January 9, 2019

As I typed to line above, I had to stop and think, “What year is this?” It was a good year, with a few bumps in the road. A few days ago I read a little piece that reminded me that the challenges, bumps, we meet are the things that help us to grow and become better persons…bit by bit.

We’ve already had two funerals this year. Sister Mercita Pipp, age 94 died on January 2^nd here in Clare Residence at the Motherhouse. And Sister Hope Uphoff, age 81, also died on January 2^nd.  Sister Mercita’s funeral was on Saturday, January 5, 2019.  Sister Hope’s funeral was Monday January 7, 2019.

The Bloodmobile will be here in St. Francis Hall, Tuesday, January 22^nd (1 to 7 p.m.), Wednesday, January 23^rd (12 noon to 6 p.m.) and Thursday, January 24^th from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

You can make an appointment by going online to www.RedCrossBlood.org/give. If you would like to Volunteer to help with the Blood Drive please contact our volunteer manager Mary at mthomas@fslf.org or 320-632-0691. Thank you.

Saturday, February 2, 2019, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. we will have a SOUP SUPPER here at the Convent. It is an ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT event. The menu is as follows: Four varieties of homemade soup: Chicken Wild Rice, Beef Barley Vegetable, Tomato Tortellini and Bean and Ham, fresh baked cracked wheat and white bread, bars, beverages. Proceeds benefit St. Francis Music Center and St. Francis Health and Wellness Center, Little Falls. All are welcome.

Sunday we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Let us take a little time to thank God for the gift our own Baptism. Do you know the date of your baptism? Baptism is the beginning of our life as a Christian. Let us be grateful.

God bless you and the activities of you week.

Peace,

Sister Mary Lou

January 5, 2017

HAPPY NEW YEAR.  “We are all on a journey, each day unsure of what’s around the next bend.  But uncertainty doesn’t have to be scary.  As people of faith, we know that we are always loved by God in in God’s care.  What are my hopes and dreams for the New Year?  Ask the Lord to guide you each day in the year ahead.”  (Living Faith, pages 1-2)

On Saturday, December 31^st, we had a Peace Prayer Service.  The Opening Prayer said it well:  We praise You, O God, for your presence with us, for your constant care and concern for us, for You Mercy.  Open our eyes, our ears and our hearts to the truth and beauty around us.  Make us aware also of what does not reflect You, but demeans Your Creation; war, oppression, violence and prejudice of any kind.  Give us wisdom and courage to witness to the peace that comes from You and from following  Your Gospel way. Amen.

The annual Convent Caring by Sharing Project this year, sponsored by the Franciscan Sisters, Emp[oyees and Friends, collected $1,815 to assist Tool Shed.  (Most of us had never even heard of Tool Shed before this.)  “Tool Shed is a group that assists teaching life skills to women in transition specifically following incarceration.  Tool Shed promotes weekly support groups to ex-offenders and their families, helping them rebuild their lives and relationships with Morrison county at-risk families.  Assisting at-risk families is the most effective way to break the cycle, building a strong, heathy foundation on which to build an improved life style.”  (Morrison County Record, Page12, Section B, December, 2016)

The Bloodmobile is here today (1 to7 p.m.) tomorrow (1 to 7 p.m.) and Friday (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)  God bless all those who are willing to share their life-blood with those who need it.  And God bless the men and women who work for the Red Cross in this life saving project.  From the number of waiting donors in St. Francis Hall right now, they should have no problem in meeting their goal, whatever it is—every bed is occupied and every chair has someone on it.  I was concerned that the extreme cold weather would keep people at home.  It has not!

I make a point to visit the veterans cemetery every year. A wreath in placed on every grave site, it is very beautiful!

Walk in love.  Live in Light.  And never lose hope.

Keep safe and warm.’

Peace and blessings

Sister Mary Lou

Hello September!

How can it be September already? I’m back from our trip to our nephew’s wedding near Denver, CO. The day was perfect for an outdoor wedding in the mountains of Colorado. The temperature was about 75 degrees and overcast with about 4 drops of rain. Andrea and Jon are a very happy couple. She is from the Netherlands and 15 of her family members were here to celebrate with us. Jon is a geologist and has a job there. I went with my brother, Richard and his wife, Louise. Their 50th anniversary was August 28th.

