Mary Ganz’s associate commitment service took place on April 1, 2019, underneath a handmade TRUTH sign. Rain had prevented the service from taking place as planned, outside beneath the UN banner. Here she explains her reasons for wanting it there: The TRUTH mural is across the street and high above UN Plaza and nearly every day as I cross the plaza, I turn to look at it. Also in UN Plaza is an obelisk carrying the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, promising dignity and a standard of livelihood sufficient to provide

housing to all people of the world. At any moment during the day and night there are people crossing the plaza, many of whom don't share in that promise. What is truth and how can I hold it all? At one point I looked up the history of this mural. It was painted to commemorate the release from prison of a man who was held in solitary confinement for decades. He and two others had been organizing a prison chapter of the Black Panthers and in retaliation, they had been framed for the murder of a prison guard.

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From left: Sisters Carmen Barsody, Ade Kroll and Associate Mary Ganz

Another layer of truth, revealed. It was meaningful to me to think of being welcomed as a Franciscan Associate there in the public square, among many different kinds of people going this way and that, under the TRUTH mural. For many years it has challenged me to keep opening my eyes and opening my heart, letting in more of the world, more of the TRUTH.

God’s Women Challenge Us Monday, August 12 (9:30 a.m.) – Friday, August 16 (12:30 p.m.)

St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minn.

Presenter Sister Carol Perry leads this retreat on the women of the Bible. Despite a lowered status in society, these women managed to live with courage and faith, serving as role models for us today. During this retreat we will examine our faith

journeys and perhaps adjust our steps to theirs. Come and meet some of them!

Our retreat presenter, Sister Carol Perry, has spent her life in the field of education, above all making the Bible user-friendly to adults on their spiritual journey. An author of two books, Waiting for Our Souls to Catch Up, and Among Women were published in 2014 and 2016 respectively. In 2017, after retiring from teaching adult Bible classes for 37 years, she went on to lecture and currently leads retreats across the country with an emphasis on the Bible and the role of women in religious life today.

For more information, retreat price and to register by July 29, please contact (320)632-0668 or franciscanlife@fslf.org; www.fslf.org.

AS Christi Hartwell, Little Falls, Minn.

Associate Cynthia Summers lives in Tennessee and has such a charming way of speaking, she’ll soon have you smiling no matter what sort of day you’ve had. This is a very good thing, as Cynthia has made it her life’s work helping the broken, suffering and disenfranchised in our society. Even in retirement, she shows no sign of stopping! Not long ago, Cynthia became a volunteer for a program called CASA: Court Appointed Special Advocate. As such, she received training as an advocate for abused and neglected children, many of whom receive services from several different agencies. “So many of these agencies are overloaded,” she told me. “My job is to read all the files from all the different agencies and be the mouthpiece in court for the child.” She recently received her first case and the files “were over 10 inches thick if you stacked them together!” Even so, she will read each one because that is what she committed herself to do. Indeed, a CASA volunteer stays with every case until they are closed. “It could be one week, could be five years, or they could age-out,” she said, meaning the child turned 18. As Cynthia reflected on her life and all the various paths and detours it made, she sees God’s hand in all of it. Through her education, work experience and life events, everything is proving a help with her work as an advocate. “I feel so blessed to have

this placed in my life.” In her spare time, Cynthia enjoys weaving — both baskets and tapestries. She sees weaving as a metaphor for our lives, with our experiences and choices being the threads forming the tapestry God is designing. “What God intends is a beautiful thing,” she said, and the more we seek his path, the more beautiful our tapestries will become.

She thought about St. Francis and the choices he made. The son of a wealthy merchant with dreams of being a soldier, Francis heard a voice ask, “Is it better to serve the Master or the servant?” Francis responded, “the Master.” “Francis could have chosen another way,” Cynthia said, “but he chose this one. He chose to be a servant.” As a result, he gave us an example of a better way to live: a life of humility and service to others, a life pointing us toward Christ. Cynthia said how glad she was she found the Franciscans. “Being an associate is something you feel deep inside. It provides me a structure of how to live my life.” Due to health issues, Cynthia was forced to retire at a younger age than she wanted, but it hasn’t stopped her desire to serve. “I choose to spend the rest of my life helping people,” she said, adding, “I don’t know what my tapestry will look like, but I know it will be interesting!”

