How Often May I See Family
Posted on February 20, 2010
Filed Under Franciscanized World, Vocations / Discernment | 3 Comments
Being retro is really a lifetime movement when it comes to family. Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are not alone in needing quality time of just hanging out with parents, grandparents, sibblings, and other relatives. So just how often can a young woman expect to see family in the process of becoming a Sister?
Here are some short, simple responses. Feel free to ask for further clarification.
During the first year of becoming a Sister (called postulancy), you can expect to ‘hang out at home’ with family at Christmas time and for a couple of weeks in May. Your family may choose one day each semester which is most convenient for them to visit you at the Motherhouse. When families come from a distance, they are welcome to use our guest houses that are on our Motherhouse property for overnight accommodations.
The novitiate (a time of learning to be a woman religious with an intense study of the vowed life) extends over a period of two years beginning for us on the feast of St. Anthony of Padua, June 13. As a novice you may visit your family home once a year. You also invite family to see you at the Motherhouse twice during the year. The Community’s Novice Directress assists in setting these dates.
As a professed Franciscan Sister, we may enjoy a two-week annual visit with our family and relatives. The times may be broken up to allow several visits each year or attendance at some special family event, providing the traveling distance is reasonable.
Any further question or comment?
Discern ‘How I Long to Love You’ on Valentine’s Day
Posted on February 14, 2010
Filed Under Franciscanized World, Vocations / Discernment | 16 Comments
Boarding a plane with final destination a convent for February 14? On a weekend traditionally focused on love, young women 
truly arrived at the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity’s Motherhouse for a discernment retreat entitled: How I Long to Love You.
Apart from a totally cool Valentine theme, Friday’s Opening Ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics was a jumpstart for sharing introductions. Even simple refreshments and sharing carried this focus. A candlelit night prayer beginning with an awesomely vivid flame picturesquely moved souls to reflect on the passionate love of God.
A pilgrimage prayer on Saturday morning acquainted retreatants with the wisdom of St. Bonaventure’s The Tree of Life centering Jesus as the goal of all things. After a dramatic telling of St. Francis’ conversion experience with a leper, all reflected on readings from the Catechism of the Catholic Church on the Eucharist, a true gift of love from Christ. For those without Wisconsin winter experiences, there was time to get feet wet in new fallen snow.
Saturday evening music outreach’s destination was St. Peter the Fisherman, Two Rivers. Father William O’Brien and a full church of faithful welcomed the visiting troubadours as they shared their musical gifts. Franciscan Sisters serving in the parish arranged that the musicians and singers enjoy pizza before returning to the Motherhouse for other weekend retreat action.
Plan now to attend the May discernment retreat. Click here to register.
What does your heart long for on this day?
Where the Whole Lake is ‘Our Rink’
Posted on January 30, 2010
Filed Under Franciscanized World, Vocations / Discernment | 10 Comments
Imagine receiving an invitation to a Skating Party where the whole lake is the rink. You 
would be picturing the backyard of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Motherhouse. On Saturday, January 29, 2010 with music piped in the air through speakers housed in nearby ‘green hut’ (literally named for its evident exterior paint job), postulants, novices and Franciscan Sisters forged the frozen water enjoying a favorite Wisconsin winter sport.
Believe it or not, Sister Myra Jean Sweigart, OSF was drawn to answering a call to the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity after seeing seasonal pictures of the Motherhouse, because ice skating was one of her passions. Although not the ‘typical’ or only reason why a young woman may be attracted to be a Franciscan Sister, God does want our happiness and uses what we enjoy to help reveal His plan for a lifetime.
The skating party was complete with hot apple cider, s’mores, and of course, plenty of Sisterly conversation between the ups and downs of life and trying to keep warm.
See Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity on Facebook for video clips.
Does any of this ‘rink’ true for you?
Order the Latest in Franciscan Vocation Posters
Posted on December 21, 2009
Filed Under Image of the Month, Vocations / Discernment | 6 Comments
It’s a simple message. The world needs you. God calls you. We invite you. It’s a call for a permanent commitment of love for God and His people. It’s so totally Franciscan building the church today not using brick or mortar, but with hands made for loving service.
