Here’s a Way to Help Others Know About Franciscanized World
Posted on May 29, 2009
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Would you believe Franciscanized World has been nominated as a contestant for the Catholic New Media Awards? Thanks to you, our Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity fans, we were suggested in not just one category, but five times.
Here are the category titles:
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Best Blog By A Religious
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Best Group Blog
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People’s Choice Blog
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Most Spiritual Blog
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Best Podcast by A Religious
Beginning June 1, 2009, we invite you to vote. Support us in continuing the mission of Franciscanized World. Help others see the world as Saints Francis and Clare did-realistically, compassionately, finding good and holy possiblity in the substance and culture of everyday life. Peace and all good.
Why Bless a Chiara Convent Cornerstone Containing a Time Capsule
Posted on May 26, 2009
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On May 26, 2009, Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Mary Ann Nugent, OSF, proclaimed this message of hope at a special prayer service blessing the Chiara Convent cornerstone containing a time capsule. Chiara Convent is the newest home of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity constructed near Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, WI.
The construction of Chiara Convent is now in its finishing stages. We gather this afternoon to prepare and bless the cornerstone containing a time capsule. In this time capsule are artifacts which will tell future generations about the people and time of 2009.
Those here today include two groups of Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity: the Administration who decided to go forward with the construction of this convent and thus provided work for many in the local community and the residents of Chiara Convent for whom this space will be a place of encountering God and neighbor, of renewal and growth.
Also here today are some of the workers who used their God-given skills to create a sacred dwelling for the Sisters, and the site manager who coordinated the many and varied tasks that Chiara Convent needs for its completion.
The times are of economic distress, of seeking what is of true importance in life, of being concerned about global warming, of responding to regional drought and starvation, of rebuilding societies, of following the lead of the first African American US president, and of reaping the benefit of great accomplishments in science, medicine, and technology.
We know not what the future will bring. Whatever challenges and opportunities the future presents, we pray that the Sisters who will be opening this time capsule will be full of faith and love; will be people of commitment and compassion; and will have a deep and strong responsibility to promote the integrity of creation. By preparing this capsule as a gift for future Sisters, we place our hope and trust in them as bearers of the mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity…
As St. Francis rebuilt the Church of San Damiano, he predicted that poor ladies would hallow the dwelling. By the fact that we have gathered here today, we, too, predict that “poor ladies” will continue to hallow these walls, living in community and witnessing to the goodness of our God. Let us join our voices with the many Franciscans who have gone before us praising our God through a prayer St. Francis has bequeathed to us…
You are invited to come forward, laying your hand upon the cornerstone, and praying a blessing upon the Sisters who presently dwell here and upon those who will, in the Community’s future, be dwelling in Chiara Convent.
Sister Louise Hembrecht, OSF, FSCC Community Director and newly elected to the International Franciscan Conference of the Sisters and Brothers of the Third Order Regular (IFC-TOR) Council at a recent meeting in Assisi, Italy, brought home a unique gift for the Sisters living at Chiara Convent. The number tiles-2410- made in St. Francis’ Umbrian town will identify the address of this building.
Here are People Witnessing Memorable Lives of Service
Posted on May 24, 2009
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On this Memorial Day Weekend while joining the citizens of the United States in remembering loved ones who performed duties in the armed forces and all men and women who died in military service, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity also recognize other couragous individuals whose convictions witness memorable lives of service to others today.
- Parents and Grandparents compelled to pass on knowledge and experience to a new generation, especially those celebrating the graduations of our future leaders
- diocesan priests, especially the newly ordained of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee- Fr. J. Angel Anaya, Fr. Mark J. Brandl, Fr. Aaron J. Esch, Fr. Daniel R. Janasik, Fr. Sean T. O’Connell, and Fr. Luke N. Strand
(Fr. Luke’s aunt, his mother’s sister, Mother Miriam, PCC, abbess of the Poor Clare Monastery in Kokomo, IN, was a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity before answering the call to the cloistered life.)
- Seven Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity celebrating 75 and 60 years of religious life
(Sister Clare Wegmann, OSF, Sister Anna Tisler, OSF, Sister Florence Piotrzkowski, OSF, Sister Francine Goodman, OSF, Sister Aurelia Hanousek, OSF, and Sister Carol Stiefvater, OSF, are pictured.)
Can you add others to this list?
How Franciscan Sister Pen Pals Came to Be
Posted on May 21, 2009
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 7 Comments
Some educators’ objectives in seeking pen pals for their students include improving reading and writing skills or learning more about another country. From another point of view, Second Grade Teachers of Holy Angels Catholic School, West Bend, WI, desired their students to make friends with religious Sisters and learn about their lifestyle. Thus began an already seven year old friendship of exchanging letters between the little ones and the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity during this special First Communion year.
