Into the Light by Alice Peacock

Posted on April 30, 2008
Filed Under Song of the Month | 53 Comments

At the end of this academic semester the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity spotlight musician Alice Peacock. Born in White Bear Lake, MN, Alice is now a longtime Chicago resident and gifted multi-genre singer/songwriter. A musician who dapples in jazz, blues, country and pop, she has the buoyancy to write music for all ages as well as to create tunes that sound both familiar and refreshingly unique. Family background and values feed her natural desire to perform and reach out to others. Maternal grandmother was a German cabaret composer and performer. Her maternal grandfather was an actor, a member of Bertolt Brecht’s Berliner Ensemble. Starting a not-for-profit organization Rock for Reading in 2003, Alice Peacock’s world is not just about music, but she believes strongly in giving back to society. Her desire to support literacy comes from a personal passion for reading.

Alice Peacock: “I wrote “Into the Light” as a reminder to myself that as long as I continually turn to and search out the Light/Love/God, I would be on the right path to become the person that I was born to be. This song was originally written and performed on guitar but I like the sacred aspect that playing it on the piano brings.” To find out more about Alice Peacock (http://youtube.com/watch?v=nX9hXA7nxdc) or to purchase cds go to www.alicepeacock.com

Song Lyrics:I think it is great that you’re searching -seek and ye shall find, knock and the door shall be opened to the windows of your mind. Try not to be too impatient. Go easy on yourself ’cause you got me in your corner if you need a little help.

Come into the light, yeah, be the one you’re born to be into the light. Wake up from your lonely sleep. The shadows can conceal what the heart wants to heal. Come into the light…

Holy Spirit Window, Resurrection Catholic Parish, Green Bay, WI

Posted on April 30, 2008
Filed Under Image of the Month | 50 Comments

The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity highlight this uniquely Spirit-stirring stain glass window from Resurrection Catholic Parish. The translucent, yet beautifully colored earthen panes image a Pentecost moment for Mary and the apostles: “Veni, Creator Spiritus…” Kirschling Studios Inc., Green Bay, WI crafted the window.

Resurrection Catholic Church is located in Allouez situated on the east side of the Fox River between Green Bay and De Pere. Established in 1963, Bishop Robert F. Morneau currently serves as pastor of 1350 families/units with the assistance of other dedicated staff and the many committed people of God who reach out to each other and to others in need. http://www.gbres.org/

Franciscan Sisters at St. Peter Indian Mission, Bapchule, AZ

Posted on April 30, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 17 Comments

2008 marks the seventy third year of our Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity presence among the Gila River community at Bapchule, AZ. In December 1935 Fathers Antonine and Celestine, friars of the Santa Barbara Province of Friars Minor welcomed the first Franciscan Sisters to St. Peter Mission. Shortly after their ministry began, Father Antonine wrote to Mother Generose: “The Sisters really love the Indians.”

The Sisters’ experiences always included more than teaching at St. Peter Indian School. It was not unusual to find the first Sisters gardening, tending bee hives, raising turkeys, ducks, geese, rabbits, pigeons and goats. In 1945 a grape arbor eventually yielded about forty bushels of seedless grapes each summer. Sharing their life and talents in many ways, today’s Sisters continue to be enriched by the children and their families. Learn more about this desert place through the eyes of the seven Sisters who are blessed to be at St. Peter Mission at this time in its tender history.

http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org/what.htm

No Complacency in Regards to Vocations-Pope Benedict XVI

Posted on April 17, 2008
Filed Under Vocations / Discernment | 6 Comments

In an address at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on April 16, 2008 after commending the United States Catholic Bishops on their pastoral priority of strengthening the vocation of marriage and family life, Bishop Benedict XVI answered a further question regarding vocations this way:

What is needed above all, at this time in the history of the Church in America is a renewal of that apostolic zeal which inspires her shepherds actively to seek out the lost, to bind up those who have been wounded, and to bring strength to those who are languishing (cf. Ez 34:16). And this, as I have said, calls for new ways of thinking based on a sound diagnosis of today’s challenges and a commitment to unity in the service of the Church’s mission to the present generation.

Let us be quite frank: the ability to cultivate vocations to the priesthood and the religious life is a sure sign of the health of the Church. There is no room for complacency in this regard. God continues to call young people; it is up to all of us to encourage a generous and free response to that call. On the other hand, none of us can take grace for granted.

In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send workers. He even admits that the workers are few in comparison with the abundance of the harvest (cf. Mt 9:37-38). Strange to say, I often think that prayer - the unum necessarium - is the one aspect of vocations work which we tend to forget or to undervalue!

Nor am I speaking only of prayer for vocations.Prayer itself, born in Catholic families, nurtured by programs of Christian formation, strengthened by the grace of the sacraments, is the first means by which we come to know the Lord’s will for our lives. To the extent that we teach young people to pray, and to pray well, we will be cooperating with God’s call. Programs, plans and projects have their place; but the discernment of a vocation is above all the fruit of an intimate dialogue between the Lord and his disciples. Young people, if they know how to pray, can be trusted to know what to do with God’s call.

It has been noted that there is a growing thirst for holiness in many young people today, and that, although fewer in number, those who come forward show great idealism and much promise. It is important to listen to them, to understand their experiences, and to encourage them to help their peers to see the need for committed priests and religious, as well as the beauty of a life of sacrificial service to the Lord and his Church. To my mind, much is demanded of vocation directors and formators: candidates today, as much as ever, need to be given a sound intellectual and human formation which will enable them not only to respond to the real questions and needs of their contemporaries, but also to mature in their own conversion and to persevere in life-long commitment to their vocation.

