Spring is busting out all over

“Spring is busting out all over.” I’m amazed at how green the lawns are…even without very much rain. This morning I read three interesting articles in Jim Gilbert’s book, Nature Notes.

First: Arbor Day was started by J. Sterling Morton, a journalist in Nebraska, 143 years ago. Each time we plant a tree we give to the world a new source of beauty, shade, oxygen and habitat for creatures of many sizes. We plant trees to celebrate our hope for the future. A Greek proverb says, “A civilization flourishes when people plant trees under whose shade they will never sit.” The two trees we blessed last week are now in their out-door homes

A second thing I read was that tulips are native to the Mediterranean region and Asia. (Tulip is the Turkish word for turban.) The Dutch have been in the tulip business for more than 400 years, but tulips did not originate there, or from Turkey where they got theirs.

And I also read an article on loons. These lovely birds are about two feet long and weigh 8 to 9 pounds. The common loon was designated the Minnesota state bird in 1961. The name “loon” means lummox or awkward and refers to the bird’s on-shore movements and perhaps it inability to fly from the ground.

Last Wednesday, about 15 of us former Sister Teachers were guests at St. Ben’s for Breakfast with the Bishop. It was a fund-raiser for the Catholic Foundation. The Sisters are responsible for the Catholic School system in the United States. I am very grateful for having been part of Catholic School education for so many years.

On Friday, we had a tour group of about 70 students, teachers and parents from St. Katherine Drexel School in St. Cloud. They learned about our Chapel, St. Francis and the making of altar breads, which was a ministry of ours for over 100 years.

The St. Francis Music Center had their Choral Concert at 2 p.m. yesterday…and a reception followed. They are a wonderful group of singers who like to sing and sound so professional! Thanks for sharing your talents with a grateful audience.

During the intermission the Franciscan Earth Citizen award was presented to: Sister Ade Kroll, OSF, a Franciscan Sister of Little Falls, Minnesota and living in Berkeley, CA,; Patty Keeling, Franciscan Associate who lives in St. cloud, MN; and Ignacio Lopez, Franciscan Associate Applicant, a fruit and tree farmer in Condega, Nicaragua. Thank you to each of you for your tender care of Mother Earth.

St. Francis Music Center has a number of recitals these ending days of April and into May. Yesterday Room 242 was filled with students and family members listening to the accomplishments of musicians, young and older.

Tonight the fund-raiser for our Franciscan Community Volunteers, known as The Taste of St. Cloud, will be held at Territory Golf Course Coyote Moon Grille in St. Cloud from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Come hungry!

Tonight and tomorrow 35 Directors of Nurses will be coming for their in-service meetings here until Thursday noon. Some will stay here in our third floor rooms. Marcia had an Open House last week and again today for those of us who missed the first date, so we could see the re-decorating that has been done in those rooms. It is lovely—a real touch of art at work.

This is a photo from Sister Lillian Kroll's art show. It was a delightful event.

Saturday, May 9th, will be a very special day for one of our employees. We will have a special 10:30 Mass at which time Lisa will be Baptized. Welcome to the Catholic Church, Lisa, and congratulations.

Wednesday is the Little Falls Day of Caring. High School students, teachers and others will be raking lawns, washing outside windows and cleaning up yards for elderly and handicapped home owners. Thank you folks for your generous service.

That’s all I know for now.

Peace and blessings,
Sr. Mary Lou