Good Ole Summertime

Welcome to the first full day of summer. Rain over the weekend and more today and several more days this week! I was at my brother’s a couple days. They got 2.2 inches of rain early Saturday morning. Lots of the field run-off goes through the middle of their yard. So when I look out the window, I knew we had plenty of rain by the size of the river. For Father’s Day, one of his sons gave him a huge rain gauge. You can read the numbers from the kitchen window! I’m sure it had rain in it this morning.

Saturday, family and friends gathered for a baby shower for the first great-grand-baby in our family. Pictured are baby Julia Kay and her cousin, grand-niece-Abby Samuelson.

Yesterday afternoon we went for a ride in the 1948 DESOTO. When accelerating, that car sounds kind of like our old John Deere tractor. We made it into Sauk Centre and back! I’ve not ridden in that car for many years, so it was a fun trip. On the way home we stopped at my nephew’s home to see the Bear St. Francis. When she made her Profession of Faith into the Catholic Church, a couple years ago, her husband and son gave her the St. Francis statue. Here is a picture.

We ran a little short on the Blood Drive last week. Our goal was 256 units and we received 215 units. That is still a lot of blood! God bless all the donors. Blood is a generous gift of life. There is a special 2-day Blood Drive, Thursday, August 27th (1-7 p.m.) and Friday, August 28th, (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.). The next 3-day Blood Drive is October 27 & 28 (1 to 7 p.m.) and October 29th (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.).

On Friday, the Youth in Theology (YTM), came to the Motherhouse to tell us about the programs they ran for other youth in their home parishes this past year. These were three reports. These youth did some marvelous programs. This is the 16th year of the program that is run through St. John’s. The Franciscan Sisters are one of the sponsors of this program.

This coming weekend Sr. Ade Kroll will be giving a retreat here from Friday p.m. to Sunday p.m.

This is a nice way to spend time outdoors reading on a sunny Sunday afternoon—in the shade with a little breeze and a good book.

God bless you. Have a nice summer. Be safe.

Sister Mary Lou

Happy Summer!

Another beautiful June day. Crops look good. Gardens look beautiful. We’ve already had fresh garden lettuce and radishes from our Convent garden. Sister Ruth and her crew are doing a great job in our two-acre garden. Again, this year, we have the garden-partnership with the High School—so both the Convent and High School share the produce.

The 24 girls that came for Girls Camp had a good time—and they got to sleep in their tents in Assisi Park both nights. If there had been stormy weather, they’d sleep in St. Francis Hall. The first activity they do is to paint a t-shirt. Here ae two samples.

We had a nice surprise last week. Franciscan Sisters were listed as one of the Top Employers for small businesses, by the Minneapolis Tribune. We were 3 number 11 in the listing. (We want to treat people right and I guess we must be doing it.) There were rules as to who could answer the survey. Ninety-eight qualified and 81 responded. I’ve always known we have great employees who like to work here. I guess it is a mutual caring for each other that makes things go well. Thank you, employees. We appreciate you, too. We celebrated with a treat for everyone.

Last Friday was the Feast of the Sacred Heart. Here is a picture of the cornerstone in the Chapel, built in 1942.

Thursday evening we were privileged to have some Nicaraguan Dancers perform for us in St. Francis Hall.

After the dancing, Sr. Fabian was in deep conversation with one of the guests who came for the dancing.

This week we have the Bloodmobile here for three days. God bless the donors.

On Friday, we will have some presentations by Youth in Theology Participants. It is wonderful to hear how young people are spreading the Word of God in their parishes. Last summer they took classes at St. John’s University, then during the year did a project. And now they come to tell us of their projects and how they went. Franciscan Sisters is one of the sponsors for this program.

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY TO ALL FATHERS, living and deceased. Thanks for all the good things you’ve done for your families. We pray for you and ask God to continue to bless and care for you.

Happy Summer—-it comes on Sunday!
Sister Mary Lou