Archive for the ‘Latest News and Views’ Category

Our retreat with Fr. Mike and Pope Francis.  Yes, it was that week, time out of time, the most memorable retreat of a lifetime.  Everyone was watching the Pope so no need to write how wonderful the message, so wise and merciful, Pope Francis moving seamlessly from deep prayer to joyful communion with God’s people.  

front row: Sr. Caroline, Fr. Mike Crosby Sr. Anne

second row: Sr. Gabriel, Sr. Lucie, Sr. Kate, Sr. Francis, Sr. Helen

     Please meet some of our new friends.    Gina comes from sisterstory.org out of St. Catherine University in St. Paul.  Some months ago Sr. Kate shared her life in relation to her love for music and sharing this gift with the Sisters at the monastery and the larger community that prays with us.  We will apprise you when the video is ready for your viewing via this Blog.

     Sr. Gabriel and Lowell renewed their friendship from days on the farm in Nebraska where they fished, hunted squirrels and rabbits and played every game that children’s imagination can devise.  It was ten years since their last visit and they and they shared deeply of how their faith had shaped their lives.

     Bishop Patrick Chilekwa Chisanga was born in 1971 in Kamuchanga in the Copperbelt region of Zambia, Africa.  He entered Franciscan Conventual Order in 1990. Patrick was ordained nine years later in 1999 and pursued studies in psychology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome (2002-2006). His pastoral assignments have included parish ministry and formation work at St. Bonaventure College in Lusaka. He served as Provincial of the Franciscan Conventuals  in Zambia for four years. At the time of his nomination, Friar Patrick was serving as a formator at St. Bonaventure College in Lusaka.

     He was named Bishop of the Mansa Diocese by Pope Francis in November of 2013 and ordained bishop in February of 2014.   The Diocese of Mansa is in northern Zambia and currently includes about 1.6 million people, of whom 434,000 are Catholic.  The diocese has 16 parishes. Bishop Patrick has opened 5 new parishes in just over a year.  At 44, he is one of the youngest Catholic bishops in the Church.

     On the Fourth of July we celebrated and prayed for freedom for all God´s people.   Fr. Thomas Joseph was with us as presider at the Eucharist and stayed for fellowship.  Thomas Joseph is from India.  After ordination he worked with Teresa in Calcutta.  Later he spent some time in Mexico where he became fluent in Spanish.  Archbishop Harry Flynn invited Thomas Joseph to serve here in St. Paul/Minneapolis where he ministers with great  joy and love for God’s people.

but it is not green peace in our woods behind the Monastery.

 A baby owl fell into a window well at the back of our building, and evidently mom and dad flew in to comfort the youngster.

Sister Margaret called the Minnesota Raptor Center and a young volunteer was sent to the rescue. 

All is well.  Well, not exactly. 

There is a feathery fight going on between the crows and the owls, the crows resenting the territorial takeover of the owls.  

“Add insult to injury,” the Minnesota Raptor Center is sending over an orphan owl to join the first family.  Stay tuned.

Pope Francis invites Religious Sisters and Brothers during this year of consecrated life to a fresh way of being:

 “The Church must be attractive. Wake up the world!

Be witnesses of a different way of acting, of living!

It is possible to live differently in this world …

It is this witness I expect from you!” Pope Francis.

On Sunday, February 8, individuals and families came for our open house at the Monastery.         

Jackson and Alison Clare came to find out about our foundress, St. Clare of Assisi. 

The Alvarado family (Kevin, their oldest son, was taking the photo) wanted to see where their mom and dad come to Mass on Saturday mornings and to meetings of ACTS Women and Men during the week.  Judy Miller, the chef at Franciscan Retreats, brought sweet bread and bars for the visitors.

                                        Many of you know Jean Molesky-Poz.  Jean blessed our house with a visit at the end of Oct.  A few weeks later her marvelous husband, Martin, was in Bloomington translating for five immigrant families before the Fort Snelling immigration court.  He is a specialist in three Maya languages and is flown all over the US as translator.  He had just time for a bowl of chile and a plate of rice here at the monastery before he had to be at the airport to board his flight to Boston where he would translate for more immigrant families. Martin is a true American hero.

This night our Community room is open to eighty 15 year olds who are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation.  They want to learn how to pray.  After a presention and Q and A we processed outside through the dark, cold night singing a Taize mantra and into the Chapel, the spiritual fireplace of our monastery. We prayed psalms 95 and 96 antiphonally, listened to a short Scripture reading, then closed our eyes, attending to the Holy Spirit breathing in us and prayed silently for 15 minutes.

I love the highlighted words from the last letter to all the Poor Clares from Friar Michael Perry:

“Like Jesus, be ‘accessible,’ ready to receive whoever draws close to you.”  And again, “Be a mirror of His mercy so that the meeting with Truth can liberate.”

 Fifteen men from the ACTS Mission joined the Community and friends to pray the Divine Office and celebrate the Eucharist.  They continued here through the day with a mini retreat in preparation for the Thursday to Sunday retreat they will offer to their brothers in the Faith at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Prior Lake starting next Thursday

…have completed a long list of “to do’s” at the Monastery

And are about ready to mount their beautiful trucks,

Heading to their lake places to enjoy the early days of autumn.

Sister Lucie and her brother, Dominique La Fleur  

Dominique joined us for the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours.

He is knowledgeable in so many fields that we were continually engaged by his intelligence and wit.