On February 20-22, 2009, ten young women ages 21-33 from CO, IA, MN and WI arrived in Manitowoc, WI, for a Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity ‘For Me, Life is Christ’ (Phil.1:21) Discernment Retreat Weekend. Sister Mary Ann Spanjers, OSF, and Sister Julie Ann Sheahan, OSF, guided the retreatants focusing on the conversion stories of St. Paul, St. Francis and St. Clare.
Paul was a tent-maker, Francis and Clare re-built ruined churches, you and I build our lives.
While providing personal prayer time to grow in one’s relationship to God, the young women joined the Franciscan Sisters in the liturgy of the hours, Eucharist, and meals. Personalized mosaic creations concretized the ‘construction’ theme. Sister Anne Turba, OSF, facilitated this prayer activity. Sister Karen Suhr, OSF, Sister Laura Wolf, OSF, and Sister Caritas Le Claire, OSF, gave of themselves for Friday evening’s opening session .
A Saturday snow storm allowed the opportunity to walk on frozen Silver Lake and protective, evergreen-lined trails, as well as find healing in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Contemporary praise music was a shared joy for the group.
Retreatants’ question: How did this experience touch your life?