Amidst the challenges our planet faces, from conflicts to natural disasters, we are graced with the beautiful reminder of Christ’s birth among us. We pause for just a moment to celebrate this sacred occasion, where we find hope and renewal in the light of His presence.

Here is where our community of Poor Clare Sisters,
all 6 of us, sing hymns and pray the Divine Office.

Here are Eric and Brigitte, who spent a few days with us last week. Eric was like a son to our Sister Lucie, who joined our Community from Quebec. During their visit, Eric and Brigitte prayed with us and paid their respects at Lucie’s grave in the cemetery, where she is buried alongside our Poor Clare sisters from Bloomington who have died.

This wonderful couple has now become part of our extended Poor Clare family. Eric recently earned his Doctorate from a University in Quebec, and together, he and Brigitte lead pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

This is the beautiful place where we share our time of Centering Prayer every Tuesday evening from 6-7 pm.

The room is decked out now for the Christmas season.

Wishing a blessed and beautiful season to all of you.

Here is our advent chapel.

And our advent wreath.

The First Advent Candle: Hope

The Second Advent Candle: Peace

The Third Advent Candle: Joy

The Fourth Advent Candle: Love

Hope invites her friend Peace to dance with Joy in Love for

the mutual goodness and blessing of our planetary home.

Dear Family and Friends,

Just as the river flows so does God’s peace flow through you and me.  No ripples or rocks, just overflowing peace in these “interesting times”. May the star of Bethlehem that points to the word Love point us to Peace.

Your Poor Clare Sisters

Ghoulish Glamour at Assisi Heights!

Brace yourselves, dear readers, for the ultimate spooktacular showdown! The contenders at Assisi Heights have donned their most eye-wateringly, gut-churningly hideous outfits, vying for the coveted title of “Best Outfitted Character” on the night before All Saints.

Above, the lady makes her grand entrance as the epitome of the American matriarch. Picture a bald eagle draped in the flag, serenading the crowd while clutching an apple pie. She’s got Oprah’s charisma, a rock star’s grace, and the authority of your toughest history teacher. This matriarch isn’t just leading, she’s reigning supreme!

Below, this “character” lurks with an insatiable appetite, eyes gleaming with culinary conquest. Can you decipher the identities of these enigmatic, eerie souls? Or will their spooky allure remain shrouded in mystery?

Share your divinations with us.

It is beginning to feel a little like advent with the cooling weather and extra choir practices containing all of the beautiful advent music focusing us on our path toward Christmas.

After our beloved choir director of many years, Lynn left us to care for her family, we were without a choir director for some time.  Now we have Clare as our new director.  Her name in Italian is Kiara which means light and beauty and our new director brings those qualities to our music bringing in the organ magnificently, the piano with zest and weaving in other instruments like percussion, flute,  and guitar.

Sisters Jo and Beth are in the choir and right in the middle of all these preparations in our beautiful chapel.

Sister Jo sends warm greeting to her family and friends and especial those who joined in the celebration of her nephew Kevin Kenney as our new Bishop.

Last Monday, Clares from Assisi Heights followed Sister Jo up to the St Paul Cathedral where hundreds filled that holy space to celebrate the ordination of Sister Jo’s nephew, Father Kevin Kenney as Auxiliary Bishop of St Paul/Minneapolis Archdiocese.

A replay of that event can be found at:

The Episcopal Ordination of The Most Reverend Kevin Thomas Kenney on October 28, 2024

Cindy Boggs, Mike McDonough, and Richard Morton came to visit from the Cities.

Sister Caroline and Mike cleaned their plates while enjoying the conversation. It was so great to have members of our Secular Franciscan family with us.

Cindy Boggs is one of the leaders of the secular Franciscan community in Minneapolis/ St Paul.

Out in the courtyard, St Francis is giving his blessing to these beautiful followers of his dynamic program of Love for God and all that God has made.

Franciscan Friars from California stopped to visit with us for two days on their trip to Wisconsin.  What a joy to have them!  The older brother, Friar John, has worked in ministry on the west coast for many years and often spent the Easter holidays with our Poor Clare sisters in Alberta Canada. Brother Tony is the younger Friar and he is working now in San Francisco at the Friars’ food pantry. Sister Beth smuggled them up to the third floor to visit our beautiful little chapel.

Kevin Thomas Kenney presided at the funeral of his mother, Dorothy Jane Casey Kenney a few weeks ago.

It is easy to see the family resemblance in this photo of Jo Casey and her sister.