November 2011
Living with PurposeSister Paula Pohlmann
SomeonealongHighway75inSt.Augusta,Minn,hasayardsignwhichreads,“Thepurposeoflifeistolivewithpurpose.”Thissigncatchesmyattention—whatagreatnotionitpresentsforanyofusflittingbyperhapsaimlesslyoratmostwiththoughtsof“What’sforsupper?”Thissignremindsmeofoneofmyfavoriteauthors,EckhartTolle. Tolle’sbook,A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose,speakstomyheart.Ashumanbeingswesharetheabilityto“wakeup”andreflectonwhatitiswearethinkingabout,whatisitweareconsciousof,ifweareindeedconsciousofanything!Otherlivingbeingsarenotsogifted.Awakeningisoneoftheprimarypurposesofhumanbeings—wealonehavetheabilitytoconsciouslyreflectonandtodeliberatelychoosewherewewillfocusourattention.Awakeningcanbeseenasthatshiftinconsciousnesswhichhappensaswechoosetogrowinawarenessofourownthoughtprocesses.Onlywhenwemakeapracticeofseeingthepatternsofthinkingthatcontrolourlivesdowehavethepossibilityofchanging.Thisisakeypurposeofourhumannature,togrowinawarenessandenhanceourbeingwiththepotentialconsciousnessourCreatorgavetoourspecies.Inordertodevelopthisgreatpotentialandtheresultingenergyoffullconsciousness,wemustlearntoliveinthepresent moment. Livinginthepresentmomentisoneofthemostimportantpracticestaughtbyspiritualleadersofeverydenomination.Itmeansbeingwhereweareandnotgoingoverandoverwhatispastorworryingaboutwhatmighthappeninthefuture.EckhartTolleinvitesustoacceptwhereverweareandtorecognizethatgrowthinawarenessisalifeprocess.Itdoesn’thappeninasingleevent.Suchgrowth,however,doesrequiredailypractice.Foreachofusitispartofourowninnersoulwork;noonecandoitforus.
A prayer I like to use is from Judy Cannato in her book Field of Compassion:
Holy Mystery, for eons you have prepared our species for this moment in time. All creation continued to evolve until we have become conscious of ourselves. In my personal life, I can see my own evolution in consciousness, my own coming to awareness of the grace you have given me. May I not fail to engage the gifts you give for the sake of the rest of creation. May my life be an unfolding of your power within me for the enlightenment of the universe. Amen.
Sister Paula finds her task of watering flowers frees her mind.
2 Clare’s Well, aNNaNdale, miNNesotathe Well • November 2011
Report from Lacy
Gather the WomenJuliana Howard, member of Clare’s Well Visioning Circle
OneoftheperksIreceiveforwelcomingRoxannewhenshecomestodomassageatClare’sWellistheritualizedreceptionofatreatfromher.Ritualsareimportantforme.Ithinkitisbecausetheyprovidestructureandsecurity.Iappreciateknowingwhattoexpect.Aroundherethereareplentyofsurprisestokeepmeonmytoes!Well,backtoRoxanne.Iaboutbreaktheporchdoordownwhenhercarcomesupthedriveway,Iamsoeagertoseeher.ShefaithfullygreetsmewithatreatforwhichsherequiresthatIfirstsitandshakeherhand.She’satruefriend.Wehavearoutinewebothknowandenjoy. Theworldissofullofinsecurities;weallneedtoprovideforeachothersomeevidenceof“youcancountonme”inordertohaveagroundinginpeaceandgoodnesswhichhelpsusliveandgrow.Otherexperiencesoffaithfulnessinmylifeincludeallthewayspeoplecareforme.ItrulyappreciatethemorningritualofPaulatakingmeforawalkafterwhichIgettoliedownontherampjustunderthechapelwindowwhilethesistersandguestsprayMorningPrayer.Intheevening,wesittogetheratleastforalittlewhileinthelivingroomandrememberwhatmadethedayspecialorjustbetogether.Isuspectthismustbewhatmakespeople
calmandpeaceful—familiaritywithrestfulandsharedritualsthatdon’trequirelearningnewtricksallthetime.IknowwhoIamhereattheWell.Mypeopleknowwhotheyare,too.Come15visitorsadayorcomejustone,we’reclosetothegroundandintouchwithwhatcounts.Weknowwhoweare,andtryingtobedifferentonlywastespreciousenergy. Oh,Ihavetogonow—Ihearaguestarriving.Idon’texpecttreats(norshouldIhavethem)fromeveryone.Irecognizethatmostpeoplewillsimplyscratchmyearsandsay,“Hi,Lacy.Goodtoseeyou!”Ihopeyoucancountonnurturingritualslikethatinyourlife,too!
