“Dear mother earth, who day by day, unfolds rich blessings on our way, alleluia!"

“Dear mother earth, who day by day, Unfolds rich blessings on our way, alleluia!  Alleluia! The fruits and flow’rs that verdant grow, Let them God’s glory also show.  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!  Alleluia!” (Verse 4 of the song,  “All Creatures of Our God and King”)

We sang several verses of that song Monday at our Earth Day Celebration.  We prayed St. Francis’ Canticle of Creatures, also.  Another part of out Earth Day service, too, was to plant two trees near Breezy Inn.  One tree was in memory of Rose Januschka, employee Steve’s wife, who died earlier this year…a Fall Fiesta Maple.  And the other tree was an Indian Summer Crab Apple tree in memory of Sr. Antonette Ahles’ family.  (Pictured: Steve Januschka and Sister Antonette Ahles)

On Sunday evening we had a gathering of people from First United Church and the Sisters in a prayer service, “Together for the Common Good.”  We reflected on how or where  do we encounter God’s Creation  and what does it mean to think of the natural world as a neighbor. (Pictured: Jeff Odendahl and Rev. Damen Heitmann)

Saturday evening we served over 300 people for our Spaghetti Supper.  It was a good event with lots of good eating and good visiting.  I always like to see family and friends sitting and visiting after they finish their meal.  The earnings go to the Health and Rec Center and to the Music Center to help with scholarships…worthy causes indeed.

According to my calculations we did very well on our blood drive.  Our goal was 231 and we got 252 units of blood.  I am impressed with the generosity of the people in this area.  Thank you

Every month we have a Dining Experience celebrating a different state. The question on the message board was, “What has an “O” at each end and a big “HI” in the middle?  “Ohio,” of course.   Some of our foods for the day were:  Amish Chicken Soup, Buckeye Candies, Pork Ribs and Kraut, Cincinnati Chili,  Hot Dogs Deluxe and Shoofly Pie.

This morning I went to St. Otto’s Home for a meeting that wasn’t.  So after I found out that we didn’t have a meeting I went to third floor to visit a friend who is recovering from shoulder surgery.  So my trip was not in vain and it was a great morning to be outside.  I took this picture of the three flags flying near St. Otto’s.

This afternoon we had a treat in the dining room and honored our Leadership Sisters and Staff.  We have a number of new employees and this was a way for everyone to see and meet the Leadership Team and the new employees.  The Values Committee had a clever way to get us “mixed together.”  Each table had a different colored napkin at the table.  When we went through the line we picked up a napkin and that was where we sat to eat our treat. (When I saw the variety of napkins, my thought was that we are using up all the left-over napkins from other gatherings!  It was that, too!)

We have lots of musical events coming up this coming weekend.  Friday night and Saturday the Music Center students are having their spring recitals at the Center –7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.  Then Saturday night, at 7 p.m., in Chapel, we have the Legacy Chorale Concert and Orchestra doing Mozart’s Requiem.  And on Sunday afternoon our St. Francis Community Chorale will treat us to great music for their Spring Concert (in Chapel.)

The Lion’s Club was selling roses last weekend.  We were gifted with the flowers they didn’t sell.  So this week we have been enjoying beautiful bouquets of roses…and praying for our generous donors.  Thank you.

Today is the Feast of Saint Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark.  While we are not writing the Psalms or a Gospel, we do become living forms of God’s Word when we allow the Holy Spirit to speak through our lives (and we may be the only Gospel that many people will ever read.)  May my life be a Gospel written to proclaim God’s Good News to the world.

Peace and blessings on your week.                                                                                                                     Sister Mary Lou

Here comes winter again?

Here comes a little taste of winter again.  We had just a dusting of snow here last night…and about 1 1/3 inches of rain over the weekend.  Thanks you, God, for the much needed moisture…and for protecting us from storms.  And, God, please take care of those who suffered losses because of the tornados and storms.

Today, April 16^th is the date on which in 1209, Pope Innocent III approved the first Franciscan Rule and the Order received its canonical status.  On this date, many Franciscans throughout the world formally renew their commitment to the Franciscan way of life.  We will do so today. (And on Saturday at the Secular Franciscan Spring Retreat, the Secular Franciscans renewed their Commitment.)  

Our vows of poverty, chastity and obedience are NOT private vows intended only for our own personal piety and salvation.  Ours are public vows offered to the Church for the building up of God’s presence here on earth.  By pronouncing our vows publically, we express our commitment to faithfully live our charism, which is our unique gift to the Church.

On Saturday 73 Franciscans attended this retreat sponsored by the Elk River Fraternity of Secular Franciscans.  The program folders were unique and beautiful.  They were pictures of St. Francis drawn by the Kindergarten, first and third graders of St. Andrews School in Elk River.  Thank you, children.  The retreat day was very good.

Saturday evening a number of us attended the Heartland Symphony Orchestra concert at Charles D. Martin Auditorium here in town.   We were privileged to be at the world-premier performance of the North Country Suite, 2011, composed by Rick Sowash (b. 1950).   This piece of music was commissioned by the Heartland Symphony Orchestra in commemoration of the 35^th anniversary of ithe Orchestra’s founding.  The North Country suite has five movements:  Spirit of the North, Northern Lights, Father of Waters, Boreal Forest, Into the Wind.    It is a beautiful piece of music.  It reminded me of the Grand Canyon Suite.  Echo Kowalzek, age 80+, led the clapping for Johann Strauss, Senior’s Radetzky March, Op.228.  It is tradition to clap with the music for certain parts of the March.

Then on Sunday afternoon St. Francis Music Center presented the Sforzando String Orchestra and the Con Brio String Orchestra Spring Concert.  These sixty musicians are fantastic.  I thank them for sharing their talents with all of us.  Celo V’ec is to be commended for his teaching and directing these two orchestras.  Again, the chapel was filled.  Listening to great music was a good way to spend time on a dark and rainy day.

This is Severe Weather Awareness Week.  We will take part in the tornado drill on Thursday at 1:45 p.m.  We will go to the tunnel as our place of safety as we do during a tornado.  Let us pray that we don’t need to go there for a “real” tornado.  Have you figured out where you will go if there is a tornado in your area?

Saturday, April 21^st we have a Spaghetti Supper fund-raiser.  We start serving at 4:30 p.m.   Come for a good meal and good visiting.

Next Monday, April 23^rd, is Earth Day.  We will have a Prayer Service at 2 p.m. and we will also plant two trees.  Everyone needs to be responsible to care for Mother Earth—to protect our land, air and waters from contamination and pollution.  Spirit of God, open my eyes to Your wonders and my ears to Your Mysteries.

My blessing for you today is from today’s Morning Prayer:  “May God enlighten the eyes of our soul to guide our feet in the way of that peace which surpasses all understanding.”                                             

Sister Mary Lou