St. Francis of Assisi Fall Festival

October 14, 2019 by Leave a Comment

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.

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Franciscans Celebrate Transitus of St. Francis

October 7, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, Franciscan Friars of the Assumption Province and Secular Franciscans celebrated the Transitus of St. Francis Assisi on October 3rd. It is a vigil service remembering St. Francis’ death and resurrection, while focusing on what is ours to do for Christ today.

As part of the prayer all present lit candles and heard the Canticle of the Creatures, Psalm 142 and the Gospel of John starting with the passage that begins: Six days before the Passover, Jesus knowing that the hour had come for him to pass from this world to the Father…

Significant to the Greenwood, Mississippi commemoration was the use of the relic of St. Francis. This precious sign of St. Francis was a reminder of our Holy Father Francis’ presence with us still.

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Franciscan Sisters Pray for Healing of Scars of Slavery

October 7, 2019 by Leave a Comment

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.

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St. Francis of Assisi School Global Climate Strike Activity

September 23, 2019 by Leave a Comment

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.

Franciscan Sister Janet 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!

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St. Francis School Celebrates Grandparents

September 14, 2019 by Leave a Comment

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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Franciscan Sisters Begin School Year with Jesus

August 16, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity at St. Francis of Assisi Convent, Greenwood, Mississippi, had many special intentions beginning this new school year. Eucharistic Adoration in our convent chapel was especially meaningful, knowing that Jesus was hearing our every petition and need.

Sister Janet Rose and Sister Kathleen Murphy prayed for our students and their families. As teachers we needed to not only set up classrooms, but in Sister Kathleen’s case to move classrooms. She is teaching first grade this year and because of multiple reasons, needed to move furniture and materials. The generous hands and strength of others helped this happen in a timely manner. At this time, school is already in session and learning is taking place.

Sister Maria Goretti Scandaliato is soon to return for another year with the children. Our Sisterly prayers for God’s healing rays to help her in her recovery were answered.

To get you in the spirit of our school environment, here’s one of the bulletin boards in St. Francis of Assisi School!

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Franciscan Sisters Welcome First Communion Candidates

May 30, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity are blessed to assist in the instruction of the First Communion children at St. Francis of Assisi School, Greenwood, Mississippi.

Like St. Francis, we feel blessed to walk with the young people who receive the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

In St. Francis’ own words: “O how happy and blessed are those men and women while they do these things and persevere in doing them, because the Spirit of the Lord will rest upon them, and they are children of the heavenly Father.

Whose works they do, and they are spouses, brothers, and mothers of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

May the Lord bless these young witnesses and their families! May their faith grow and inspire many others to walk in the light of Christ.

 

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St. Francis School Children Crown Mary Statue

May 13, 2019 by Leave a Comment

It is the month for Mary. St. Francis of Assisi School children crowned a beautiful statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary at a recent Mass. These words from The Versified Life of Saint Francis by Henri d’Avranches seem appropriate for this devotion.


O loving Mother, hail Mary, filled with the Spirit’s gift,
The Lord be with you, you are blessed among women,
And blessed the fruit of your womb,’ And say those words
For as long and as often as your devotion lasts.
For through you ponder the first joys of Christ’s mother.

Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Kathleen Murphy also prepared her PreK and Kindergarten students for the Sunday readings. Jesus is the Good Shepherd. Can you find the sheep among the students?


Find next Sister Kathleen and her class making a symbol of their hearts giving to Jesus as they learn how much Jesus loves them. “Sing Alleluia, Sing”!

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St. Francis’ Rule Tells Story of Parish Triduum

April 24, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Each year St. Francis of Assisi School and Parish Community celebrate the Triduum with great devotion and loving participation. As Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, we feel called to highlight moments of the last days with the words found in St. Francis’ Earlier Rule. Francis prayed for unity -reflected best in the Trinity -among his followers and all people. We pray for this grace among us and the whole world.


Therefore, let nothing hinder us, nothing separate us, nothing come between us.

Wherever we are, in every place, at every hour, at every time of the day, every day and continually,
let all of us truly and humbly believe, hold in our heart and love,

honor, adore, serve, praise and bless, glorify and exult, magnify and give thanks to the Most High and Supreme Eternal God Trinity and Unity Father, Son and Spirit….

Special Easter greetings to all from all of us in the heart of the Mississippi Delta! The Lord bless you!

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Franciscan Sisters Celebrate Sister Judy’s 60th Jubilee of Profession

March 11, 2019 by Leave a Comment

Father who created us, Jesus who espoused us, and Spirit who sustains us: Help us to be mindful that we should desire one thing alone, namely, the Spirit of God at work within us. Always obedient to the Church and firmly established in the Faith let us live according to the poverty, the humility and the holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ which we have solemnly promised to observe.

Sister Judy renews her vows

“Almighty and eternal God, I renew and confirm with all my heart the vows of poverty, chastity and obedience which I made at my profession and I implore your grace to accomplish them perfectly. Amen.” (Taken from our community’s Vow Formula)

Father Cam responds to this renewal.

“Sister if you remain faithful to these vows, I promise you in the name of God, eternal life. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen”.                                                              (Taken from our community’s Vow Formula)

“Through our profession of the evangelical counsels, we respond in the spirit of Christ with a total gift of ourselves to the Father.”   (Taken from our Community Constitutions)

“We embrace our way of life knowing that it is the way God is giving us to grow in intimacy with Him.”  (Taken from our Community Constitutions)

After Mass Sister Judy was congratulated by many of her friends and fellow parishioners.

Mrs. Lewis, our Principal, stopped to congratulate Sister Judy  after Mass.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Sister’s card are bears the words; “Having walked and blessed the holy ground of St. Francis, Greenwood, you have softened the clay of your being to be more perfectly formed by the potter.” Also, one of Sister Judy’s favorite quotes followed; “Take me, use me, lead me, mold me, call me, fill me, guide me.”

 

Sister Judy seems delighted to receive a gift card for the purchase of a Jubilee skirt.

Also stamps! What Sister isn’t pleased with a gift of stamps?

 

As we downsize our possessions during these Lenten days, Sister Judy’s request was that any gift be consumable. She appears pleased.

Romans 12:1ff   “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercy of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God–your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind that we may discern what is the will of God, what is good, pleasing and perfect. Let love be sincere, hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Do not grow slack in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.”

Saint Francis’s Prayer Before the Crucifix:  “Most High, glorious God, enlighten the darkness of my heart and give me true faith, certain hope, and perfect charity, sense and knowledge, Lord, that I may carry out Your holy and true command. Amen.”

 

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