Congregational E-News ~ Sept. 15, 2022

Art in any form has a message of its own—whether it be the drawing of a child, the music of a gifted pianist, or the words of a poet. And by some unknown intuition, those enjoying the drawing, the music, or the poem may find messages quite different from the one intended by the artist, the musician, or the poet. Art of any kind—be it verbal, auditory, or visual—speaks to the heart, and our loving Divine Artist, Poet, and Musician guides the message in whatever way the viewer/reader/listener needs it.  

Outside the Lines

 

A small child grips a pencil,

fat and awkward to the tiny hand.

No matter,

in deliberate and measured intent

design breaks through the line

with broad shapes and strokes,

grander than the space

prescribed as the proper place

to inscribe one’s name.

 

A poet knows the written word and how

to shape its knotty linguistic labyrinths

of sound and sense to inform and captivate

diverse minds and intuitions.

 

Both child and poet write straight with crooked lines

and both break through conventions of words

spaced and sequenced according to the logical expectations

of straight-laced teachers of script and sense.

 

Bernadette McInnis, OSF 


Visit our Website
Donate Now

Meet Sr. Marietta Culhane


Sr. Marietta Culhane lives the essence of Franciscan charism: willingly, enthusiastically responding to others’ needs with wisdom, kindness, caring, and determination to give her very best. Sr. Marietta grew up in Chicago, far away from her extended family in Ireland. Her parents had spent their childhood in Ireland before moving to San Francisco and then meeting and marrying there. When Marietta was a teenager, her paternal grandmother asked Marietta’s father to write to a cousin of his who had entered the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. It was Marietta herself who would write regularly to this cousin, Sr. Rosaire Marie, who was living in Baltimore and who answered Marietta’s letters twice a year, at Christmas and Easter.


Throughout grade school and high school, Marietta’s education was entirely from the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana. She recalls, “They were wonderful educators. I admired them and I certainly knew their history, but I didn’t think their lives were similar to the kind of life I could live.” She continues the story: “Then when I was in college (in prelaw at DePaul University), I had a decision to make. I was praying and asked, ‘What am I going to do?’ I thought, ‘I’ll do an act of charity. I’ll go and visit that nun in Baltimore.’” So Sr. Marietta wrote a letter asking to visit her cousin. Read more

Life Decisions/Franciscan Discernment Zoom Retreat


We will offer our next online Life Decisions/Discernment in the Franciscan Spirit retreat via Zoom on Sunday, Sept. 25, from 12 to 6 P.M. Eastern and 9 A.M. to 3 P.M. Pacific. We are offering a Sunday option this time to meet the needs of potential participants. This well-received online retreat remains open to women and men discerning any major life decision (vocation, relationships, faith, education, job, volunteer year, relocating, etc.). Sr. Diane Tomkinson will guide participants through a Franciscan discernment process that can assist with their own unique life choices.  Participation is free. For more information or to register, please contact Sr. Diane at dtomkinson@osfphila.orgVisit our website to learn more. 

Confronting Environmental Racism


The Franciscan Federation and Franciscan Action Network are inviting you to a four-part series on environmental racism. The centerpiece of the series will be three short documentaries, “Big Oil’s Last Lifeline,” produced by Hip Hop Caucus. At three of our four Zoom gatherings, we will view one 20-minute-long documentary and hear from a speaker in one of the “sacrifice zones” in the U.S—Houston, Louisiana, and West Virginia—while at the fourth we will discuss advocacy options with experienced activists.

 

When:

  • September 8, 4 P.M.(ET) – Houston
  • October 13, 4 P.M.(ET) – Louisiana
  • November 10, 4 P.M.(ET) – West Virginia
  • December 8, 4 P.M.(ET) – Discussion with Climate Advocates

 

Information:

RSVP required. Click here for additional information on this critical series on Confronting Environmental Racism with a Franciscan Heart.

Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia | 610-558-7726 | communications@osfphila.org | www.osfphila.org
STAY CONNECTED
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram