A busy week at St. Francis Convent

This will be a busy week here at St. Francis Convent. Starting this afternoon we will be having what is titled “Discerning Our Future” All Community Meetings. All the Sisters have returned to Little Falls for this gathering. I so appreciate seeing all the Sisters from the various missions. Sister Joan Gerads and the Sisters from Mexico are the only Sister we have serving outside the United States.

Our meetings conclude Friday afternoon. The most important event of Friday is the Profession of Perpetual (Life) Vows for Sister Isabel and Sister Aurora. Congratulations, Sisters. Welcome to our Community as full members.

Earlier this month Sister Kay‘s brother died , He lived in California. Because she was not able to attend his funeral, we had a prayer service in Chapel last evening to honor him…and remember Sr. Kay, also.

Sunday we had a Memorial Mass to honor our donors. We had over 100 guests for Mass, lunch and visiting. God bless all our donors—living and deceased. Pictured are Sister Grace with her brother and sister-in-law.

The big Community Gardens just south of the Motherhouse are all tilled and the folks are starting to plant their precious little plots. There are 63 plots of varying sizes, depending on people’s needs.

Sister Ruth has lots of tomato plants ready for planting in the garden. She plants what we need and then puts the rest up for sale to whomever wants them.

Yesterday I went to see if the bees were busy. They were very busy. I got quite near their hives, but they paid no attention to me. With the long row of lilacs right behind the hives, they have plenty of flowers to work on.

Sharon, one of our long-time nurses in Clare Residence, retired last week. We had a little party to thank her for her wonderful service here for many years. We will miss her and her smiley face. She did promise to come back to visits us.

Peace and God bless you.

Sister Mary Lou

Here I am again!

May 18, 2016

Here I am again after a long absence! The picture shows what I have been doing much of that time. Monday I finished the last of 15 radiation treatments for stomach cancer. After the last treatment we get to ring the bell to let the world know that that job is done. I am most grateful that I had no ill side effects from these treatments. I am now feeling quite well and able to enjoy these beautiful spring days.

During these months, I have been staying at Clare Residence, second floor where some of our elders and sick Sisters live and are cared for. I have been well cared for and am most grateful for that.

Many things have happened during these four months and I am not going to even try to recall them except for one event. This year our Community is celebrating its 125th Anniversary. One of the activities was to attend the play Late Nite Catechism at the Paramount Theater in St. Cloud. It was a time of many good laughs! In July we will be having a celebration here at the Motherhouse where family and friends will be invited. More about that as the time gets nearer.

We have long rows of lilac bushes here on campus that are a joy to look at and even a greater delight to smell. I just wish that their season lasted longer. Oh well, I’ll enjoy then while they are here.

At this time, the big field is plowed and ready and waiting for 63 gardeners from the city to come plant and watch their gardens grow. I am so grateful that we can share this land with gardeners who don’t have a garden plot available to them.

Every month or so, we celebrate a State or Country with what we call a “Dining Adventure.” Today we will celebrate Latvia. I needed to get out a map to see where that country is, and I’ll be interested to see what kinds of foods we are served.

On Thursday, Sister Joel Bieniek, age 99, will be the speaker at our noon enLUNCHment program. About once a month during lunch time a Sister talks about the “Old Days.” These are always very interesting presentations and I always learn something new about our Community.

According to our calendar, Saturday is Armed Forces Day. Let us pray for all those—living and deceased-- who are/have served in the military. They sacrifice a lot for us. God bless and care for them all.

On Sunday, the 22nd, we are expecting over one hundred guests for our 11 a.m. Memorial Mass for our donors--living and deceased. Then we will enjoy a good luncheon with our guests. May God richly bless all who support our Franciscan Community.

Until next time…

Peace and blessings,
Sister Mary Lou