I am a Franciscan Sister of the Poor. I am an obstetrician and work in the brousse (the brush) in Senegal. I come in contact with many women, young expectant mothers, who are very weak because of strenuous activities and the heat, and who would like to learn how to live properly during pregnancy and delivery.
One day, a father arrived at our health center with three-week-old twins. They were extremely small (one weighed 3.9 lbs. and the other 3.5 lbs.), sick and malnourished. Their mother, a 16 year old woman, had died of a hemorrhage when she delivered the second twin. She did not have any pre-natal care and had no idea that she was expecting twins. She delivered at home without any medical assistance. Now she was dead and her husband was coming to us with the babies, accompanied by the grandmother and asking for help.
What could we do? We looked for a place where the twins could stay for one year, where they could be nourished and grow with all the necessary medical care. We found such a place in the city of Dakar. The father said he could not afford it. Thanks to the generosity of so many friends who support us, we found the money. The babies will make it, but unfortunately their father needed to go back to his village, which is very far away.
Who will be close to the babies? Our SFP Associates will visit them and be with them throughout the year. Life goes on and hope is very much alive as well.
Sr. Rose sfp
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3.09.2011
A Healing Presence
I have always known that the presence of even one SFP makes a difference in the lives of the people around her…and this belief is confirmed once again by the impact our Sisters Rita Donnelly and Frances Delaney have on the lives of the other residents of their assisted living facility in Brighton Gardens, New Jersey.
Both of then remain quite active and live very full lives: attending daily liturgies, singing in the choir, assisting with parish activities, helping with fund-raising efforts, critiquing homilies at the Archdiocesan Seminary, and acting as a voice for the voiceless at Brighton Gardens. In this latter area, their contributions are priceless for other residents.
Just in the past few weeks, they have:
1) asked the priest who celebrates monthly mass there to hear confessions before each Mass; 2) asked the Administrator to have a dietitian visit with residents on a more frequent and timely basis to ascertain their dietary needs; and 3) participated with others in saying the Rosary several times a week.
The Director of Recreation at Brighton Gardens shared the following with me about Sr. Rita: Regardless of their religious affiliation, Sr. Rita advocates for all the residents. She considers them to be part of her ‘living family’ and cares deeply for each one. As you can well imagine, the facility is always transporting one of the residents to the hospital for a variety of reasons. Quite naturally, the other residents are concerned and want to know what has happened to the person. However, because of HIPAA regulations, no one will tell them anything…
So they worry and fret until the person either dies or returns to Brighton Gardens and fills them in on what happened. In the event that someone has died, some of the residents tried to get to the funeral home, but most could not make it…and yet they, too, grieved and wanted to say goodbye.
So, Sr. Rita suggested that there be a memorial service at Brighton Gardens itself for each resident who dies. The service consists of Scripture Readings and a prayer service during which residents can remember and memorialize the death of their friend. The families of the departed are invited – and each family member is given a rose. It means a great deal to the residents – and to the families.
I thanked the Director for the story – and also for listening to Sr. Rita’s suggestion. It is closure and healing for every one…
In Blessed Frances, your Sister, Anita McArdle
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Both of then remain quite active and live very full lives: attending daily liturgies, singing in the choir, assisting with parish activities, helping with fund-raising efforts, critiquing homilies at the Archdiocesan Seminary, and acting as a voice for the voiceless at Brighton Gardens. In this latter area, their contributions are priceless for other residents.
Just in the past few weeks, they have:
1) asked the priest who celebrates monthly mass there to hear confessions before each Mass; 2) asked the Administrator to have a dietitian visit with residents on a more frequent and timely basis to ascertain their dietary needs; and 3) participated with others in saying the Rosary several times a week.
The Director of Recreation at Brighton Gardens shared the following with me about Sr. Rita: Regardless of their religious affiliation, Sr. Rita advocates for all the residents. She considers them to be part of her ‘living family’ and cares deeply for each one. As you can well imagine, the facility is always transporting one of the residents to the hospital for a variety of reasons. Quite naturally, the other residents are concerned and want to know what has happened to the person. However, because of HIPAA regulations, no one will tell them anything…
So they worry and fret until the person either dies or returns to Brighton Gardens and fills them in on what happened. In the event that someone has died, some of the residents tried to get to the funeral home, but most could not make it…and yet they, too, grieved and wanted to say goodbye.
So, Sr. Rita suggested that there be a memorial service at Brighton Gardens itself for each resident who dies. The service consists of Scripture Readings and a prayer service during which residents can remember and memorialize the death of their friend. The families of the departed are invited – and each family member is given a rose. It means a great deal to the residents – and to the families.
I thanked the Director for the story – and also for listening to Sr. Rita’s suggestion. It is closure and healing for every one…
In Blessed Frances, your Sister, Anita McArdle
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1.14.2011
Mother Frances Is Always at Work!
A young woman rings the bell at our house. She feels lost and abandoned. The depression she suffers from prevents her even from taking exams at the University.
After some time, she tells me that had it not been for our open door and welcoming spirit, she would not have had any reason to live. Since then, she began a journey of healing and feeling welcomed, listening and trusting in us. She ended up getting her Degree cum laude. Mother Frances is always at work!
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After some time, she tells me that had it not been for our open door and welcoming spirit, she would not have had any reason to live. Since then, she began a journey of healing and feeling welcomed, listening and trusting in us. She ended up getting her Degree cum laude. Mother Frances is always at work!
