Praying, Living, & Loving the Franciscan Way
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This statement is approved by the Water Committee of the Justice Committee of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi.
We are committed to saving THE GREAT LAKES, which if left to their present challenged state, will be a dried up lake bed in just 85 years. (From the Canadian Study on The Great Lakes by Maude Barlowe). YOU CAN HELP by sharing this statement far and wide, with legislators, family, friends, business owners and all who use the Great Lakes in any way. You can talk about the content and send it to your local newspapers. Thank you! For your own personal care for creation! St. Francis of Assisi would be proud of us!!
On January 25, the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi at Aisling Retreat House in Manchester, Maryland, were honored at a Mass at St. Brigid Parish in Baltimore City by the Maryland Chapter of LAOH (Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians). They were recognized for their rich contributions and outstanding service in offering insightful and beautiful retreats and workshops on Celtic Spirituality over many years. (Pictured from left to right are two LAOH representatives, and Sisters Cecilia Reilly, Eileen Quinn and Mary Therese White.) Human Trafficking is a relevant issue plaguing the streets of the world, the country, and even Milwaukee. It is a topic that members of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi believe needs to be paid attention to and educated about to the population. Some 60 people gathered February 7, 2015 for a program sponsored by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi Trafficking Committee. Prayer was invoked in the name of the newly recognized patron saint of those trafficked: St. Josephine Bakhita, an African woman, first enslaved as a child and later in Italy. Upon learning of Christ and being assisted by an Italian order of sisters: The Canossian Daughters of Charity, she became a convert to Catholicism and a sister. In this role she was able to assist many oppressed persons, understanding their suffering. She died in 1947. The guest speaker, Simona Verona Botezatu, Immigration Minister of Catholic Charities, San Bernardino , CA, Simona Verona Botezatu, offered a basic outline of what trafficking is and what motivates the crime. She gave further insight into the legal aspects of trafficking and how the law deals with the victims. Her personal account of having lived with women who were trying to transition from enslavement was dramatic. One realized just how nearly insurmountable it is to change patterns of fear, addiction and mistrust that the perpetrators use to entrap their victims. Two videos were presented, one of a local Oshkosh WI woman whose drink was drugged. She was transported to Milwaukee and later up and down the Fox Valley as a prostitute. She is now in recovery and intends to use her experience to help other victims. A second video alerted us to the Saudi Princes and camel racing for money and pleasure. There 3 year old boys, weighing no more than 50 pounds are strapped to camels as tiny jockeys. The children were purchased for $500.00 from poor families and live in fear, oppression and filth while the camels are worth millions and live in luxury, including a swimming pool in the desert. Photos are no longer permitted of the sport as some in the western world have objected. The Sisters’ Trafficking Committee offered a summary of what is occurring on the topic in the Milwaukee area, ways to work against the situation, and the fact that Milwaukee is a hub of this activity, so well located on freeways between Chicago and Minneapolis. A closing prayer for the victims and those who work to help them recover from trauma concluded the gathering. Sister Adele (left) is welcomed by Sister Edna at St. Ann Center for Intergenerational Care. Adele presented : Franciscan Friends of God and Angels to the staff. The examples of the lives of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi as they have followed Christ in the footsteps of St.Francis were offered in stories. Sister Adele concluded with the account of how much St.Francis liked angels. She offered the staff her own song on angels. Since the presentation the music therapist is working with staff to add harmony to the song. We are eager to hear their rendition. Stand by! The Angels are coming!! IN JOYFUL HOPE was the title of the musical celebration in the Year of Consecrated Life, Friday, March 27,2015. It was held in the splendid St. Joseph Chapel of the School Sisters of St. Francis. Five sisters of St. Francis of Assisi joined the 60 member choir. In addition Sister Donna Siegel played the trumpet. The singers were: Sisters: Ann Kelley, Gabrielle Kowalski, Marcia Lunz, Rose Sevenich and Adele Thibaudeau. LISTEN AND SEE! The acoustics of the chapel are remarkable. Each time a piece concluded the sound reverberated. As One Family by Steven R. Janco, dedicated to accompanist Sr. Mary Jane Wagner, SSSF in its premier performance, soon to be published. Sonata in G Minor by Henry Eccles played by violinist Sister Anita New, RSM. Wake the World with Dawning Joy, words of Pope Francis, composer Steven Warner- a song especially for the Year of Consecrated Life. Sister Donna Siegel, OSF plays the trumpet. The choir director was Charles Q. Sullivan. The concert was created by a planning committee of religious women and men of Milwaukee. Sister Mary Jane Wagner, SSSF, is the Chair. The entire concert can be viewed on the website of the School Sisters of St. Francis at: www.ustream.tv/channel/school-sisters-of-st-francis |
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