On May 21, 2009, Sister Maria Casetta, OSF, original contact with Holy Angels School when a community of Franciscan Sisters lived at San Damiano Convent, Slinger, WI, and other Sisters who are currently in touch with their second grade friends, met their pen pals face to face at the Motherhouse in Manitowoc, WI. Students, teachers, and parents also toured near by St. Francis Convent, as well as enjoyed lunch on the lawn overlooking Silver Lake.
Here’s a letter written February 21, 2003 to Sister Rosalani Gomes, OSF, who continues to be in touch with Rachel and her family in 2009:
Dear Sister Rosalani,
I am writing to you to let you know how much our daughter, Rachel Wilberg, enjoys being your pen pal. Rachel is a 2nd grader at Holy Angels Elementary School in West Bend. She has been your pen pal since the beginning of the school year, and thoroughly enjoys the distant/writing relationship she has built with you. Each time she gets one of your letters and/or notes she comes home and is very excited to share this with both me (her mom) and her dad.
Recently, you sent her a delightful valentine note, stickers and photo of yourself. Your photo made it to our dinner table and soon became the topic of our conversation. There is no chance that the photo would have been “thrown out” as you suggested, once it was viewed. The photo has now given a smiling face to the warm words Rachel receives from you. Each note you write seems apparent that you have really invested time in getting to know and learn about Rachel. You have asked her specific and personal questions about her little brother and her dog, and this has made her feel as though you are truly a long-time, dear friend to her.
I just wanted to thank you for making Rachel feel so important and special. She, and our son, Riley, are truly the best gifts we have been given. We are honored to see that you have made a connection with her and have positively influenced her 2nd grade experiences. Thank you again for your prayers and kindness. You are special!
With our Appreciation and Blessings,
Renee and Ralph
Does this community of Catholic religious do any further correspondence with children? Some Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity also write letters to students at St. Mary/St. Michael School, Cato, WI.
Do you have any experience of a pen pal?�
IMPORTANT: Catholic Church Welcomes Discipulos de Cristo
Posted on May 17, 2009
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During this last week, hundreds gathered at St. Bridget Catholic Church in the small northeast Iowa town of Postville to mark the one-year anniversary of a huge immigration raid and reflect on the community’s difficulty in recovering from the arrests. In contrast, a crowd filled St. Willebrord Parish, Green Bay, WI, on May 17, 2009, to celebrate and support seventeen individuals in the first ever graduating class of the Discipulus de Cristo program.
Discipulos de Cristo, based on the research of Sister of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, Sister Laura Zelten, OSF, is geared toward leadership formation in the area of Hispanic Ministry. It came into being after numerous requests that the Diocese of Green Bay provide some sort of spiritual and academic formation program for Hispanic Catholics. It’s a 3-year program covering topics such as the Scriptures, the Church, morality -all in Spanish-that includes classes, retreats, one-on-one review sessions, workshops and seminars.
The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity support this initiative in various ways. Currently, Sister Marlita Henseler, OSF, serving at St. Philip Parish, Green Bay, WI, is an instructor in the program.
Note: Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity, Sister Kay Klackner, OSF expounds on “Catholic Social Principles: Stewardship” in an on-line May Catholic Teacher resource. In a previous month’s article she covered the topic of “Rights, Responsibilities and Dignity of Work”.
Now You Can Enjoy an Assisi Pilgrimage Without Jet Lag
Posted on May 14, 2009
Filed Under Franciscanized World | 4 Comments
Realizing even Pope Benedict’s recent flight to the Holy Land had its own discomforts, is it possible to live a spiritually enriching ‘Assisi pilgrimage’ without a long plane ride and jet lag? Fr. Russell Governale, OFM Conv, Franciscan Pilgrimage Program trained guide, led twenty-five Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity on a three day cyber-spiritual journey on May 12-14, 2009 at their Motherhouse in Manitowoc, WI.
Planned during this 800th anniversary year of the friars’ rule of life, this “At Home Pilgrimage’ included solid historical information with virtual visits to the sacred places of St. Francis and St. Clare, spiritual conferences, time for quiet, personal prayer, common rituals, and Eucharist. Wholesome Italian meals and good conversation also encouraged light-hearted community sharing among the Sister pilgrims.
Here are some of the Sisters’ own comments:
Very interesting, informative, so well-prepared and presented. Father Russel helped us feel that each holy place was right here and we were there–esp. Mt. La Verna. Father has a way of sharing his own spiritual experiences that give depth to the journey.
