Congregational E-News ~ June 1, 2017
|
Do you sometimes wonder if spring will ever come---especially when the winter's hold on us has been particularly tight? Life sometimes seems the same---a seemingly endless winter of problems, fears, and bad news. But nature's God reminds us that this, too, shall end and a new spring will brighten even the darkest days of winter if we wait in faith and trust.
|
Early breath of Spring
collides
with last gasp of Winter.
Yellow jonquils, purple croci shrouded
in snow that would be welcomed
in season.
But we are winter-weary
long for sun and color
yearn for resurrection
(though I admit some empathy
with an old season's reluctance
to let go).
Spring will prevail,
new life will shatter death,
winter claims its last muted hurrah
before the ringing alleluias!
Marie Lucey, OSF
|
Congratulations - Sr. Patricia Hutchison
Peacemaker Award
Congratulations to Sr. Pat Hutchison who has been chosen as the recipient of this year's Franciscan Federation Peacemaker Award. This nominee was to embody the best of our Franciscan teaching tradition and exhibit in her ministry a personal, communal, transformative presence as she engages and develops servant leaders.
Sr. Pat, a teacher and principal in her early years, was one of the first administrative assistants of the federation, 1993-1995. She, along with 20 other Franciscans, created and presented the
Facing the Christ Incarnate national program of the federation from 1994-1997. As sponsorship director of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Sr. Pat ensured that our charism was alive in every sponsored ministry. Her doctoral dissertation from Widener University, Pennsylvania, addressed the integration of the Franciscan Intellectual Life in higher education and since then this has been her focus.
Currently Sr. Pat is the director of the Neumann Institute of Franciscan Studies at Neumann University. She has been instrumental in integrating the Franciscan spirit, not only in campus ministry but also into student activities and the curriculum at all levels as well. Sr. Pat served as the editor of the Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities (AFCU) Journal for 12 years and chaired the AFCU 2016 biannual symposium on the theme of revitalizing the Franciscan Intellectual Tradition. For these and other reasons too numerous to list, Sr. Pat Hutchison will receive the 2017 Peacemaker Award! Congratulations, Sr. Pat!
Read more about Sr. Pat's ministry in the next edition of the
Good News magazine set to mail in July.
|
|
Sisters Hold Wii Bowling Tournament
 |
|
|
Sr. Georgina Marmino seemed calm and serene--and maybe inspired--by Sr. Mary Ann Potenza's singing.
|
Something new is in the air at Assisi House! Our retired sisters are engaged in a series of bowling tournaments between residents---via Wii Games. The sisters gathered on May 19 for the first tournament of this kind. As staff members stood in the hallways waiting for the action to begin, Sr. Fran Acton and Sr. Mary Teresa Coll explained the procedure. Today's competitors were St. Francis Hall's Team Topsy and Marian Hall's Young at Heart Team. Winners would be determined on a best of three games basis. And with that the first round of the 2017 Bowling Tournament began with a chorus of cheers!
Srs. Fran Acton, Mary Teresa Coll, and Georgina Marmino, the game's organizers, were delighted with the outcome of this first of the tournament games. They agreed that the planning involved a lot of practice on the part of the other residents. But as Sr. Mary Teresa added, "It also created a lot of camaraderie." Srs. Fran and Georgina agreed. Sr. Fran explained that when she moved to Assisi House five months ago, there were sisters she didn't know well. "Now they stop by the table to chat," she laughed. Sr. Georgina was quick to agree. "We thought the games would create more spirit," she said. "And they have. Sisters who might have stayed in their rooms and watched TV are now part of the games in some way." Could that be because Sr. Mary Teresa gave people three choices: be a player, do cheers, or be a spectator?
Read more about the event and see pictures on Sr. Ann Marie's Blog.
|
Sr. Ursula Tisdall has worked for many years in pastoral services. One area of her ministry that has been and continues to be of interest to her is her work with patients with Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. Sr. Ursula finds in this ministry something very special---something that extends beyond kindness or caring to become almost a form of spirituality. She shares the following story that she finds to be comforting. Upon research we find the story in its various forms is part of numerous cultures. However there is actually one version attributed to the writer Leo Tolstoy!
The Wooden Bowl
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the table cloth. The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about father," said the son. I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor." So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with scraps of wood on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?" Just as sweetly the boy responded, "Oh, I'm making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.
Author Unknown
|
|
