Sister Sarah Hennessey, raised as a Quaker in the South, joined the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 2002, professed her first vows in 2005 and renewed her commitment in 2008. On September 24, 2011, we welcomed Sister Sarah into full membership during her vow ceremony at St. Rose Convent in La Crosse, Wisconsin. This ceremony culminated the nine-year process that Sister Sarah had to take in order to become fully incorporated into the FSPA congregation. Today, she serves as a Spiritual Director for the Franciscan Spirituality Center in La Crosse. She officially joined the staff in 2019, but her involvement with the center goes back several years. As a spiritual director, Sister Sarah uses her Bachelor of Arts degree in religious studies and her Master of Arts degree in theology from St. Thomas University in St. Paul, Minnesota to companion others to find the holy in the ordinary.
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"I am in love with Christ and I love to have my whole life centered on Christ. Being an FSPA helps me be more 'Sarah,'" explained Sister Sarah when asked why she became an FSPA. She lives out Eucharistic presence by "listening to others that are hurting, playing with a friend in joy and gazing at a sunset in awe." During her free time, she enjoys singing, taking long walks in nature and making some of the best popcorn around! Sister Sarah has been teaching about prayer for many years and states "My prayer practices help me be who I am meant to be. Gazing on Christ, I see Christ gazing on me." |
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Lenten fasting for common good |
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In union with the global Church, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration pray, fast and give alms during the season of Lent. We partake in these penitential practices to deepen our communion with Christ and help promote the common good. We invite you to join us in this sacred season of repentance and renewal.
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The Earth Tenders, a group of affiliates with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are connecting with FSPA land on St. Joseph Ridge, just outside of La Crosse, in an effort to acknowledge and learn from our ancestors. "The Indigenous people of North America taught the first European settlers how to tap the maple tree and make syrup. We want to acknowledge that history and the importance of connecting to nature, on the ancestral land of the Ho-Chunk Nation that we call the FSPA land on St. Joseph Ridge," says Beth Piggush, FSPA's integral ecology director.
On Feb. 19, the Earth Tenders did just that. They gathered on St. Joseph Ridge to tap the maple trees and will gather again at a future date to process it into maple syrup!
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In the latest episode of Messy Jesus Business podcast, Sister Julia Walsh talks with Sister Helen Prejean, who is known for her work to end the death penalty. They discuss how Sister Helen became a minister to Pat Sonnier on death row, which led her to work for justice.
Sister Julia and Sister Helen also talk about how the Gospel calls the Church to be among the poor and on the margins, how storytelling has a power to change hearts and minds, as well as the true meaning of justice. "Justice means that everybody's got a fair shake, and they've got equal access to liberties and freedom and a way to have a livelihood and a life."
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Upcoming Events for Discerning Women |
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Friday Virtual Adoration and Mass
Every Friday | 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. CT via Zoom
Discerning women are invited to join FSPA for virtual adoration live from the Adoration Chapel located inside St. Rose Convent in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
Virtual adoration will pause at 11 a.m. and Mass will stream live from Mary of the Angels Chapel. Virtual adoration will resume again after Mass. Click here to access the Zoom link.
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International Women's Day Celebration
Tuesday, March 8, 2022 | 7 - 8:30 p.m. CT via Zoom
The University of Wisconsin-La Crosse International Women's Day Committee invites members of the La Crosse community and beyond to a virtual celebration of International Women's Day. The celebration will consist of a panel discussion with a special emphasis on how women are celebrated in their country as well as their experiences in both their country of origin and the United States. Click here to learn more and access the registration link.
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Coffee and Chat with Sister Julia
Thursday, March 10, 2022 | Chicago, IL
Friday, March 18, 2022 | Milwaukee, WI
Join Sister Julia Walsh for some coffee and friendly conversation. Email [email protected] for more details including time and specific locations.
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Hand in Hand: Welcoming Migrants at the Border
Thursday, March 17, 2022 | 6 - 7 p.m. CT via Zoom
All are welcome to join the FSPA Encuentro@TheBorder Team for a conversation with Joanna Williams, executive director of the Kino Border Initiative. Sister Katie Mitchell will host this online discussion. Click the image above to access the Zoom link. The performance will be recorded and shared for those who cannot attend live.
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Sister Thea Bowman play featuring ValLimar Jansen
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 | 7 p.m. CT | San Damiano Chapel, La Crosse, WI
All FSPA discerners are invited to join us as singer and actress ValLimar Jansen performs her play about Sister Thea Bowman at Viterbo University's San Damiano Chapel. A live stream option will be available to any discerners unable to attend in person. Email [email protected] for more details.
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On February 8, 1880, the first medals of the most Blessed Sacrament were blessed by the most reverend Bishop Heiss and on Ash Wednesday he put the same on the professed sisters at the motherhouse for the first time. The mission sisters' medals were sent to them.
This medal that became the insignia of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration has its origins not only in the history of the community but also in the long history of an Arabic design rooted in Muslim mysticism and in medieval heraldic symbols of England, France, Germany and Poland.
The monstrance on one side of the FSPA medal is believed to have been fashioned after the first monstrance used for perpetual adoration.
– Compiled by Sister Alice Kaiser
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Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration | Formation | 888-683-3772 | discerning@fspa.org
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