As Minnesotans we take it all in stride, Thanks be to God!

January 29, 2013

What a roller coaster of temperatures last week…one morning low was minus 21 and another day it was plus 14. Some of those days were really windy and cold! And as Minnesotans we take it all in stride!

Last Wednesday afternoon was the funeral of Fr. Luke at St. John’s Abbey. I still smile and wonder what Fr. Luke had to do with the area power outage. His sense of humor could still kick in. Dawn finished the first reading and we all said, “Thanks be to God,” and the electricity went out for the remainder of the Mass. Then as they opened the big doors to take the casket out, the lights all came back on! Fr. Luke, we miss your coming for Thursday morning Masses here at the Motherhouse.

Last Thursday we honored out our 5, 10 15, 20, 25 and 30 year employees. After a social hour and a delicious meal catered by the Ballroom staff, we had a great program put on by our employees. Awards were given to the honorees. The Franciscan Award was given to Cheryl Aswegan. She deserves it for all the ways she lives out the Franciscan Values.

Saturday morning the Heartland Symphony Orchestra had their completion for young people trying out to be a guest performer in their next concert. The talent of those 6 young people is tremendous. I’m sure glad I wasn’t a judge.

Saturday afternoon we celebrated Sr. Lerose’s 90 birthday. A number of her sibling and many family members came to visit and have cake and ice cream with her. It was a good day for her. She could hardly believe she was 90.

Sunday afternoon several of us attended the 40th annual Pro-Life dinner and program at the Little Falls Ballroom. (This was the 40th anniversary of the Roe vs. Wade court decision making abortion legal.) The speakers gave wonderful testimony of the good things the Morrison County Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) have done these past 40 years. Congratulations and keep up the good work.

Thursday afternoon (2 p.m.) we will have a memorial service for Lorraine Ippileto, sister of Sisters Tonie and Rose Mae Rausch, members of our Community. Lorraine was cremated and there will be a funeral for her at a later date in South Dakota.

Saturday evening we have our Soup Supper: three kinds of yummy soups, fresh home-baked bread and a great assortment of good bars. Come. Enjoy. And please pray for favorable weather.

Keep warm. Stay safe.
God bless you now and always.

Sr. Mary Lou

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Presidential Inauguration Day

January 21, 2013
BRRRRR. Sixteen below-zero this morning and a possible -30 overnight tonight. That’s as cold as it has been for a lot of years. I’m glad it’s not as cold in Washington, DC for the Inauguration today as it is here. Let us continue to pray that all Governmental Leaders work for the Common Good.

As I said last week, we had a retreat for Sisters all last week. It was very good. Father Charlie came in place of scheduled Fr. Dan who died giving a retreat in 2012. We’d be happy to have Fr. Charlie come again another year. There was a definite feeling of silence, peace and prayer in the buildings all week.




Last week we had three more deaths that affected the Sisters. The first one on Wednesday was the death of Jerry who is a Franciscan Associate since October of 2011. He and his wife are volunteers here at the Motherhouse for many events. On Thursday we were all shocked at the death of Fr. Luke Steiner, OSB, age 83, who has been coming for years on Thursdays to say Mass for us Sisters here at our Motherhouse. He was also chaplain for the Poor Clare Sisters in Sauk Rapids, MN (2007-2013). Then on Saturday we learned of the death of Lorraine, sister of Sisters Tonie and Rose Mae Rausch.

On Thursday this week we have our Employee Recognition event. There are 22 people celebrating 30, 20, 15, 10 and 5 years. Amy has been with us 30 years! How can that be? There will be a Social Hour, Dinner, Program and the handing out of awards. Congratulations to each of you.

Saturday, February 2nd, Ground Hog’s Day, we have an all-you-can-eat Soup Supper (4:30 to 7 p.m.) (No, we are not serving ground hog.) The three homemade soups are: Chicken Wild Rice, Beef Barley Vegetable and Bean and Ham. There will also be fresh bread, cracked wheat and white, and homemade bars. Come and enjoy.

Keep warm. Stay well…and if you are sick, get well soon.
Peace and blessings on you.

Sister Mary Lou