For more than 141 years, since Aug. 1, 1878, the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have maintained the practice that gives us our name. Along with our lay prayer partners, one of us, at all times, has been praying before the consecrated host in our adoration chapel in La Crosse, Wis. Our congregation has enduredContinue reading “When perpetual adoration takes on a new meaning”
Tag Archives: changes
An invitation
As we walk along, feet stir dust and crack tiny twigs—once members of a great tree they now lie as individuals dismissed, forgotten. The brightness of once-was is waning as green fades into yellow and the decay of vibrancy is apparent in the log, the stump, the browning ferns drooping toward the ground. The worldContinue reading “An invitation”
From farm to city and back again: Listening and loving on the margins
Decades ago, as a child growing up in the rolling hills of Northeast Iowa, I would daydream of simpler times, of the days when people were pioneers and steadily establishing their families and homes and building communities upon frontiers. My younger sisters and I would gather in groves of cedar trees tucked into the hillsContinue reading “From farm to city and back again: Listening and loving on the margins”
Lessons learned from my students
A few weeks ago I saw my first “Back to School” flier of the season. In the past several years, such fliers stirred up emotions of stress and panic for me, along with excitement. As a teacher, back to school sales served as glaring reminders that I had a lot to do. This time, theContinue reading “Lessons learned from my students”
Lent: Time to make some changes
Last week, I bemoaned Lent’s fast approach on Twitter: #Lent is only a week away, and I just noticed that I still have some Christmas decorations out… #TooSoon #GodHelpMeGetReady #GodHaveMercy — Sister Julia Walsh (@juliafspa) February 4, 2016 Ready or not, Lent is here and it is time to get into it—time to get intoContinue reading “Lent: Time to make some changes”
Enough or not
I live on the cusp of enough and dreamy desires; in the liminal land of paradox. I am always trying to make do with my limits, to authentically live my vow of poverty and get re-rooted in simple living. Yet. I am always longing for more. Desire, dreams, faith and hope fuel my energy. Even whenContinue reading “Enough or not”
growing through the cracks
I am thinking about cracks a lot lately. Images of cracks keep flashing through me while I minister and live in community and try to live the Gospel and do this messy Jesus business. I see cracks in the sidewalks caused by the subtle shifting of the ground we know. God is up to some amazingContinue reading “growing through the cracks”