Moving into March

March 4, 2013

We’ve moved into March. The first couple days were really March coming in like a lamb, but the weather forecasts look like the Lion is on the way. We had a Secular Franciscan gathering in Bloomington on Saturday. The roads were perfect for driving. Thank you, God.

Sister Mary DeLourdes Kolles, age 90, went to heaven this morning at 6:25 a.m. I do not know funeral arrangements at this time. Eternal Life to you, Sr. DeLourdes. Thank you for all the good you’ve done your many years of life.

What does a Day of Prayer look like? Friday was a good example. Friday was the 122nd Birthday of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, MN. We celebrated the day with a festive Mass and lots of singing. It was on March 1, 1891, that Bishop Zardetti received the vows of three Sisters. Then he read the Decree of Established for our Community. A bit of history: After the fire at Belle Prairie, the Sisters lived in two little houses in northeast Little Falls. In May 1891, Major Morrill donated five acres of land to the Sisters. Little Falls Lumber Company donated lumber to build a slab shanty. This was the start of our campus. A slab shanty was the first building. The sisters lived there until they could move into the unfinished Motherhouse building in the fall of 1891.


Judi assembled a nice bulletin board of the first two years of our Community history. We just have to follow the footprints. In Chapel there was a display of the original 16 Foundresses and a picture of Sister Mary Francis Beauchamp, our first Community Leader.

At 1:30 we hosted the World Day of Prayer in our Chapel. This year the prayer service was prepared by the women of France. (Each year the service is put together by the women of a different country.) Many women of all the Little Falls Churches were in attendance. It was a holy time with all of us praying for peace in our world. The theme was “Welcoming the Stranger.” Sr. Fran acted as the stranger. Many of us did not recognize her as she wandered into Chapel, looking at everything there. Then in a short time all those with parts in the prayer service welcomed her and made her feel at home.

At 3:30 we had the Stations of the Cross. And shortly after that we had our Evening Prayer. O Lord, hear our prayer. O Lord, hear our prayer.

After brunch this morning, I went over to St. Francis Center to see what kinds of things The Benton County Homemakers were making. They were making cute little purses from men’s neck ties. What a nice remembrance when a Dad or brother dies. They were also making pillows with the pictures of grandchildren on them. This group comes the first weekend of March and have been doing it for the last 19 years.

Last September at our community meetings, we were each given a few marigold seeds. Mine has flourished.

Please pray for safe travel. My sister, Cecelia, and I will be going on vacation to McAllen, TX to visit our “snow bird” brothers.

May your Lent be going well.
Peace and blessings,

Sister Mary Lou