God’s timing for a Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity Vocation Sojourn continues to be fueled by our Community of Sisters’ prayers. Sister Mary Ann Spanjers and Sister Julie Ann Sheahan escaped snow and windstorms after driving just hours ahead of winter weather on their way south. First stop was Wichita, Kansas.
How fitting on the eve of the Super Bowl to be in the state of Kansas! (Philadelphia may have been another place to watch the game, but regardless, the journey is ever the dream according to St. Francis.) Keeping our focus on Catholic Young Adults, we drove to the Saturday Evening Mass at the St. Paul University Parish. On entering the Campus Ministry Center, we walked in with Joan, grandmother of Father Zachary Galante, one of nine priests ordained in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee in 2024. This was during the week that an article on U.S. dioceses having priestly ordinations above the replacement rate of retired priests over a 10-year observation period hit the news. Diocese of Wichita priest chaplain and Assistant Vocation Director Father Andrew Hoffman commented on the article. During the homily, he recognized his own diocese being at a 255% rate of replacing priests. He pointed to the stewardship of the people in the parishes as being responsible for this high record. Indeed, the friendliness of the congregation was evident. ‘Fr. Drew’ gave us a special Franciscan blessing for the journey after we caught up with him after Mass. He also promised to display one of our vocation posters.
In the morning, we met with a young woman in discernment at Coffee Daze. It was a popular Sunday hang out. We gave up our chairs to others looking for a place to sit as we bid farewell and continued our Vocation Sojourn to Fort Worth, Texas.
St. Andrew Parish, Fort Worth, TX is a parish served by Franciscan Friars
of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis Sacred Heart Province. Father Dan Patee, TOR, pastor of St. Andrew Parish, teamed up with Sister Mary Ann to share the presentation The Eucharist from Adoration to Action that evening in the parish center. Friars, Father Johnathon and Father Matthew also were in the audience. It was a good experiment. Over 30 people showed up despite the Super Bowl event. Father Dan suggested taping the game and enjoying it later. It was smart to make the event an open invitation. The Eucharist topic drew parish members of all ages.
On the next day, we were on our way to Houston. Watch for more on the Sojourning Sisters in the days ahead.