IalwayscomehomefromClare’sWellfullofjuiceandwondermentthatishardtoexplain.Whatexactlygoesonoutthereonthefarmthatissomagical?Itishardtoputwordstoanexperiencesoorganic,soenlivening,sonurturing,andsounifying.NowI’vefoundjustthewordsIwassearchingforin“TheCovenantsofLeadership”ofGathertheWomen,anationalorganizationthatsupportswomen’swisdomandpower.Hereismyadaptationofafewoftheircovenantstatements: •Wededicateourselvestothebeliefthateach ofusisenoughrightnow.
•Weshowgratitudeandaffirmeachotherand eachwomanwemeet. •Weserveasaglobalexampleofinclusivity, interdependence,anddiversity—valuing andappreciatingandhonoringallexpressionsof humanityandspirituality. •Ourgreatestvalueistocreateaplacewhereall cangatherwiththeassurancetheirgiftswillbe honored. Nowisn’tthatawonderfuldescriptionofwhatgoesonatthefarm?GathertheWomenisaglobalinitiativetoempowerwomen’sleadership.Forthecompletecovenantsee:www.gatherthewomen.org.
3Clare’s Well, aNNaNdale, miNNesota the Well • November 2011
Blessed with Helping Hands!Clare’sWellcouldnotbewhatitiswithouthoursandhoursofhelpfromthemanyfriendswhogivesofreelyandgenerouslyoftimeandefforttohelpus.Picturedherearejustafewofyouwhoworkedtosupportourservicetoretreatgueststhispastsummer.Itwouldrequireaverylargevolumetoincludeeveryone.Thosewhosephotosarenotonthesepagesareneverthelessincludedinourgratitude.Yourfriendshipisanimmeasurablegift.
PHOTOS - Clockwise from top left: Josh Tracy gave many Boy Scout hours to help prepare our deck for re-finishing.
Ryan Filek with one or another of his parents, Jennifer and Chad (or occasionally his grandmother, Renee Logeais), came every week this summer to care for our lawn.
The bulk of the heavy-duty sanding of the deck was done by our friend, Gail Condon, who also put in many hours to re-seal the wood. This job completed the repairs made necessary by the hail storm of July 2010.
Marian and Doug McCarthy Beumer spent many days and hours with various jobs from gardening, picking and canning apples, clearing fallen branches after the July 1 windstorm, and making numerous repairs. Doug learned that it is possible to find just what you need on the garage workbench to fix just about anything.
Jill Healy and these boys picked up downed branches and sticks from all over our yard. We have never seen lemonade and cookies so appreciated as we did by them!
4 Clare’s Well, aNNaNdale, miNNesotathe Well • November 2011
My journey continuesSister Janice Wiechman
OneSundayinthebeginningofSeptemberwewitnessedamonarchcaterpillar’sentryintoitschrysalis.Wesawtheprocessfrombeginningtoend.ItwasawesometowatchthatincrediblejourneyfromtheJforminwhichithadhungitselfonatwig,throughthestruggletosheditsskin,andthentowrapitselfinthebeautifulgreenjewel-likechrysalis.Iwonderedhowitknewwhenwastherightmomenttomoveon,ordidithaveanysecondthoughtsabouttakingsuchastepintothedark?Diditknowabouttherealityofitsforthcomingresurrectionasabutterfly? MyownbecomingpartofClare’sWellwasabitlikeenteringonajourneylikethis.Suchajourneyrequiresenteringasilence,atimewithoneselfandwithGod.Ithinkmanywouldsaytheyaresurprisedatwhattheyhearwithin.Itcallsforalittlerisk,alotoftrust,andopennesstotheunknown. Itwasaprivilegetobe,insomesmallway,apartofyourjourneys.Yourwillingnesstorisk,trustandbeopentothewellwithinisblessingnotonlyforyoubutalsoforothersattheWell,andreallyforallhumankindand,indeed,allofcreation.Somehowyourwillingnesstoentertheinnerwellandtolistendeeplysupportseachofusonourjourneys.IthinkperhapsthatispartoftheenergyatClare’sWell:thecourage,therisk,thelisteningandthejoyof
resurrectionofallwhohavebeenthere. IwasatClare’sWellforjustoverayear.Aftermuchreflection,prayer,listeninganddiscussion,Icametotheconclusionthatthetimehadcomeformetotakethenextsteponmyjourney.OnOctober18,ImovedtoMonterrey,Mexico,tolivewithourtwoyoungestFranciscancommunitymembers(SistersAuroraTovarandIsabelBerrones)andSisterGraceSkwira.Icarrywithmethesharingofthepastyear,thebeautyandpeaceofTheWell,andtheloveandsupportofSistersJan,CarolandPaula.ThoughIknewIwouldmissbeingthere,IalsolookedforwardtoreturningtoMexico.MyministryinMonterreyisunfoldingasIgetsettledhere. ThankyoutoeachoneforyourpresenceandsupportivesharingduringmytimeatClare’sWell.Mayyoubeblessedineachnewstepofyourjourney.
