Franciscan Service of Authority and Obedience

Posted on July 29, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 2 Comments

Ever hear of Faciem tuam, Domine, requiram? No, this is not some church-like phrase from the past, but actually has a May 11, 2008 copyright. The Local Directors of each of the local communities of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity prayed and studied this Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life instruction on The Service of Authority and Obedience, as well as discussed its application in daily common life at a recent gathering at the Motherhouse July 27-29, 2008.

The document includes these major parts:

Consecration and search for the will of God
Authority and obedience in community life
Obedience in Mission

The Sisters responsible for leading local houses of the Congregation meet once a year to discuss current resources in living the vowed life, to gain wisdom from each other in promoting the common good and in living the charism of the congregration with greater transparency, to gain broad participation in decision-making, and to learn first-hand information to be shared later with all the Sisters.

St. Anne is Named Patron of Choice

Posted on July 26, 2008
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Polls are tooled to find out what people think about the elections, issues, events, etc. Today there is credible evidence in the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity’s official birthday/feastday book that St. Anne, Mary the Mother of God’s mother, is the ultimate Franciscan Sisters’ individual patronal saint of choice. Now, of course if one added together all the Marian feasts during the year, Anne’s daughter would be the most popular model of charity.

The Twenty-nine Franciscan Sisters who personally celebrate St. Anne’s life of exemplary fidelity to the Lord include these names and more: Adrianna, Alanna, Ann Joachim, Anne, Anne Marie, Annette, Carol Ann, Evelyn Ann, Frances Ann, George Ann, Hannah, Imelda Ann, Jerianne, , Lois Ann, Lucianna, Mary Ann, Nancy and Sue Ann. One Sister, Sister Ann Joachim, holds this day in special commemoration by very fittingly relying on the intercession of both of Mary’s parents (Jesus’ grandparents Saints Anne and Joachim). Both are depicted in this stainglass window in St. Francis Chapel at the Motherhouse in Manitowoc along with their daughter.

Young women enjoy the ‘Sisterhood’

Posted on July 21, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World, Vocations / Discernment | 7 Comments

Manitowoc religious community shares faith and fellowship at Camp Franciscan

The blessings of Camp Franciscan 2008 “The Third Summer of the Sisterhood” are shared in this featured newstory by some of the great gals who participated in the Camp! It is such an affirmation of the work of the Holy Spirit present and alive in our Church in so many young people of faith! As the Holy Father said in his departing message today,

“the Church can rejoice in today’s youth and be hope-filled for the world of tomorrow.”

The article written by Charlie Mathews • Herald Times Reporter • July 21, 2008 is found: http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080721/MAN0101/807210399/1984

and also found in Spirit Daily http://www.spiritdaily.com/ (”Called to God”)

FSCC Summer Talent Showcase

Posted on July 20, 2008
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Karaoke and American Idol competitions are some of today’s popular entertainment choices. Similarly during this month of July, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity find joy in fostering community spirit with a Summer Talent Show. Sunday afternoon, July 20, 2008, was the date chosen for this recreational opportunity that not only highlighted the Sisters’ talents, but Franciscan merriment as well.

Musical renditions that were part of the 2:00 p.m. program include:

Carnival, Sarabonde, Gavotte
Granada, Trieste Overture, Casey Jones
1960’s: Try to Remember; Scarborough Fair
Harp, flute, accordion, string and harmonica selections
Franciscan Sister compositions
Musical medley

Dances (Tanzanian King Lizombi, Black Nag-Pride & Prejudice style, Nigerian Fatima) and humorous stories added further show variety and much audience amusement.

Care to share any comments about this Franciscan fun? Do you have any other unforgetable memories of home-spun entertainment that you have been involved in?

Devout Teacher Focus of Franciscan Sister’s Studies

Posted on July 15, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World, Vocations / Discernment | 10 Comments

How do Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity celebrate the birthday of St. Bonventure? Today at 2 p.m. the Sisters planned a simple reception for one of their own , Sr. Marie Kolbe Zamora, OSF, who completed her Theology Licensure from the Pontifical Gregorian University located in Rome, Italy. This day was chosen because Sister’s studies focused on grace and the wisdom of this holy man of God known early in history as the Devout Teacher.

Writing that “love must go hand in hand with learning”, St. Bonaventure was born at a time when St. Francis’ brotherhood grew in record proportions not only in number, but in many geographic locations. Some interesting trivia about Bonaventure includes:

named John at birth (St. Francis received this name as well.)
unlikely that Bonaventure ever met Francis face to face
cured of a serious illness through St. Francis’ intercession at a young age
came in contact with the friars while at University of Paris
entered Franciscan Order in 1243
licensed as a bachelor of Scripture, became a master in theology
elected as minister general of the Order
wrote extensive works classified under three general headings-scholastic treatises, spiritual writings and lecture series

Bonaventure’s deep respect and love for Francis’ vision was rooted in his teaching. Later called the Seraphic Doctor, Bonaventure writes in The Life of St. Francis: “Among the gifts of grace which Francis received from God the generous Giver, he merited as a special privilege to grow in the riches of simplicity through his love of the highest poverty. The holy man saw that poverty was the close companion of the Son of God, and now that it was rejected by the whole world, he was eager to espouse it in everlasting love.”

How else might one celebrate this Franciscan feast?

Oshkosh Lifest: Franciscan Sisters Are Here

Posted on July 9, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 5 Comments

The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are among the crowd at Lifest 2008, five days of Christian music, speakers, activities, comedy, fun, food and faith at Sunnyview Fairgrounds, Oshkosh, WI, July 9-13. This is the tenth anniversary of this event that draws Christian music enthusiasts from across the nation.

