February 23, 2009

First of all: CONGRATULATIONS TO BEN HANOWSKI, Little Falls High School Senior, hockey player who set the new state record for goals scored. He received a plaque during a break in play after he broke the state’s career points record during last Thursday’s home game. Post season play begins Tuesday evening. Go Flyers, Go.

February is “I Love to Read Month.” Sisters Antonette Ahles, Maureen Blenkush, Therese Lenz, and I went to local elementary schools to read to students. I went to Lindbergh School to read to First Graders in Mrs. Hanson’s Room. It was so good to be back in a first grade classroom again. I read a book about mice. (I have a big mouse collection.) I gave each child a mouse to hold as I read the story, Boom Chicka Rock, Chicka Boom. Next week I want to go back to read, Town Mouse, Country Mouse.

Last Friday morning I went to the Chamber of Commerce sponsored Friday Morning Coffee event at Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge. I’ve heard about Crane Meadows, but didn’t know where it was or what was there. Now I know. It is an 1800 acre wildlife refuge with groomed walking trails that is only about eight miles south of Little Falls. It was a little too cool to go on the trails on Friday. I saw another sign of spring on my way home. I saw a dead skunk on the highway. Maybe that one should have stayed in hibernation one more day.

Last Saturday, 21st, we had a birthday party to celebrate Sister Maristell’s 90th birthday.
She had a great day with Family, Sisters and Parishioners from the Belle Prairie and Our Lady of Lourdes Parishes. I was sorry to have missed it. I was in Brainerd for our Secular Franciscan Formation Class and Fraternity Gathering.

God blessed us with about four inches of new snow Friday night and Saturday. Everything looks so clean and bright again. Where the snow was cleared, the sun really dried off roads, sidewalks and parking lots.

Kitchen update: Friday the men opened the door so we could see into the kitchen. What I saw was lots of sand and trenches where the plumbers will put in new water pipes. All the concrete floor is removed and after the water pipes are in they will start pouring a new concrete floor.

For us Franciscans at the Motherhouse, the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday is Doughnut Day. We will have a 9 a.m. coffee break when doughnuts will be served… and again at lunch time.

Lent starts on Wednesday. Plenty of opportunities present themselves for our Lenten Penances. To fast, pray and give alms are the three practices Christ invites us to during Lent. It is a time to renew our Baptismal commitment to live as Children of a loving God. Scripture study is another good Lenten activity.

On Sunday, March 1st is the 118th Anniversary of the founding of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls. Happy Birthday to us. God bless those original 16 early Sisters who came to Little Falls and began our Community and our Ministries here.

Peace and blessings,
Sister Mary Lou