Christmas Blessings

December 22, 2014 First full day of winter.

We are in the Fourth week of Advent. In a few days we celebrate the Birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. May Christ bless each of us with many blessings this Holy Season.

Last week we brought to a close the end of an era. For 45 years the Franciscan Sisters operated the Clothes Review. These last many years it has been housed here on St. Francis campus. From now on the ministry will be handled at “New 2 You” a new Thrift shop in conjunction with the Boys and Girls Club on the west side of Little Falls. I stopped there on Saturday to see it for myself. It is really nice. Besides clothes they have household items, furniture and every so MANY other things. (A few of the employees, wearing attire from the Clothes Review, furnished a little entertainment at lunch.)

Last Thursday we had our Sister/Employee pot-luck lunch and also the drawings for the many baskets. The proceeds went to the Boys and Girls Club. The total exceeded our expectations. We raised $1,577. Thank you to all who supported this effort. One of our Franciscan goals is to support at risk youth. Support of the Boys and Girls Club helps us reach that goal.

Saturday I drove out to the Veterans Cemetery at Camp Ripley. I knew that on December 13th there was a short ceremony and then LOTS of volunteers went to work to put a wreath with a red ribbon at each of the 3,800 grave sites. In 2006, 5 wreaths were placed—one for each branch of the military. The program has grown. The wreaths will be removed on January 31, 2015. Let us pray for the families of these and all military families.

Christmas Eve Singing starts at 7:00 p.m. Mass is at 7:30 p.m. followed by refreshments and visiting in St. Francis Hall after Mass.

Christmas Day Mass is at 8:30 a.m.

Rejoice… 

In the Spirit of Christmas which is PEACE, 

 the Miracle of Christmas which is HOPE, 

 and the Heart of Christmas which is LOVE.

Merry Christmas!

Peace, health and safety to you and those you love,
Sister Mary Lou

Making a Joyful Noise

The third week of Advent is half over. Christmas decorations are up all over. Last week I took a picture of Jane fixing the ribbon on top of the big tree in the entryway. Now is the finished product.

Friday, Dec. 12, the St. Francis Preparatory and Concert Orchestras presented their “Making Merry” Christmas Concert. The response to the ten beginning violin students in the Preparatory Orchestra was loud and proud. The Concert Orchestra performance was fantastic. Some Music Center Alumna, Faculty Members and Friends from the Heartland Symphony Orchestra joined the St. Francis Concert Orchestra. We are so fortunate to have such high caliber entertainment right here in Little Falls. It’s easy to see that the players enjoy playing and sharing their talents.

The local Lion’s Club members came to sing Christmas Carols with us and we shared pizza with them. They start singing at 5 p.m. and go to four or five other places to sing for the elderly. So by the time they get here they are hungry for supper. We always enjoy their visit.

I was scheduled to go to St. Cloud for dinner with Santa at the Holiday Inn on Monday evening. Because of my shoulder injury, I decided it best for me to not attend. Several Sisters did join the 450+ Senior Citizens who were there. I hear that it was a fun evening. (My shoulder is much better and I am back to doing most of what I did before my fall. I am grateful for all the prayers and the fine care I received in Convent Care.)

Tomorrow we have the Sister/Employee Christmas Lunch and then all the drawings for the Caring by Sharing Gift Baskets. Thus far we’ve taken in over $1,293 that will go to the Boys and Girls Club. And tomorrow we will find out who wins the beautiful baskets that have been on display the past two weeks.

Tomorrow, too, we will have a prayer service as we put closure to the ministry of the Clothes Review. For over 45 years the Clothes Review has served the needs of those in need. Most of that time, the Clothes Review was housed here on St. Francis Campus.

From now on the ministry of the Clothes Review will be taken over by “New 2 You” as a way to help with the Boys and Girls Club expenses and helping Habitat for Humanity, also. The hours at New 2 You are 9 to 5 Tuesday through Saturday. They are looking for volunteers. One volunteer said, “Giving back to the community feels good! I’m making new friends and learning new skills.”

On the 23rd, from 4 to 7 p.m., Sr. Julien and I will be at Coborns “Making a Joyful Noise,” which is a fund-raiser for the Morrison County Food Shelf. The two of us always have a successful evening.

Christmas Eve Services start with singing Christmas Carols at 7 p.m. on the 23rd. The Mass starts at 7:30 p.m. Treats will be served in St. Francis Hall after Mass. All are invited to join us.

Mass on Christmas Day will be at the usual time of 8:30 a.m. Again, all are invited to join us.

Peace and God’s blessings on you and those you love,

Sister Mary Lou

The Blood Mobile will be here January 7 and 8 (1 to 7 p.m.) and 9th (8 a.m. to 2 p.m.) Mark your calendars.

