Spring is here!

Trees are getting leaves and the early plants are growing daily. My Bleeding Heart plant is growing nicely.

Yesterday two of us drove to Grand Forks, ND, for Secular Franciscan Order (SFO) business. There is lots of water in ditches and fields. I even saw white caps on water in the ditches! I never saw that before. The thunder boomer that went through town at about 4:30 a.m. today, dumped about ½ inch of rain. Our sandy soil here in Little Falls can take that much rain without a problem.

Last Monday we had the Taste of St. Cloud event at the Coyote Moon Grille. It was a great evening with LOTS of very tasty goodies. This was a fundraiser for our Franciscan Community Volunteer program.

The Lino-Lakes policeman that was accidently shot while training at a firing range last Thursday is the son of one of our employees, Carol Schirmers-Johnson. Chad Schirmers, age 26, will be in the hospital another week as he recovers from his surgery. He has been up and walking. After leaving the hospital, he will continue recovering at his home in East Bethel, MN. He has been a policeman for three years. Today happens to be the 2nd wedding anniversary for Amanda and Chad. Let us keep him in prayer.

Friday evening several of us Sisters attended the Little Falls Community High School’s presentation of The Music Man. The actors, singers and dancers are to be commended for a very fine production. There were so many dance steps and songs to be learned…and they did it very nicely! Thank you.

Saturday evening the Professional Vocal Ensemble, From Age to Age, gave a wonderful musical program in our Chapel. Twenty 4th grade music students from Lindbergh School joined the ten Age to Age singers for two numbers. It was a great performance. The group will be back in December for a Christmas concert. We’ll be waiting.

One of the things the Sisters do, is to pray for the many intentions that we are asked to pray for. Please pray for my nephew, Jon Eltgroth, who will have surgery tomorrow at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester to remove a softball-size mass attached to his liver. Thank you.

Continued Easter Joy to you.

Peace,

Sister Mary Lou

Snow on the Roof Tops (in Spring), But I'm Not Complaining!

What a surprise to see snow on the roof tops yesterday morning. But I’m not complaining. We have not had our homes blown away and people killed by destructive tornados. I am sure farmers are concerned about getting their crops planted.

St. Francis Music Center presented two marvelous concerts in our Chapel the past few days. On Friday evening the St. Francis Community Chorale directed by Barb Stumpf, and the Sestri Choir directed by Celo V’ec sang their hearts out for our entertainment. These groups are sooooo good. Thank you, singers, for sharing your talents with us.

Saturday evening we served delicious spaghetti to about 360 hungry eaters. It was a festive evening and I am happy that we had such a fine turnout. Thank you.

Last night we had another wonderful group of friends and supporters for the Second Annual Taste of St. Cloud fundraiser for the Franciscan Community Volunteers dinner.

There were 15 participating restaurants serving delicious foods. I asked and found out that the Cold Spring Bakery brought 42 dozen little cupcakes for the event. That’s a lot of cupcakes! There were also 25 Silent Auction items. I think everyone was pleased with the evening activities. The event happened at the Territory Golf Course--Coyote Moon Grille east of St. Cloud.

This week the Housekeeping Department is being recognized and honored for their wonderful services. We started the week with a morning coffee break and fresh, still warm caramel rolls. What a treat. We commend this department for all their hard work in keeping our house clean and for all the set-up and take-down for the many activities we have going on at the Motherhouse every week—for example three big events Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Values and Activities Committees sponsor these recognition gatherings.

Thursday, April 5th, and the first Thursday of every month, we have a quiet hour of prayer, Taize Prayer, at 6 p.m. in Sacred Heart Chapel. Come and experience this contemplative prayer time.

Saturday, May 7th, the singing group From Age to Age will give a concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Chapel. We are so fortunate to have these great opportunities available to us.

Happy Mother’s Day to all Mothers, living and deceased. We are blessed with the gift of life because of you. Thank you for the love and sacrifices you’ve made for us. God bless you now and always.

A blessing for you “May knowledge of God become clearer in us that we may know the breadth of God’s blessings, the length of God’s promises, the height of God’s majesty, the depth of God’s judgments.”

Have a wonder-filled week.

Sister Mary Lou