(continued on page 2)

AS Geri Dietz, St. Cloud, Minn.

From my kitchen to MJ’s office, to Kris’s cabin, to Rick’s spare bedroom, to Verónica’s living room, to Connie’s car, we connected for Conversation Circles on Zoom. Three newly

formed Conversation Circles of associates met this month to discuss articles based on our current realities and Gospel living. From Minnesota to Ecuador, to Washington, D.C., to California, to Texas and to Oregon, we joined one another for prayer, contemplative

dialogue and hopes for the future. Our ages ranged from 22 to 96!

Zoom into the All-Community Gathering 2020

You are graciously invited to join the Franciscan Sisters for the All-Community Gathering

2020 event on Friday, October 23, 2020, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

This day will take place by Zoom. Never tried Zoom before? No problem! It is easy and I

will help you practice. All you need is a

computer, tablet or a smartphone.

The day will include prayer, presentations,

small group break-out rooms with other sisters

and associates, large group informative

meetings, and there will be time for breaks

and lunch.

On October 23, you do need to “link in” via

Zoom at 7:45 a.m. and devote the day to this

gathering, which concludes at 4:00 p.m.

In order to organize all these activities with your participation, just register with Geri Dietz

at gdietz@fslf.org by Friday, September 18. You will receive a confirmation of your

registration within 48 hours. If you don’t receive the confirmation, please try again or call

Geri at (320)632-0698 or (320)251-2227.

In short, do not miss this opportunity to gather with the sisters and associates in a

meaningful way that really does work! I will be happy to answer any questions or help you

get connected. Just ask me! I look forward to seeing you there!

Geri

Many never used Zoom before, but we did it! At last, those who before could not

come to Little Falls personally, could now meet other associates and begin to build a new relationship. Never in the darkness of

this virus could I imagine the light of this good thing. Yes! It was very good and I am so grateful for our associates.

Continued from cover... Heartfelt condolences to Associate

Joan Wingert, whose brother, Rich, passed away in Texas and to

Associate Jim Blake, who lost his wife, Associate Alice Blake,

and his youngest sister. Our prayers are with you.

AS JoAnn Dahl, Little Falls, Minn.

For more than 35 years, late August meant thoughts of preparation for the upcoming school year. There was a sort of joyful anticipation as I considered all the possibilities of a new beginning, a fresh start and the opportunities that lay ahead. I made plans, set goals and in many ways defined and redefined myself, for so much of my personal identity was determined by my work as a teacher. I loved my job! There is something so rich in the connections you make with the kids at school; those priceless, beautiful moments where you really see each other. As the roles and responsibilities of my job evolved and I approached retirement, I knew it would be a difficult ‘letting go.’ About two years before retirement, my husband, Garry, and I began the Engaging Franciscan Spirituality Course. As we studied the Franciscan charisms of continual conversion, contemplative prayer, and poverty, we entered a deeply enriching and transforming experience on so many personal and spiritual levels. I was surprised to find that one of these charisms, poverty, helped prepare me for retirement in unexpected ways. I had always seen poverty as a problem to be solved, not as a path to follow. I had little understanding of evangelical poverty and was very uncomfortable with St. Francis talking of Lady Poverty as the guardian of all virtues; to be longed for and embraced. Yet, when we lay aside our fear of the uncomfortable, we are often set free in a way

that allows us to embrace what we otherwise would not have been

able to hold. Gradually, I came to see the beauty of poverty. Francis longed not only to love God, but to love as God loves. God loves us so completely as to be fully emptied into our humanness. God became poor in this world that we may become

brothers and sisters of Christ and heirs to the kingdom of

heaven. Like Christ, Francis lived in joyful proclamation of our need for

God and God alone. Francis embraced Lady Poverty and gave himself with all eagerness and longing to this embrace. Such poverty means holding on to nothing but the love of God and our reliance on God with faithful abandonment. In poverty’s embrace, we cling to nothing for ourselves, but instead bend over in love for one another and all creation, holding fast to God alone. This new understanding of the charism of poverty prepared me for a graceful and grace filled retirement. I began to let go of any need for things to stay as I had established them, or for there to be any sort of legacy of my many years. I began to see that in my littleness, I had done nothing, and all the good was God’s work. I knew changes would be made and priorities would shift and I became okay with that. I no longer needed to write the next chapter, I had faith in the Author of all. God had blessed me with a great work experience, now, through a spirit of poverty, I had found the freedom to leave it behind. I had done what was mine to do, and could let it go with joyful abandonment.