AS Verónica Rivadeneira, Quito, Ecuador

April came and as with every year in Ecuador, we look for a day to meet as Franciscan Associates and renew our commitment. So it was that in the Yessenia Vallejo department north of Quito, we met on April 22. We meditated on the call to which the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls, Minn. respond to be women of energy, spirit and peace. And, in the same way, the call to which we as Associates try to respond in our own contexts. Luis Gonzalez was celebrating his birthday on Easter, for the first time without his mother alive. He reflected on the meaning of resurrection and hope in the midst of our community. Yessenia told us how her encounter with Franciscan charism and people had ended her sad loneliness, and how she is now less stressed. Several of us agreed that the beginning of this relationship was after a time of missions with Sister Joan Gerads, and that there is a force that keeps us together despite our distances and the years that have passed. Rosa Vargas recalled the invitation that another associate made her to join our community and how since then, she dedicates

one day a month to make the trips that are necessary to attend the appointment of this brother/sisterhood.

Many of us also agreed with the feeling of belonging, much as a family, with other Franciscans. We all talk about how this charism interrelates us and allows us to nourish ourselves to continue in our parishes,

neighborhoods and families, with necessary joy and courage. Carmita Malucín said that she is ready to make her commitment. We hope to organize our next meeting of the extended community of Ecuador to be able to celebrate its formal incorporation. She also shared with us about the appraisal she received in her Parish church when she was called along with other women to participate in the washing of feet, as servants of the most needy, by their service in the community dining room of Puembo. Carmita is a woman who inspires us all! Looking into each other's eyes as we stood in a circle, each person could express the reasons why they gave their "YES, I want to continue in this relationship" and conclude with a big and sincere hug.

Author Greg Stone writes of Sister Sharon Fitzpatrick’s favorite story of Francis: The Wolf of Gubbio. Here is a short summary. “In Italy, the town of Gubbio, a prosperous village had a great problem. A wolf was eating their livestock and attacking the people. The mayor consulted with his advisors and decided to inquire if Francis of Assisi would help them. Francis was moved by their plight and wanted to do what he could. The townspeople wished him well and retreated to their homes. Seeing the wolf, Francis felt a connection. ‘Come Brother Wolf, I will not hurt you. Let us talk in peace. Why did you kill the livestock and people?’ The wolf told his story. He had been left behind by his pack because he was injured and couldn’t keep up. He could only catch prey that didn’t run fast, like sheep and goats. He was only defending himself when the townspeople came to kill him. Francis proposed that the townspeople could feed him and, in return, the wolf would stop killing the people and livestock. The wolf showed agreement by placing his paw in Francis’ hand. The people of Gubbio talked with each other for hours. Relatives of the dead were the hardest to convince. Francis wept with them and touched them in a way that

softened their hearts. After many tears, they found compassion for the wolf. At Francis’ suggestion, they addressed him as Brother Wolf. The wife of the shepherd who was the first to fall brought out food to feed Brother Wolf. She was crying in relief to have the burden of hate lifted. Soon the people of Gubbio were proclaiming proudly that they had a special wolf, Brother Wolf.” Sister Sharon is especially inspired by this story because it speaks to conversion. Lives were changed! This is not just

a story about a wolf being fed, it is about people changing their pre-conceived ideas. Due to a lack of knowledge of the wolf’s needs, history and their own prejudices, they are now able to change their minds and hearts. Sister Sharon notes that sometimes it takes another (like Francis) to bring forth the truth to a people or an experience. Our closed minds, like the closed doors of the people of Gubbio, cannot fathom anything beyond their own closed attitudes. Thankfully, conversion calls out to us, extends its hand, and makes us more of who we are called to be by Christ as brothers and sisters. Oh, and the rest of the story of the wolf and the townspeople of Gubbio? “Finally, after two years, Brother wolf died of old age, at which the citizens grieved very much.” Now there’s conversion! Thank you, Sister Sharon, for sharing this inspiring story.

AS Geri Dietz, St. Cloud, Minn.

The Face of Mercy “The Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness...” Exodus 34:6

You are invited to an inspiring event!

Sister Dianne Bergant, CSA, is the guest presenter hosted by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. This Conference is for both women and men. Sister Diane will present on how we might respond to such divine graciousness and what it means for us to be “the face of mercy of Jesus.”

This event will take place July 13 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Gorecki Conference Center at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn. The cost for the conference, which includes a continental breakfast and a box lunch, is $50.

Sister Dianne Bergant, CSA, Ph.D., is Professor Emerita of Old Testament Studies and the former Carroll Stuhlmueller, CP, Distinguished Professor of Biblical Studies at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. She was President of the Catholic Biblical Association of America from 2000 to 2001 and has been an active member of the Chicago Catholic/Jewish Scholars Dialogue for the past 30 years. For more than 20 years, Professor Bergant has been the Old Testament book reviewer of The Bible Today, having been a member of the editorial board for 25 years. Five of these years she served as the magazine’s general editor. She is now on the editorial board of Biblical Theology. Sister Dianne received her Ph.D. in Biblical Languages and Literature from St. Louis University. She is the author of numerous books, including A Word for Every Season; Rejoice in God’s Reign: Daily Advent Reflection and Prayer; Creative Communications for the Parish; Genesis: In The Beginning and more!

