Franciscan Sisters Gift St. Clare Relic to Wrightstown Parish

In preparation for the Feast of St. Clare of Assisi, August 11, Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity gifted the St. Clare Parish, Wrightstown, Wisconsin, with one of our own treasures of the feminine follower of St. Francis. Sister Theresa Feldkamp, daughter of the parish, presented the relic on July 30, 2023 at the 10 a.m. Sunday liturgy to Fr. Brian Wideman, pastor of St. Clare Parish, Wrightstown and the parish families. Here’s what she said:

“Recently I was included in some e-mails that were being sent around at our Motherhouse to try to respond to Father Brian’s request for a relic of St. Clare. I offered to deliver the relic since I was planning to visit my mom. I did not anticipate speaking at a parish Mass, but here I am. I am Sister Theresa Feldkamp. My Mom is Mary Feldkamp, a member of the parish. I am a Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity from Manitowoc. I am here today with Sister Julie Ann who taught at St. Paul School in Wrightstown from 1981-1983.

We are grateful for the many years that our Religious Community was able to serve at St. Paul’s School in Wrightstown, St. Mary’s School in Greenleaf and St. Patrick School in Askeaton. We are happy today to present this relic of St. Clare to St. Clare’s Parish. St. Clare had great devotion to the Eucharist and its power to overcome the evils of her time. We continue, especially during this year of the Eucharist, to ask her intercession that we may grow in our love for the Eucharist and our faith that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist and in our lives.

I am impressed, when I am here for Mass on the weekends, to see the number of families present. Our faith is the most precious gift that we can pass on to our young people. I would ask you to continue to pray for vocations to Religious life, especially to the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity, and to the Priesthood. May God bless you and your families in a special way as you celebrate the novena and the Feastday of St. Clare.”

St. Clare’s body is housed today at the Basilica of Santa Chiara in Assisi. Learn more about that special place here. St. Clare, pray for us.