Catholic School Week Liturgy and Convent Open House

St. Francis of Assisi School, Greenwood, Mississippi celebrated Catholic Schools Week on Sunday, January 26 at the parish Mass. The national theme was Catholic Schools Week: Learn, Serve, Lead, Succeed.

Students served in various roles throughout the liturgy from the entrance procession to reading the Word of God to singing their hearts out in the choir.

Franciscan Friar of the Assumption BVM Province, Fr. Camillus Janus presided at the inspiring Eucharist with family members also present.

Sister Kathleen Murphy was organist and directed the children’s choir. Sister Janet Rose and Sister Maria Goretti Scandaliato assisted wherever there was a need for extra hands.

After Mass, everyone was invited for an open house at the convent.

Included in the tour was the convent chapel. All were able to add their prayer intentions to a book for the Sisters to remember during their Community prayer times.

Refreshments provided time for warm-hearted conversation.

Guests took the opportunity to enjoy pictures collected in albums over the years.

 

 

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

 

 

 

St. Francis of Assisi Parish Decorated for Christmas

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy has her eye on the beauty and uniqueness of Christmas celebrations around her at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Greenwood, Mississippi. Find here convent chapel scenes that also inspire focused contemplation.

The glorious tree in St. Francis Church creates a beautiful backdrop for baby Jesus. Reminiscent of the story of Christmas in Greccio, St. Francis Church always features the image of Francis with the Baby Jesus near the tree.

St. Francis Church in its Christmas splendor includes the Eucharistic Presence adorned with magnolia leaves and poinsettias.

St. Francis saw the great love of God for us as exhibited in Jesus in the crib, Jesus on the Cross and Jesus in the ciborium. Christmas at St. Francis Church recalls all of these wondrous manifestations of God’s love.

At the convent the three-fold  theme of St. Francis and his great love for Jesus is also displayed.

“Blessed Francis, however, was standing before the manger fully of sighs of joy and suffused by an indescribable sweetness…truly he was so overcomeby sweet devotion toward the infancy of that King, that whenever he had to speak the name of Jesus Christ, he would, as if stuttering, call him “the babe of Bethlehem,: out of excess of loving tenderness…” -The Life of Saint Francis by Julian of Speyer, Chapter 10, 54

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.

Meet the Sisters November 2019

The Thanksgiving version of Meet the Sisters begins with a game of Comin’ to America. Remiah is America and stands on the chair. She talks the blindfolded pilgrim maid who is on the Mayflower through the rocky shores of the New World. The other girls served as rocks. No crashes occurred.

Sister Janet teams up with Tania in a competitive game of “Roll the Turkey”!

All of the young ladies gather in the First Grade classroom to begin work on a “Grateful Heart” craft project.

Sister Maria Goretti and Sister Janet are bombarded with hungry young ladies who are eager for a picnic lunch!

Though outdoor temperatures were a bit chilly for a picnic, we brought the picnic indoors and all were as warm and toasty as their grilled hot dogs!

Time for the best part…s’mores!

Celebrating Franciscan Sisters’ Sesquincentennial in Greenwood MS

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Kathleen Murphy shares moments of celebration of our Community’s 150th Anniversary with Franciscan Friars of the Assumption BVM Province serving at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Greenwood, Mississippi .

The Sisters and Friars gather to celebrate Mass with a special commemorative liturgy.

The chapel arrangement featured bricks and a stone candle along with a framed collection of communal historical pieces.

Fr. Camillus Janus celebrates Mass. The hearts were the focus of his homily. The largest heart is the heart of God whose love encompasses all. The next heart represents the Church, a gift to us from this loving God. The third heart represents the Franciscan Family whose focus is rejoicing in God’s great love for us. The smallest heart represents the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. We dwell in the depth of and surrounded by God’s love with the mission of sharing and spreading this great gift of love.

The table is ready.

The friars dig into brunch delicacies.

 

 

 

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!