(Left) We were blessed with several groups of young people attending St. Ignatius Parish vacation Bible school who came to volunteer time to help with yard work. Sister Maurita Bernet (second from left) shared her music and teaching skills as well as her “elbow grease” in gardening. Jessica Chapman (far left) accompanied this group. Sister Carol learned the songs, too.
(Right) Laura Pineda-Fischer spent three days a week for three weeks of her summer vacation from college helping with the garden or whatever else we needed.
5Clare’s Well, aNNaNdale, miNNesota the Well • November 2011
Damschangethefaceofthesurroundingterrain.Damschangelives.InJanuary2012amissiongroupwhichhasspenttwoweeksinNicaraguaforthelast12yearswillagainreturn,thistimewithanewchallenge.InsteadofamedicalclinicandbuildingprojectinaremoteareaofNortheasternNicaragua,thegroupwilltraveldowntheRioGrandeRiver,whichservespeoplefortransportationinthatareaasInterstate94servesushereincentralMinnesota.Afour-yearstudyidentifiedtheareaofTumerinfortheconstructionofthenewdam.SomelocalfarmersandshopownerswhowillbefloodedoutarebeginningtomoveintotheTumerinregion,hopingtoworkonthedam,andtheestablishmentofanewtown.Soourgroupwillfirstbevisitinghomestolistentothestoriesofpeoplehavingtoleavetheiroldlocation,leavingthechurchcommunitiesthatrecentlyhadbeenestablished,leavingperhapsanew-lystartedbusinessfartheruptheriver.Wewillalsobe
joiningwiththenewsettlersinconstructingachapelwhichwillservepeopleofthesurroundingarea.Theecologicalimpactofthedamwillonlybeknowninthefuture. Untilthistimenoneofthemostremotecommunitieshavehadpower.Themainsellingpointonthepartofthecompanybuildingthedamhasbeenthepromiseofelectricity.RuralMinnesotaheardthatargumentinthe‘30sand‘40swhenREAcamethrough,changingfarmingandlifestylespermanently.WehopethatourbriefvisitwillhelptheNicaraguansbegintodevelopastrongChristiancommunityintheareaofTumerin,justbelowthesiteoftheproposeddam. Thisyearourteamwillnotbepurchasingallthemedicinesandsuppliestheclinicrequired.Butwearecollectingfundsforusewiththechildren,indoingthatwewillhelpthecommunitydeveloptheirfledglingschool.Yourhelpwillbemuchappreciated.
NicaraguaSister Carol Schmit
If you want to be part of building this cross cultural relationship with the people of Nicaragua, you may send a check to: Franciscan Sisters, Nicaraguan Fund, 13537 47th Street NW, Annandale, MN 55302
Cyber technology reaches into the rain forest of Nicaragua. To read more about the dam in this village, Google Tumerin Hydro Power Plant.
6 Clare’s Well, aNNaNdale, miNNesotathe Well • November 2011
This newsletter is printed on recycled paper. Please don’t throw it away. Pass it on to a friend or recycle it.
Clare’s Well can be reached at: 13537 47th St NW, Annandale, MN 55302 Phone: 320-274-3512 • Web: www.clareswell.org
Wish List• On-goinghelpwithbuckthornremoval• Animalfeedandbirdseed• Donationstore-carpettheDomeHermitage• Donationsforotherthingsthatwearoutafter 23½years• ContributionsforScholarshipFundforpersons whoneedtocomebutcan’tpay• Fundstopayforadditionalhelphereandthere aswearebacktothreeSister-staffmembers
Thank You• Forallofyourgenerouscontributionstohelp maintaintheministryofClare’sWell• Forhelpofeverykind,outofdoors,inthe house,hermitages,garden,yard,onthedeck, inthewoods,andoutatthepond• Fortheswimmingraftonthepond• Fortakingcareofthisplacewhenthestaff needstobeaway• Forfirewood,householditemsandfood• Foranimalfeedandbirdseed• Foryourfriendshipandyourprayers.Godbless eachofyou.• AspecialthankyoutoSisterJaniceWiechman forbeingoursisterhereinClare’sWell Communityforthepastyear,forherwilling heartandcaringhands!Weknowsheisa blessingforoursistersinhernewhomein Monterrey,Mexico.
Spring Work DayOurannualspringworkdaywillbeSaturday,May19,2012.Thistraditioncontinuestobearewardingdayforallofus—wegetmanyofournecessarytasksdoneandthosewhohelpseemtohaveagoodtime.Childrenarewelcome.Letusknowifyoucancome.Webeginat9:00a.m.,rainorshine,withapauseforprayerandlunch.
Spring Work Day – May 19, 2012Reminder Form
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Please send me a reminder of the Spring Work Day. Please contact me to help on special projects. Please take me off your mailing list.
Return this form to:Clare’s Well13537 47th St NWAnnandale, MN 55302-3507Phone: 320-274-3512; E-mail: [email protected]
Sisters Janice and Jan share a word upon finishing another canner of apple pie in a jar. No one could have been more willing to learn new tricks than Janice during her stay with us.
