1 Franciscan Way

Our Veni Si Amas Spring Retreat held March 20-22nd was a weekend blessed with many graces! Please pray for the young women who came to seek God's will for their lives. As we celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation today, may they respond like Mary with complete surrender and a resounding 'yes' to follow the Lord wherever He leads. You can check out more pictures on our website !

"Rejoice in hope, be patient under trial, persevere in prayer." Romans 12:12It's nearing the end of the 3rd week of lent. Are you feeling a little discouraged? Have you fallen a few times with your resolutions? Do not lose hope! Do not give up! Begin again. Here is Sister M. Wencesla - an image of perseverance! Every day she spends 2-3 hours in adoration. You see, we Sisters do not 'retire'. Instead, we become 'Adoration Sisters'. Sister M. Wencesla is an example of a Sister who has persevered in prayer, persevered in following the Lord, persevered in the midst of the Cross, persevered in serving Him wherever He has asked. Yes, she still perseveres in faithfulness today. I don't know where you are in the journey of following Christ, but whether you are just beginning or it's been some years, do not give up in the face of tempatations or doubt. Remember, Jesus faced temptations in the desert too. Another example of faithfulness to p...

"Is God calling me to a religious vocation?" you ask. Dear sister in Christ, praise God! You are on your way to finding the answer to the deepest desire in your heart. But first, there is one thing God asks of you. He has given you the key to the eternal treasury which holds all that you are seeking. This key is your yes! Give your resounding yes as Mary gave her Fiat and God will unlock for you this priceless treasury. Only months ago I was asking the same questions you are: "How does God want me to give Him my fiat?", "Is He calling me to religious life?" Among the many ways God filled me with strength to overcome my fears and honestly seek His will were the words of Jesus Christ re-echoed by John Paul II: "Do not be afraid!" Hold onto these words and remember that "perfect love casts out all fear." Know also that your Heavenly Father gazes on you with a unique love just for you. He who created you, who "knit you in your mother...

The months of January and February seem to be especially heavy times for Catholic Schools to focus on Vocations. Perhaps the Day of Consecrated Life that is celebrated often on the Feast of the Presentation, February 2, has something to do with it. As I student teach this semester and move away from the college setting and into the classroom, the opportunity to reach out into the community and participate in vocation awareness has presented itself. An old classmate from college called me up to come talk to her second graders about what it’s like to be a sister. They were especially cute. One of the last three “questions” that I received was “This is really cool!” I agree it sounds more like a statement than an actual question, but with second graders what can you expect. (I especially enjoyed the stack of homemade cards that came pouring my way as a result of that particular vocation talk. One student even went so far to give me her phone number to call when I wasn’t doing anything. I ...

Did you ever play hide and seek as a kid? What did you enjoy more - hiding or seeking? Personally, it wasn't one of my favorite games because I would get a little scared! What if I didn't find a place to hide before the 'seeker' stopped counting? Then it was the time waiting to be found, hearing them come close - "Will they find me or not?" It almost seemed like my heart was going to pound right through my chest because it was beating so fast! Hide and seek. Two words. They provoke many thoughts to ponder. If you haven't noticed by now, I like questions. Do you hide from the Lord? Why? Do you seek Him? Have you found Him? Do you let Him seek you? Sometimes it is hard to find the Lord. He's hidden. Sometimes I expect Him to reveal Himself clearly to me. Yet, He doesn't, but does He? I have to look, to seek, Him out! I have to remember that His ways are not my ways. He is present ALL the time. I have to learn to look with new eyes and to let go of my...

Tis the season for reflection. It seems that in the jumble of these days, people talk about what they are "giving up" for Lent -- and it always sounds like they are making a heroic sort of sacrifice. But in reality, what are we really giving up? We forgo sweets, or some t.v., or some other superfluous indulgence. But what did he give? It seems like it might be good to set the bar high; to give a bit more - not so much to "give up", but to "give to"; to remember that this life will pass, and the way we make use of our time now will influence how we are for all eternity. It may be time to "go for the gold," or, as someone once said, "to run so as to win. May God bless us in his mercy. --submitted by Sister M. Luka, Kansas City in Kansas