Franciscan Sisters Highlight Manitowoc Parish Pentecost Window

Sister JulieAnn Sheahan

May 24, 2015

Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity did not look too far away for their May image of the month. St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Manitowoc, WI has a beautiful paraclete window. We also share Father Dave Plier’s bulletin comments for today.

St. Francis of Assisi Parish Bulletin

A young ventriloquist is touring Norway and puts on a show in a small fishing town. With his dummy on his knee, he starts going through his usual dumb Swede jokes. Suddenly a Swedish guy in the fourth row stands on his chair and starts shouting, “I’ve heard enough of your stupid Swede jokes. What makes out think you can stereotype Swedes that way? What does one’s nationality have to do with his worth as a human being? It’s people like you who keep us from being respected at work and in the community and from reaching our full potential as human beings. It makes people think that all Swedes are dumb. You and your fellow comedians continue to perpetuate discrimination against all of us.” Stung to the heart, the embarrassed ventriloquist begins to apologize when the Swedish guy shouts out, “Hey. You stay out of this! I’m talking to that little creep on your lap!”
The Pentecost moment for the Church, assembled in fear and disappointment, unleashed the Spirit to speak whatever each person needed to hear, in whatever  language he/she could understand, and, as a result, hearts were opened, joy was reclaimed, and those in the fourth row who were offended felt affirmed. And the real power and miracle of that graced moment was found in its never going away. The Spirit continues to break open hearts, enliven joy, and reconcile all people in oneness with the risen Christ. If that reality doesn’t give us cause for rejoicing, nothing will.
Franciscan Sisters highlight Holy Spirit Window St. Francis of Assisi ManitowocNext weekend I will celebrate the 40th anniversary of my ordination to the priesthood. It has been an ongoing  journey of conforming to the person of Christ and sharing his Good News through the gifts that God has shared with me. A priest-friend of mine the other day jokingly said, that we were ordained through the grace of God and the oversight of the Holy Spirit, and, in all humility, I do sometimes wonder how or why the call came my way. But, the call came, I said yes, and here we are forty years and six assignments later thanking God for all that has been and all that yet will be. May all of us trust in the promise that the Spirit, given to us in baptism, will inspire each one of us to further the kingdom of God!

Is the Holy Spirit stirring within you a call to be a Franciscan Sister to further the kingdom of God? Click here.

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