Following Christ through Holy Week – Good Friday
Good Friday - "No law"
Good Friday - "No law"
Holy Thursday - Body Given
Wednesday - Day of Aloneness
Tuesday - Compulsion to Completion
Extravagant Monday
Palm Sunday - Procession
MERIDEN, CT (04-12-2019) - We, Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, invite you to follow Christ with us through Holy Week as we share each day a short video about the theme of the day. Since 1978, our Community throughout the world has celebrated Holy Week with a unique focus for each day, based on the event of Christ's Passion commemorated in the day's liturgy. As we strive for holiness, our human nature can pull us back in fear and hesitation, and at the same time, impel us forward in faith and conviction. We see the tension of those tendencies in us during Holy Week as we strive to follow Christ in his Passion, Death and Resurrection. Let us pray together for the Church and for one another that this week will truly be a Holy Week. Commitment Saturday You might want to hear how Father Mike Schmitz of the Diocese of Duluth, a friend of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, describes the Community's unique approach to Holy Week in his video, Praying Through Holy Week. The introduction states, "Find out how the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist from Duluth pray during Holy Week, and maybe discover something you can use in your prayer life as we walk with Jesus from his entry into Jerusalem, to Calvary and the Resurrection. The unique prayer commitment Fr. Mike suggests in this video follows Jesus through all of his experiences—from suffering to celebration—in this the holiest week of the year."
MERIDEN, CT (03-28-2019) - Late winter-early spring means pruning time for the Sisters who care for the Homestead Orchard at the motherhouse. Sister Francesca Silver had a helper as she went about her work. Sister Faith Marie Woolsey caught these photos of the favorite four-legged volunteer named Emmie-Sunshine. The Homestead Orchard is dedicated to Mother Rita Brunner, FSE who managed the fruit trees at the Franciscan center in Lowell, Michigan, for many years. The Motherhouse Community looks forward to delicious apples, peaches, nectarines and pears, thanks to the diligent work of the Sisters who faithfully care for the orchard.
FALLS CHURCH, VA (03-27-2019) - In an article in the Arlington Catholic Herald, Sister Mary Timothy Prokes answers the question, "Why do you wear a habit?" See her answer. Sister Mary Timothy is a noted writer and theologian who has the unique gift of expressing deep theological principles in ways that are understandable to the "man on the street." More about Sister Mary Timothy.
LOWELL, MICHIGAN (03-21-2019) - Sister Damien Marie Savino, FSE, Ph.D. and Dr. Philip Sakimoto of the University of Notre Dame presented an engaging talk on"Banana Peels and Climate Change: A Daily Examen" at St. Robert of Newminster Parish, Ada, Michigan on March 21. Using principles expressed by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato si': Care for Our Common Home, the two scientists proposed a daily examen of the events of each day and how that might lead to practical steps to increase one's personal caring for creation. Dr. Sakimoto is an astrophysicist and and the former Acting Director of NASA’s Space Science Education and Public Outreach Program. Sister Damien Marie is the Dean of Science and Sustainability at Aquinas College. Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE, Mother Co-foundress, was a special guest at the presentation.