AS Karina Durán, Managua, Nicaragua

Like any process, to

begin you must have

information on the

subject. Peace is a value

that we have always

heard about and the one

that we long for in our

lives and in the lives of

others. However, it is not

until we stop to reflect on

the word and its

significance that we

realize how much we are in relationship with

the universe and with ourselves.

In that time of analysis, small details can

lead to big changes. Our life is built of small

moments. These moments are the

experiences and we are left with the

memories. That those memories would be

positive for the community

and for oneself, that is what

really matters! With this we

intend to live in harmony

with the all of life and to be

able to see a promising

future in the distance.

In my process within a

Peace Circle, led by

Associate MJ Parks of

Washington, D.C., I learned

peace is an attitude towards

life. By staying mindful of these peace tools

MJ taught us and acting upon them, they

make a difference every day.

We are not perfect, but in divine

imperfection we intend to be better every

day so that our world would be different.

In this virtual Peace Circle, I have shared

with several

Franciscan

people. Listening

to their

experiences also

enriches my

spirit. I thank

God for allowing

me to make the

decision to join

the group and

hear the good

news of Peace.

Peace and good

for everyone!

Christi Hartwell, Little Falls, Minn.

Today, we invite you to think about your

closet. The one you look into every morning

as you get ready for your day — that closet.

Assuming you’re able to open the door, is

your closet filled

with clothes you

rarely wear? Does

it contain clothes

from a previous

job or reminders of

when you weighed

less? Don’t you

think now is a

good time to clean

it out? And while

you’re at it, seek a

simpler wardrobe,

one more befitting your Franciscan spirit.

Of course, we know the story of St.

Francis; how he stripped off his clothing and

made a public declaration of dedicating his

life to God. We’re not asking you to go quite

that far, but there are certainly benefits to

dressing in a simpler style.

1) You save money (less shopping!)

2) You save time (less laundry!)

3) You gain clarity (fewer decisions getting

dressed!)

An even bigger benefit is the one it gives

to our environment. Did you know the

fashion industry has been labeled the second

largest polluter of clean water globally?

(Agriculture being first.) Plus, many of our

modern fabrics include synthetic fibers,

meaning they won’t decompose for decades.

And we haven’t even mentioned the

humanitarian issues involved with the

garment industry. (Just do a quick search for

“fast fashion facts” to learn more.)

With such

environmental and

societal issues to

consider, paring

down your wardrobe

makes good

Franciscan sense. The

question is, where do

you begin?

Some people

advocate choosing a

number—for

instance, 30 items for

3 months—and boxing up everything else

for storage. (This is the option I followed.)

For example, you might choose 10 tops, 10

bottoms, two sweaters, three pairs of shoes

and five accessory items (underwear and

sleepwear don’t count). You may find you

don’t need that many items—maybe 20 is

enough. Just keep refining it until you

discover what works for you. Every three

months, you make changes as necessary for

the seasons. In the process, you’ll find many

items you don’t need that you can donate to

someone who could use it.

Eventually, you’ll have a simple

wardrobe that actually works for you, an

easier time taking care of it and a much

easier time getting dressed in the morning.

Plus, you’ll have a very tidy closet!

Sister Elise Saggau, Little Falls, Minn.