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1.10.2011
A Healing Experience at Tamar's Place
Yesterday, one of our volunteers who is in recovery, inspired me all over again. She has very little, but she is both generous and content with what she has…She told me about a minor catastrophe she experienced: she broke a plate. That may not seem like much, but when you have only 3 plates and you break one, it’s a lot! As we were talking, I told her, “Charline, I am so proud to know you. You have only two plates, and yet you are happy with what you have…”
How much each of us can learn, how much healing gratitude each of us could feel, if only we could be happy with what we have! This is what I mean when I say that these women give so much…in this case, their appreciation, their gratitude for what they have. There is no envy, no sense of entitlement, no jealousy. There is only gratitude. Meister Eckhart said: "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice…” In Charline, I have seen this ‘prayer’ in action, and felt a welling up of gratitude in my own heart: one of her many gifts.
Last night, I visited Sr. Karen Hartman’s storage area for her yearly ‘garage sale’… and found 4 matching plates, cups, saucers and bowls along with some utensils and boxed them up for her. I know she will be thrilled! I wish I could be there when she opens it…
Sr. Mary Lawrence Vanderburg, SFP
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How much each of us can learn, how much healing gratitude each of us could feel, if only we could be happy with what we have! This is what I mean when I say that these women give so much…in this case, their appreciation, their gratitude for what they have. There is no envy, no sense of entitlement, no jealousy. There is only gratitude. Meister Eckhart said: "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice…” In Charline, I have seen this ‘prayer’ in action, and felt a welling up of gratitude in my own heart: one of her many gifts.
Last night, I visited Sr. Karen Hartman’s storage area for her yearly ‘garage sale’… and found 4 matching plates, cups, saucers and bowls along with some utensils and boxed them up for her. I know she will be thrilled! I wish I could be there when she opens it…
Sr. Mary Lawrence Vanderburg, SFP
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Touched by Blessed Frances
I am a nurse and a Secular Franciscan and feel the precious presence of Blessed Frances Schervier in my life. I came to know Blessed Frances by visiting web sites of Franciscan congregations.
Your site is beautiful, well developed, clear and objective. I am enchanted by reading your publications – Voices, Remembering Sacred Lives and the new Blessed Frances Site. What is most fascinating is your charism of recognizing Christ in the poor to heal His wounds in them. This touches me deeply.
While on a retreat related to the St. Damiano Crucifix. the words “Do you not see, Francis?” pierced my heart. After prayer and silence, the gaze of the Crucified invited me to behold people with evermore compassion and to understand their stories and limitations. This inflamed my heart. I knew that I needed to rebuild my own life, since I experienced stress and health issues last year. I needed first to heal myself, as my spiritual director had suggested.
Through the Internet, I was touched by Blessed Frances’ words: “In the poor and the suffering I saw and loved the Lord…” and the words of St. Francis: “When you see a poor or an ill person, you are gazing at the mirror of the Lord.” I started praying the Blessed Frances Novena, Litany, and Prayer for her Canonization. Since then, all my laboratory exams have shown improvement. I also kept praying that Blessed Frances would intercede for the sick and the needy.
Then my nine-month old niece had an acute case of bronchitis and was hospitalized for only three days! This fills me with joy, hope and thanksgiving. The journey may be difficult, yet the Crucified asks us: “Repair my Church!” Now I know that it is the Lord himself who asks me, who brings me the help from St. Francis and our Blessed Frances, as their gaze converges toward the same point: seeing Jesus in the poor and the sick to heal this wounded world!
Due to the geographical distance I cannot be with you nor participate in the activities of your lay Associates. However, I express my spiritual union in your marvelous charism!
I want to make Blessed Frances known where I live. Her dedication to healing people, especially the poor and the suffering, may bring healing to the many realities where I live in Brazil. I ask your help since so that this immense love, this healing power given by the Lord to Blessed Frances Schervier will attract more people, as it happened to me!
To show my gratitude, I will pray and spread the word about Blessed Frances’ life, especially among the many that need healing. I am certain that she will intercede for them to the Lord. I thank you!
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Your site is beautiful, well developed, clear and objective. I am enchanted by reading your publications – Voices, Remembering Sacred Lives and the new Blessed Frances Site. What is most fascinating is your charism of recognizing Christ in the poor to heal His wounds in them. This touches me deeply.
While on a retreat related to the St. Damiano Crucifix. the words “Do you not see, Francis?” pierced my heart. After prayer and silence, the gaze of the Crucified invited me to behold people with evermore compassion and to understand their stories and limitations. This inflamed my heart. I knew that I needed to rebuild my own life, since I experienced stress and health issues last year. I needed first to heal myself, as my spiritual director had suggested.
Through the Internet, I was touched by Blessed Frances’ words: “In the poor and the suffering I saw and loved the Lord…” and the words of St. Francis: “When you see a poor or an ill person, you are gazing at the mirror of the Lord.” I started praying the Blessed Frances Novena, Litany, and Prayer for her Canonization. Since then, all my laboratory exams have shown improvement. I also kept praying that Blessed Frances would intercede for the sick and the needy.
Then my nine-month old niece had an acute case of bronchitis and was hospitalized for only three days! This fills me with joy, hope and thanksgiving. The journey may be difficult, yet the Crucified asks us: “Repair my Church!” Now I know that it is the Lord himself who asks me, who brings me the help from St. Francis and our Blessed Frances, as their gaze converges toward the same point: seeing Jesus in the poor and the sick to heal this wounded world!
Due to the geographical distance I cannot be with you nor participate in the activities of your lay Associates. However, I express my spiritual union in your marvelous charism!
I want to make Blessed Frances known where I live. Her dedication to healing people, especially the poor and the suffering, may bring healing to the many realities where I live in Brazil. I ask your help since so that this immense love, this healing power given by the Lord to Blessed Frances Schervier will attract more people, as it happened to me!
To show my gratitude, I will pray and spread the word about Blessed Frances’ life, especially among the many that need healing. I am certain that she will intercede for them to the Lord. I thank you!
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