I found the presentations very interesting and inspiring. All the rituals in-between, baptismal renewing, anointing with oil, etc. made it so meaningful.
Many events surrounding Francis’ life, not usually mentioned in Franciscan literature, were brought out. I learned more about Clare and her importance to the Franciscan way of life. The historic and geographic references about Assisi were new to me.
Very helpful in reliving my previous Franciscan Pilgrimage. It helped renew my Franciscan way of living my religious life.
It strengthened my desire to learn more about Francis and Clare, to try to imitate them.
I feel the urgency now to live the rest of my life with more love and faithfulness.
Father Russell’s in-depth knowledge was most interesting. One can tell he truly enjoys his tours and inspires others to want to learn more.
Broke open the ignorance I honestly had about both of our Franciscan Founders.
Any further comments?
Why Wausau’s Catholic Youth Rally ‘Live 4 Him’ was Worth the Trip
Posted on May 9, 2009
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TOTAL (Teens Open To Accepting the Lord) Ministries, a collaboration of Wausau Deanery Catholic youth ministers and religious education leaders, expected hundreds of teenagers to attend and express their faith at Everest-area’s first Catholic Youth Rally on May 9, 2009 at the Rothschild Pavilion, Rothschild, WI. The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity can testify that 260 friendly, energetic Catholic youth participated fully in the day’s activities.
Here are more reasons why this rally was worth the two hour drive from Manitowoc:
- All were welcomed warmly at the front door of a spacious modern building equipped for conference-like and liturgical activities (the Franciscan Sisters even got a parking place near the door to make it easier for hauling exhibit materials!)
- This event drew Catholics from three Wisconsin dioceses: La Crosse, Superior and Green Bay (Christi Parish, Sturgeon Bay, WI youth remembered the Franciscan Sisters from their recent music outreach at their parish in March 2009.)
- The youth moved to the music of SONAR, an inspired Catholic rock band from the Twin Cities who also provided worship songs for Eucharist and other prayer times.
- Tammy Borden, Lifest, Oshkosh, WI, used her own struggles to encourage and empower young people showing them that no matter how overwhelming their situation, God will extend his unconditional love and grace.
- Rich Curran, Christian Motivational Speaker and Trainer from Oshkosh, WI, challenged participants to accept God’s amazing grace and call to be for others. In the intersections of life one can even be an instrument of change in another’s life.
- Capuchins Father Tom Zelinski, OFMCap, and Father Dan Crosby, OFMCap, serving at St. Anthony Retreat Center, Marathon, WI, and diocesan priest Father Jerzy Rebacz assisted with the Sacrament of Reconciliation throughout most of the day.
- Youth planned and presented various scheduled activities.
- Father Joseph Hirsch, Vicar for Clergy for the Diocese of La Crosse, WI, presided at the sending forth Sunday liturgy with other area priests.
- The Rally Team (Father Gerry Pehler, OFMCap, John Schmitt, Steve Martin, Noel Furger, Mary Maly and JoEllen Van Galder) were applauded for their organizational efforts.
Any comments?
Discover Duomo on Annual ‘Green Bay Day’ in Italy
Posted on May 4, 2009
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Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Marie Kolbe Zamora, OSF, shares a photo-log of ‘Green Bay Day‘, an Italy get-together of people having connections with the Diocese of Green Bay, WI that are presently living in Rome. Msgr. John Dewane, one of the spiritual directors for priests studying in the Vatican City, is a key player in the yearly planning. Bill Brunner and Brian Romporti, seminarians attending the North American College, also participated in the 2009 event.
Here are the pictures that I took yesterday on our annual diocesan outing. God bless Msgr. Dewane for being the “behind the scenes” mover for this day. When I taught high school, I had a poster of the facade of this duomo in the back of my classroom - put it there on purpose so that I could have something beautiful to look at all day as I taught. I was beyond astonished to discover the Duomo for real when I first came to Italy in 2004 - was lovely “welcome to Italy” for me.
FOR MORE PICTURES CLICK HERE.
Clean Edge of Change…as the end of the semester approaches…
Posted on May 1, 2009
Filed Under Song of the Month | 35 Comments
Recently ranked ‘a cool song’ in a Franciscanized World survey, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity present Carrie Newcomer’s The Clean Edge of Change. At an emotional time when the end of the semester calls for vocation, career or summer transitions, Newcomer’s Rounder release, The Geography of Light, is about navigating and exploring the appearance of light and shadow in our lives.
