April 8, 2008

Good Morning, Good People! This is a greeting St. Francis used. It is a good morning! God loves us and what more is needed. I just saw the crocus and some little white flowers blooming in the flower bed near the east kitchen windows!

Here in Little Falls, we missed out on the BIG snows that attacked points north of here. We did get a little over ½ inch of rain. I talked to my sister-in-law, Nancy, who lives near Cohasset, MN. She said they have two feet of snow on their deck! Before this, except for the little piles of snow in the woods, it snow was all gone.

In the weeks before Easter, Coborn’s, the local grocery store, offered "Ham Cards."
For every ten dollars of groceries purchased, we would get a stamp on the card. When the card is full, one could get a free ham. Well, many of us could never fill the card, but we gave our partially filled cards to the Food Shelf. With these partially filled cards, Carol was able to get 16 whole hams. Thirteen of them were cut in half, so 29 families were able to receive ham for a meal when they went to the Food Shelf. Thanks for your sharing, Employees and Sisters.

Last Saturday, April 5th, the Secular Franciscans from the Queen of Peace Region, had their Spring Retreat at St. Francis Convent. Many SFO Members were present to hear Sister Elise Saggau share the message of "Franciscans and Muslims in Dialogue--Sharing the Message and the Mission." I learned a lot. Thanks, Sr. Elise.

That evening I attended the concert of the Heartland Symphony Orchestra at the Charles D. Martin Auditorium here in Little Falls. As always, the music was beautiful. I was very impressed with the two young women who played solos. They were were really good. Youth Concerto Senior winner was Beth Hauer, 17-years-old, who played the euphonium. She’s studied the euphonium for seven years. The other soloist was 14-year-old, Madeleine Steup who played violin. She is in 8th grade, is home schooled, and has studied violin for 5 ½ years. What talent these youth have! Thank you Heartland Symphony Orchestra for encouraging talented youth like these girls.

This coming Friday evening we have Spring Magic. This is a dinner and dance for the developmentally disabled of Morrison County and their families. St. Camillus Place sponsors the dinner with the help of MANY local service organizations who help with generous financial donations. It is a joyous evening for all.

Weather permitting, I plan on going to Osakis, MN on Sunday for the concert of the Gordon Men’s Choir. It is a group of men who like to sing together. My brother, Richard, sings in the choir. They make good music.

May the Lord look on you with peace and blessings.
Sister Mary Lou