For those who are familiar with St. Francis Convent and school, you will remember the three tall pine trees which grow near the two buildings. The first of our three trees near the west door of the school had to come down as it was dying.

We watched each branch as it came down.

But then as the tree came down we were told the second tree was infested with an insect and could live another year, but then would need to come down also.

So the Friars made the decision to take it down now also.

We watched with heavy hearts as each limb came down

Then the final notch.

And now there is one pine tree left.

As our country marks the anniversary of the passage of Roe vs. Wade, St. Francis School Kindergarteners began their week long set of lessons on respect for life.  The morning began with thinking about the Creation story and how God created people to be his friends.  The children reflected on the preciousness of a newly created person as they shared ways they would show respect for a little baby.  Expressions of love and care appeared in many gentle forms as the baby passed carefully from child to child.

Next, all began work in their special coloring books.  The first page helped them understand how very tiny we are when God first begins our life inside our mother’s womb.  Statements of amazement and quiet coloring prevailed.

The classroom bulletin board shows a child growing in the mother’s womb and reminds us all of the words of Scripture, “I am wonderfully made.  Truly these reverent moments and sincere faces are witness to the beauty of God’s presence in his little ones.

“And the Word became flesh…”

The beautiful poinsettia in our convent chapel reminds me that God created everything as a good and wonderful piece of the image of Himself.  Yet a certain gleam is added to the created beauty of that flower.  Just so, Divinity was added to the beauty of Human Nature in the Incarnation of Jesus.  What a gift to see our humanity become so privileged!

Merry Christmas!

…I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me to drink…

This Year of Mercy calls us all to be mindful of those in need, whatever form that need may take.  Sister Kathleen is aiming to bring about a mindfulness of those in need within her Kindergarteners.  St. Francis Parish takes part in the Lenten Rice Bowl project sponsored by Catholic Relief Services.  Sister has brought the program into her classroom as well.

Kindergarten students have been contributing money to the Rice Bowl.  Now they ventured upon a lesson about what Catholic Relief Services does with their contributions.  They learned about Maria and her family, citizens of Colombia who have endured much violence and hardship.  A biography and video about Maria’s life and the influence of Catholic Relief Services really brought the message home to the students.

The lesson included making a paper prayer chain.  Students learned that part of being merciful is being united to those in need.  We learned that we are all one in God’s family and so we should help and pray for one another.  The class came up with simple prayers they would like to pray for Maria and her family.

In a prayerful atmosphere they wrote their prayers on a chain link.  God can write straight (or forward) even with our wobbly (or backward) lines.

The links were then made into a chain.  The students gathered around the chain and our map to recall that no matter how far away some of our brothers and sisters might live, we are still family.  They all prayed a prayer of blessing over the chain we had made.

Later in the day we prayed for Maria and her family again.  Next all helped in measuring and preparing empanadas from the Rice Bowl recipes for Lent.  What a great and holy snack to end our day of learning to be merciful!