Just ahead: Shorter days and Labor Day

By the end of this week we will be in September. The sun comes around later in the morning and sets earlier in the evening. I liked the long days of summer better!

Then comes Labor Day. Labor Day was established in 1882 as a celebration of workers and their families. Let’s reflect on what hard work had done besides providing a livelihood for individuals and their families. Let us also be mindful of the many unemployed who seek work.

Last Wednesday we had a one-day Blood Drive. Our goal was 90 and we received 116 units of blood. THANK YOU to all the generous donors. Many lives will be helped because of those generous people. The next Blood Drive will be October 31, November 1 and 2, 2012.

The Nursing Leadership Symposium, sponsored by Aging Service of MN, will have their last session for this year on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week. We are happy to hostess this group and they are happy to meet here.

Fall lessons at St. Francis Music Center will begin September 4th.

The 28th is the anniversary of the “I Have a Dream” speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., in Washington D.C. in 1965. I still get goose bumps when I hear excerpts of it. May we continue to work to live out the ideals and values listed in that speech. We have a long ways to go.

As I’ve mentioned before, each month we honor one of the Departments which works here at the Motherhouse. Last Thursday, the Gift Shop, Sister Janice and all the volunteers who work there were honored.

On September 5th, 7 to 8 p.m., there will be a gathering at First United Church (across the road from the Convent) at which time we will examine how individuals of different faiths can express their most deeply held views forcefully, yet remain respectful of the deeply held beliefs of others. This truism from our “everyday” lives can become even more challenging during an election year when one’s persons political perspective is different from another.

The Little Falls Arts and Crafts Fair is the Saturday and Sunday after Labor Day. The town will be a very busy place starting next Thursday when some of the first of the 660 vendors start to arrive. Gina just told me that there are 100 new vendors this year. That is always exciting. Please pray for good weather—not too hot, not to cold and not raining those couple days. I am involved as a “Block Host.” Many vendors stay at St. Francis Center for two or three nights. Let us pray for everyone’s safety.

Have a good and safe week. Blessings on all the teachers and students who will start school on Tuesday…and bless all those who have already started their school year.

Peace and Blessings,
Sister Mary Lou