 Journey with us to the Sisters of St. Francis Provincial House and Mother Pia Ministry Center
The skeptics say that it's a street that leads to nowhere, but we say it is the way to “Dalmanutha”. In the eighth chapter of his Gospel, Mark writes that Jesus, being moved with compassion to feed the four thousand who had been with him for three days, afterward goes to Dalmanutha to continue His mission of preaching the Kingdom of God. We say that the Third Street extension will take us to our new home, where we will continue our mission to “walk with Jesus at the side of the people,” (from the Charism Statement).
Good weather in February made it possible for the Gach Excavating Company to begin construction of the city street that takes us to the site of our future home. Yes, it is Third Street, perhaps memorialized with the (name) ? Who knows how God will provide?
Since our first meeting in July, 2007, with the architect, Ron Auxier of Ellison-Auxier Architects, Inc., we have been together with Ron and his associate Krista Abernethy 16 times, plus multiple phone and e-mail contacts. Plans have jelled and are to be out for bidding by the time you are reading this, or perhaps the bids will be back and one accepted.
Sisters Ancilla, Kathleen, Raphael, Barbara and Mary Ellen
pose for a picture at the proposed site of our new building.
So let us journey down “Franciscan Way” to what will be the entry drive up to the building site. With a little imagination, looking to the west, we see a TAU cross on the curved front of the building. That will mark the chapel, our sacred space for daily Eucharist and community gatherings for Morning and Evening Prayer, Holy Hours, and other devotionals, and a place to quietly commune with God. If you do not find Sr. Dorthie Anne in her room in the Assisted Living section, she may very well be found in the chapel, where she prays a Holy Hour two or three times a day. Or maybe you see Sr. Catherine there making her way by wheelchair from station to station as she prays the Way of the Cross. Each of our sisters will be praying for everyone near and far.
Sister Barbara stands in the proposed entry of our new facility.
Sisters Ancilla, Raphael, Christine and Barbara try to get
a preview of what it might be like to pray in the new chapel.
Leaving the chapel and going left down the corridor, we pass the chaplain's quarters and the guest suite on our way to the Mother Pia Ministry Center, where we find Sr. Margaret in one of the three small classrooms for tutoring and GED instruction, computer learning for adults to develop specific skills or to enhance job opportunities. Here is also a larger gathering space for conferences, board meetings, and retreat
presentations.
Returning to the hallway to the right of the chapel, one passes by our Community Room where you see Sr. Ancilla visiting with a guest. A small library, where you may see Sr. Barbara e-mailing her family and Sr. Christine reading Newsweek, is included in this space. Passing by the recreation room to the administrative offices, you see Sr. Audrey speaking with Fr. Hugh, our chaplain, planning the Easter liturgy. Finally, as you reach the north end of the building, you see Sr. Mary Ellen taking communion to Sr. Reinholda in the Assisted Living area.
One day when Sr. Kathleen was returning from doctor visits with Sr. Catherine and Sr. Raphael, she drove to the site where the 12 small piles of clay, left from the soil borings, trace the outline of the building. There she parked in Sr. Catherine's future room! Then she drove down the imaginary hallway to show Sr. Raphael her new kitchen site, passing by the dining room on the way. A few trees and bushes represented future equipment where Sr. Raphael will be removing her delicious loaves of bread from the oven!
We hope you have enjoyed this walk-through to our new provincial house. As we finish our imaginary journey, we invite you to join us through your support in whatever form it may be to bring about the reality of our future convent home and ministry center. We are blessed through your kindness and know that you will be blessed by God's reward.
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