THE MOTHERHOUSE AT ASSISI HEIGHT

ENTRANCE TO ASSISI HEIGHTS, HOME OF THE ROCHESTER FRANCISCANS

Dear Friends and family,

In 1953 a small group of Poor Clare Sisters came down from Sauk Rapids MN to the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis to found a Franciscan Poor Clare Monastery here in Bloomington, south Minneapolis. Land was donated by the St. Martin family, a portion from their farm. Through the funding and help of the families and friends of the Sisters work began on the building and landscaping, including a two acre Pine forest on the almost 5 acre plot of land.

The monastery evolved in tandem with the archdiocese and along with the emerging cultural changes in our Country after World War II. The Second Vatican Council dramatically affected both our Church and our World including our Monastery. The Monastery was on path to becoming a house of prayer for all God’s people.

Now through prayer and discernment we are being asked to pass on this beloved home loaned to us for some sixty years. Due to the aging of our Sisters and the lack of new vocations to our form of life, we are no longer able to care for this beautiful place of peace and devotion and give the Sisters the care they need.

Our prayer is one of great gratitude for our time among you with a hope that the use of our property might continue to serve God’s people in new and wonderful ways. We will never forget you and ask for your remembrance of us in prayer.

Your Poor Clare Sisters

People gather for Eucharist

Adoration is part of the Prayer life.

Francis carries the cross of Christ.

Your Clare Sisters will be living on the third floor in a wing of this beautiful building which we call “our Little Portion.”

A link to information about our new home at Assisi Heights in Rochester, MN

St. Clare’s Monastery ——– Photos by Pat

February 20, 2017

St. Clare greets all passersby.

Welcome to the Monastery

During  the period of what the Church calls Ordinary Time, Pat Leighton, a member of our extended worshipping family here at the Monastery was moving around in the Chapel taking photos.  We did not know to what purpose was this photographic endeavor but we appreciated his interest in the Chapel and the grounds of the Monastery.

At Christmas time we unwrapped the mystery tied to his labor: beautiful cards depicting cherished spots of prayer in and around the Monastery. We offer some of the photos here on our Blog through the graciousness of Pat and above all as a tribute to our loving God who created this beautiful house of prayer through the hearts and hands of many.

St. Francis on his feastday.

Jesus on the San Damiano Crucifix

Clare points us to the Eucharist.

A prayer corner.

Francis and Clare amist flora

The altar where we gather at Eucharist.

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