1 Franciscan Way

If you have not already done so, check out the #ShareJesus Lenten campaign.  Visit http://redeemedonline.com to sign up to have daily video reflections delivered to your email to help you enter more fully into this season.  

This week our sisters will be celebrating Catholic Schools Week.  Follow the links below to check out the wonderful school communities in which our sisters bring Christ's Merciful Love. In the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois: St. Mary's, Alton, IL Marquette High School, Alton, IL In the Archdiocese of St. Louis St. Alban Roe, Wildwood, MO In the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas: St. James Academy, Lenexa, KS Cure of Ars, Leawood, KS In the Diocese of Peoria: St. Matthew, Champaign, IL The High School of St. Thomas More, Champaign, IL Alleman High School, Rock Island, IL Jordan Catholic, Rock Island, IL In the Diocese of Lincoln St. Michael's, Hastings, NE St. Cecilia's, Hastings, NE In the Diocese of Tulsa: St. Catherine's School, Tulsa, Oklahoma.   (Check out  this video  featuring Sr. M. Margaret and her students.)

Two Thousand and more candles on the cake. It's time to celebrate. The birth of Jesus the Babe in the manger, With Mary and Joseph his father. No King nor Ruler was told. But Angeles sang to Shepherd's Who were watching their herds. Glory to God in the Highest The Savior is born! Make haste to Bethlehem this morn! Lowly did they find Him! In a manger did He lay! Where Ox and Ass did stay. Joseph stood by protecting! While Mary His mother beamed with joy Adoring her baby boy. So CELEBRATE with TWO THOUSAND CANDLES and more! For our Savior is knocking on the door! I'm coming! I'm  coming! Prepare for my coming! For my Birthday is coming on CHRISTMAS MORN! - by Sr. M. Jessica

Check out Sr. M. Xavier's reflections on Mercy and Advent! It is often said that God’s greatest attribute is mercy. In paragraph 277, The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “God shows forth his almighty power by converting us from our sins and restoring us to his friendship by grace.” God’s readiness to forgive, even our greatest sins, was best displayed on the cross when Jesus cried out “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). The Christian is one long journey of learning to receive the mercy God is constantly offering us. But what happens when your life seems too messy for His mercy to handle? That is when we can turn to the Saints for their help. A beautiful gift of God’s mercy is that when He brought you into relationship with Himself through baptism and made you a partaker of the Divine Nature, He gave you friends to help you on your journey to Christian maturity. Not only does He give you people in this life to help you resp...

  "This is the good news the prophets foretold:  The Savior will be born of the Virgin Mary." (Antiphon for Midmorning Prayer) The Gospel message is one for all seasons, but during Advent, it's ideal to meditate on it through the lens of the Incarnation.  Check out the latest FSGM contribution to the "Advent like Nun other."  #ShareJesus

Happy Second Sunday of Advent!  Today's #ShareJesus Advent Reflection video is presented by Sr. M. Karolyn.  Visit  http://redeemedonline.com/adventseries/ to sign up to receive a daily reflection during this season from different sisters from all over the U.S.  You can also follow Redeemed Online on Facebook , Twitter , or Youtube to view the videos.  There will be a couple more FSGM specials as part of the series.  Stay tuned!

My name is Thao-Vy Tran, and I am 18 years old. I was born and raised in Rochester , MN . This past June, I graduated from Lourdes High School . I am an only child, and I am very fortunate to have two amazing parents, Cuong and Hoa-Le, who instilled in me the beautiful Catholic faith, and the seeds of discerning my vocation.  Throughout my life, I have enjoyed volunteering in multiple ways, such as playing piano and organ for my church, as well as for my school and surrounding parishes. I was also a volunteer barista at St. James Coffee, which is a Catholic coffeehouse in Rochester that contains a chapel, and is a great place for evangelization! I also like to write and make knotted cord rosaries.  For the past two summers during August, I took part as a Fiat team member for Camp Summit , which is a Catholic summer camp put on by the Diocese of Winona. There, I was able to deeply encounter the merciful love of the Lord through Eucharistic Adoration, and I was inspired to b...