The Geography of Light
It is a layered work. On one level, the listener experiences these types of connections through Newcomer’s lyrics, which explore life with a progressive spiritual sensibility. In a world that encourages us to move faster and think bigger, Newcomer invites the listener to slow down and reflect on the small things that make life worthwhile.
As Rolling Stone wrote, “Newcomer asks all the right questions and refuses to settle for easy answers.” On another level, the listener hears a skillfully arranged and performed collection of folk roots tracks, with Appalachian and classical influences. Newcomer’s style is straightforward and accessible. Overall, she is not afraid to take on serious subjects, and does so with a healthy measure of good humor and self-awareness.
Recorded and produced by Newcomer and David Weber at Airtime Studios, The Geography of Light is Newcomer’s eleventh release on Rounder, with prior albums including The Age of Possibility, The Gathering of Spirits, the Betty’s Diner collection and her last album Regulars & Refugees. As her most intimate and lush work yet, The Geography of Light results from working closely with a core of exceptional musicians, including Gary Walters on piano, Chris Wagoner on violin, mandolin, dobro and ukulele, Mary Gaines on cello, Jeff Hedback on bass, Jim Brock on percussion, Keith Skooglund on guitar and Krista Detor on background vocals. At the center is Newcomer’s adept guitar work and resonant voice, the Austin Statesman called “as rich as Godiva chocolate.” From the haunting fiddle hook of “There is a Tree” to the string quartet accompaniment of “Lazarus” to the deep acoustic groove of “Where You Been”, this album is both timeless and contemporary. Also contributing to the project is Hugh Syme, whose artwork was designed with a sense of magical realism reinforcing the idea of expecting miracles in common places.
“I believe it is when we are in crisis that we are most open to change and positive growth. Of course, no one welcomes crisis, but during those difficult times there is an opportunity for reassessment and transformation. “The Clean Edge of Change” was written about what it feels like on the other side of a difficult time period. The song acknowledges that sometimes there is no getting around a problem, you can’t get over it, or under it, or even around it — the only way out is through. But, when we emerge on the other side of that difficult time period, it feels like the calm after a storm or the deep sigh after a good cry. There is a clean edge to it. You don’t know exactly what life will look like from here on out, you just know that it will be different.” -Carrie Newcomer
Lyrics: The Clean Edge of Change
First there is the folding in,
To gather light and dark to you.
The journey down so far that it,
Has nowhere else to go but through.
I thought if I tried hard enough,
With endless motion like a bribe,
As if by this the will of God,
Could be bent to my version of right.
Chorus
What happens next is nearly weightless,
The opening where we stand breathless,
On the clean edge of change.
She cannot live beneath my wings,
No more with he see seventy.
How many mornings did I wake,
And wished that it’d be you I’d see.
Chorus
Bridge: And who am I, who makes this sound,
Who rode the shadow all the way down?
To the Clean Edge of Change
In the clear space of knowing that
There’s as many names for dark as for light,
I am choosing mostly now to speak,
The ones that get me through the night.
But always,with humility,
With a worn now but a grateful heart.
Having sang so recently,
Full-throated In the dark.
Chorus
First there is the folding in,
To gather light and dark to you,
The journey down so far that it,
Has nowhere else to go but through.
The Clean Edge of Change © 2008 Carrie Newcomer Music (BMI), Bug Music Publishing. Recording © 2008 Rounder Records Corp.
View An Inspiring Pentecost Window, St. Peter the Fisherman Parish, Two Rivers, WI
Posted on May 1, 2009
Filed Under Image of the Month, Podcasts, Vocations / Discernment | 14 Comments
The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity invite you to contemplate one of St. Peter the Fisherman Parish, Two Rivers, WI, preciously designed stained glass windows. Pastor Father William O’Brien narrates the podcast revealing the depth of the picture pane’s spiritual meaning and its vocation significance.
During the month of May, the Francisan Sisters who presently serve in this Wisconsin city wide parish (i.e. Religious Education, Catholic Elementary School, visiting the sick and elderly) will also reflect on how the Spirit is moving in and around them.
How are you aware of the Holy Spirit in your life? How does this Pentecost window move your soul?
Recently
- Who is a Saintly Man of Action and Contemplation
- Name a Concert that was Soul-Inspiring
- Find Important Resource in Franciscans International
- Taking a Franciscan Grand Tour of Grand Rapids
- Now Is The Time…Franciscan On-Line Lenten Retreat Continues
- Download Rickie Lee Jones’ ‘His Jeweled Floor’
- Guess Who West Point, NE Awarded the Community Service Award
- How Often May I See Family
- How Did the Church Begin Hospital Ministry
- Now Is The Time: Franciscan On-line Lenten Retreat
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