Oldenburg Franciscan Vocations

03/20/2024

Good book

03/02/2024

02/28/2024

You can donate online for our Lenten Appeal at https://www.oldenburgfranciscans.org/donate-online.html or mail your support to: Sisters of St. Francis, PO Box 100, Oldenburg, IN 47036. Please let us know you are donating for this appeal by placing Lent in the online comments or on your check.

Lent began February 14th, a day on which we also commercially celebrate the loved ones in our life. Often Lent is called the Church’s springtime. Springtime – love feast, it is a time to remember and reflect on God’s great love for us. This Lent, we thank each of you for your generous support throughout the years.
This year we give gratitude to our retired Sisters and those residing in our Health care facility in St. Clare Hall. These Sisters through their many years of service lived Jesus’ message as spoken in Matthew 25:35. Many of you, I’m sure, know or can remember one of our Sisters who dedicated her life to teaching, Church ministry, pastoral care, and serving others in need. Today, our senior Sisters continue to serve the Church through their prayer ministry and volunteer efforts.
It is with gratitude that we invite you this Lenten Season to remember in your almsgiving the needs of our retired Sisters and those Sisters needing our health care services. Your contribution will assure that our senior Sisters continue to have safe, professional health care and the on-going opportunity to live a life of prayer and to provide volunteer services to others.
As S. Joan Schwacke shares, “I was blessed to have the opportunity to serve the poor and marginalized during my years on mission throughout my religious life. This often meant earning a small salary. Your support of our community Lenten appeal will help support some of my daily living costs as I continue to dedicate my life to prayer and service.”
May each of you be blessed abundantly this Lenten season. We keep you and your loved ones in our prayers.

02/02/2024

01/27/2024

Calling all single, Catholic women and men who are discerning consecrated life!
Join the Oldenburg Franciscan Vocations, Sisters of St. Benedict of Ferdinand, Indiana, and other religious orders for a weekend retreat on how to discern God's will! It will be from March 1, 2024 to March 3, 2024.

For more details and to register: https://forms.gle/z5cKBoX5CstzqWTo7

01/27/2024

12/25/2023

Wishing everyone a safe and Merry Christmas! Our prayers are with you all as we ponder the miracle of the Christ Child of this blessed day!

Christmas...
Ponder Love Incarnate
Embrace the Child of Wonder
Acclaim Christ Born Anew
Celebrate Joy in the Presence of Mystery
Echo the Song of the Angels

~S. Rose Marie Weckenmann, OSF

~Artwork by: S. Michelle Corliss, OSF

12/22/2023

4th Sunday of Advent Reflection

SUNDAY REFLECTION for December 24, 2023

1st Reading: 2 Samuel 7: 1-5, 8b – 12, 14a - 16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 889: 2 - 5, 27, 29
2nd Reading: Romans 16: 25 - 27
Gospel: Luke 1: 26 – 38

REFLECTION

On the day leading up to this fourth Sunday of Advent, the Church prays the final O Antiphon: O Emmanuel, God with us. . .” In case we’ve not gotten the message, the readings today remind us again and again. The prophet Nathan responds to King David in the second book of Samuel: “Whatever is on your heart, go and do it. God is with you.” And in the familiar Gospel passage from Luke, the angel Gabriel says to Mary, “Rejoice, oh highly favored one! The Lord is with you.” That same assurance is given to us. Whether things are going well for us, or troubles complicate our lives, God is with us. Whether we are strong and healthy, or suffering pain or discomfort, God is with us. Never do we need to experience joys, or challenges, alone. God is with us. Merry Christmas!

PRAYER

O Emmanuel, surely I am highly favored since you are with me always. I thank you for that assurance. Make me ever more mindful of your continual presence and care.

~Christa Franzer OSF

12/14/2023

Come to our Open House, December 27th. See all the beautiful trees w/handmade ornaments. Listen to the Sisters Choir sing and Chime Choir play. Then enjoy cookies and punch in the dining room w/the Sisters.

Take a listen to https://wrbiradio.com/ at 9:30 this morning to hear us talk about our Christmas Tree Tours on December 27.

12/14/2023

Having fun celebrating our co-workers

12/14/2023

Sunday's reflection

Pray With Us

Our Weekly Reflection December 17, 2023

1st Reading: Is 61:1-2A, 10-11
Responsorial Psalm: Lk 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54
2nd Reading: 1 Thes 5:16-24
Gospel: Jn 1:6-8. 19-28

Reflection

Today’s readings prepare us for one of my favorite weeks of the year – the week of the “O Antiphons”. Today’s readings remind us that “The spirit of the Lord God is upon us”. “We rejoice heartily in the Lord”. We pray Mary’s Magnificat “My soul rejoices in my God”. We are called to “rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks”. Finally we listen to John the Baptist saying, “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’”.

Praying the O Antiphons

In praying the O Antiphon for each day, pray for today’s world.

December 17
O wisdom of our God Most High,
Guiding creation with power and love:
Come to teach us the path of knowledge!

December 18
O Leader of the House of Israel,
Giver of the Law to Moses on Sinai:
Come to rescue us with our mighty power!

December 19
O Root of Jesse’s stem,
Sign of God’s love for all His people:
Come to save us without delay!

December 20
O Key of David,
Opening the gates of God’s eternal Kingdom:
Come and free the prisoners of darkness!

December 21
O Radiant Dawn,
Splendor of eternal light, sun of justice:
Come and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.

December 22
O King of all nations
and keystone of the Church:
come and save us, whom You formed from the dust!

December 23
O Emmanuel,
Our King and Giver of Law:
Come to save us, Lord our God!

~Jean Marie Cleveland, OSF

12/08/2023

Sunday's reflection

Reflection for
2nd Sunday of Advent
1st Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11
Responsorial Psalm: Ps. 85: 9-14
2nd Reading: 2nd Peter 3: 8-14
Gospel: Mark 1: 1-8

“Countdown to Christmas”
We know we are in a countdown to Christmas because the Hallmark Channel tells us so when they begin to show Christmas movies in mid-October. We are indeed in our own countdown to Christmas, but we call it Advent. During this time of preparation, we receive a special call: an invitation to change our lives. This is not an easy task. Changing our lives may seem almost impossible. It may have seemed this way to the Israelites when after years of servitude and exile they were to be set free. Psalm 85 tells us they had prayed for this gift of freedom for a long time and envisioned what it might be like. Prosperity, justice, peace, love and truth, and
along with prosperity, good fortune. During this time of waiting and hastening we are called to remove any obstacles that stand in our way. God works in God’s own way so it’s important to be prepared.
The first reading gives us these instructions: “Make the road straight and smooth, fill in the valleys, level off the hills, smooth out the ruts, and clear off the rocks.” In doing this “cleaning out” in our lives we make ready for our encounter with God.
In Mark’s gospel we read that John the Baptist came ahead of Jesus. He baptized the people preparing them for the coming of the Messiah. By our Baptism we have been prepared to open our minds and hearts to the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ.

Prayer
God of power and mercy, open our hearts in welcome. Remove the things that hinder
us from receiving Christ with joy so that we may share his wisdom and become one
with Him when He comes in glory, for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen
- Author unknown

Reflection submitted by Associate Dot Lindsey