Archive for the ‘Celebrations’ Category

      When you open to our Blog banner you notice something different. You no longer see the Bloomington Monastery in the seasonal photo with our St. Clare there to greet you. If you haven’t heard yet we have moved. Yes, we are south of the Cities in Rochester, MN, motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of Rochester and the famed Mayo Clinic. We moved February 7th, a date none of us will forget. It was in the depths of white winter and bitter cold.

     I wanted to work on our Blog banner right away but where could I find seasonal photos in this colorless environment. Then I heard about Sr. Elizabeth Gillis who lives here with us and for years has photographed the seasonal landscapes around the Motherhouse. Sr. Elizabeth loaned us her “thumb drive” where among her many beautiful photos we found exactly what we wanted. Kim, here at the Motherhouse and her bright young son, Nick, and Jonya, my new friend at the Rochester public library helped get the photos on to the web. 

     The next quest was where do we find an image of St. Clare.  After canvasing the Motherhouse for inages of St. Clare I remembered the statue of Clare that was carved for Mayo Clinic, St. Mary’s Campus, about twelve years ago. Ready to rush right over to St. Mary’s and photograph the carving, I was alerted to the fact that the statue was in storage due to ongoing building projects at St. Marys.   Then in a happy turn, Wes Thompson, Facilities Director here at Assisi Heights, directed me to Sr. Lauren Weinandt, longtime archivist at St. Mary’s.  In the archives of the famous hospital was the history of the making of this amazing statue of St. Clare with photographs of the day on which Clare’s image was blessed.

     This next part of the story is personal to me.  I remembered the visit about 13 years ago of a young woman from St. Paul, MN, who was commissioned to carve a statue of St. Clare for St. Mary’s Peace Garden.  We met in one of the parlors in our monastery in Bloomington.  One of her questions was about symbols appropriate to St. Clare.  I suggested that Clare was known for washing the feet of her Sisters when they returned from their ministry outside the monastery.  What I remember most clearly of the encounter is that I took the young woman to our sacristy and showed her the bowls and pitchers crafted by the fine potter, Warren McKensie, of Stillwater, MN, the pottery which we used at the liturgy of the foot washing every Holy Thursday. I think that I showed her the towels also.  When I saw the archival photos this all came back to me.  The name of the sculptress is Caprice Kueffner Glaser.  And here is the Clare she gave us.

Sister Caroline Berres took these beautiful photos shortly after Clare was placed in the Peace Garden.

Friends from Beth’s Spanish Class

July 5, 2018

My beloved teachers and classmates came to visit.

Sister Cecilia arrives July 12th

July 5, 2018

On June 12th Sisters Caroline, Jo and Beth joined Sister Cecilia at Catholic Elder Care to celebrate Cecilia’s birthday.  On July 12th Sr Cecilia will join us at Assisi Heights.  

Sr. Cecilia has lived at Catholic Elder Care for seven years.  One of the reasons for our move to the Franciscan motherhouse was that Sr.Cecilia and Sr. Kate could be with us here in Community. Cecilia’s room is ready,  just across from Sister Kate and down the hall from the rest of our Community.  We will all be together again.

What a retreat for forward movement in this beautiful life at Assisi Heights!

Mike Blastic’s retreat presentations here at Assisi Heights.

One of the special gifts of our brother Mike is his great background in Franciscan/Clarian studies but perhaps even more is his living of the charism since he was a young man.  Mike was able to present during our retreat the beginning and early expression of the Friars and Poor Sisters’ Franciscan life like I have never heard before.  His three “C’ s” of our charism are: “Conversation, Contemplation and Compassion.”

Of course we know that Franciscan/Clarian life is Christocentric.How do the three C’s match up with the life of Jesus that we know through the Gospels?

1. Conversation. Oh my Goodness! Jesus was and is the great communicator, the Word of God made flesh.  Think of the interactions of Jesus with individuals, teaching moments for them and for us; the parables and instructions to his followers and to the crowds in general, his generous teachings even in the midst of controversy.
2. Jesus’ conversations seem to always end in Contemplation and communion in solitude with his Father, his be-ing time, often on a mountain. Shhh…
3. The completion of the three C’s is Compassion. The miracle stories are about compassion, compassion for the other in front of him, the short man, the blind man, the woman caught in adultery, the hungry crowd, etc. Jesus can’t bear to see his Father’s children suffer.  The only one for whom he does not work a wonder is himself.

Mike’s retreat was good for all Christians and especially for those of us on the  Franciscan trek.