Find the Franciscan Sisters in the Marketplace, enjoying conversation with those taking a break from other events, and handing out free Holy Ghost/Enkindle (song of the month on the Franciscanized World page) download pass-it-on cards and miniature Sister-made flip flops as simple give-away gifts. Friday evening the Sisters will be joining the Diocese of Green Bay for a camp cookout on the Lifest grounds. The Sisters promised to bring Holy Family Convent bakery favorites (chocolate chip cookies and rice krispie squares) to share. The final event for the Sisters will be the Eucharistic Liturgy celebrated at the fairgrounds on Sunday morning.

WYD: Diocese of Madison Pilgrims Share Journey

Posted on July 5, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 27 Comments

Follow the World Youth Day pilgrimage of seventy four pilgrims associated with the Diocese of Madison, WI, beginning July 7 -25, 2008. The group will be participating in the Days in the Diocese events in Melbourne, Australia, July 9-13, at the actual WYD happenings in Sydney, July 14-20, and then are spending a couple of days post WYD sightseeing in Sydney. A brief stop is planned in Tokyo, Japan traveling in both directions.

Read reports from the main group of seventy four individuals from this diocese, as well as another twenty pilgrims from UW-Madison and seventeen others led by Schoenstatt Sisters which are traveling separately, but will join together in Sydney. The seventy four consists of: three priests, three diocesan staff, twenty five seminarians, seventeen high school youth ages sixteen to eighteen, seventeen young adults, seven adult chaperones, and two guests from outside the diocese who are also young adults.

Ever wonder what it would be like to travel to WYD? Read below. Questions are welcome.

Body, Mind, Spirit-A Healthier You

Posted on July 5, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 4 Comments

On Saturday, July 5, 2008, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity hosted Body, Mind, Spirit - A Healthier You. Each summer a health workshop is held just for the Sisters. This year Bishop Robert Morneau began the day with a keynote entitled Health: Our Greatest Wealth? at the Generose Enrichment Center in Manitowoc, WI. His reflection began with Ralph Waldo Emerson’s claim: “The first wealth is health.” All were invited to consider physical, social, psychological, political, economic, spiritual, intellectual, moral and cultural health.

Break out sessions followed on a variety of relevant topics. Sister Patricia Linssen, OSF, Sister Caritas Strodthoff, OSF and Sister Anne Turba, OSF were responsible for the initial planning.

Mary Turba, a diabetes educator assisting patients in improving their management of diabetes through education and support at St. Mary Hospital, Green Bay, WI, led one seminar.

Sister Anne Turba, OSF, experienced as an adult nurse practitioner, focused participants on Weight Reduction. She is dedicated to the health of the Sisters in the Community Health Clinic at the Motherhouse, and also serves on the board for Holy Family Memorial Medical Center, Manitowoc, WI.

Sister Michael Ann O’Donnell, OSF, finding the movements of Tai Chi helpful, facilitated another interactive session. “Tai Chi was called to my attention about five years ago when Sister Anne Turba, OSF, was conducting a study to determine if this type of exercise could help aging bodies maintain good balance. I am confident that others, too, will appreciate this type of sitting or standing exercises.”

Evelyn Sbar, MD, presented Cholesterol/Hypertension in the conference hall of the Generose Enrichment Center. “As a board certified family practioner, I gained the knowledge and training to care for your health while studying at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, and completing a residency with the university’s Department of Family Medicine, Amarillo.”

Sister Anne Marie Lom, OSF, presently serving as a spiritual director for her own Franciscan Sisters and also on staff at St. Raphael Parish, Oshkosh, WI, offered a reflection on A Franciscan Approach to Change. She gives retreats, workshops and days of recollection to various adult groups including faculties and health care staffs. www.raphael.org

Sister Carol Ann Gambsky, OSF, directed group prayer moments during the day. Sister Patricia Linssen, OSF, Sister Caritas Strodthoff, OSF, and Sister Anne Turba, OSF were responsible for the initial workshop planning, while Sister Adrianna Schouten, OSF assisted with food for the body needs.

Franciscan Sisters Serving at St. Francis Convent, Manitowoc

Posted on July 1, 2008
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 20 Comments

Over forty Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity live at St. Francis Convent, Manitowoc. This home of the Sisters is within walking distance of the Motherhouse. Historically, the community has engaged in some construction project every twenty to thirty years. On Oct. 3, 1987 groundbreaking was celebrated for this building named in honor of St. Francis of Assisi, Seraphic Father who answered the call to live the Gospel.

A poem by John Ruskin (his essays on art and architecture were extremely influential in the Victorian and Edwardian eras) quoted in 1957 in an informative booklet printed for the financial campaign for the building of Silver Lake College of the Holy Family, was repeated in archival notes to commemorate this Community construction site :

When we build

Let us think that we build together.

Let it not be for present delight,

Not for present use alone;

Let it be such as our descendants

Will thank us for,

And let us think

As we lay stone on stone,

That a time is to come

When those stones will be held sacred,

Because our hands have touched them,

And that men will say as they look

Upon the labor and wrought substance of them

See! This our fathers did for us!

Learn more about these “living stones”, the Sisters, as they share their lives among God’s people in the Manitowoc area and with each other.

Franciscan Service of Authority and Obedience

St. Anne is Named Patron of Choice

Young women enjoy the ‘Sisterhood’

Manitowoc religious community shares faith and fellowship at Camp Franciscan

FSCC Summer Talent Showcase

Devout Teacher Focus of Franciscan Sister’s Studies

Oshkosh Lifest: Franciscan Sisters Are Here

WYD: Diocese of Madison Pilgrims Share Journey

Body, Mind, Spirit-A Healthier You

Franciscan Sisters Serving at St. Francis Convent, Manitowoc

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