Franciscan e-News | July 2020

Harvesting our Blessings at Home

"Praised be You, my Lord, through Sister Mother Earth, who sustains us and governs us and who produces varied fruits with colored flowers and herbs." (St Francis of Assisi, "Canticle of the Sun")

It is not surprising that many of our Franciscan Sisters have green thumbs. Making the most of their limited green space, some of our Sisters are growing porch gardens this summer ensuring we have some fresh home-grown tomatoes to enjoy while we are avoiding farmers markets and limiting trips to the grocery store.

Sister Eliana has the best crop of tomatoes this year. A gifted gardener, she often rescues struggling house plants from our offices and homes, and they thrive under her care.

Sister Ann Marie Lostoski's tomato plants have just started giving her tomatoes this month.

Sisters Peg and Janet are cultivating two plants on their porch with some success

Celebrating Our Blessings and Praying for our Neighbors

Technology is evolving faster than ever, and it is providing solutions to help us through the COVID-19 pandemic. We've been blessed to regularly connect with our Sisters quarantined at Presbyterian SeniorCare and Baptist Homes assisted living communities, mostly through phone calls, e-mail and care packages. Staying connected with our one Sister living in the skilled care unit has been more challenging. New video-call technology is a blessing that allows us to engage with Sister Sylvia via phones and smart tablets. Aided by one of her caregivers operating a smart tablet and video call app, Sister Sylvia is able to see and hear Sister Eliana or Sister Janet, who always let her know that she is loved and missed. Regular calls to the nurse’s station also keep us informed about her health and well-being. We remain grateful and pray for all caregivers and healthcare workers during this challenging time. Please remember our quarantined Sisters in your prayers. If you are struggling from being physically distanced from your loved ones, please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers every day. May God bless you and bring you peace.

July 30, 2020 is World Day Against Trafficking in Persons . We invite you to join us in prayer for victims, survivors, and all working to end this injustice. Join us as we continue to contact our elected leaders, thank them for what has been done and ask them to do more to bring traffickers to justice through legislation, as well as support for programs and services that help victims and survivors. Read More Here

A Glimpse into the Franciscan Child Day Care Center

Bill Clark continues to keep our Franciscan Child Day Care Center and Administrative Offices as clean and sanitary as possible during the pandemic. Because of his care and expertise, we were well prepared when the pandemic hit and able to adjust our already thorough cleaning and sanitizing practices to follow additional CDC guidelines and recommendations. Thank you, Bill!

Darla Kassouf displays some of the lunch bag artwork from children and parents at the Franciscan Child Day Care Center. Because of COVID-19, children now bring lunches in paper bags. This was one change that allowed families to have a bit of fun as the bags are perfect canvases for creative expression and staying connected while apart.

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