Franciscan Community Formally Accepts 4 Postulants on Marian Feast

by Sister Julie Ann on December 8, 2010

As Diocese of Green Bay Bishop David Ricken’s official announcement regarding the Robinsville Shrine, Champion, WI,  becomes news across the nation, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, 50 miles away in Manitowoc, WI,  rejoice in the formal acceptance of 4 Postulants on this feast of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the Franciscan Order.

4 Franciscan Postulants receive insignia

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity formally accept 4 postulants on December 8, 2010 feast of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the Franciscan Order.

Rose Pearson, Lindsey Lanier, Leslie Gonia and Holly Larsen desire to express their ardent love for Jesus  by imitating our Blessed Virgin Mary’s complete self-giving. They already are committed to teaching children and young people about our Catholic faith in two area parishes.

Sister Louise Hembrecht, our Community Director, began our Wednesday evening ceremony at the Motherhouse with these words:

Our Franciscan Community welcomes you, Rose, Leslie, Holly and Lindsey.

The Virgin Mary, humble servant of the Lord, was open to His every word and call. She was embraced by Francis with indescribable love and declared the protectress and advocate of his family.

We, in the name of the Church, are full of joy and happiness that you are personally aware of a calling from God. As the Spirit of Jesus speaks to you in the unfolding of your life, He says, “Come, live my life and accomplish the mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity”.

Franciscan Sisters congratulate Postulants

Franciscan Sisters offer congratulations to the Postulants.

Next after being asked whether they accepted “our invitation to continue to live with us as Postulants in our Community”, Rose, Leslie, Holly and Lindsey responded:

With Mary I pray let it be done to me. May my ‘yes’ teach me how to give birth to Jesus in a world so in need of love and forgiveness.

As part of this traditional Community ceremony, Postulants received the insignia, a tau cross with the hand of Jesus covering that of Francis, to remind them of their call to follow Christ.

May the Lord bless you, Rose, Leslie, Holly and Lindsey!

Do you desire to follow Jesus and imitate Mary’s selfless love? Consider our discernment retreat.

[Show picture list]

  • Rose

    What a wonderful welcome! :) I can't begin to thank all of you sisters enough for all of your love, prayers, encouragements, hugs, well-wishings, and welcome. Thank you for letting us into your lives and growing with us these past few months. It has gone so fast! Thank you for your witness, joy, and honest caring. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You are all so beautiful and I am honored to be here with you on this journey! God bless you always and I pray we will have many more occasions for celebration in the future!

  • Lindsey

    Dear Sisters,
    Thank you for your continued support and prayers. For those who were able to attend tonight, thank you for sharing in our acceptance. For those of you who couldn't be here, thank you for your prayers and know that each of you are in mine. It means a lot to know of your love and prayers. Thank you for your example, your imitation of Mary through your complete surrender to Christ in your vocation, and for the sincere joy you bring to each of us postulants.

    With heartfelt gratitude,
    Lindsey

  • Anne Marie Lom

    How wonderful to have this posted before the day is finished. I prayed for each of you today. It is a joy to see your growing awareness of our life and we are so happy to share it with you. May Mary be a daily example to you of discipleship, holiness and service.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1566401414 Stacey Hernandez

    It's so inspiring to see such young vocations. May God bless you on your journey. May you grow to love your vocation more and more as each day goes by.

    God Bless You,
    Stacey & Lori

  • Lois Rizzo

    The Lord is answering our intercession prayers of praying for vocations. These young girls have heard the calling and are now able to make a commitment to the religious life. of their choosing. Congratulations to all four of you! God will continue to be with as he has up to this point.

  • Holly

    Dear Sisters,
    Thank you so much for your warm welcome and all the hugs! :-) I can't express enough thanks to all of you for your warm welcome, prayers, caring hearts and constant encouragement. I am so happy to be a part of such a beautiful community filled with so many amazing people. God Bless all of you!
    Holly

  • http://www.fscc-calledtobe.org/ Sister Mary Ann

    What a great night to celebrate your formal acceptance with us as Postulants!!!! You are each in my prayers and I am so happy to be part of your journey with Mary to Jesus in the footprints of St. Francis and St. Clare!

  • Sr. Elaine

    What a wonderful celebration for all of us in community! Your “Yes” to the Lord, affirming your desire to continue to follow Him, is a reminder to each of us of our daily “Yes” to the Lord in all He asks of us. Thank you for witnessing the love and joy that is a part of all of our lives. Know you are in my prayers each day. God bless you abundantly.

  • srsharon

    CONGRATULATIONS to you, Rose, Lindsey, Leslie & Holly on taking the next step of discerning your precious call of the Lord in this our Franciscan Srs. of Christian Charity. At A.M. Prayer we Sisters at West Point, NE prayed for your intentions and joined with you in spirit on the special Feast of the Immaculate Conception, patron of our Community and the U.S.A. I especially liked the picture of you with Our Blessed Lady behind you as if to say: “Girls, I'm with you every step of the WAY. Confide in me and my SON and walk one step at a time as your “yeses” blend into the journey less traveled.”

  • Srosangela

    How happy we are to have four young Christian women with such vibrant faith as our Postulants. We all rejoice with you as you take this first step of Religious life. May God bless you in the days ahead as you continue to discern you vocation in our Franciscan Community.

  • Sannjoachim

    Congratulations to four lovelu postulants. They have already picked up much of the Franciscan spirit.

  • Leslie (postulant)

    Thank you all so much for accepting and welcoming us. The love of this community was abundantly evident on the night of Dec. 8th. Especially when the blessing of St. Francis was sang to us. Thank you.

  • Soosun500

    Congratulations, Girls! (From Sister Monica's Mom)

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