Archive for the ‘Celebrations’ Category

February’s Black History Month flows into March’s Women’s History Month coming together in the history of America’s Great Migration wherein people from the south migrated north and west as told by Isabel Wilkerson in her book titled “The Warmth Of Other Suns”.

The migration described here in this book happens between 1915 and 1970.  With great personal risk, African Americans made the passage from the southern United States to the north and west of this country.  The author follows 5 individuals and their families describing their efforts, successes and failures, as they tried to find their place in the so called “American Dream.”

The book is 622 pages long, but it is well worth the time you spend with Isabel and this great book.

Blizzards begone, we are moving into the ides of March!

March

The stormy March is come at last,
With wind, and cloud, and changing skies;
I hear the rushing of the blast,
That through the snowy valley flies.

Ah, passing few are they who speak,
Wild stormy month! in praise of thee;
Yet, though thy winds are loud and bleak,
Thou art a welcome month to me.

Bosque de Nieve means Snowy Woodland in Spanish.

Winter is a time of waiting: hoping all that is dormant beneath the snow will respond as the Earth makes its annual rotation around the Sun bringing forth the nutritious growth that will assure food security for all God’s people.

February is Black History Month, from February 1st to March 1st.

We have a hidden gem available to you on YouTube or your DVD player: Bakhita: From Slave to Saint. We were treated to this film here at Assisi Heights where it was streamed throughout the motherhouse.  Some of the Sisters told us later this was the second or third time they have seen this most beautiful woman and her inspiring story.

https://www.youtube.com/c/stjosephinebakhitaparish

The Franciscan Friars are helping us rewrite The Gospel Way of St Clare, our Poor Clare Constitutions.  This is the document that helps us to interpret and live Poor Clare life. The spirit of this new document is to celebrate for our times the beautiful gift of Poor Clare life that is our vocation.

Some months ago, we had the pleasure of a visit from Sister Vickie Griner, osc (the sister with the dark brown sweater in the photo above.) Vickie is a beautiful and gifted Poor Clare Sister from the community in Cincinnati, Ohio.  She has been chosen to be our United States delegate working with other Poor Clares throughout the world who are coming together to craft this most welcome spiritual guide, our new Constitutions.

Sister Catherine was taking the picture.

It is January and Friar Vincent Petersen is with us to bring us closer to our earthly home for 2023 and will accompany us through the unfolding beauty as the planet makes her revolution around the sun.

Here is the painter himself working on his next creation, bringing the wonder of our world into our minds and hearts through the painting of this very special Franciscan Friar.

https://www.sacredearthcollection.com/

Many of you, as you picked up your newspaper this morning, saw on the front page, Pope Francis in his teaching role, advocating for all people who identify as LGBTQ+.

The Star Tribune quoted the Associated Press:

Pope Francis criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as “unjust,” saying God loves all his children just as they are and called on Catholic bishops…to welcome LGBTQ people into their churches.

“Being homosexual isn’t a crime,” Francis said.

… [The Pope] believes that the Catholic Church should…not discriminate.

https://apnews.com/article/pope-francis-gay-rights-ap-interview-1359756ae22f27f87c1d4d6b9c8ce212

January 10th we celebrated the baptism of the Lord in the Jordan River and the beginning of Ordinary Time. 

Green is the liturgical color of the season, a symbol of hope in the sprouting of seeds, and within our hearts the hope for a year of care for the earth and for one another.

Our friends from the cities provided the beautiful white poinsettia which is accompanying us into Ordinary Time.

During the later days of December, gifts were pouring in from various friends and family members of our Sisters.  Among these gifts was a lovely globe depicting our planet.  Also, Sister Jo received a pair of beautiful and unusual candles.  The candles, the globe and our little creche came together and a story emerged. The planet is the home of the Holy Family. The candles are the angels connecting heaven and earth.

Greetings for the great celebration of Christ’s birthday, a celebration which includes mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters throughout the world, all celebrating life, goodness, truth, and care for one another and our planet earth.