Alleluia! The Lord is Risen!

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! The Lord is Risen! May the blessings of Easter continue to be with us as we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Here are a few pictures from here in Little Falls.

Choir practice is always necessary. Here is Sr. Jean doing a last minute polishing toward perfection…and if there are little blips, no one else would notice anyhow.

Holy Thursday evening we had Adoration until 10 p.m. In the front row sat 99 year-old Sr. Fabian. Sr. Bernice Ebner said it best: “If a 99-year-old Sister can pray until 10 p. m., then surely I can pray that long, too!”

Friday morning started out with Hot Cross Buns for breakfast (a tradition here.)

Friday morning we had the Silent Walk for Peace. What a wonderful witness by about 40 people to walk silently through the down-town area of Little Falls: stopping at St. Gabriel’s Hospital, a Funeral Home, the Jail, the Courthouse, Bank Square, the Mississippi River Bridge and Dam, Veterans Memorial, Maple Island Park, First United Church, St. Francis Center, Hurrle Hall, Alverna Apartments and St. Otto’s Nursing Home. We prayed for the sick and dying, the dead and those who morn them, law enforcement officers, the imprisoned, immigrants, and refugees, judges, the reordering of financial institutions, Veterans and military personnel, those who care for Mother Earth, for unity among Churches, students and the elderly. It is an impressive sight.

Later we had Stations of the Cross in Chapel and also outside. It was cold, but about 15 hearty people joined us outside. Then at 2 p.m. we had the Good Friday Liturgy.

Holy Saturday Liturgy started at 8 p.m. Many guests joined us in prayer and then for the social time afterward in St. Francis Hall.

With my camera in hand, I went hunting for signs of spring. I did find several brave little flowers on the east side of Mary Hall and in protected areas. With rain, sleet and snow forecast these coming days this week, those little flowers may wish they had not come out so soon.

Our Blood drive last week was very successful. We received 242 units of blood—and another 27 people came and could not give blood. A BIG “Thank You” to all who came and to those who volunteered their time and services. You truly give the gift of life.

This week, starting today and going through suppertime on Friday we Sisters have “Discerning Our Future” meetings. Please pray for us and the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we make decisions about our future. Thank you.

On Saturday, about a hundred Secular Franciscans will gather here for their spring Retreat.

Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. May we always be mindful of the fact that God greatly loves us and has mercy on us when we mess-up. Let us depend on His Mercy and receive it graciously.

Again, Happy Easter. Alleluia
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