July 11, 2018

The big news of the day is that today Sister Mary Fabian Schneider is celebrating her 103^rd birthday!  Oh, the many blessings and gifts she given to so many people along the way. She is so alert and interested in everything that is going on around here. Just a couple years ago she was still answering phones in the reception office! I can’t imagine how many lives she has touched with her gentle voice and sweet smile. God bless you, Sister. May the Lord continue to keep you in His Loving Care.

Over the weekend we had about 2 inches of rain in our area. The gardens look great…and the weeds are doing well, also.

On June 24^th, we celebrated the 75^th Jubilee of Sisters Sharon Fyle, Mercita Pipp and Mary Zirbes and the 50^th Jubilee of Sister Janice Wiechman. Thank you for the 275 combined years of service you have given as a Little Falls Franciscan Sister…and all the lives you have touched! Congratulations, Sisters, and just keep on going.

Sister Mary is and artist. The Mass program featured 5 of her beautiful drawings. Here is one of them.

Here we had a low-key 4^th of July and God provided some mighty fireworks during the night. No storm damage that I am aware of—at least nothing that I saw here on campus.

Last evening I was out and about on my scooter and took a couple pictures of places on campus that I want to share with you.

May all be well with you and with those you love.

Peace and blessings,

Sister Mary Lou

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

It truly is a small world we live in

How can we be into September already? Summer is fading fast. School begins tomorrow. How can it be? The elementary teacher in me runs from September to May. In a couple weeks I’ll be heading over to Lindbergh School here in Little Falls to again read to First Graders in Mrs. Hanson’s room. What joy.

On this Labor Day I finished a task I've been putting off for some time. Now it is completed and I can go to sleep tonight knowing it is finished. How did you spend your Labor Day? I was reminded, too, of the many people who would like to have jobs and cannot find work. And I thought, too, about the dignity and value of work. I am grateful that I can still work and use my time profitably.

Last Wednesday I had one of those “It’s a small world” experiences. I took Sr. Donna to an eye doctor appointment in St. Cloud. After I finished my errands, I went back to the office to wait for her. She was in a back waiting room and that is where I joined her. A lady asked her if she was a Nun. Sr. Donna said, “yes” and “That is Sr. Mary Lou.” At which point one of the other ladies in the waiting room pointed at me and said, “Sister Justin.” (From my Reception Day in 1953 until 1967, I was “Sr. Justin”, then I went back to my Baptismal name, “Mary Lou”.) Anyways, Barb Loher was one of my second graders at St. Mary’s School in Morris in 1960. She also said, “I liked you as a teacher.” That was nice to hear, too. Barb now lives in Paynesville. The rest of the time in the waiting room went very fast. It is a small world! Pictured are Barb, me and Sr. Donna.

On Sunday we accepted three new Franciscan Community Volunteers into our volunteer program. These young adults, college graduates, volunteer 8 months of their time working in organizations that help the poor and needy in the St. Cloud area.

One of those 90+ degree days last week, I took a ride on my motorized cart to look at the flowers and gardens just to see what I could see. I saw lots of beauty. I was also trying out my new camera. It has many features that I don’t yet know how to use.

This coming weekend is the big Arts and Crafts Fair in Little Falls. I am Block Host for my usual two blocks—Broadway to Kidder Street and Kidder Street south. Please pray for good weather and safety for everyone. One things I like about the Arts and Crafts Fair is to see all the beautiful items the crafters make. They know how to use their talents.

Pax et Bonum (Peace and all good.)

Sister Mary Lou

So many things...

Ever so many things to write about. I’m not going to even try to keep them in chronological order. The last blog had the title “The Rains are Wonderful.” Well, yes, they were for us around here with all our sandy soil. We had about 4 inches in about as many days, and it caused us no problems. But let us pray for and help those in the Duluth area and their neighbors to the south who have had so much flood damage. The Mississippi River here is really high and will get higher in the next few days. Fort Ripley is about 15 miles north of Little Falls and the river there is a couple feet over flood stage now. In a day or two that water will get to Little Falls.


We had a blood drive June 19th, 20th and 21st. Our goal for the three days was 225 units. We were blessed by many donors and went over the goal by 5 units. May God bless all those generous donors. They are human life-savers!

On the 23rd we celebrated three Sisters who have been members of our Franciscan Community for 75 years! That’s a long time! Sisters Joel, Sylvia and Antonette had a wonderful day. We are proud of them for their many years of being Franciscan Sisters and for all the people they’ve served in those many years. The presiders at the Mass were Sister Sylvia’s two nephews Fathers Jerry and Leroy Schik. Sr. Marcella would have celebrated her 80th anniversary, but she died in April. So we remembered her, too.

Saturday there was a Peace Rally at Maple Island Park. My brother from Cohasset brought his Peace Float. There were three very interesting speakers. The Raging Grannies sang and also the Sestri Singers from our St. Francis Music Center performed.