Blessed Beyond Measure

Third Week of Lent

“Two roads diverge in a wood, and I—I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” (Robert Frost, poet, born March 26, 1874)

I just got a call to go to the bakery to take a picture of the fruits of the morning labors of Sr. Clara and Gerry…many loaves of bread just out of the oven and a few of the many fresh apple pies that we will have for supper tonight. They also made chocolate chip cookies. Sr. Clara wants to know more about baking and thought, “Go to an expert to learn.” Gerry is that expert! She worked in our bakery for 30+ years. Now in retirement and living at Alverna Apartments, a block away, she comes to volunteer in the bakery…and loves it…and we are happy to see her, also.

Earlier this morning we had a dusting of snow. Sounds like it could happen all week with possible accumulation on Thursday. Come, Spring. Come. “Spring is when you feel like whistling, even with a shoe full of slush.” (Doug Larson”)

March is Food Shelf Month. There were containers all over the building waiting to accept donations. Through the generosity of the Employees and Sisters we collected $1,038.60. THANK YOU. And all who use the Food Shelf are grateful, too, for your generosity. May God bless you greatly.

This is National Agricultural Week. This is a time to recognize and celebrate the efforts of our nation’s agriculture industry. This industry plays a vital role in maintaining a strong economy by creating jobs and producing an abundance of affordable high-quality products from the food on our tables to the clothes on our backs. Many of us come from a farming background. I am grateful for what I learned as a farmer’s daughter. Thank you, all farmers!

Yesterday, several of us went to the Dedication and Open House at Faith Lutheran Church. Last year, toward the end of April they broke ground for their new building. And now they are using it. It is very nice. Someone did make the comment that it was a good thing the ground was still frozen, or that parking lot would have been a muddy mess! At the end of the Dedication, they released three doves. I’m not sure if they were named “Faith, Hope and Charity,” or “Father, Son and Holy Spirit.”

Yesterday, too, was the 16th Annual Share Sunday, in honor of George Bzdok. All proceeds go to the County Food Shelves (there are three of them) and to the Boys and Girls Club. There were 4 categories of contestants: ages 9 and under, ages 10 & 11, ages 12 -14 and adult/professional. Some of the students show tremendous talent. My favorite act was the Japanese Dance that Mariah did. She was like a rubber-band with all her moves. (Made me a little jealous to see her move so easlily.)

On Saturday I attended the funeral of Jim O’Toole—an Irishman who died on St. Patrick’s Day. He was an educator who loved to see students do well. I remember him most for his work on the St. Cloud Diocesan Board of Education. He volunteered in many places after he retired.

When I went to Second Floor last Thursday, the First Day of Spring, I saw this broom standing upright all by itself in the middle of the floor. Quite something to see. I don’t know if it works like that every day or just on the day of the change of the seasons.

Painters have been busy in the Art Room. Sr. Mary Z. is about finished with this beauty. Getting it framed is the next thing.

Peace and blessings, Stay safe and healthy.

Sr. Mary Lou

November 22, 2010

Happy Feast of St. Cecilia, patroness of musicians. God bless all those who bring music and song into our lives. You be a song, too, and share your love and joy with others.

As I write this, I see tiny flakes of snow falling…and over the icy coat already on the ground, this is not a good sign. I’m not looking forward to going out. The weather prophets give a dismal forecast for Thanksgiving travel. Plans could change. Better to be safe than injured!

Last week I made brief mention of the bilingual Mass last Tuesday. It was to commemorate the martyrdoms of the six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper and her daughter in El Salvador on November 16, 1989. Martyrdom continues to take place in our life time. We know the name of only a few, but there are nameless other witnesses to the Faith. Let us pray for the many who are persecuted because of their beliefs in our own day.

Yesterday morning we had the pleasure of a half-hour concert by the younger members of the St. John’s Boys’ Choir. What a treat. These 21 young men so joyfully share their musical talents. (They had performed earlier at St. Mary’s Church here in town.) After singing, the boys had lunch with the Sisters.

From Nov. 29 to Dec 15th, the Values Committee is sponsoring the “Caring by Sharing” project this Christmas Season. Proceeds will help support the Morrison County Boys and Girls Club and the Hands of Hope Resource Center. The Boys and Girls Club’s programs promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. The Hands of Hope Resource Center provides, free, confidential services to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse. For each $1 donation, donors will receive a slip of paper for a chance on many donated gifts. Last year I won a pair of homemade mittens. They are great and I am using them now. I find mittens warmer than gloves.

Speaking of donations, the Morrison County United Way Campaign just concluded. Our employees donated a total of $3,078.50 to the United Way Campaign. Thank you to everyone who contributed. God bless you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING to each of you. We have much to be thankful for. Let us remember our blessings.

Have a safe and healthy week.

Peace and all good.

Sister Mary Lou