by Guest Blogger Aimee Fritsch* Oh my goodness, why does the Pope make me cry? That crossed my mind more than once as my eyes watered up, sitting in the St. Jane House, watching the documentary “The Francis Effect”. The eyes of the world are on him, and I think Read more…
by S. Mary Frances Reis, VHM On Friday, August 7, 2015 I threw the first pitch at the St. Paul Saints’ game. On that gloriously clear and sunny ‘Minnesota-at-its-best’ evening at the ball park, little did I realize God would re-visit me with my own very personal Sacred Story. The Cookie Cart Read more…
by S. Katherine Mullin, VHM Recently the door bell rang. As I neared the door, I saw it was a person who looked somewhat like “B” –a young man from the streets who roamed around, day after day, without much purpose. “We hold a treasure, not made of gold, in Read more…
By S. Mary Margaret McKenzie If the following characteristics gathered during Phase II discussions of the Resident Visitation Lay Community Invitation inspire and call you, think about, pray about commitment: Relational, by being residential and in the midst of the neighborhood; Mutual, in living as well as in decision-making; Dedicated, Read more…
by Sr. Suzanne Homeyer, VHM !Hola! Me llama Hermana Susanna. That is how I began the most recent Women’s Overnight Retreat at St. Jane House. Each year for Mothers’ Day we Sisters invite the women of our neighborhood to participate in an all day retreat in honor of their nurturing Read more…
How many ways are there to communicate love for your community? For the families that inspire and nurture our very existence? What are we called to say, do, be — in response to the outpouring of God’s love born out through one another? How do we, as the Visitation Community, express Read more…
by Melissa Borgmann-Kiemde, Visitation Companion It’s a shut down day at the monastery. The guests have gone home. We’ve bustled — been on the move in a monastic fervor this past Advent and ongoing Christmas season. We’ve rung in the New Year. And now we rest. Or now, according to poet, Civil Read more…
by Sr. Suzanne Homeyer, VHM As we planned our recent Visitation Companion Advent morning of prayer and reflection Jody, Linda and I spent some time sharing about our community Advent focus of Promise. A phrase from the 2008 – 2014 Vision Statement of our order somehow spoke to all of Read more…
by Sr. Suzanne Homeyer, VHM “Thank you, for your commitment!” was one of the final comments I heard on my profession day. They were spoken by one of my BOF (Best Oblate Friends) as he was leaving our monastery for the wintry drive back to Michigan after the festivities. Those Read more…
The following post is from our Newsletter Archives. It first appeared in our Winter 1994 Newsletter.* by S. Mary Margaret McKenzie, VHM Homelessness happens: tenants have to move because a landlord can’t meet the mortgage payment; a single parent needs more space for growing children; a family of nine cannot Read more…