God is good! All the time!

May your Holy Week bring you to a deeper relationship/friendship with the Lord, Jesus, Who Suffered, Died and Rose again for our Eternal Salvation. Many people were busy Sunday braiding their Palms. Lots of people like the little palm fish I make. Sr. Georgine makes a beautiful Crown of Thorns from palm. She will try again to teach me how to do it. I hope she is successful this time.

The spring days last week were much appreciated. The snow is almost all gone. I’ve not heard of any flooding in this area. Praise God. And we’ll probably get some snow this week!

Last night a big audience enjoyed the beautiful 2014 Spring Strings Concert in our Chapel. We are so fortunate to have such dedicated teachers and such talented performers who share their love for music with our community. Their music was beautiful. Nina Quilo and Kalli Sabania played a violin duet of Minuet from Suite in G by George F. Handel—a feast for the ears! Thank you, all you musicians and new director Bobbi French.

This morning, Sr. Ruth brought to the kitchen boxes of squash, onions and beets that she’s had in the cooler at the locker plant. Soon we will be enjoying this fresh garden produce that was harvested last fall. Now she is planning the gardens for this year’s planting season.

St. Cloud Diocese has a partnership with the Diocese of Kenya, Africa. The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph have a partnership with us, Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls. They have a delegation of 14 people from Kenya visiting here in the St. Cloud area. One of the delegates is Sister Albina. The other day we stopped at the dam so she could see the Mississippi River flowing over the dam. The gates are wide open and water is running over the top of the spillway. Sister is staying with us and seeing and doing many things these days until she leaves on Easter Sunday.

Last week’s blood drive was a marvelous success. Our goal was 223 and we received 278 units of blood!!! Of these, 36 were the double-red donors. WOW! Thank you to each donor who gave of their time and blood. We were delighted and so was the Red Cross to have such a good turn-out. God bless you. You’ve helped MANY people.

Our Church Services this week: Tuesday and Wednesday—Mass at 11 as usual: Holy Thursday Eucharist at 7 p.m. and Adoration until 10 p.m.; Good Friday Silent Walk for Peace at 9:30, Indoor and Outdoor Stations of the Cross at 11 a.m.; Holy Saturday Easter Vigil Service start at 8 p.m. with fellowship following; Easter Sunday Mass at 8:30 a.m. All are welcome to attend any/all of these services.

Happy Easter.

Peace and many blessings,
Sister Mary Lou