Registration is due Monday, June 15. You can register as an individual by accessing this website: https://www.csbsju.edu/forms/B1T59UIQSU Also, if you would like to stay overnight, you can make arrangements by going directly online with the college through this link: https://www.csbsju.edu/csb-eventsand-catering/lcwr.

We hope you can attend this special event!

AP Gerry Leonard - for continued good recovery results from eye surgery.

For AS Glahecer Baque, that his kidney infection disappears and that his visit (with his wife, AS Iris Prieto) to Little Falls, be fruitful and be a time of healing.

For AS Joan Wingert’s brother, Rich, whose doctors are having difficulty in determining why his blood pressure is extremely low. He has been having heart problems.

For ASs Heidi Meza and Maximo Jeréz, who have been facing a very difficult situation for a year, due to the political reality of their country.

For AS Jeanne Page, who has discontinued cancer treatments due to the cancer’s rapid growth and lack of remission.

That the school change for the children of ASs Javier Gavilanes and Vilma Zambrano be bearable and bring peace to their family.

For AS Joel Donnell as he searches for good employment.

AS Verónica Rivadeneira gives thanks for the prayers for her daughter, Dana Ortiz. The family is learning how to manage her anxiety attacks. She also asks prayers for Danilo, her husband, who is looking for a job.

For better health for ASs Fabiola Ávila, Susana de la Guerra and Lady Borja.

We thank god for all the graduates of the Engaging Franciscan Spirituality program, and we pray that God leads others to participate in the next two-year program.

Let us continue to pray for the people of Venezuela and Nicaragua and our associates there.

He sent out his word and healed them. (Psalm 107)

May 2019 A Rose to the Living

Birthdays -- Sisters

Feastdays

Birthdays -- Associates / Applicants

2 S Phyllis Hennek 2 S Kay Watts 3 S Anne Furnstahl 12 S Jean Schwieters 16 S Ade Kroll 17 SM Christelle Watercott 18 S Fran Kempenich 18 S Trudy Schommer 20 S Aurora Tovar Rodriguez 22 S Rose Mae Rausch

1 SM Jeremy Hein 3 S Phyllis Hennek 4 S Jan Kilian 20 S Bernita Lindstrom 22 S Maurita Bernet 22 S Rita Kraemer 22 S Rita Kuhl 30 SM Joan Gerads 30 S Joanne Heim 30 S Jeanne Lieser 30 S Joan Tuberty 31 S Maureen Kelly 31 S Mary Cassilda Obowa

1 Mary Boucher 1 Mariel Perez 3 Joanne Crosson 3 Benigno Tellez 4 Beth Telander 4 Lois Willette 5 Elaine Hiemenz 6 Marizelda Jiron 6 Duane Sakry 8 Claudia Petcu 10 Pat Flicker 10 Anita Goth 10 Tom Loudon 11 Jim Graeve

12 Jan Murch 14 Siomara López 14 Martha Young 15 Giovanni López 16 Juanita Soriano de Carrión 20 Joseph Krause 20 Abraham Yorek 22 María Elena Chavarría 24 Yessenia Vallejo 26 Gene Larson 29 Gladys Arreaga 29 JoAnn Dahl 29 Indira López

A Prayer for the Dead

1/1929 SM Christopher Perusse 1/2002 SM Dominica Stadtherr 2/1961 SM Rosalia Orth 2/1997 SM Severine Frerich 3/2008 SM Felicia Kroll 4/1979 SM Winifred Drahmann 4/1998 AS Billie Fife 4/2003 SM Sabina Collins 4/2009 SM Dorine Zupan 5/1901 SM Clare Imholte 5/1997 SM Regis Gartner 5/2002 AS Evangelia Martinez 7/2002 S Bernadine Prozinski 7/2003 S Mary Schuman 8/1975 SM Juliana Peschel 10/1987 SM Genevieve Burke 10/1998 SM Barbara Heiling

12/2013 SM Ida Bursch 14/1960 SM Dolorosa Maier 14/2006 SM Christine Wiener 18/1900 SM Arthur Thout 18/1979 SM Bernadine Schneider 19/1977 SM Alvina Linsmeier 22/1963 SM Hildegard Blonigen 24/1945 SM Bernard Eich 25/1965 SM Eustelle Dumont 26/2000 AS Dolores Maciej 26/2015 AS Charlie King 27/1930 SM Johanna Styczynski 29/2012 S Eileen Theis 31/1957 SM Perpetua Klimek

Go Green in 2019 and receive The Associate via email;

Contact Christi at chartwell@fslf.org to be added to the list.