Folks from the Cities Visit

May 2, 2018

It was a red letter day at Assisi Heights on Friday when a caravan arrived to join us for Eucharist and Dinner. 

Some were from far away others from as near as the Cities.  All were heartily welcomed by us Clares  and the Franciscan Sisters here at the Heights.

Our dear friend Michael Joncas was with us as presider at Eucharist.  In the photo with Mike are some of our “regulars” from daily Eucharist in Bloomington who helped with the Chapel décor for Feasts and Seasons and all manner of good works around the Monastery.

  Professors and students from Northern Iowa University. 

Doctor Jessica Moon (next to Sr. Beth) is director of the Honors Program at the University of Northern Iowa.  They are studying monastic life in the Middle Ages.  Who better to talk to them about medieval monastic life than the Poor Clares?  At one point in the conversation each Clare was asked to share her vocation story.  No two are alike! 

The ICE is melting and Spring is just around CORNER

April 2, 2018

SEVEN REFLECTIONS ON ICE

   Icebreakers are ships plying polar seas

but they are also opening conversation

gambits. 

   Cracks in lake ice are rarely wise cracks.

Wisecracks seldom break conversational

ice. 

  It is not usually wise to play with fire.

Ice too may be hazardous if unreliably

thin.

    Some ideas may be called breakthroughs.

So may unexpected descents through lake

ice.

    Stares from some may be cold icy glares.

Stairs may also be glare ice. Please tread

 lightly.

      Jack Frost writes ice on window panes.

Robert Frost writes of pain in fire and

ice.

    To kill is to ice, in some old noir stories.

But icing is also the finishing touch on a

cake.

Doug Westendorp, 2018

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THERE IS NO CORNER

                There is no corner

Around which

There is no pain.

              There is no pain

Within which

There is no gift.

            There is no gift

Without which

There is no love.

            There is no love

Within which

There is no grace.

            There is no grace

Around which

There is no peace.

            There is no peace

Without which

There is no light.

              There is no light

Within which

There is no life.

             There is no life

Around which

There is no corner. 

Doug Westendorp, 2018

Holy Thursday at Assisi Heights

March 29, 2018

The Chapel here at the Franciscan Sisters Motherhouse is ready for the Triduum.

But even as we celebrate the Holy Thursday liturgy we have our eyes fixed on Jerusalem  and the promise Jesus holds out to us.

Our Sisters visit from the Cities

March, 21, 2018

On Sunday the Pro Ecclesia Sancta Sisters joined us for Eucharist followed by dinner and a short tour of  beautiful Assisi Heights,  Motherhouse of the Rochester Franciscans.  Our young Sisters are busy with their youth apostolate  at schools and parishes.  Postulant Mattie will soon leave for Lima to join five other young women as they begin their novitiate.

Saturday evening party with Kate

March 11, 2018

The Sisters gathered on the Third Floor sun porch to celebrate Sr. Margaret’s birthday.

So many of you have reached out to us with words and gifts in our move to Rochester.  This beautiful bouquet of Kalanchos comes from our Poor Clare Sisters in Spokane.

This is our oratory where the Clares pray the Office throughout the day.  Eucharist is celebrated in the magnificent Lourdes Chapel, stepping stone to heaven.  We hope that you will join us there some Sunday. 

The Best of Christmas Gifts

February 15, 2018

Our dear Sisters of Pro Ecclesia Sancta here with us at 8650 for the signing over of our beloved Monastery to our young Sisters.

Bill Weldon stopped by with Conner and  Quinn on there way to take on Santa at the Mall of America.  Sister Catherine is trying out her baby-whispering skills.

Pro Ecclesia Sancta Postulant, Matty and our dear friend Joyce are helping with the decorating.

Behind the Camera is Sister Cynthia.

Christmas Card Blog Post

December 15, 2017

“After the earliest chapel bells, before the first light begins its revelation of the landscape, I wait in the empty country of the stars…”  

Sisters of Pro Ecclesia Sancta

December 4, 2017

The News is out.  The beautiful Sisters of Pro Ecclesia Sancta will be moving into our precious monastery as we leave for Assisi Heights.  We have been in dialog with them for many months.  Only God could give us such fine young women to carry on the life of prayer here, and from here to offer apostolic service in our Archdiocese.           The female branch of Pro Ecclesia Sancta was founded in Peru only 25 years ago.  Their numbers have grown steadily and they have missions as far away as Spain.

Sisters Gabriel and Eileen are in conversation, while Sister Jo and Sister Frances are talking across the circle with Sisters Fabiola, Helen, Emy, Margaret and Cinthya.

