June 28, 2017

Sunday was a day of celebration here at the Motherhouse. Seven Sisters celebrated 60 years of being Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls. 

They are: (Back row:  Sister Cordy Korkowski, Sister Loretta Bloch, Sister Carol Schmit, Sister Marguerite Ostendorf, Sister Clara Stang, Sister Ade Kroll , (seated) Sister Bea Eichten,  (Community Minister,)and Sister Sylvia Opatz.  Congratulations, Sisters. Thank you for your many years of service as a Franciscan Sister.

I was not here for that celebration since I was at The West Union, MN celebration of the 100^th anniversary of Saint Alexius Catholic Church, my home parish when I was a child. That Sunday we had Mass outside on the church steps landing and after Mass a delicious catered dinner. All Priests and Sisters, and former Priests and Sisters, from the Parish received special invitations. It was a great day. The Church windows have the names of donors of the windows when the Church was built. Nick Eltgroth, my grandfather, has his name on one of the windows.

Sister Adella Blonigen, age 90, died shortly after midnight Wednesday, June 28^th at St. Francis Convent. The Franciscan Wake is at 7 p.m. on Friday July 7, 2017 and the Mass of Christian Burial is at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 8, 2017.

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JULY 5, 2017

For some reason or another, I didn’t send out last week’s blog so I am just adding on this week’s information.

I hope you had a safe and fun 4^th of July celebration. I went to West Union, MN, for their 29^th West Union Parade. This parade started out as a 4-H. project. There were many units in the 5 or 6 block parade: of which 10 were tractors. The oldest tractor was a 1917 John Deer followed by the newest big tractor. Oh, how tractors have grown in size! After the parade, the 4H youth served ice cream cones. A good time was had by all.

The annual St. Francis High School Reunion is Sunday, July 16 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mass is at 11 a.m. All former students are invited to attend. Come to renew friendships. (The reunion is always the third Sunday f July.)

May God bless you each day.

Sister Mary Lou

June 5, 2017

We are into summer big-time. It is sunny and 80+ degrees outside as I write this article. Next January we dream of these days.

Last week Sully Gwast had a “Show and Tell” event here at the Motherhouse. He brought his pet Emu for us to see. He said he bought two eggs and put them in a chicken incubator set at 97 degrees.  Only one egg hatched. Now his bird is three weeks old and about a foot tall, but when it grows up, it will be about five feet tall. I don’t know that I saw an emu before. It is the second largest bird in Australia.

On Saturday the MN Farmers Union women had their annual meeting in St. Francis Hall. There were about 40 women and a few men in attendance. God bless these women for the good works they do. Farm women and men work hard to produce the food we enjoy. Thank you for your labor. I pray daily for favorable weather for a good growing season.

Sister Cordy Korkowski, director of Donor Relations, awarded two Sister Judine Cassidy Scholarships to two CEC students on May 25, 2017. Shania Rossum will be attending Central Lakes College in Brainerd and will be enrolled full time in the Horticulture Program. The second scholarship recipient, Nattalie Cluever, is set to attend Central Lakes College in Brainerd as well. She will be enrolled in the Dental Assistant Program.. Laura Dunlap, director of the CEC (Continuing Education Center) program expressed gratitude for the gift from the Franciscan Sisters and acknowledged the Franciscan Sisters at the event in appreciation for their interest and support of the CEC program.  For MANY years this program took place at what was St. Francis High School, now known as St. Francis Center.

Tuesday through Thursday we will be hosting “Girls Camp.” Girls and leaders will set up their tents in Assisi Park, south of the Motherhouse buildings. Sounds like the weather will be great. Pictures next week.

We have a couple acres of land plowed and used for Community Gardens. The plots are planted and cared for by those who would not otherwise have a spot for a garden. This is the scariest scare crow out there. And this hill of beans is growing nicely.

God bless you these summer days.

Peace.

Sister Mary Lou