May 19, 2009

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow.” That’s a good way to greet the day. It is another beautiful day. I love the colorful, flowering trees all around us. Our apple orchard is in full bloom. The lilacs are nearly in full bloom. I picked a big bouquet for the mailroom.

Sister Ruth is selling some of her tomato and cabbage plants. When I was out and about on my battery-operated cart on Sunday, I checked out the orchard, the lines of lilac bushes, and notice, too, that gardeners are already busy planting things in the Community Gardens south of the Motherhouse.

In my journeys on Sunday I also went out to our cemetery, south of the Motherhouse. I took a picture of the monument at the cemetery entrance honoring our 16 original founding Sisters.

After Mass last Friday, the feast of St. Isidore the Farmer, Father Gallus, OSC, lead the prayers for the blessing of the lawns, gardens and fields. The prayer is: ”O God, from whom all blessings flow. Look kindly on us as we begin another season of planting and tilling the land. We humbly acknowledge our dependence on Your provident care and beg You to give us the needed sunshine and rain so that what has been planted may come to fruition. Protect us from all that would destroy the potential fruits of this land. We, on our part, promise to cooperate in the building up of what You have created, honoring and respecting the handiwork of Your Hands. We ask Your blessing in the name of Jesus who walked on this earth and continues to live among us, now and always. Amen.”

Last Thursday we had our Volunteer Dinner, honoring the many volunteers who give of their time and talents here at the Motherhouse. Jennifer told me we have 410 volunteers who gave over 14,000 hours of service in 2008. That’s a lot! God bless you. Life is better because of you.

St. Francis Music Center was a busy place this past weekend. There were Spring Recitals the 15th, 16th and 17th. All these students shared their talents by playing and/or singing for the big audiences. Thank you for sharing your talents.

Then Sunday evening, The St. Francis Community Chorale, directed by Barb Stumpf, presented a wonderful “Singing in Spring” vocal concert. It was wonderful! Celo V’ec played a cello solo. Vicki Spofford accompanied the singers. Don Golingowski and Ray Stumpf played guitar. Elise Spofford played flute and percussion and Emily Spofford
played violin. What an uplifting prayerful event. One song I especially enjoyed was “Shut De Do.” It is an African song that implores us to “Shut the door to keep out the devil.”

CEC, (Continuing Education Center) will have a graduation ceremony at 7 p.m. Thursday evening. This year they have 18 students graduating. This is a smaller number than I remember from other years, but that’s OK. I am proud of these students for completing their work and graduating from High School.

Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord. May Easter Joy continue for each of us now and always. Abbot Marmion, OSB said, “Joy is the echo of God’s love within us.” Let’s share that love and joy with all who are part of our lives.

Pax et Bonum
Sister Mary Lou