pictures of the staff on each bill. I am so grateful for that staff in taking care of paying bills and all that Social Security “stuff.”

May God bless us. May God look favorably upon us. May God give us peace.

Sister Mary Lou

Two months from today is Christmas!

Do you have your shopping done and the cards sent out? Not me.

Last Sunday was World Mission Sunday—a day to remember and support Missionaries throughout the world who spread the Word of God. Let us support missionary activity through prayer and economic aid. Sister Joel put up a nice ambiance reminder and then also used the altar hanging we received from Africa. We’ve had many Sisters serve in the foreign missions since our first venture of “To Peru in 62.”

Sunday afternoon was special because about 15 KC’s came to the Motherhouse and served cake and ice cream to all of us and our guests. What a nice treat. They have been doing this for at least the last 10+ years. Thank you, gentlemen. We are grateful.

Tomorrow we will have a Farewell get-together to thank Sister Donna for her 36 years of service in the Community Relations Department. That’s a lot of typing and writing of the weekly Community News Letters. Thank you, Sister, for all that time and work spent at the computer.

Thursday evening we will have the Take Back the Night program and shirt display in the St. Francis Gym. This program helps make us aware of the extent of domestic violence. At the in-service I attended this morning we were told that 1 of 4 women are assaulted by their partner and 12 were killed in MN last year. She also talked about the ways children are affected by domestic violence. Hands of Hope, a local group, helped over 300 people last year. Let us work and pray for an end to this abuse.

Tuesdays and Thursdays we’ve been watching a series of ½-hour DVDs to let us know about the changes in the Roman Missal that will be taking place the First Sunday of Advent. These have been informative.

Last week many Sisters were helping clean grapes for juice and jelly.

And last week, too, they finished stuffing envelopes for our Christmas Appeal. Here are the boxes all ready to go to the post office in a couple weeks. Thank you, volunteers.

The Music Center will have two Music Recitals Sunday afternoon—at 1 and 3 p.m. in Room 242 at St. Francis Center.

Last Saturday I attended the SFO Fall Gathering at the St. Paul Cathedral. It’s been many years since I visited the Cathedral. It is such a beautiful Church. While on my way to the basement meeting room I came across a plaque of St. Justin on the wall. Since I received the name “Justin” on my Reception Day, that saint is still special to me. The meeting was good and the high-point was Mass in the main Church.

God bless you. Sister Mary Lou

BRRRRRRRRR: It takes a little getting used to 40 degree temps

I am grateful for the bits of rain we had last week. I expect we will get more. As I looked out the window just now a large flock of geese just went over and the ½ moon is still visible on this bright sunshiny morning.

It was the best spent $10 and 2 ½ hours of entertainment I’ve had in some time. Yesterday four of us went to Brainerd to attend the GERITOL FROLICS, directed by Ed Yunker. The performers are ages 55 to 89. They sing and dance and tell stories and just make you laugh and clap your hands. The dances are great and the singing is fantastic. The 5-person band makes music fill the jam-packed auditorium. It is a cast and crew of 65 from Brainerd, and surrounding area. If you ever have the chance, I’d urge you to go to the Geritol Frolics. It is 8 performances on two weekends in October.

Each month we are highlighting a different state in the dining room. This month it is Michigan. The tables have little stand-ups with interesting facts about the state. Fluoridated water originated in Grand Rapids January 25, 1945. Apples are Michigan’s largest and most valuable fruit crop. “Snap, Crackle and Pop” were born in Battle Creek MI...and of course we know about the cars.

Each month, too, a different department is recognized, October is the time to honor the Franciscan Life Center. Sr. Bernice has lots to do with scheduling retreats, prayer days, workshops Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina prayer etc., etc. etc. Thank you, Sister, for your hard work,

On Friday evening, we had, a new to me, prayer experience, “Visio Divina.” You may have experienced “Lectio Divina,” a method of praying with Scripture. “Visio Divina” (Latin for “divine seeing”) is a method for praying with images, pictures. We used the image of the creation as portrayed in the St. John’s Bible. Visio Divina invites us to see beyond first and second impressions, to see and be surprised and transformed by God, Who is never limited or tied to an image, but speaks through them. Dawn Carillo led us in this beautiful time of prayer.