We stopped to visit a couple cousins on our journey. We also took time to look at things at the Murdo Museum, the Badlands National Park, Wall Drug, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, the Old West Museum in Cheyenne WY., the Garden of the Gods and other stops. We saw lots of cattle eating on dry pasture lands in South Dakota, and lots of cattle eating in lush pastures in Kansa, Nebraska and Iowa. I often praised God for the beauty and vastness of creation that I witnessed each day. I’ll share a few pictures.

Meanwhile back here in Little Life went on (just fine without me). On August 27 and 28th there was a Red Cross Blood Drive. They received 219 units of blood, which is 30 units over the goal. God bless you, generous donors.

Four new Franciscan Community Volunteers were Commissioned at our Sunday Mass on August 30th. They are Johnny McCracken from Gap, PA; Kyle Lamb from Avon, MN; Ranya Agcaoili from Kahului, HI and Rebecca Ferrera from Newbury Park, CA. Welcome to you and we wish you well in your volunteer services.

This noon today we invited the CEC staff to lunch so we’d have a chance to see them one more time. The Continuing Education Center classes have been held at St. Francis Center for the past 24 years. The program has now moved to a building that belongs to the Public School district. I’ve always said that the CEC teachers and staff are the best teachers in the District! We will miss the teachers and the students.

Monday is Labor Day. Make it a safe one. Some schools have already started classes and others will start the day after Labor Day. Let us all pray for both teachers and students that it be a profitable year for each one.

Peace and many blessings,

Sister Mary Lou

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.

\

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

Easter Blessings

HOLY WEEK. May we use this time to reflect on the Suffering, Death and Resurrection of Jesus and the great gift that is to us—for our Salvation.

Last week we celebrated the 35th Anniversary of the St. Francis Music Center. This program was the brain-child of Sr. Cecilia Schmitt, “a mover and a shaker,” to be sure. Robyn Gray has been director for the past 23 years. She says, “It’s a great place to be and work, and we are grateful to the Franciscan Sisters for having this place.” Right now they have 20 teachers and about 400 students a week for lessons, choir, orchestra, dance and gymnastics. The age range is birth to the nineties.

The Morrison County Record this week has an interview that Sister Georgine and I did on Palm Weaving. Just googling the words: “Palm Weaving” gives many ideas and directions.

On Saturday the 10th Annual Seeds of Kindness luncheon was held in St. Francis Hall. Thirty-three tables were beautifully decorated. This Habitat for Humanity is a very successful fun-raiser. This event raises almost enough money for all the materials needed for the ladies to build their Habitat House. Sister Julien serves as a member of the local Board for Habitat. This is the fifth year the event has been at St. Francis. Here are pictures of a few of the tables.

On Saturday, the Planning Committee for the St. Francis High School All-School Reunionmet to get things rolling. The Reunion is the third Sunday of July, July 19, 2015.

The Red Cross Bloodmobile will be here Tuesday and Wednesday (1-7 p.m.) and Thursday (8 a.m. - 2 p.m.). Our goal is 300 units. Knowing our generous donors, we’ll meet that goal.

The March Food Drive collected $1,088.78 and some food for the Morrison County food Shelf. God bless generous Employees and Sisters who made that happen. A worthy cause, indeed.

On Holy Thursday, Mass is at 7 p.m. with Adoration until 10 p.m.

On Good Friday we have the Silent Walk for Peace starting at 9:30 a.m. There will be Stations of the Cross both in Chapel and outside starting at 11 a.m. The Good Friday Service is at 2:00 p.m.

Easter Vigil Service starts at 8:00 p.m. with the Service of Light part in the Gathering Space. You are welcome to join us for any and all of these Services.

A Blessed and Happy Easter to each of you, my readers. Safe travels (and may the Easter Bunny be good to you.)

Sister Mary Lou

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow

Happy New Year. From 6 p.m. on December 30th until the prayer service, Year-end Prayer for World Peace, on December 31st , there were Sisters praying for peace every hour. At the Prayer Service, we had time for reflection on quotations from Pope John XXIII, Oscar Romero, Pope John Paul II, St. Francis and others on how to build peace in our war-torn, troubled world. The closing prayer: “God of Peace, You have called each of us to radiate Your Light in these times of darkness and to share Your Peace in places of conflict. Loving kindness, not hatred; forgiveness, not revenge is the mandate You gave us. Strengthen us as we seek to witness to compassion and build a world of loving acceptance of others. Continue to create us anew as Your peacemakers and bless us as we begin, with expectancy, to fill our world with peace. Amen.”

