​A Response to “Anniversary Thoughts”

Shared by Sr. Christina’s mother, Kathy Neumann
 
In 1957-59, my first and second grade, I attended a Catholic grade school In Karlsruhe, North Dakota. This school was run by the Franciscan Sisters from Hankinson, ND. I have very fond, clear memories of these sisters teaching me, along with our pastor, Fr. Zimmerman.
 
These were very formative years in my spiritual life.
 
The Sisters prepared me well for my first Holy Communion and Reconciliation. They were strong, kind, compassionate, and loving teachers.  I looked up to them and admired them for who they were and how they lived their life.  Back then, they were somewhat of a mystery to me in their long black habits, veils, high black boots and large rosaries at their sides…also the white stiff things around their face (coifs).
 
I often thought how hot they must have been in the hot summer days, especially when there was not even the slightest breeze blowing and no air conditioning!
 
About 50 years later, the Lord led our daughter Christina to Hankinson, ND where she joined these Franciscan Sisters.
 
I had no idea, when she went there to visit for the first time, that they were the same group of Sisters that had taught me in first and second grade at St. Peter and Paul Catholic School which I attended so many years previously.  
 
A few of these same sisters were still living in Hankinson when she entered: Sr. Fidelis, always smiling, Sister Mary Sand, with her strong but gentle way, and a few others. They had so much integrity, faith, compassion, kindness and love for the Lord which seemed to radiate from deep within their being.
 
In 2006, the Lord called our daughter Christina to her beautiful vocation with these Franciscan Sisters.  Watching closely her growing and blooming in this place with these Sisters, I've learned what sacrifices, challenges and joy, and real love look like in the vocation of religious life.
 
When visiting our daughter and the Sisters, I have heard many stories of their lives: stories of challenges, sacrifices, hardships but most of all, the love which seem to speak volumes of these beautiful women of faith and their journey that the Lord has taken them on.
 
The charism of teaching they seem to have done very, very well all done with compassion and understanding and also strong morals and ethics, not to mention the joy that radiates from these Sisters I have been privileged to see first-hand.
 
I am blessed, the Church is still blessed by this very critical and important vocation.  A religious vocation, along with the pope/priests and rest of the faithful who make up the three components of our rich Catholic Church. Where would we be without each one?
 
I praise and thank God for all his many blessings, especially this order of faithful servants, the Franciscan Sisters.
 
Sisters, thank you for your Fiat!