On Saturday, November 3, 2018 Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Sister Jacqueline Spaniola, Sister Mary Frances Maher, Sister Julie Ann Sheahan, Novice Sister Concepcion and Postulants Lindsay and Yazmin volunteered to help at the Diocese of Marquette See the See Youth Rally. While Sister Jacqueline traveled from Chassell, MI, all others of us departed from Manitowoc watching the sun come up as we arrived near the shore of Lake Superior. Greg Gostomski, diocesan youth, young adult and family director, assigned us to greet the young people in the gathering space in the basement of St. Peter Cathedral. We distributed a bag of items for the day’s activities to each registered participant and chaperone. The theme of the day was from Daniel 3:52 “Above All 4Ever”.
Francis Cabildo, a singer-songwriter and speaker from Southern California, was the guest keynote speaker. Diocese of Marquette Bishop John F. Doerfler followed with some of his own electric guitar music and time for the youth to ask questions. Many questions were of a personal nature about his favorite things. During lunch, we mingled among the parish groups at their tables. The local Knights of Columbus were faithful servers and cooks.
A stop at St. Peter Cathedral is not complete without some prayer time at the tomb of Bishop Frederick Baraga. We asked intercession for all of our special intentions as well as prayed for more vocations to our own Congregation of Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity from this diocese. We also took a moment to pray in the Cathedral crypt at the burial spot of Bishop Mark Schmitt, whose home diocese was Green Bay.
Before leaving town, we visited Sister Ludmilla Gramann. With the Christmas Season nearing, she is busy finding sponsors for families in need in this area and collecting gift items. This is Franciscan ministry at its core.
