By Sister Marise May OSF For those familiar with Franciscan Villa in Syracuse, our rooms each have a “box window”— two windows in the middle and one on each side. My chair is turned toward the window where I have a view of a beautiful grove of trees. The window sill is my “prayer table,” and the view [...]
By Sister Emeline Schneider, OSF The heavens are telling the glory of God with the changing colors and constant formation of the clouds. It is especially awesome at the approach of a storm to watch the trees bending, but not breaking (my lesson to bend and never to snap when troubles approach.) The firmament shows the work of His [...]
Today, Thursday, July 30, we mark World Day Against Trafficking in Persons to “raise awareness of the situation of victims of human trafficking and for the promotion and protection of their rights.” To learn more about human trafficking, register for this free webinar: Human Trafficking Webinar: World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. It takes place Thursday, July 30 at 1 p.m. ET. Click here to register: www.bit.ly/WDATrafficking Phone: 917-338-1451 Passcode: 312252624# Some recent [...]
The coronavirus pandemic. Unemployment at Depression era levels. Civil rights protests that rival those of the 1960s. What the world needs now is prayer — and some spiritual guidance. Sister Kathleen Murphy is a certified spiritual director, someone who companions people as they develop deeper relationships with God. She’s not a therapist, though she does [...]
By Sister Marianne Ferguson After Mary Magdalene showed Peter and the other Apostle the empty tomb, they went home, but she remained, staring at the empty tomb. We wonder at her thoughts; were they wishful thinking, or grief over the loss of the man she loved, or possible expectations of his return? Were these thoughts [...]
This year’s annual observation focuses on the first responders to human trafficking, the people who identify, support, counsel and seek justice for trafficking victims. The COVID-19 pandemic has made their essential role more difficult. To learn more about human trafficking and COVID-19, click here. During the pandemic, with children out of school and spending more [...]
Reflection by S. Ellen McClure Before I entered our community, I thought about becoming a contemplative nun. In high school, I was taught by the Visitation Nuns so there was some grounding to my desire. When I became a nurse and entered our Franciscan congregation, I learned that ours is the ‘mixed life’ where we live and minister in a wholeness. [...]
By Sheila Marie Long, Associate Associate Tigers Den Food Pantry, located in Amherst, New York, is a community-based partnership of Amherst Central Schools, local area Churches, and the Food Bank of Western New York. Thirty devoted volunteers from senior citizens to high school students manage and staff the food pantry which is supported solely by generous donations from its partners as well as individuals, grocers, and civic organizations. Along with non-perishable food products, the Pantry also offers personal [...]
Jeanne Karp is a home infusion nurse who provides medicines and fluids to people through IVs in their homes. She continues to work during the pandemic and needed to be especially careful about contaminating her high-risk patients. With personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves in short supply at the pandemic’s outset, S. Jeanne [...]
Sister Rosemary Bucchi What I write here may seem very simple or even childlike, but my spirituality is very simple, personal and Franciscan. I believe in, trust in and above all have a great love for the Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I always taught children that praying was talking to God, that they should in their [...]