February 28, 2011

The last day of February. Sounds like March will come in as a lamb. That’s fine with me! To see signs of spring one has to look up. Looking down one sees only snow. There is a tree on the east side of the Motherhouse that is filled with little tree leaf buds. I will keep watching that tree.

After last week’s 10+ inches of snow, the pile of snow behind Mary Hall was bigger than I had ever seen it.

Saturday we had the funeral for our Sister Mary Leonette /Bursch. age 90, who died peacefully and quietly on February 22nd. She was a Franciscan Sister for 71 years. (I had her as a Home Ec teacher for cooking when I was a freshman at St. Francis High School in 1949.) She was gentle and unassuming in her living, teaching and all the ministries she was part of. At the time of her Diamond Jubilee she said, “I praise the Lord and thank Him for walking with me hand-in-hand on my journey as a pilgrim. I feel His presence in various ways through faith and love in good times and in times of suffering.” She lived this so well.

Being an elementary school teacher is part of my blood. I like to read children’s books…and read them to children. Dr. Seuss was born March 2, 1904. Such an imagination that man had! I have to practice every time I read one of his books.

March 1st is Founders Day. It was March 1, 1891 that the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minnesota came into being…which makes us 120 years young this year. I stand in awe of the many holy women who have been and are part of our membership…and of all the various ministries that are part of our heritage. God has blessed us and continues to bless us in so many ways. Thank you, Lord, for your care for us. St. Francis, pray for us.

Friday, March 4th is World Day of Prayer. Here in Little Falls, the gathering will take place at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church. This year the women of Chile have written the service around the theme “How many loaves have you?” Together we are asked to respond to what we have and how we can share it with others. The offering received will support the work of World Day of Payer USA and assist the needs of families who are victims of many forms of poverty, violence and human trafficking. World Day of Prayer is a worldwide ecumenical movement of Christian women of many traditions who come together annually to observe a common day of prayer on the first Friday in March. Each year the worm of a different country serve as the writers of the worship service. Be a part of the day.

Saturday, March 5th we will have the funeral for Sister Marguerite Barbeln at 11 a.m..

Lent begins a week from Wednesday, March 9th. Time to start thinking about what you will “do” for the Lenten practice. Next week I will tell you what I have in mind.

Let us pray for peace in the many troubled parts of our world…and all those who suffer because of all the violence.

God bless you.

Sister Mary Lou