Asking me what my favorite Franciscan story is, is like asking me what my favorite chocolate is. Faced with a choice between milk chocolate, dark chocolate, Cadbury, Hershey's, Ferrero Rocher, or Lindt, where would I start? Well, that’s how I feel about the Franciscan stories that have so effectively shaped my life. They are all my favorites because my own story has somehow become incorporated into all of them. Each one is a jumping off point for some aspect of my own Franciscan life which began when I attended St. Francis High School back in the late ’40s. I was a pious girl, quite idealistic, and the high school experience was formative. We lived a strictly regimented life with the Franciscan sisters. We had many chances to participate in spiritual events (daily Mass, Our Lady’s Sodality, annual retreats, prayers before all classes and before and after all meals). At the same time we received a very high level education, plus many opportunities to develop social and creative skills in organized activities like the drama club, choral groups, art club, the school newspaper, and sports. The most formative experience was living in a dormitory with ten or more other adolescent girls. What was Franciscan about all of this? Well, everything! St. Francis’s fundamental idea was that we are all brothers and sisters. At St. Francis we were helped to practice that with school mates we liked and those we did not like. The sisters set the example and gently guided us along the idealistic way that

they themselves had espoused. Our student lives were immersed in Franciscan stories. Each October 4, we remembered and honored St. Francis’s death and canonization. We knew that Christ had spoken to him from a cross. We knew how he had loved God so much that he received the stigmata. We knew how he started the tradition of the

Christmas crib. We knew how he had talked to birds and how much

he loved the sun, the moon, and the stars, and all the earth and things of the

earth. We knew that he chose to be very poor and to take care of people who were poorer than he was, like the lepers. We knew who he was and what he had done. Really, for a good Catholic teen-aged girl, what was there not to love about St. Francis of Assisi? Under this regime, Franciscan stories gradually became my stories. 800 years after Francis’s death, I became immersed in the way of thinking that he had instilled into his followers. I realized that this was not only something I could do, but something that I had to do. When I was 17, I joined the sisterhood and never looked back. Seventy years later, I can readily say that I am part of a story by which Francis remains among us, living and preaching the way of life that his hero, Jesus Christ, called him to. While the context has almost completely changed, it is a tribute to his genius that people today still call Francis father and still try to follow the ideals he so passionately placed before the society of his time. The fact that there is a Franciscan Order today is solely because there are Franciscans today. I am glad that I am one of them.

For protection and health for our Associate’s families: Norma Taylor, Salvadora González, Benigno Téllez, Máximo Jerez and Fernando Navarro.

For AS Joan Wingert, whose oldest brother, Alf (77), is battling pancreatic cancer.

For health for ASs Luz Marina Reyes, Heidi Meza, Ana Cecilia Castillo, Leonor Gallegos, Arlen Casco, Gladys Arreaga and for all the Associates from San Diego, Condega.

For AS Betty Pasela, who completed five weeks of radiation and is in the process of tissue healing. She will have surgery on August 28th and anticipates extended rehab time. We pray for complete healing.

For a good delivery: AS Maryam Arróliga will give birth at the end of August.

For Robyn and Eugene, niece and nephew of AS Mary Pull, who lost their mother and struggle with their disabilities alone now. Also for Mary's own health as she struggles with kidney and heart disease.

AS Mercedes González asks prayers for the sick who are in the hospitals.

For Kiley, granddaughter of Cheri Hample, who is searching for a new job that she will enjoy.

For AS Sandra Paredes' daughters: Aishy will go on a voyage on the high seas for a few months as part of her training to be a Naval Officer. For Lissett who lives in Spain and is looking for a job.

AS Karina Durán asks for the physical and mental health of all the people of our community and of the entire world in these difficult times, that we are more united and strengthened in community values. May this time of reflection increase empathy towards others on the planet to live in harmony with divine creation.

For Fritz Panek, husband of AS Mary Panek, who has blockage to his heart.

For work and health for AS Aura Estela Rivera and her daughters.