Do these words of the Holy Father speak to your heart? The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity invite you to consider our May 30-June 1, 2008 young adult single women discernment retreat.

http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org/living/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/retreats-pub-2007-2008.pdf

University of Wisconsin Students Choose Retreat on Relationships of Self, God and Others

Posted on April 14, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 18 Comments

Catholic Students at two University of Wisconsin Campus Ministry Centers chose during the Easter Season to reflect on the theme of “Relationships”. On April 13, 2008, UW Superior students committed themselves to a Good Shepherd Recollection Sunday beginning with the Eucharistic liturgy at the Cathedral of Christ the King. After Mass the retreatants had significant time together for introductions to contemplation, personal and group prayer, light-hearted moments and meals at the Campus Ministry Center until 7:00 p.m. .

Earlier in April, UW Whitewater students began their Busy Student Retreat with a Sunday evening liturgy and then were faithful for personal prayer and group reflection sessions, evening meals and night prayer for three days during their other regularly scheduled school days. The Sacrament of Reconciliation was an important part of the Tuesday evening planning.

Sharing from the Franciscan tradition, Sister Mary Ann Spanjers, OSF and Sister Julie Ann Sheahan, OSF facilitated the retreats at both campuses presenting information on these topics: “My Image of God”; Being Human: The Desire of My Heart; Relationship with Others through Jesus (San Damanino Crucifix); Relationship with Others: Intimacy; Relationship with God-The example of St. Francis of Assisi. Campus Ministers Paul Birch and Brian Zanin were instrumental in planning this time of spiritual renewal with the students.

Pope Benedict XVI’s Visit is Important

Posted on April 11, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 11 Comments

The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity stand with the 70 million Roman Catholics and many others preparing to welcome Pope Benedict XVI on his journey to the United States. Two of our Sisters will be present for the Eucharistic liturgy at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and another among the faithful gathered at the new Nationals Park in Washington, D.C.. All of us will be following our Holy Father’s travel itinerary through various media knowing that this is a time to renew our faith and deepen our hope as we strive to follow in the footsteps of Jesus in our world.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Secretariat for Evangelization and Catechesis has created extensive educational resources to help Catholics of all ages learn more about the papacy, the mission of the pope and why Pope Benedict’s U.S. visit is important. Visit these sites: http://www.uspapalvisit.org/holy_father.htm; www.adw.org/papalvisit (The pictures included in this posting were taken at St. Patrick Cathedral on April 19, 2008 by Sister Mariadele Jacobs, OSF.)

Needless to say, Pope Benedict XVI is a peripatetic teacher traveling to seven significant places outside of Italy in less than three years. He is quoted: “Only from the saints, only from God, does true revolution come, the definitive way to change the world.” Called to be followers of Jesus at this time in history, comment on what this papal visit means to you.

Franciscan Sisters’ Health Assembly-What is Ours to Do?

Posted on April 6, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 4 Comments

On April 5-6, 2008, over forty-five Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity involved in Jesus’ healing ministry gathered to reflect on changes occurring in the community’s healthcare organizations and to gain insight into the Franciscan response to change. After opening with Morning Prayer on Saturday, Sister Laura Wolf, CEO of the FSCC HealthCare Ministry Inc. updated all participants on the system’s organizations. Sister Louise Hembrecht, OSF, FSCC Community Director, concluded the session entitled “Change, Change and More Change” sharing on the Community’s own health services to the Sisters.

Other significant individuals that were part of the two-day agenda included Mary Pineda , a psychotherapist and educator on women’s issues in life transition/change who led sessions entitled “Chicken Soup for the Franciscan Soul”. Sister Anne Marie Lom, OSF, a spiritual director at St. Raphael’s Parish, Oshkosh, WI, as well as serving her own Franciscan Sisters, guided Sunday’s prayerful reflection and group process on the topic ” A Franciscan Approach to Change”. Fr. Richard Klingeisen, former chaplain at Holy Family Memorial Medical Center in transition to serving at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Manitowoc, WI, also presided at the Saturday late morning Eucharistic Liturgy. Sister Patricia Linssen, OSF and Sister Martin Flavin, OSF assisted with organizational and creative needs.

What Franciscan attitude do you think will help you as you deal with change in the coming weeks e.g. carry little, an attitude of openness, being surprised?

Franciscan Sisters at Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, WI

Posted on April 1, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 16 Comments

Today forty Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity live in community on the campus of Silver Lake College of the Holy Family. Learn more about their lives together and in service to God’s people of Manitowoc county and beyond from the Sisters themselves.

The college’s proud history was born out of an ever-growing need for the education of Sisters and for professionally prepared teachers in Catholic institutions. http://www.sl.edu/history.htm

Mother Edna wrote in a November 1, 1954 letter: As religious, our first task is to make ourselves fit for his (God’s) service. As a Community we have the obligation of training our young members properly for the work that will be assigned to them, and in order to do that we must build a college. Now, we must act. With every passing day the need becomes more imperative. When we sit down like the man in the gospel story to count up our assets, we find none except you-and our Blessed Mother…it will be her project, launched in her year (1954-a Marian year), and dedicated to the formation of other Mary’s, who will double for her.”

Since its beginnings as Holy Family College in a wing in the Motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, numerous curriculum studies and accreditations have strengthened the mission of this liberal arts institution of higher education. During this month of April, North Central Accreditation is once again scheduled for its formal on-site visitation.

Into the Light by Alice Peacock

Holy Spirit Window, Resurrection Catholic Parish, Green Bay, WI

Franciscan Sisters at St. Peter Indian Mission, Bapchule, AZ

No Complacency in Regards to Vocations-Pope Benedict XVI

University of Wisconsin Students Choose Retreat on Relationships of Self, God and Others

Pope Benedict XVI’s Visit is Important

Franciscan Sisters’ Health Assembly-What is Ours to Do?

Franciscan Sisters at Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, WI

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