And we need you. Help us distribute this Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity’s vocation poster. It comes in 2 sizes (10 in. x 14.25 in. and 16.25 x 24 in.)to fit wall/bulletin board spaces at your Catholic parish, university, college, Neuman or campus ministry center, favorite coffee house, classroom, young adult hang outs, etc.. Operator on call to accept your order 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. CST. Free shipping and handling charges.
Contact us here or send us a message on Facebook.
Called to Be Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Postulants
Posted on December 8, 2009
Filed Under Franciscanized World, Vocations / Discernment | 15 Comments
On December 8, 2009 as a powerful, cold wind whirled snow flurries outside, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity warmly welcomed Marie Wilhelm and Kara Martin as postulants at a 7:15 p.m. evening celebration.
Sister Louise Hembrecht, OSF, Community Director, greeted Marie and Kara with these words:
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.
So we invite you, Marie and Kara, to express your ardent love for Jesus by imitating Mary’s complete self-giving.
Marie and Kara received the insignia of St. Francis, a tau cross with the hand of Jesus covering that of Francis, to remind them of their call to follow Jesus. Sister Patricia Sevcik, OSF, Postulant Directress, is responsible for guiding the postulants in their preparations for the Novitiate.
Any comments?
Enjoy Feasting on Arlan Feiles’ ‘I Wonder’
Posted on November 16, 2009
Filed Under Franciscanized World, Song of the Month, Vocations / Discernment | 16 Comments
Celebrating an abundance of God’s goodness this harvest season, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity invite you to feast on Arlan Feiles’ powerful, reflective song, ‘I Wonder’. Contemplate wonderful, insightful lyrics, a singer songwriter compared to Dylan or Simon, with a flair for majestic, yet simple melodies. His music is shaped with the Thanksgiving spirit of a strong sense of justice and love. (Photo credit: Kyra Kverno) Arlan and Carolyn Arends’ I Am A Soul’ unite this month on Franciscanized World to provide a menu of timely thoughtfulness. You’ll want to listen to both artists.
Arlan Feiles Reflects on ‘I Wonder’:
The possibilities that life puts before us at every minute are limitless.
Left Turn, right turn? Up, down? Forward, backward?
Each choice wholly personal to our faith;
The faith to make a decision; right or wrong
Sometimes we are pleased with the result, and sometimes we are not.
And sometime we wonder ….was that this the right decision? Is it wrong to even ask?
To wonder is the most human of expressions.
We question each moment, and we value the answers we receive.
We move forward with determination and pause.
We appreciate the importance of every choice.
We should always strive to make the right decisions, but not be a victim to failure if we do not.
We hope for an answer from one’s heart and follow it to its road’s end.
“We are building something larger than those mountains”
Each choice is a mountain to climb,
Then we look out from the summit and embrace the view it in all its beauty and wonder.
Arlan Feiles - Nov. 2009
Listen to More of Arlan’s Music
Dramatic in refreshing the acoustic style of Ryan Adams, Neil Young, Woody Guthrie and in the Big band traditions of Roy Orbison, Pete Seeger, The Band, and The Country Bear Jamboree, Arlan Feiles is a Jewish songwriter inspired and ‘fueled by a fierce compassion’. His band, Gift Horse, grew into the 14-piece Lone Orchestra, which plays upbeat Americana at venues along the Jersey shore, most regularly in Asbury Park. His albums include Come Sunday Morning and his rereleased album, Razing the Nation. (Photo credit: Kyra Kverno)
Websites:
“I Wonder “- Lyrics copyright 2007
You could see things your way but I feel it both ways
So I never take sides I just learn to listen
People stop in wonder, people stop in wonder
Cause I always find the time
Time to breathe, time to try
There’s an icy windbreak rolling off the prairie
It’s a storm a frontin’ we best look for safety
And we’ll sit in wonder, yes we’ll sit in wonder
Cause we always find the time
Time to feel, time to cry
And I often wonder ‘bout you
Could your love be true
When I know it must be wrong to even wonder
But I wonder
We are building something larger than those mountains
And I’m racing to you over foot and fountain
And we’ll sit in wonder, yes we’ll sit in wonder
Cause we always find the time
Time to heel, time to fly
—————————————————————–
How does ‘I Wonder’ move your heart?
Curious about Franciscan Sisters’ Typical day e.g. Gila River Reservation
Posted on November 8, 2009
Filed Under Franciscanized World, Vocations / Discernment | 8 Comments
Since conversations with young women often include curiousity about ‘what a typical day is like’, the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity hope to answer that question with yet another posting on the life of their Sisters. The Franciscan Sisters serving at St. Peter’s Indian Mission, Bapchule, AZ, promise to share their lives on the Gila River Reservation and beyond.
