We Morris Franciscan Associates have met together for many years. We usually meet once a month in our homes. We begin with prayer, then read and discuss spiritual readings. Our group's commitment statement is to embrace the marginalized. Twice a year we host a brunch for our parish. The free will offering is used to finance the travel of a Spanish-speaking priest to come monthly to celebrate Mass with the Hispanics in the community. Personally, we embrace the marginalized in many ways. Sister Shirley Mueller from So. Dak. usually attends our monthly meetings. Her support and attendance are an inspiration to us. We belong to the West Central Region that meets in Alexandria, Minn. We truly look forward to these informative meetings. It is always a joy to see and visit with other members of our Region.

Dorothy Chizek: After graduating from college I taught school for 5 ½ years. I stopped teaching after I was married, to raise my family of three children. After my husband died 29 years ago, I worked with the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. I administered this program in two counties. I retired from this position 12 years ago. I enjoy volunteer work. I do a lot of things in my parish. I am an ombudsman in an area nursing home. I also teach religion at the Day Activity Center for people with disabilities. I am a Befriender, so I visit the elderly who cannot get away from their homes. I truly enjoy being with my family. The grandchildren and great grandchildren are an immense joy. My hobby for years has been braiding reversible wool rugs. I have made well over 100 rugs. I also love to read and to play bridge.

Fran Marks: I am a retired business teacher. I taught school for 28 years. My husband passed away in 1972. I have three children and three grandchildren. I assisted in the parish office for years, whenever they called for help. I no longer drive, so I am unable to do many of the things I used to do. The retired teachers have coffee together, and I enjoy attending those gatherings. I like to play cards and visit with people. I really enjoy helping with the Hispanic community in our parish.

Barry and Susan Hennen: Barry and Susan became Franciscan Associates on September 27, 1997. As associates they have been on a wonderful journey with St. Francis and his followers. Susan is a teacher, and Barry is a retired farmer who continues to assist his sons as they now farm the land. In addition, Barry has a painting and yard care business. Barry and Susan are passionate about their family and God's creation. In their spare time, they enjoy spending time with their six children and their families. Like St. Francis, they also enjoy spending time with nature. Their favorite places to do so are along the North Shore of Lake Superior and many of Minnesota's state parks. Barry and Susan try to emulate the simple and peaceful life of Saints Francis and Clare.

Dorothy Sayre: I have been a Franciscan Associate for six years. My husband Larry and I live in Morris and have three grown children and two grandchildren. Many of you prayed for our son Ryan when he was in Afghanistan in 2006. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS! I have a day care business in my home. I love going to work every day because I am loved "unconditionally" by some pretty amazing children. My husband is a County Commissioner and has an appraisal business. I have a passion for the unborn and, over the years, have enjoyed volunteering at our local pregnancy center. I enjoy our monthly associate gatherings, and the fellowship we share as a group is always fun. As we journey together and learn more of Sts. Francis and Clare, I am personally challenged to look within my own heart to become more like them and my fellow associates. The sense of community within our associate group is wonderful to experience.

Jadzia Olson: I was born in Poland and came to the United States at the age of 12 to live with my aunt and uncle. I have four grown children and three grandchildren. I love my family and enjoy spending time with them. I work fulltime as a cosmetologist in a salon in Morris. I serve as a Eucharistic minister and adult altar server at my parish. My outreach involvement is helping out with the Spanish Mass in our parish and the fellowship following the Mass. It is a wonderful way to get acquainted with the Hispanic brothers and sisters in our community and make them feel welcome. Building this bond is very rewarding.

Joanne Hagstrom:

What a great way to usher in the month of February, 2010.   Sister Ange Mayers arrived from Pisinemo, Arizona to begin life at the Franciscan Welcoming House in St. Cloud  on February 1.   This was a trip in faith for this New Munich native, having just spent about 15 ½  years ministering with a parish team at the San Solano Missions on the O'odham Nation Indian Reservation in southern Arizona.   Sister Ange comes to our St. Cloud Franciscan community as a woman of faith, deeply imbued with the Franciscan spirit of simplicity, prayer and joy.  We welcome Sister Ange and pray for her as she makes her transition from warm air to frigid temperatures.  Through it all, she brings us the love and goodness of a person shaped and grounded in God's love.  Sister Ange will work with the Franciscan Welcoming House in ministry to young adults.  She joins in Franciscan Community living with Sisters Clara Stang, Loretta Denfeld and Cordy Korkowski along with Franciscan Community Volunteers, Will Braun, Spencer Buchert, Alicia Landale and Caitlin Tobin.  We are deeply grateful to Sister Ange for saying ‘yes' to our request to have her join us at the Franciscan Welcoming House. 

Sister Cordy Korkowski

                                            -- By Sister Joanne Klinnert

Franciscan Associates and Franciscan Sisters, along with family and friends of Arlen Casco, gathered on January 14, 2010 in Barrio Ciudadela Nicaragua in Managua, Nicaragua. There, in a simple and moving ceremony, we witnessed Arlen's commitment to her vocation as an associate of the Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls. On behalf of the Franciscan Sisters and Associates, Sister Carmen Barsody received Arlen's commitment and presented her with a Tau cross. Arlen was one year old when Sisters Carolyn Law, Carmen Barsody and Joanne Klinnert met her and her family. She is now a fourth year student in communications at the Jesuit University of Central America in Managua. A year ago, her mother, Luz Marina, along with five other applicants, made her own commitment as an associate. Since then, Arlen has joined the group as they meet monthly to study and reflect on the lives of Francis and Clare, Franciscan spirituality and to what it calls them.

In her testimony, Arlen talked about her excitement at learning how Francis, the gadabout youth, began to seriously imitate Jesus, especially in His love for the poor.  Besides that, she said, Francis invited others to join him in his passion. Arlen then extended an invitation to other young people in the local communities to become associates if they felt the call to do so. Her dream is to gather a youth group for spiritual, cultural and communal development and to experience the love of God.

As we congratulated Arlen, we also congratulated Luz Marina for the good and faithful rearing of her daughter. And we're ready to welcome all who receive a call to be Franciscan.

Tom Pendergast has been very active in past years, both in California and in Minnesota, reaching out to the marginated. In California, he created a community based learning center whose purpose was to train the jobless in the fine art of creating a pathway out of poverty by developing a personal career path. He has recently been teaching at the Franciscan Viterbo College in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Currently, he is initiating an online free college of Servant-Leadership. 

We welcome Tom to the Associate Family of the Franciscan Sisters! 

A group of young adults gathered at the Franciscan Welcoming House for an evening of delicious food along with Taize prayer. Sr. Cordy Korkowski and Michaela Barrett, a junior from St. Cloud State University, led us in the music. We were welcomed with the soft scent of the lighted candles as we gathered for this hour of prayer. It was indeed a time of deep peace as we rested in the Lord.

Sr. Loretta Denfeld