If you just happened to stumble upon this little blog, and are interested in more, you may like to know that we’ve moved. The current url for Our Franciscan Fiat is ndfranciscans.org/fiat – we are thankful to now be able to host the blog right on our community’s website. I hope you stop by and visit us there ..read more

Since this blog is moving to another platform, I would ask you please to to be added to the subscription list.  Your current subscription will no longer work once I discontinue using WordPress. Thank you. PS: The blog is moving to ndfranciscans.org ..read more

The second antiphon in this morning’s Liturgy of the Hours spoke to me in an unusually powerful way. I was preparing to head back to Grand Forks after an eight-day home visit. As I faced the day, a bit of uncertainty dampened my spirits.  Transitioning back into everyday life after time away can be a challenge; the problems left behind don’t tend to disappear during one’s absence. This verse of the Office, however, spoke comfort to my soul.  I did not know what would await me on my return to “real life,” but I did know Who would be with me every step of the way. I realized that during this day ..read more

I am writing from West St. Paul, Minnesota, where I am spending some time with my mom on my “home visit.”  I am very grateful for the opportunity to spend time with her and old friends as well as get some needed R&R.  It’s been quite the year! I had a nice morning attending Mass, visiting the adoration chapel, and greeting my music teacher from second and third grade – it is always fun be back in these spots that I frequented in my childhood and adolenence.  I just got back from a 35-minute walk through the brisk autumn air, back “home” from church. I will keep this post short, but I wante ..read more

This past week, I was speaking with someone who is presently away visiting family in Canada.  He said he’d be back after Thanksgiving there.  I didn’t know when Canadians celebrate this holiday so I had to look it up, learning that it is actually this coming Monday. This topic of thanksgiving is one that has re-surfaced for me lately. I have realized that I don’t make an effort at gratitude as much during my daily life as I could or should.  I am renewing my efforts.   I was also recently visiting with a friend and the topic of making a point to give thanks throughout the day came up. Have you ..read more

This morning at Mass, as we honored Our Lady of the Rosary, the words of the Collect (introductory prayer of the priest) delighted my ears: Pour forth, we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ you Son was made known by the message of an Angel, may, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by his Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. I recognized these as the same words that we pray each day during the Angelus (with ..read more

I just returned from a beautiful weekend retreat experience at our province’s retreat center in Hankinson.  We had talks, small group sessions, Mass, adoration, confession, and even “Songs & S’more Talk” (a delightful late evening campfire). This was my first time leading a retreat, so it was definitely a learning experience. Despite my burden of responsibility for the endeavor, I was able to thoroughly enjoy the women’s retreat, sponsored by our local Catholic Women’s group.  It was truly a grace-filled weekend for myself and, from what was shared, the other ladies as well. The above ment ..read more

Many hands… There are two time-tried expressions which would counsel us in opposing directions: “Too many hands spoil the broth” or “Many hands make light work.”  I can see the veracity of both, but the latter one was more true for me today. On the grounds of our provincial house in Hankinson, ND, there are concord grape vines, which have an interesting history of their own. This year, it seems, there was an abundant crop.  Thus it was that we were offered some.  The Sister who was going to bring them when she came ended up not being able to make it here to Grand Forks so I wasn’t sure if we’d ..read more

When I woke up this morning, I knew we’d probably be husking some corn (if yesterday’s rain hadn’t prevented it from being harvested), but I really didn’t fully grasp what the day would hold. When I came to the front desk to give our receptionist a break she told me, “Oh, by the way, someone brought in some plums.” A bag of plums awaited me (joyful the thought), but I wouldn’t even think of tackling them until the corn had all been shucked. By early afternoon, though, 696 ears of corn had been cleaned and bagged, thanks to a great team of staff, volunteers and residents.  These, along with the ..read more

This Sunday’s gospel tells of the possibility that one may “not be strong enough” to make it on the journey of life, to reach our goal of heaven. At Mass last evening, hearing these words of the homily, made me reflect… I know that I am called to love others and to treat each person with love as I would Christ, especially those who I might consider “least.”  In Matthew’s account of the Last Judgement, we realize that this is even requisite for entering the Kingdom.  However, I realized, too, that I may not always have the strength to do this.   I have my own personal struggles that can distrac ..read more