Sister Martha Mary Carpenter, OSF (AKA Sister Martha), Sister Barbara Jean Butler, OSF, Sister Carol Mathe, OSF, Sister Elaine Turba, OSF, Sister Juana Lucero, OSF, Sister Linda Brandes, OSF, and Sister Thereselle Arruda, OSF will take turns commenting to ensure a multi-perspective approach. The Gila River Indian Community is located approximately 34 miles south of the Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. All of the Sisters live in a convent near the school.
So Sisters, what do you do all day?
Consider Roadside Chats Important
Posted on October 30, 2009
Filed Under Franciscanized World, Vocations / Discernment | 6 Comments
The personal journey of trying to figure out God’s will often takes various twists and turns on the road of life. This is equally true for those who seek to companion others in the process of vocation discernment. For the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Vocation Team this takes on literal meaning as road trips are planned to make initial contact with young women who send on-line inquiry forms, call for more information or sign up for a weekend retreat.
With the November 13-15, 2009 Discernment Weekend coming soon, Sisters Mary Ann Spanjers, OSF and Sister Julie Ann Sheahan, OSF are serious about arranging airport pick ups and made recent roadside stops at:
- Emy J’s in Stevens Point, WI
- University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
- Starbucks in West Bend, WI
- Aroma Coffee Bar in Dubuque, IA
- Loras College in Dubuque, IA
- Perkins in Madison, WI
Also important to making an eventual discernment weekend a comfortable experience for all involved, are:
- long (and short) distance phone conversations
- facebook interactions
- emails
- blogging
If you know our Sisters, just recently found our website and like what you find here on Franciscanized World, we welcome you or someone you love thinking about religious life to our November Retreat Weekend. Not only will you meet some other wonderful retreatants, but we guarantee that you will learn much more about the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity.
The World Needs You. God Calls You. We Invite You.
Discipleship in the Life of Francis, Clare, the Franciscan Sisters and You
Posted on October 1, 2009
Filed Under Franciscanized World, Image of the Month, Vocations / Discernment | 103 Comments
During the month of October Franciscanized World will be highlighting the call to discipleship of our Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, specifically Sister Pamela Biehl, OSF, as a parish director of the Catholic Communities of St. Mary Winneconne, WI, and St. Mary, Omro, WI and Sister Anne Marie Lom, OSF, as a spiritual director for both St. Raphael Parish, Oshkosh, WI and our own religious community.
Special Spiritual Feature
Sister Anne Marie invites you to join some Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity as they reflect on their annual retreat at the Community’s House of Prayer entitled: Discipleship in the Life of Francis, Clare and You. Read their thread of comments all month long and feel free to add your own reflections. Expect the retreat slideshow to change as all of creation goes through transformation.
Ready to begin? Read the sharing.
Follow the Franciscan Postulants’ Journey on ‘Habitually Speaking’ Blog
Posted on September 8, 2009
Filed Under Franciscanized World, Vocations / Discernment | 9 Comments
Do you desire to know what a day is like in the life of someone God has called to be a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity? Follow the lives of two young women who are beginning their first days at the Motherhouse in Manitowoc in a newly launched blog entitled ‘Habitually Speaking’.
Kara Martin writes: “I am a postulant for the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. That means I am spending nine months at a convent discerning whether this is the life for me. Feel free to read about my journey. “
While enjoying the honest, personalized journal style of Kara, you will also meet Marie Wilhelm. Two women who come from two states overlooking Lake Michigan, Michigan 
and Wisconsin, they also share a love for the Lord and a desire to serve him. Both postulants, name given to candidates in the first stage of becoming a religious woman, are already witnessing their zeal for the Franciscan life in many ways.
Today was the first day that Marie and I got to wear our postulant habits! It felt like prom. We were showered with compliments at how nice we looked. With over 150 sisters in the motherhouse, that’s a lot. Read More…
And if you want to follow more of the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity and understand our daily lives, we invite you to find us on Facebook and become one of our Fans! Here, you’ll be alerted to new entries on both the Franciscanized World and Habitually Speaking.
Any first impressions of Habitually Speaking?
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