For AS Jennie Schlumpberger, who needs to pass several painful kidney stones and is being evaluated for a rare blood cancer (Polycythemia Vera). Also, for her dog, Gunnar, who is being tested for cancer after a painful surgery.

For the constant recovery of AS Ramón Zamora and AS Faby Albán's granddaughter.

For the health of AS Vilma Zambrano's uncle, José Padilla, who is 87 years old and is hospitalized.

AS Maria Karpinski invites all to pray for a needed vaccine and a healing from racism and discrimination. Also, she encourages all to pray at 7:30 am and 4:15 pm, the same time as the sisters pray each day, in addition to the Masses. (you can find the times at www.fslf.org)

For those who are in need of a job, especially ASs Luis González and Estrella Carrera.

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. (Nahum 1:7)

September 2020 A Rose to the Living

Birthdays -- Associates / Applicants 3 S Gert Brixius

3 S Pat Forster 3 SM Sharon Fyle 4 S Mary Zirbes 5 SM Julien Dirkes 10 S Mary Lou Eltgroth 12 S Carol Schmit 15 S Beatrice Eichten 20 S Cordy Korkowski 25 S Sharon Fitzpatrick 28 S Mary Dumonceaux

1 S Ruth Lentner 8 S Louise McKigney 8 SM Maurita Niedzielski 8 S Joyce Piotrowski 15 S Mary Lou Eltgroth 29 S Michelle L’Allier

4 Nancy Nord 5 Jeff Odendahl 5 Yesenia Soto 7 Nancy Maloney 9 Harry Fleegel 9 Denis L. Paul 10 Shirley Hagen 10 Stephanie “Luna” Luna 13 Carmen Arellano 15 Mary Jane Flynn 15 Netchie D T Patterson- Sampson 17 Maureen Gertken 18 Glahecer Baque 19 June Doble-Johnson 19 Deb Kalahar 21 Steven Good 21 Vicky Phillips 22 América Figueroa 24 Mercedes Gonzalez 26 Robyn Gray 27 Fabiola Ávila de Loarte 27 LuAnn Trutwin 29 Rosanne Fischer 29 Karen Schellinger 29 Vilma Zambrano

A Prayer for the Dead

1/2000 S Helen Mrosla 3/2009 S Camille Squillace 4/1978 SM.Agnes Soenneker 5/1914 SM.Joseph Rauch 6/1990 SM.Cyrene Schirmers 6/2012 AS Bonnie Przybilla 7/1946 SM.Bernadette Haggerty 10/1996 SM.Avelline Kuefler 10/2017 SM Matthias Gangl 11/1950 SM.Gregory Vos 12/2012 SM.Claudia Boras 14/2008 S Mary Kalis 14/2009 AS Leona Horak 14/2013 SM Kathleen Kelly 16/1979 SM.Michael Ramler 17/1927 SM.Ferdinand Boyer 17/2017 S Mary Dulski 18/1955 SM.Ambrose Gagnon 18/1988 AS Bob Reynolds 18/2005 SM.Redempta White

18/2013 AS Angélica Bucheli 19/1981 SM.Jude Godfrey 19/1986 SM Kateri Conley 19/2005 SM.Jeremia Trutwin 20/1993 SM.Giovanni Becker 21/2005 AS Carolyn Worster 21/2015 AS Rita Kovar 23/2009 SM Roberta Zimmer 23/2013 AS Betty Bodnar Belanger 23/2016 S Latona Kalis 24/2008 SM.Lois Christen 24/2013 AS Dolores Harlson 25/2011 SM.Felix Mushel 26/2014 AS Ursula Thompson 28/1917 SM.Magdalene Michaud 28/2013 SM Jeanne Winter 28/2017 AS Joan Siefert 29/1965 SM.Teresa Hurrle 30/2019 S Loretta Beyer 30/2016 AS Kathleen Webskowski

Birthdays -- Sisters Feastdays

“Go green” in 2020 and receive The Associate via email! Contact Christi (chartwell@fslf.org) to be added to the list