Canticle Farm Accepted into Laine Accelerator Program

By Anne Holliday

FSA Communications Coordinator

Canticle Farm officials are hoping its acceptance into a program to help local businesses grow will take the farm to the next level.

Board chair Shauna Keesler said with help from the Laine Business Accelerator Program they would like to learn how to come up with a design to upgrade the North Farm building, transforming it into a year-round space for their office as well as classroom, restroom, and shower facilities to better support the community experience there.

She added that the program “is the foundation to establish both farmer training and other revenue sources which include hosting classes, agrotourism, immersion trips, etc.”

“We will also deepen our community connections while being part of this process,” Keesler said.

She said by upgrading the space at the North Farm they can centralize their operations leading to a reduction in costs and lessening the burden on the environment by using sustainable heating, cooling, and electric options.

Keesler said this can “serve as an example to others of ways to care for the earth.”

“We would like to invite others back to our year-round market to sell their goods, creating a community of locally owned producers,” she said, adding that they would have adequate facilities to host classes and group events regardless of weather conditions.

Keesler said the program will help them have “facilities in place that will allow people to stay at the North Farm to experience the splendor of God's creation and service in a Franciscan way.”



Pictured, Sarah Swinko sharing her knowledge of edible and medicinal plants during a presentation on foraging.

Homecoming at The Franciscan Center

About 130 people attended The Franciscan Center’s “Homecoming Celebration” in Tampa on August 20, which, by all accounts, was very successful.

Among those who attended were several Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and Associates.

Associate Cheryl Maggio created a storyboard to share information about their role with FSA: To walk hand-in-hand to reflect the Gospel way of life, Franciscan-Clarian values and the FSA charisms, as they mutually support each other in faith, prayer and ministry.

The Associates hope that with their on-going presence at The Franciscan Center, supporting the many events there, while also sharing their journey as Associates, they can invite and encourage others to join.

The Associates were one of several groups and organizations that donated baskets for a fundraising raffle. Their basket (also created by Cheryl Maggio) had a theme of “Calming, Peace & Relaxation.”

The Franciscan Center thanked everyone who donated baskets, as well as the memorable speakers, including Sisters Margaret Mary Kimmins, Cathy Cahill and Mary McNally, as well as former director Anne Dougherty, who sent a video message.

The event also included brunch, sacred music and Mass.

Pictured, (top) Director Brian Lemoi speaking to attendees; Sister Anne Dougherty speaking via video; Brian Lemoi with volunteers; Associates storyboard and raffle basket.

BayCare Named 'A Great Place to Work'

BayCare, the leading health care system in West Central Florida, has been ranked nationally among the 2023 PEOPLE® Companies That Care list for the third year since 2020. Great Place To Work® and PEOPLE® magazine highlighted BayCare’s efforts to support the well-being of its team members, expand behavioral health services and partner to build healthier communities.

The PEOPLE® Companies That Care list is based on over 1.3 million employee survey responses and data from companies representing the experience of more than 7.5 million employees. BayCare ranked 75th on the list of 100 companies and was the top ranked health care system in Florida.

Companies also submit essays which are validated by employee survey data to give a complete picture of the way an organization cares for its employees, its community, and the planet.

Sister Patricia Shirley, OSF, serves on the BayCare Board of Trustees.



Pictured, BayCare team members during a recent cereal drive. Each year they donate thousands of pounds of cereal to support food insecurity initiatives in their communities.

Summary of LCWR Assembly + Video

The 2023 LCWR assembly -- Drawn by Sacred Mystery: A Journey into Hope -- was held August 8 -11 in Dallas, Texas.

More than 700 religious life leaders (including Sister Margaret Magee) and guests explored the realities facing US religious life today through a cosmic lens, noting how their story fits with what is evolving and emerging in the larger universe. They also explored how they can grow in awareness of the sacred mystery that surrounds them and trust its movement within their lives and the lives of their institutes.

Main speakers included authors Brian Thomas Swimme, a professor at the California Institute of Integral Studies; theologians Sister Barbara E. Reid, OP, president of Catholic Theological Union; and Sister Jung Eun Sophia Park, SNJM, a professor and workshop and retreat leader; and Margot Fassler professor emerita of music history and liturgy at the University of Notre Dame.

Dr. Swimme set the context for the assembly through his address on cosmological spirituality where he noted that the development of the universe “takes place through the power of relationship, which he says is “the most fundamental power in the universe.”