Even when it's cold outside our memories keep us warm!

Brrr!!! I’m not used to this cooler and snowy, rainy weather. We have over ½ inch of rain in the rain gauge. I am grateful for the moisture to help get over the drought. Yesterday’s inch or so of snow is melted today. My hope is that farmers will be able to get their crops harvested. On our trip to Hutchinson on Saturday I was very aware that much more harvesting is completed there than here.

Two weeks of news to report. Half of last week was filled with our total Community Meetings. It is always good and exciting to have all the Sisters home. Last evening, the dining room seemed so empty now that so many Sisters have returned to their missions.

On October 13th we welcomed 9 new Franciscan Associates. Two other Associates made their Commitment this same weekend in Tennessee. We now have a total of 283 Associates. We are grateful that they share our Franciscan Spirit and values.

On October 9th we had the largest tour group ever. All 105 students from St. Henry’s School in Perham, MN came to visit. Many of them knew Sister Sylvia Schik from when she taught art classes there. The students came for Mass, then, had the bag lunches they brought with them, before they boarded the bus for the two-hour ride home. Father Herzing was the presider at the Mass. He moved from Perham to Little Falls this past summer. So everyone was happy to see him. He needed the students to help with the homily—the story of Jonah, who was not wanting to do what God asked him and then being thrown out of the boat. I was most impressed by the good behavior of the students during Mass and how they sang!

On October 12th we celebrated Sister Rosaria’s 90th birthday. She likes root beer floats, so that was the treat of the day. Yummy! Sister Rosaria’s health is not the best but she was able to sit in a chair and enjoy the celebration.

Sunday was Mission Sunday. We've had Sisters serving in many countries. Pictured are the altar decorations from Sunday.

When I walked past the kitchen, I saw these two big squash. One weighed 64 pounds and the other 42 pounds. We’ll have quite a few meals from those big veggies.

The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will be at St. Francis Convent October 30-31 (1-7 p.m.) and November 1st (8 a.m. – 2 p.m.)

Sister Elise will present a two-part presentation: Peacemaking in the Franciscan Tradition: not surrender, not domination, a third way. The dates are November 6 and 13 both from 6 to 7 p.m. in St. Francis Hall.

Our Franciscan Harvest Supper fund-raiser is Saturday, November 9, 4:30-7 p.m. On the menu: chicken, sausage, garden vegetables, coleslaw, homemade bars and beverages. For more information contact (320) 632-2981 or info@fslf.org; www.fslf.org.

My 3-year-old grand-niece wants to be Our Lady of Guadalupe for their All Saints Party on November 1st.

Here she is pictures in her newly-made dress…all ready for the day.

I am sure there are other things I could also write about, but they've skipped my mind for now.

Peace and blessings,

Sister Mary Lou