January 20, 2009 was not the first day a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity walked into Xavier High School, Appleton, WI, to share on the call to be a consecrated religious. The truth told, when the school opened its doors September 1959, Sister Peter Stengl, OSF, principal, and six other Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity (including Sister Xaveria Wittmann, OSF) staffed the girls’ section.
Today fify years later, Sister Mary Ann Spanjers, OSF, a proud Xavier graduate, returned with postulant Pam Peasel to inspire the over sixty young women involved in a junior class retreat day about the Franciscan way of life.
Here’s one of the student’s favorite prayer:
I have the strength for everything through Him who empowers me. (Phil 4:13)
Doesn’t that young woman’s choice of scripture text sound like the Franciscan spirit is still alive and well? Xavier High School was recognized this year as one of the top fifty Catholic high schools in the nation.
