Last Friday morning’s conversation before Morning Prayer at Mary Hall, third floor: “Mary Lou, is your door closed?” “No.” “There’s a bat hanging on your door frame.” Fifteen seconds later, “Yes, my door is closed.” “Donna, there’s a bat on Mary Lou’s door.” A few seconds later, Donna armed with tennis racket, knocks down the bat and kills it. How the bats get in, we don’t know. But they are many fewer now than there used to be. (I have nothing against bats when they are outside, but I don’t like them in the building. The last one I had, I took outside to give it a second chance.)

The Salvation Army Red Kettle Bell Ringers are out there ringing the bells. I did not recognize Betz outside the Coborn’s Store on Friday. She wasn’t going to be cold this day, as she was the day before. There were many $s in the kettle. Thank you for ringing bells…and to the donors, too.

The Community Thanksgiving Dinner is Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., is at the High School. The Franciscan Sisters are providing six five gallon-pails of potatoes for the meal. We will cook and mash them here in our kitchen and then bring them to the High School. The picture shows, Sr. Donna with one pail of peeled potatoes and boxes of those yet to be peeled.

Tuesday, Nov. 25th, we will have a concert in the Chapel at 7 p.m. by a Nicaraguan Troubadour. He will be playing and singing songs from his country.

On Wednesday we will have an afternoon gathering in the dining room to thank Pat Sharon for being our Librarian the past eight years. She has done a very fine job and we will miss her. (Christina Gottwalt has been hired as our new librarian.)

Last Friday evening there was a program at the Great River Arts Center. The speaker was Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train, a novel. She has spoken at two of the 50+ Orphan Train Reunions, hosted by now deceased, Sister Justina Bieganek. Christina talked about the research she did before writing this novel so the facts are correct. It was a very interesting presentation with LOTS of people in attendance.

Sr. Donna just finished putting together this lovely puzzle of a beautiful angel.

Mass in our Chapel is at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day

Sunday, November 30th, is the First Sunday of Advent.

Sunday is also the beginning of the “Year of Consecrated Life.” More about that at a later date.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING. We have so much to be thankful for.

Peace and blessings,
Sister Mary Lou