Saturday afternoon/evening we had our Sisters Christmas Party. A good time was had by all. Before the closing song, I read a bed-time story. I read The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilder. (After the Christmas Scripture Stories, The Selfish Giant is my most favorite story.) If you are not familiar with the story, Google it on the computer. Enjoy.

Yesterday we celebrated the Feast of Epiphany. Pictured are the Kings at the Crib in our Chapel and the puzzle of the Kings with the Baby Jesus.

Next week the Bloodmobile will be here: Wednesday, (2-8 p.m.), Thursday (2-8 p.m.) and Friday (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Mother Teresa says, “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow is not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

Albert Einstein says, “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”

Stay safe and warm.

Peace and blessings,
Sr. Mary Lou

Eyes brightened with beauty

Below are two pictures taken yesterday about 5 p.m. … the first day of the ending of day-light-savings-time. John Gilbert, author of Minnesota Nature Notes, says that November has some of the best sunrise and sunsets of the year. It sure started out that way!

First, The Blood Mobile report: Tuesday’s goal was 108—we got 90: Wednesday the goal was 89 and we got 93: Thursday the goal was 68 and we got 75. Our total goal was 265 and we got 258 units of blood. That is a lot of very generous donors. There were many “double donors.” God bless each donor with many blessings and graces. This is a real gift to those in need.

Sr. Eileen celebrated her 90th Birthday last Monday. It was a happy day for her and her family.

Some of the Dietary Staff got into Halloween “real good.”

On November 1st, Sr. Joel had a display to remember All Saints. She does such a wonderful job of ambiance-making. God bless all the every-day Saints in our midst.

Sister Joel set up another beautiful November display for remembering our deceased Sisters (7), Priests (9), Associates and Friends and Relatives. There is also a book for us to write in the names of those we wish to be prayed for each day. This sheet is put on the altar for Mass each day. May all those who have died be enjoying Eternal Life with the Lord.

Yesterday the Flensburg Choir joined us for Mass at the Convent. The Sisters who just moved from Flensburg were happy to see their friends. Sisters Christelle, Fabian and Bernarda, were members of the choir during the years they lived in Flensburg. After Brunch the choir sang songs (some Polish ones), laughed and had a good time.

Yesterday I attended a great concert, Civil War Portrait, by the Minnesota Center Chorale at Calvary Community Church in St. Cloud. The Chorale’s singing was fantastic. The two featured artists, Cristina Seaborn (on the fiddle) and Paul Imholte (On the Hammer Dulcimer) were tremendous players.

Tomorrow is ELECTION DAY. Please vote. Some of you may have already voted. Voting is a privilege and also a RESPONSIBILITY.

Saturday evening is the time for our Harvest Dinner. The Menu: Fried Chicken, Sausage, Garden Vegetables, Coleslaw, Homemade Bars and Beverages. It makes me hungry just thinking about it.

These are two pictures of very hardy little flowers blooming outside Hurrle Hall. We’ve had some really cold nights and there they were showing off their bright colors. Come and join us.

Have a great week. Will we have snow by the next time I write? I’m willing to wait another 6 weeks.

Peace and blessings,
Sister Mary Lou

It's cold outside!

We are into January and a cold one it is.  Local radio says it was minus 23 this morning with a wind chill of minus 43 degrees…that’s cold if you have to be in it for any length of time.  My plans are to stay inside as much as possible.  They say the high today will be about minus 15.  Even with the severe cold we are still fortunate because we have electricity and do not have ice coated power lines, trees and roads.

After two weeks with a “Sunday” in the middle of the week, and a “Monday” after Wednesday, it is good to be back to a week where Monday follows Sunday and the days go along as expected.  We don’t have to say, “Today is Monday.”  The past two weeks the day after Wednesday felt like a Monday.

We’ve had Christmas and New Year’s and Epiphany.  Next Sunday is the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord and the end of the Christmas Season according to the Church calendar.  It seems to me that it all went by pretty fast.  On Saturday we Sisters had our Christmas celebration.  After the special meal, we sing Christmas carols for half an hour or so.  We do like to sing.

The Blood Mobile will be here Wednesday, Thursday (1 to 7 p.m.) and Friday (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.)   I hope the cold does not scare off donors.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Stephen Ministers from Anoka will be having meetings here.

One day last week I got a picture of Sr. Julien and Geri frosting cookies.

This morning I went looking for door decorations.  Have a little look.

Next week there will be a retreat going on from Monday to Sunday.

Peace and blessings, 
Stay warm and safe.  Snow-birds we envy you.
Sister Mary Lou