July11, 2016                                                                                 Feast of Saint Benedict

Saturday we had an Open House to celebrate our Community’s 125^th Anniversary.  We had 250 plus guests come to share the afternoon with us.  It was a joy-filled day. This patch of beautiful flowers, right outside our front door, greeted our guests.

Right now as I type, it is raining VERY hard.  Since the rains started Saturday evening, we’ve had about 7 inches of rain. The grass, trees, flowers and gardens are happy for this blessing from the Lord.  Our sandy soil can use this rain.

I found a couple of the displays that Archives put up very informative.  One thing I learned was the Franciscan Sisters have owned/managed 19 hospitals from 1891 to 1993. 

The Franciscan Sisters administered and staffed 16 elementary schools and one high school.  Undertaking the parochial elementary school ministry, brought the congregation full-circle back to the experience of the Founding Sisters who were elementary school teachers.  The Sisters also taught in Catechetical ministry, where they would teach 2 to 4 weeks each summer preparing students for First Confession, First Communion and

Confirmation.

Another display listed all the international countries where the Franciscan Sisters have served: Ecuador, Thailand, Africa, Belgium, Chile, Yemen, Vietnam, Egypt, England, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Columbia, Kenya, Homa Bay, Guatemala, Bolivia, Italy and Peru.

One of the many displays was of some of the items used in by-gone days.  Most of us remember the big frying pan used to fry potatoes when we had a picnic day at our farm 7 miles west of Little Falls.

On Sunday, Sister Tonie opened the Art Room for the Sisters to see the displays set up in there.  (We were all at our assigned posts on Saturday so couldn’t get there on Saturday.)  We saw pictures painted by our Sisters.  This was painted by sister Cecilia Richards, who died in 1944.   Another thing I saw was this beautiful wooden woven basket.  The Art Room is next to the Music Center.  They have the hallway decorated with streamers of musical notes.

Here we have Sister Fabian Schneider on her 101^st Birthday.  What a marvel of a lady—up and around every day.

Last week Sister Patrice Kiefer presented the Thursday noon enLUNCHment program.  She talked about her life and her ministry in health care work.  (It’s great to hear about this from Sister, before we read about it after the Sister dies.)

Blessings on the activities of your week.

Peace.

Sister Mary Lou

July 6, 2016

Last weekend was one of picture-perfect weather.  Sister Julien and I attended the 28^th annual West Union Parade.  It was started when the 4-H group needed a project.  It’s been a good event for these many years.  I am always amazed at the great number of people who line the streets for the parade and then join together at the park for the pot-luck meal.

We have two 90^th birthdays this week.  Sister Therese Furnstahl celebrated on Sunday and Sister Therese Lenz celebrates today.  Just think of all the lives touched and all the good done by these two Sisters over these 180 years!  Wow!

The big activity this week will be on Saturday for the Open House from 1:00 to 4 p.m. to celebrate our 125^th Anniversary.  I hope lots of people join us for the afternoon.  Sounds like the weather will cooperate.

Friday evening to 3 a.m. Saturday morning is the Relay for Life event tor Morrison County.  I won’t be walking the route, but will probably go out for a while to cheer on the walkers.  The local group raises a lot of money for cancer research and care of those with cancer.  God bless those who sponsor and work at the event.

On Sunday, the 10^th, Sister Fabian Schneider will celebrate her 101^st birthday.  Again, WOW!

As I am typing, I am listening to the radio to the Party Line program.  Sister Bea, our Community Leader, is the guest today.  It is very interesting.  They’ve covered all kinds of topics: the Health and Rec Center, Red Cross Blood Mobile, Vocations, Saint Gabriel’s Hospital, St. Otto’s Home, the Open House on Saturday, the Poor Clare Sisters, the Nursing Schools in Little Falls and Breckenridge, St. Francis High School, etc.

Something new in our cemetery: We thank the Little Falls Granite works for generously contributing the engraving on each of the 12 founding sisters’ headstones who are buried in our cemetery.  You’ll see white crosses and the words Founding Sister” on the ‘bottom of each stone.

Enjoy these beautiful July days.

Peace and blessings on you and those you love.

Sister Mary Lou