Many might envision the life of a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity to be placid and prayerful at all times. Here’s visual proof that this is not always so. Though our activities are many, they give the opportunity for many joys. This being Hispanic Heritage Month, our school is involved in many activities highlighting the culture of our Spanish-speaking people. The local 4-H office volunteered to come and do a paper flower making project with our Pre-K through Grade 2 students. The only thing brighter than the tissue paper layers were the smiling little faces.
Sister Kathleen surveying the situation.
A flurry of tissue paper.
How does this go?
Look at what I made!
The sense of taste was educated in the Hispanic flavors as our Pre-K and Kindergarten students experimented with the taste of tamales. These were hand made by two of the
parents from the class. After the children read Too Many Tamales they enjoyed tasting the real thing. Classes also enjoyed tasting Mexican strawberry water, straberry pastries as well as tortilla chips and salsa from a local Mexican restaurant owned by parishoners.
Unwrapping the tamale.
Yes, Thumbs up!
Dismissal time at school involves much more than just walking out the door. Sister Maria Goretti leads her first and second graders in praying the Act of Contrition. They can’t possibly leave without singing in praise of the God who has been with them throughout the day. They join in singing A Gift For You.
Oh my God, I am so sorry…
Gathering together to pray their Act of Contrition.
Ending the day in song and prayer.
“A Gift for You”
Lining up with big smiles at the end of the day.
Days end, waiting in the shade of the Magnolia tree for their parents to arrrive.
In the quiet of the Library Sister Judy is focused on the task at hand.
Thank you Lord, for the gift of the risen bread.
Sister Judy honors St. Mattew, the tax collector on his feastday by doing some money counting of her own. Though she doesn’t deal with taxes, she helps the cafeteria staff by counting snack money collected from student patrons. Prinicpal, Mrs. Lewis and the cafeteria ladies are strong believers in the maxim that “many hands make light work”!
One does not live on bread alone, but it surely doesn’t hurt to have such delicious homemade delicacies as this bread. Sister Annette left her hand and heart prints on these golden treasures fresh out of the oven.
As any given day winds down to a close, we all gather in our convent chapel for prayer. The lovely Franciscan art is complemented by the theme word for our year, blessed. We hope to support one another in remembering how truly blessed we are in so many ways along our daily journeys.
So, as you can see, life at St. Francis in Greenwood is never dull and everyone lends a color to the rainbow of activity in God’s sight.