This past weekend we had six couples make the Marriage Encounter at St. Francis Center. Father Michael, OSB, was presider at their Saturday evening Mass.

All is in readiness for 75 volunteers to come “stuff 16,500 envelopes” for our annual Christmas Appeal. They will get the job done in two days! The funds raised will be used for equipment to assist our elder Sisters who reside in our nursing care area of Clare Residence.

The Blood Mobile will be here November 2nd, 3rd and 4th. On November 5th we have a Harvest Supper fund raiser. There is a Soup Supper February 4th and a Spaghetti Supper April 21st. I read all these things in our Community Newsletter in a six-inch long listing of upcoming events.

Peace and blessings,

Sister Mary Lou

What a difference a week makes!

We’ve had many nice warm days, a tiny bit of rain and the golden and red trees have lost a good share of their leaves. The flowers in the little bed near the west convent door are still beautiful. For the middle of October this is still very nice.

I need to make a correction from last week’s article. I said 150,000 children rode Orphan Trains from New York City to find new homes. The more accurate number is 250,000.

Yesterday we had 7 new Associates make their one-year Commitment as Franciscan Associates—so for the year that is a total of 13 new Associates. A total of 53 Associates were recognized for their 25, 20, 15, 10 and 5 year anniversaries. We had about 60 guests for the Mass, lunch and the afternoon program. Our Sister Jean Schwieters was the program speaker. She talked about what we need to do to become a saint.

One day last week I rode my scooter out to the cemetery to visit the Sisters there and to see where Sr. Felix is buried. Then on my way home I stopped to look at the wagon load of pumpkins and squash near our garden. We will have lots of good stuff to eat for most of the winter. Thank you, Sr. Ruth and helpers, for all your hard work to make this possible.

On Saturday Sr. Mary Ann and I went to Browns Valley for the Canonical Establishment of a new Secular Franciscan Fraternity—St. Anthony of Padua Fraternity. It was a very happy day for this group. (One thing I know is that Browns Valley is a long way from Little Falls.) It was a very wonderful day.

Saturday night I attended the Heartland Orchestra Concert at Charles D. Martin Auditorium here in Little Falls. This is the 35th Anniversary of providing live symphonic music to Central Minnesota. I was delighted to see the 30+ students from Little Falls High School and Middle School, Forestview Middle School in Baxter, Brainerd High School, and Ripple River Strings and Great River String in Crosby playing with the Heartland Orchestra. What a wonderful opportunity for these students to play with a top-notch orchestra. It was an evening of beautiful music.

I just noticed in my calendar that Saturday, October 15, is National Grouch Day! How many of us qualify to celebrate that day?

Blessings on you and those you love.

Sister Mary Lou

This is the Day the Lord has Made

This is the Day the Lord has made. Let us be glad and rejoice in it! It is a perfect fall day.

Sunday evening our dear Sister Felix Mushel took leave of us for her heavenly home. She has been sick for some time. We miss her. We will have a Wake for her on Friday evening and the Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday at 11 a.m. Sr. Felix, pray for us.

The kitchen has been a very busy place these days with cutting up cabbage for sauerkraut, making sauerkraut, cleaning grapes for jelly and juice, preparing apples for pies, sauce, and freezing, and other kinds of food preserving. We are blest with so much good food.

Saturday evening the Staples Men’s Choir did a benefit concert in support of Project Haiti. Those 30 men did a super job of entertainment. After the intermission there were two moving testimonials about the work being done by the Project Haiti team in the hospital in Pignon, Haiti. Besides many other works, this group has pledged to take care of, free of charge, all children age birth to 5 who need medical care. The attendees at the concert were VERY generous in their support of Project Haiti. Thank you, Gentlemen, for your wonderful care for these poor people.

