Praying, Living, & Loving the Franciscan Way
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Milwaukee-area Nuns Strive to Live Pope’s Call for Environmental Action
Click on the link above to read more! The Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi rejoice at the news of the promulgation of Pope Francis’s document: LAUDATO SI’: IN CARE OF OUR COMMON HOME. FAN, The Franciscan Action Network-below- offers a copy of the 74 page document. As the sisters work to make their 22 acres of convent land ecologically balanced, devoid of invasive plants and a place of prayerful reflection and education about caring for the earth, our common home, the document will be a major support. Click on the link below for more information! Thank you Pope Francis! On a chilly, overcast morning in early June, Sister Helene, gardener, wheeled a cart of dirt, petunias, dusty miller and coleus plants up the elevator to our Care facility. Sisters Lucille, Rene, Cindy and Rose Marie joined her with Tasha and Sr. Adele to navigate the porches with walkers and wheelchairs. Setting flower boxes at arms’ reach on the old green benches, made it easy for some sisters to plant. Other sisters could stand at the window boxes and weed and water. The smiles as the rows of pink and white ruffled petunias were put in place with loving hand pats were rewarding. St. Francis, God’s lover of earth, sun, sky and water would, indeed, smile upon these Franciscan daughters enjoying planting. At least two sisters grew up on farms and another was a biologist. Praise God for the beauty and joy of new life!!
Sister Ladonna Woerdman, OSF, UnityPoint Clinic Diabetes Education, has been named the recipient of the 2015 Medallion Award by the Iowa Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for her contributions to dietetic practice and community leadership. She is being recognized for her tireless work on many committees, both in Iowa and nationally, to advocate for the role of the dietitian in quality health care. The award will be presented at the academy’s annual conference in November. Sat. June 13, 2015
Sisters Florence Deacon, Diana De Bruin and Margaret Kruse served the Sisters of St.Francis of Assisi in leadership for 2 consecutive terms, a total of 8 years! Recalling: “Love is homemade”, the sisters expressed their gratitude to the team in an evening of remembering with overhead slides, a powerful poem by member: Sister Mildred Rothwell, OSF, framed copies of the poem, beautiful gift baskets assembled by St. Ann’s Center, a fun-filled musical parody composed by Sister Joanne Nigorski and others, many good laughs, hugs, gracious words of thanks from the outgoing team and finally: the treat of a choice of 11 fresh, homemade pies from the kitchen of Sister “K D” Kathryn Dean Strandell! Joy was apparent as gratitude was expressed and received. Joy, praise and gratitude to God are hallmarks of the Franciscan calling. God gifted us with these beautiful women and will continue to gift us with new leadership. Go Team!! On May 16, Sister Rose Sevenich, along with more than 70 others, received an award for her work as a Neighborhood and Block Watch Captain in Milwaukee’s Police District 7.
Mayor Barrett and aldermen from Police Districts 5, 7, and 14 were present to thank everyone for their help to curb violence in Milwaukee. The most recent success was significantly disrupting a gang called the “Mighty 100.” This gang is made up of teenage boys and girls who steal cars for fun. They end up destroying the cars, as well as becoming hit-and-run drivers in the process. Sisters Rose, Ceil and Charlotte have been part of their Neighborhood Watch for at least seven years – and still counting. There are more than 20 households comprising this Neighborhood Watch. Its boundaries are North 86th and North 87th Streets between Glendale / Palmetto Avenue and West Grantosa Drive. To become a Neighborhood Watch, they participated in three classes which included learning how: • to be observant and alert, • to report suspicious behavior, • to protect themselves, cars, and possessions from theft. At the end of the classes everyone received a “diploma” consisting of the familiar sign and the words: “Neighborhood Crime Watch. If I don’t call the police, my neighbor will.” To continue to be an active Watch, the sisters and their neighbors hold a yearly gathering in the form of a potluck picnic. Police officers with whom they have worked are invited. Together, they have been part of their neighbors’ lives in good and not-so-good times. Working together, they have aided police in ridding the neighborhood of drug activity, finding stolen vehicles, finding criminals breaking parole, and finding thieves for whom the police have been searching. Though Sr. Rose, as captain of her Neighborhood Watch, was given the award, all of the Neighborhood Watch participants were also honored.
May 31, 2015
Celebrating 25 year of sharing faith, prayer, parish service, and advocacy, inspired by St. Francis’ way of following Christ and motivated by the example of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, four Associates renewed their commitment in St. Francis Chapel, Milwaukee. Two Additional Associates will renew their commitment in their home locality. We celebrate: Theresa Liu, Irene Senn, Pat Tomka, John Tully, locally and congratulate: Rev. Wayne Gubbels of Iowa and Rosmary Steinbachj of Colorado. We welcome: Angela Spence A Franciscan Litany prayed for the Associates on the theme of: John 15: 1-5, 8-9 “I am the vine and my Father is the vinedresser…Abide in my love”, “Abiding God, Hear our Prayer.”* (repeat between lines following): “God, you are good, all good, the highest good. Abide in love with all members of the Body of Christ who work to bring about peace in our troubled world. * God, You are our protector, our guardian and our hope. Abide in comfort with the families of your people who have died from natural disasters and acts of violence.* God, you are our joy, beauty and security. Abide in blessing with Angela, Theresa, Irene, Pat, John, Rosemary, Father Wayne, and all gathered here.* God, you are holy and you alone are the God who does wonderful things.* Abide in gratitude with our present and future Adminstrative Teams: Florence, Margaret, Diana, Marcia and Sylvia Anne. * God, you are rest, refreshment and our eternal life. Abide in mercy with our beloved Associates Florence, M. Part and Mary who have gone to rest in Christ.* God, you are holy Father , the Most High and three and one…”I have done what was mine to do. May Christ teach you what is yours.”* May these words of Saint Francis accompany us as we go in peace.” More information on the formal commitment as an Associate of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi: [email protected] The participants of the leadership workshop Sr. Diana De Bruin helped conduct last week left filled with the challenge to put into practice what they have learned and to deepen their faith in this abundant God who graces them each day and walks with them." - Sr. Diana De Bruin She said that the children were excited to receive the caps and dresses Sisters Mary Ann Polasek and Julianne Koch made for them. She visited the rehab center in Bafut, calling it a place of miracles. She wrote, “These children were so deformed from rickets etc., and through surgery are able to walk with straightened legs. This is such a place of joy!” After meeting the 16 first-year postulants she observed, “These girls were so vivacious and open to their call to the TSSF congregation.” |
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