This week for three days, we have the Girls Campers here. The 29 girls and Sister assistants seem to be having a good time. This afternoon they painted their t-shirts. They are very colorful. Tonight they are tenting in Assisi Park. Sr. Sharon is doing all the cooking for them over a camp fire.

One afternoon four young people from the Youth in Theology and Ministry Program at St. John’s University in Collegeville came to tell us about the programs they started and did during the past year in their home parishes. A year ago these young people took a couple weeks of theology classes and talked about something they could do in their home parishes. Then they did their projects and told us about what they accomplished. I was so proud of how poised they were in their presentations and the good work they did for their local Churches. They showed great leadership skills. We, Franciscan Sisters, help support this program.

The Feast of the Sacred Heart was Friday, June 15th. That is the name of our Chapel. At the Mass that day we sang some of our favorite Sacred Heart songs from long ago. Sr. Joel fixed a lovely shrine in the sanctuary. Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Sunday, I was in Coon Rapids for a SFO Visitation. On the way home I stopped in St. Cloud to see the Clemen’s and Munsinger Gardens. What wonderful pieces of beauty each garden is. I try to make it there at least once each summer. Just to walk around in all that beauty is a peaceful experience.

Peace and all Good to you.
Sister Mary Lou

July 12, 2010: Concerts

“Praise God from whom all blessings flow,” are the beginning words of a familiar hymn. These words surely say what I am feeling this beautiful Monday morning with cool temps and low humility. We had a bit of rain over the weekend. Lawns and gardens are looking great.

We are so fortunate to have wonderful concerts in our chapel. Yesterday afternoon was another of those great experiences. Four young, talented artists and professional musicians treated us to an hour and half of beautiful classical music. Scott Lykins played cello and piano. Rebecca Yeh played violin and Emma Hughey played viola. John Taylor Ward shared his beautiful baritone voice. I especially enjoyed his renditions of songs of Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Richard Rogers. Scott, a native of Nisswa, MN, and a few friends started the Lakes Area Chamber Music Festival last summer. The inaugural year of concerts was a colossal success. They have six concert scheduled for next month in Brainerd and Baxter. For more information check http://www.lakesareamusic.org/.

This week we have a special guest visiting us here in Little Falls. She is Sister Margaret, Leader of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph from Kenya, Africa. Last night she had supper at our house. She is meeting with our Leadership Sisters these days and this afternoon I will take her on a tour of Little Falls.

Our Morrison County Fair is this week, Wednesday through Saturday, July 14--17. The Relay for Life is from Friday evening through Saturday morning. I hope to spend a little time at the Fair and also to do the first walk around the Flyers Field Track for cancer survivors.

This coming Saturday, many of us Sisters will be attending the Region 11 Conference for Women Religious sponsored workshop, “Consecrated Life, a Gift and Sign of God’s Presence: Exploring Individual and Common Good” at the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN. I am looking forward to the day.

Last week one day Sr. Ruth and friends went one last time to pick strawberries. I caught a group of workers preparing the treasures for our eating.

Have a good week. May God bless us and keep us. May God’s face shine upon us and be gracious to us. May God look upon us with kindness and give us peace.

Sister Mary Lou

July 6, 2010: 4th of July Parade

I hope you had a safe and enjoyable 4th of July Holiday. I attended the 23rd West Union 55+ unit Parade. After an early morning inch+ rain, it was very pleasant to watch the parade—not too much sun and a very nice breeze. My brother and family rounded up enough people to form a marching Kazoo Band. The West Union Band marched and played, and then were part of the tribute in the park after the parade. (This band consists of anyone who ever played and instrument. They practice once, half an hour before the parade!) This small-town, rural parade has its usual fire trucks (1880s and new), tractors, old and new farm machinery, old cars, clowns, horses, and LOTS and LOTS of candy. My grand-niece, Abby, decided that going to a parade was hard work because she was so busy picking up candy. After the parade, there is a pot-luck meal served in the city park.

On my way back to Little Falls, I took a detour to Flensburg to see Sr. Deborah’s flower garden. The last couple years before she died, Sr. Deborah planted MANY, MANY perennial flowers and grasses. She must be smiling from heaven to see the joy that this beautiful garden brings to so many people.

Last week was the Girls Camp. From all I’ve heard it was a raving success. The 31 girls made many new friends, learned a lot and had good experiences. On arriving, their first activity, after and opening prayer service, was to paint their shirts. They did a beautiful job. I saw the shirts hanging up to dry and then later I saw the girls proudly wearing their creations. Sr. Sharon provided delicious camp meals. Many Sisters helped with the various activities. I expect we’ll do it again next year.

Fresh garden produce is coming in—raspberries, strawberries, black berries, lettuce, radishes, etc. Yummy!!!

Enjoy the days of summer. In January we will long for them!

Peace and all good.
Sister Mary Lou

June 21, 2010: Welcome to Summer!