Sunday morning/afternoon the Nursing School class of 1961 was here to celebrate their 50th class reunion. So many memories, so much joy, so much to share. At the end of Mass Father Stangl had a beautiful blessing pray for the deceased teachers and members of the class.

Monday was Diocesan Ministry Day, held at the St. Cloud Civic Center. There were 1,000 people in attendance. It was a wonderful day. Rev. Timothy Radcliffe, OP was the main speaker. His first talk was, “The Community of God’s Anointed.” And the afternoon talk was, “The Breathing of God.’ Both were excellent talks. Then we could choose three of 43 one-hour breakout sessions.

Bishop John F. Kinney was the presider at the Mass. I was most touched by the special blessing the Bishop had for all the Religious who have served to build up the Church since the beginning of our Diocese. Several of our Sisters were presenters in the small-group sessions.

Sr. Karen and Alex did a meaningful presentation of St. Francis and the Wolf and ways to practice peace and non-violence in our daily lives. I was so grateful to be part of this wonderful day. The next Diocesan Ministry Day is scheduled for September 13, 2013.

Franciscan Sisters, Franciscan Associates and Franciscan Community Volunteers all had booths in the Exhibit Hall.

Sunday, October 2nd we will have the Blessing of Animals at noon in Washington Park, across the street from the Episcopal Church. We welcome dogs, cats, rabbits, or whatever animal you choose to bring.

Monday evening at 7 p.m., in our Motherhouse Chapel, we will have The Transitus. This is a prayerful enactment of the death of St. Francis,

On Tuesday, October 4th we celebrate the Feast of St. Francis, our Community’s patron saint. The Secular Franciscans and Franciscan Associates are invited for the Mass. Sr. Jean’s brother, Father John Schwieters, OFM, visiting from Brazil, will be the presider at the St. Francis Day Mass. In my early teaching career, the Feast of St. Francis was a free-day—so in the afternoon we would drive around looking at colored leaves.

God bless and continue to take care of you.

Sister Mary Lou

God is Always Here Watching Over Us

These weeks come around so fast. And it was another busy week. I took this picture of the shadow of the cross over the front door of the Convent at noon the other day. We know that God is always here watching over us.

Our Sister Margarita Weiner went to heaven late Thursday night. I was scheduled to sit with her 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. and she died at 11:23 p.m. (But my angel woke me up at 12:40 so that’s when I found out she had gone to heaven.) When a Sister is dying the Sisters hold vigil with her. We welcomed her body back to the Motherhouse with a short prayer service at 3:30 Sunday afternoon with a Franciscan Wake at 7 p.m. Her Funeral is today at 11 a.m. The Archives staff does a very nice display of her life and ministry.

Our retreat with Sister Joanne Meyer, OSF, was a good one. The Testament of St. Francis was the topic. I had read the Testament many times. Now it makes such good sense to me. There were about 40 of us in the retreat.

On Sunday we celebrated five of our Sisters who have been Little Falls Franciscans for 60 years. That’s a long time. Each has done such great works of ministry. The picture shows them at Mass renewing their vows.

For several weeks now we have been eating apples from our orchard. They are so good. The trees are heavy with an abundant crop.

The other day the dietary department celebrated Texas with appropriate foods and a counter display. Menu items included: Texas Chili, corn bread, country fired steaks, Texas cut potatoes and cake with pecan frosting. A couple weeks ago we celebrated California. I’ll have to wait to see which state is next.

Next Saturday the class of 1961 from St. Francis High School is coming for a class reunion. The girls always enjoy visiting with one another and coming back to see where they lived and went to school. It is always good to have them come, too.

Our new group of Franciscan Community Volunteers will be welcomed and commissioned nest Sunday. More about them next week.

The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be here Wednesday for a one-day blood drive from 1 to 7 p.m.
God bless you.

Sister Mary Lou