Srs Emy, Gabriel, Fabiola and Eileen; 

Srs. Fabiola, Helen, Eileen, Jo and Emy.

Sister Julieta is front and center.

Hail, hail the Gangs all Here!

Getting into the spirit, hard hats and all.

December 4, 2017

Here we all are in our construction finery!  Mr. Don DeCramer, project director  of the renovation of our community home on third floor, invited us to go down to Assisi Heights to see the progress of the reconstruction of our wing.  The stipulation of the invitation was that we must wear hard hats, vests and sensible shoes.  Kathy Gatliff, director of Communications & Public Relations at Assisi Heights,  took these great photos.  

Sisters and Don at the Entrance to our wing.

Sisters thank Don and his crew for their excellent work.

Srs.Marilyn and Beth in deep discussion.

Srs. Caroline and Margaret Checking specifications.

The community gathered at Resurrection Cemetery to pray and sing with Sister Anne at her grave site. It is almost two years since her death. Her presence is very much here among us at the Monastery in Bloomington, and we are sure that she is blessing us with strength and courage in our move to Rochester, as we do what is necessary in caring for the needs of our Sisters.

It is the Feast of Francis.  Tonight we celebrate Francis as he goes to God with all creation.

---

Come and pray with us at 7 pm on Tuesday, October 3rd here at the Monastery.

The Celebration of the Eucharist is at 10 am October 4th.

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Last Journey for this pilgrim, last leaving for this homeless wander; now, it is into the sea behind his Moses, his Lord, his love, into possession of the promised land where he too, will be clothed in light.

This crossing will be a simple one: the wars are done.  The winds of love sweep mightily, across the midnight sea.  Barefoot and blind, singing, he steps onto dry sands that sparkle gold, beneath his wounded feet.    Thank you Sister Kate.

Celebrating our sister Clare of Assisi in our time.  Recently talking with people who have experience in real estate I learned about an acronym called “nimby,” Not In My Backyard.  Hmm, that was interesting!  And more recently I have learned about another acronym called “yimby,” Yes, in My Backyard.”  many of the “Yimbys” people are from the New York, Seattle and San Francisco areas, not surprisingly, and are promoting building small affordable homes in urban areas that ordinary poor people can finance and so stop paying horrendous renting rates in the big cities, plus many other wonderful advantages for these poorer people living close together and supporting one another in an extended family atmosphere with the possibility of walking to work and schools with needed resources near-by. Google has just bought a huge piece of real estate in the middle of the city of San Jose where the techies can live and walk to work.  How fine for them.  And by the way, Silicon Valley was named in the 1800’s Santa Clara Valley.  When the teckies take over the city of St. Francis what will they rename it?

I have been thinking about Clare and her friend, St. Francis.  As they began their Gospel project they both left Assisi.  Francis had his brothers gather down the hill at the Portiuncula a little chapel in the woods.  Later in the story that is where Francis and his brothers received Clare into the fraternity.  Bishop Guido offered Clare and her small group of sisters San Damiano, a small chapel outside the walls of Assisi on the other side of the hill.  In between the two communities was a leprosarium. I think that Francis and Clare would support the Yimbies.  They were not running away from people but running to people, to be in proximity to the neediest people in their time. 

Photos from National Night Out

The youngsters were quite impressed with these very kind policemen visiting on National Night Out.

The guardians of the peace visited with their Robbie the robot.

One of our youngest neighbors at National Night Out.

Sisters Michaela and Ruth from St. Benedicts’ Monastery in St. Joseph Minnesota came south to visit us and share their experience of closing their previous home, the Monastery of St. Bede in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

We continued our conversation though lunch.

Spring Friends

May 27, 2017

The Men from the Acts Mission based at Assumption Parish join us each Saturday for a joy filled celebration of the Eucharist.

Sisters Emy and Eileen from Pro Ecclescia Sancta brought their two novices here for a visit.

Celebrating the Resurrection: Jesus in our Midst

May 9, 2019

Christ is alive and we are alive in Christ. Alleluia!

The worshipers receive the living waters of Christian renewal.

Following our profoundly wonderful celebration of the Easter Triduum and the glorious Eucharist of Easter day I was looking for a book that might help me linger with these mysteries over the fifty Easter days leading us to Pentecost.  I went to Amazon to see what they were offering and found Jesus Risen in Our Midst.  This is a compilation of “essays on the Resurrection of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel”  by Sandra Schneiders.  It is a stellar work indeed.   My problem is that I cannot get past the title: Jesus Risen in Our Midst.  Holy Happy Easter Days!