Our Mission Archives - Page 2 of 12

Franciscan Sisters Remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Franciscan Sister Kathleen Murphy highlights the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. March in Greenwood, Mississippi. We pray for peace and justice for all people.

Sister Janet Rose, Sister Kathleen and Sister Maria Goretti joined parish members from St. Francis, Greenwood at the March in honor of Dr. Mar-tin Luther King Jr. The march is held annually on the weekend during which his birthday is celebrated.

Brother Mark Gehret, OFM, also took part in the march.

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

“Women played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement, and so it all begins – as does life – begins in a woman’s womb.” – Bernice King

Advent Season Celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi School

The Advent Season is filled with our Blessed Mother’s feasts: Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe. Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy planned a lesson that helps the students to be aware of Mary every day of Advent.

St. Francis School First Graders were very proud of their Advent projects honoring Mary, the mother who waits.

Watercolor skills teamed up with cutting and gluing expertise in yielding the final effect of this inspiring artwork.

St. Francis of Assisi School Entry in Greenwood Christmas Parade

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy shares Christmas parade moments for St. Francis School, Greenwood, Mississippi.

Students of St. Francis School are ready and waiting for the Christmas Parade to begin. The theme for the float was Ornaments of Hope.

Sister Janet enjoys the children’s enthusiasm for the joys of the holiday!

Aladin’s lamp and his genie are inflated and ready. The genie seems to be enjoying the band’s performance.

The mighty young men of St. Francis School are in readiness as the parade begins to roll forward.

Remembrance of the Dead at St. Francis Parish

Franciscan Sister Kathleen Murphy shares images and thoughts on the recent remembrance of the dead at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Greenwood, Mississippi. Franciscan Sister Judy Norwick was among the souls lovingly remembered by the faith community.

Members of the St. Francis African American community displayed photos of their beloved dead for this Sunday of Remembrance.

Each family presented a candle in honor of their family members who have entered the Kingdom of Heaven.

Sister Janet Rose and the other Sisters joined St. Francis parish members in prayers for the dead at Hudson Park Cemetery outside of Greenwood. Fr. Joachim Studwell, pastor leads the prayers.

St. Francis of Assisi School All Saints Eucharistic Celebration

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy immerses us in the All Saints Eucharistic Liturgy at St. Francis School, Greenwood, Mississippi.

We began Mass with tambourines, Saint crowns, white robes and a few verses of O When the Saints Go Marching In.

A beautiful praise dance to Sound of the Saints by Audio Adrenaline was inspiring.

“Saints” doing a praise dance

Here’s one child pondering the beatitude she will read…rejoice and be glad!

Our Saint crowns showed symbols of the different kinds of Saints…apostles, holy men, holy women, priests, bishops and popes, as well as martyrs.

St. Francis of Assisi School Halloween Carnival

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy shares on St. Francis School Halloween Carnival, soon to be followed by All Saints Celebrations.

The first graders from St. Francis School in Greenwood are decked out in their finest or scariest or ugliest as we begin the celebration of Halloween.

The students put their costumes on parade for the Friars.

Musical chairs is always fun.

The afternoon plan features a Halloween Carnival where classes rotate to play musical chairs, sack races, cake walk and bingo.

Action on the putting green

A sack race waiting to happen

Jumping at Olympic

Costume Contest hopefuls waiting for name to be called

Finally they will feast on many hauntingly delicious snacks before heading home laden with treats!

Pickles, and nachos and chips, oh my!

St. Francis of Assisi Fall Festival

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy reports on St. Francis of Assisi Fall Festival, Greenwood, Mississippi.

Here’s a photographer snapping another photographer situation. Sister Maria Goretti snaps a quick photo of her customers at the busy prize booth. Game winners brought colored tickets to the booth. The color of the ticket indicated what types of prizes they could choose. So many choices, so little time!

Here’s all that’s left of the silent auction-clipboards for bidding, the empty bidding rules sign and table cloths used to accent the auction items with style.

A clean and shiny kitchen cleaned up and ready for school lunches again.

Franciscan Sisters Pray for Healing of Scars of Slavery

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy shares on the St. Francis of Assisi Convent, Greenwood, Mississippi, remembrance of the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first African slaves in the United States.

Sunday, August 25 marked Healing Day of National Bell Ringing. This day marks the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first African slaves on American shores. These captives were taken from present day Angola and were brought to what is now the state of Virginia.

The Sunday liturgy at St. Francis Parish in Greenwood included prayers for the healing of the still-present scars of slavery, as well as the singing of such songs as We’ve Come A Long Way Lord, O Freedom, and the Black National Anthem entitled Lift Every Voice and Sing.

Parish members were invited to join others across the nation in recognizing this day by ringing a bell at 3:00 p.m. Sister Janet and Sister Kathleen took part in this commemoration with the ringing of their own bells on the front porch of the convent. We continue to pray for the healing of racial ills and injustices in our nation which so often find their roots in the evil of slavery.

St. Francis of Assisi School Global Climate Strike Activity

Franciscan Sister Kathleen Murphy reports on a Global Climate Strike Activity at St. Francis of Assisi School, Greenwood, Mississippi.

Sister Janet’s second graders cut out letters for the Global Climate Strike banner. The caption read Earth Matters.

Painting the globe for the sign was the task of Sr. Kathleen’s first grade class.
Once the two classes combined their efforts, they proudly carried their banner outside to the front fence of the school. Since the school is directly alongside of US Highway 82 there is plenty of traffic. Students held their banner high and waved with great energy. Many drivers waved and honked. Before long an enthusiastic chant of “Earth matters now!” arose from the young voices of the students.

Upon returning to the classroom, students viewed youth activities taking place around the world on the smart board. The children were very proud that they had contributed in a small way to this global effort.
It was wonderful to feel that these little ones were getting an early start at caring for and about God’s gift of creation!

St. Francis School Celebrates Grandparents

Franciscan Sister Kathleen Murphy shares on a recent Grandparents’ day at St. Francis of Assisi School, Greenwood, Mississippi.

On Wednesday, September 11 the St. Francis of Assisi School community welcomed our students’ Grandparents and other family members. Guests joined us for the school Mass where they were specially welcomed and received a special blessing from Franciscan Friar Fr. Camillus Janus.

The students then escorted their family members to the classrooms for a little visit before lunch. Our cafeteria staff outdid themselves with a true southern feast featuring fried chicken, sweet potatoes, greens, mac and cheese, cornbread, iced tea and cake. Proud students and happy grandparents finally received cards and greetings from the little ones and all said their goodbyes. It was a great day to share the joys of family.

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