Archive for the ‘Celebrations’ Category

Easter Greetings 2024

Dear friends,

“Peace be with you!”

This is the message we want to share with you – the peace of Jesus among us. Jesus’ outstretched arms in His Resurrection appearances is expressing His desire that together we may live in peace. We pray that our planet and all peoples might know this precious gift.

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Icon of the SAVIOR by Rublev

This beautiful image of Christ the Savior painted by Andrei Rublev in the 1420s is companioning us in our small chapel during our Lenten Journey to Holy week.

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Centering Prayer with Mommies and Daddies from St Francis Church.

While the children of various ages and stages in their Catholic Christian life were busy with their teachers, the adults came together in their large chapel to learn about and practice centering prayer.

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Epiphany 2024

On the day after the Kings came to see the Child that was born in Bethlehem, we had the Westendorp extended family visit us. We shared in the Holy Mass and gathered in the large dining room at Assisi Heights for dinner followed by a tour of the rooms decorated for the season. We wrapped up our time together finding a room where we shared stories and fond memories.

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Our Christmas Card for you…

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Friar Vince – October

October 4th, its the feast of St Francis, richly important for Franciscans of all ilk over the whole planet.  There are 3rd order Franciscans including women, men, and young people called Franciscan Tertiaries.  There are 3rd order regular sisters and brothers who carry on missionary activities and service to the poor including working in hospitals, schools and serving parishes.

2nd order are the Franciscan Poor Clares, or the Sisters of St Clare who live the Franciscan and Clare charism in community in their monasteries. 

The 1st order are the Friar’s minor, the little brothers.  And there are many versions.  In the United States, the Friars minor have just consolidated 6 of their provinces into one in order to served the people in a more effective manner.

St. Francis has inspired all of these people to offer their lives in service in many ways.  Born in Assisi (Italy) in 1181 or 1182; died nearby on 3 October 1226. The carefree son of a wealthy merchant who gave up his inheritance to embrace utter poverty. Under a simple gospel rule, he and his Friars Minor were authorized to be mendicant preachers. His “Canticle of the Sun” captures his lyrical spirit and sense of oneness with all creatures. An outstanding example of the beatitude “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” At the end of his life he bore in his flesh the marks of Christ’s suffering. 

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PES visit – September

Before the summer season ended, our lovely sisters from Bloomington, known by all of us as the PES Sisters, came to spend the day.  We joined in Community prayer and together shared  our main meal in the large dining room.  In that venue we could remove our masks!  Our Sisters came bearing gifts.

This wooden plaque and the carved words brought us back to the time of our handing over the monastery in Bloomington to these beautiful women. They had made booklets for all who attended our “going away” party at the Church of St. Bonaventure.  The words on the plaque remind us of their wish for us as we moved to southern Minnesota.

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Friar Vince – September – Of This Land

These two pieces of God’s work of art speak out on these last days of summer.  They pull out all the levers to make a marvelous tapestry for us to enjoy as we move toward fall.

In contrast, we see the beauty of the gifts of human investment in the building of a house that welcomes all to remember the little man of Assisi, and God’s call to each of us to follow our special path in a life to add beauty and love in our world.

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Summer Celebrations:

How beautiful the summer days when our third order Franciscan friends come to visit.

As Assisi Heights motherhouse opened up after the pandemic we were able to receive our dear friend Mike Joncas. Father Mike celebrated a beautiful liturgy in our large chapel, followed by lunch in the large dining hall. 

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Friar Vince – Starfield

Trees, water and sky meet at night to show off their complementary beauty.

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