Blessings showered on us daily

Yesterday’s Jubilee celebration was just great…wonderful Liturgy with great music, lots of guests, good food and much visiting. Besides the piano we also had French horn, cello, violins, a flute, bass violin and guitar along with lots of human voices to add to the celebration of the Liturgy. Bishop Don Kettler was the presider at the Mass. Father John Schwieters, brother of Sister Jean was assistant to the Bishop. We honored 12 sisters who celebrated 80, 75, 60 and 50 years of Religious Life. Congratulations and Thank You, Sisters, for your example of faithful dedication.

We had a bit over 2 inches of rain the last few days. Our sandy soil needs rain like that every week. For the rain we say, “Thank You, Lord.”

Last Wednesday was the Green Fair Folk Festival on the west parking lot. Again, we estimated about 1,000 people attended. There were about 60 vendors. The horse drawn wagon ride was a very popular attraction. Riders saw the property south of the Motherhouse buildings that most do not ordinarily see. As I’ve said before, the gardens are so lush and filled with good vegetables. Pope Francis was a guest at the Fair. A frame of live honey bees were part of one of the “Honey People” displays.

“The Church Ladies are Back” dinner-theatre fund-raiser play for the Food Shelf will be Wednesday and Thursday evenings at the Falls Ballroom. Many Sisters are part of the cast. The author of the play is Robyn Gray, from our St. Francis Music Center. I look forward to attending.

Sister Bernarda Sanoski celebrated her 80th Jubilee yesterday and on Saturday, the 15th, she will celebrate her 99th birthday. Her nephew, Fr. Glen Frerichs, will preside at the Feast of the Assumption, Holy Day, 11 a.m. Mass on Saturday.

Today our Sacristan, Sister Joel Bieniek, celebrates her 98th birthday. And today we learned that she had the men in our carpenter shop make the bells used in entrance and recessional processions at Mass on feast days. These bells were made especially for her when she celebrated her 50th Jubilee, twenty-seven years ago! After Communion at Mass today we had a short “Listening to the Bells Concert” in honor of Sr. Joel.

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At noon today those Sisters who did/will turn 85 this year, 2015, had a special luncheon in the Heritage Dining Room. They are Sisters Maureen Kelly, Ardis Cloutier, Jeanette Quinn, Adela Gross and Nancy deMattos.

The Blood Mobile will be here for a two-day blood drive Thursday, August 27 (1 to 7 p.m.) and Friday, August 28 (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Mark your calendars.

Let us thank and praise God, for the many blessings showered on us each day. Peace and enjoy these summer days.

Sister Mary Lou