Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Blog

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are on the road meeting with Catholic young people and inviting feedback on some of life’s deeper questions. Religious Education students at Sacred Heart Parish, Nekoosa, WI, and Xavier High School juniors, Appleton, WI, recently answered simple surveys responding to questions important to discernment.

Here is some prioritized student feedback:

What makes you happy?

• spending time with people I love
• my friends
• my family
• doing something I enjoy e.g. running, reading, playing piano, singing, when competing 
• when successful
• God in my life
• when I’m listening to music
• eat delicious food and enough sleep
• almost all the time
• no stress or worries

Who are people you admire?

• my parents
• my Mom e.g. her courage, strength, self-sacrifice, well rounded, works hard; gives good advice 
• my Dad e.g. because he is calm and rational when stressful situation occurs;started from the bottom and he overcame poverty and gives me opportunity to come to U.S. 
• Grandma e.g. strong willed, doesn’t let anything bring her down
• Grandpa e.g. never gives up, keeps fighting
• my sister
• grandparents
• other individuals
• my uncle
• my classmates
• my friends
• people with courage; people who take on leadership roles because they know who they are
• teachers

What is something you fear?

• being alone
• my plans for the future; college
• failing 
• loosing close friends
• dark
• death
• specific animals, rodents 
• being judged, left out, betrayed
• pain
• being kidnaped, attacked, raped, murdered
• public speaking
• loosing control of myself or situation
• offending God

How would you answer these questions?

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Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy continues liturgical reviews in 2012 with the hymn ‘As We Gather at Your Table’ calling us to become more balanced in life. January continues to offer a freshness of perspective.

A new year brings many plans, hopes and perhaps even a call to become more balanced in life.  The hymn “As We Gather At Your Table” balances a familiar traditional melody with some new words to ponder. 

First we are called to balance the Lord’s presence coming among us in both Word and Sacrament.  It is both story and food that nourish our spirits as we go about our Christian living.  That nourishment strengthens us to bring about change for a world that increasingly resembles the Kingdom of God.

Then we are reminded of the challenge of taking our sacred experience out into our daily living.  Words such as “witness”, “ send”,  “compassion” and “forgive” urge us to action.  Yet this action is to come forth from reflection and worship.  We are to bring peace, forgiveness and a faith vision to the world we meet outside our worship space.

Finally the hymn summons us to evangelize.  We are to be the ones who invite others in the name of Jesus.  And who are we to call as guests?  The last and the least, the very ones whom Jesus so often invited to be close to Him are to find places on our guest list.

May this new year  find us bringing about a new sense of justice among those we meet each day.  May it find us reflecting on our call to bring Christian justice to all of our encounters.

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