Welcome Summer! We had 3/10 inch of rain early this morning.

Let us pray for and help however we can those many people who lost homes and property in the tornados last Thursday. I can’t imagine the damage. I saw pictures from the Wadena area. Enough to make one sick. God bless those generous volunteers who help with cleanup. Peace, hope and courage for those who are dealing with the mess.

Our week of meetings concluded with a festive dinner Friday evening. John is pictured below standing beside the pellet smoker machine in which he barbequed 80 pounds of delicious pork baby-back ribs for our evening meal. The meetings were good. Now the work continues to prepare for the meetings that will happen in February, March and April, 2011. At the end of the meetings we were all missioned with our next tasks to do.

One night the evening entertainment was a delightful musical presentation of “The Kings Breakfast” by A.A. Milne. Sr. Elise Saggau was the singer and actor accompanied by Sr. Maurita Bernet. I saw the original presentation some 50+ years ago at the Summit Avenue House of Studies in St. Paul, MN. It was as good now as it was then. A slide show of events of long-ago stirred up many memories and lots of laughs as we saw ourselves at play and at work “back then.”

First we had a porcupine on campus. Now a bear was sighted coming across the highway and heading into the woods south of the Motherhouse buildings. We were reminded to be aware of our surroundings especially when walking in the evening or early morning hours.

The Community Gardens on campus are looking really good. I often see gardeners out planting and weeding in their plots. I’ve not heard yet of deer being a bother and feeding on the garden produce.

Tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday, June 22-24, the Bloodmobile will be in Little Falls in St. Francis Hall at the Motherhouse. Hours the first two days are from 1 to 7 p.m. and on Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call Sr. Julien at 320-632-0663 to make and appointment or to find out when there are openings. Walk-ins may come, but are taken after those who have appointments.

The city of Little Falls celebrated the Dam Festival the past weekend. Saturday there was a 73-unit parade with two marching bands. Mary of Lourdes of Schools won the Most Creative Float Award. The parade ended in our parking lot at the south end of town. I missed the parade, but went to Maple Island Park to see what I could see when I got back from my Brainerd SFO meetings. At night I went to see the fireworks. They were spectacular…half and hour of a beautiful light show. I park the car at the Initiative Foundation facing the river and have a perfect view without leaving the car…and no mosquitos!

God bless and continue to care for you this coming week. Be safe.
Sister Mary Lou

May 24, 2010

May the Holy Spirit guide and direct you throughout this Pentecost season. In the Church Year we are back into Ordinary Time.

I am grateful that we have been protected from damaging storms, though the strong winds over the weekend knocked off lots of leaves and small branches, and a tree on the next block. It sounds like we will have lots of heat and humidity the next few days. Two weeks ago we had a temp of 35 degrees! Only in Minnesota…!

Saturday, I drove past the Community Gardens, on the south end of the Convent grounds.
Lots of the garden plots already have nice looking vegetables. There are 41 gardeners. Eleven of these are new this year. There are only four plots left. Jim and Donna Waldvogel are the persons to contact if anyone wishes a plot. Their phone number is 632-8522.

St. Francis Music Center was very busy these past four days. They had a dance recital Thursday evening and music recitals Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Now there is a little lull before their summer program begins.

Last week I talked about our porcupine visitor. Here is a picture taken by Judy Welle.

Tomorrow afternoon is an Appreciation Tea for our Senior Sisters—that’s most of us around here. May is Senior Citizens Month. Thank you Senior Citizens, for all the wisdom you share with the rest of us.

And on the 26th is a plant sale of both indoor and outdoor plants. Sr. Ruth has been selling tomato and other plants already the past week. (I drove past Sr. Ruth’s gardens the other day, too. They really look nice.)

Thursday, May 27th, is the graduation ceremony for 36 CEC students. CEC is the alternative school for our local public school system that happens at St. Francis Center. This is a most wonderful education program. The teachers are fantastic and have great care for their students. Congratulations to all graduates.

Established May 30, 1869, Memorial Day officially commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in military service. At our 8:30 a.m. liturgy on Sunday, May 30th, we will remember and honor those who pledge their lives in service to others. Our Sister Cornelia Lee (1893-1943) served as a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps during World War I both in France and England. She was discharged from the Army in 1921 and entered the convent in 1923. Also, our Sister Marcella Schuller served as a nurse during the height of the Vietnam War. And our Sister Mercita Pipp served for 11 years with Project Hope, a peace-time hospital ship bringing medical care to the people in the South America waters. Thank you, Sisters for your service.

Mark your calendars for the Green Fair Folk Festival on Wednesday, August 4, 2010 (4 to 8 p.m.) This is an evening of ecological awareness will feature lots of family fun, interesting displays, fantastic music, vendors, food and much more. Free and open to the public. More information later.

God bless you. Have a safe Memorial Day weekend.
Sister Mary Lou