Monday and Tuesday, Sister Elaine and I “crossed the river” to attend Mass at Sacred Heart Church in East Grand Forks since most of the priests of the Fargo Diocese are gone for their workshop/gathering. 
 
As we were driving home Tuesday morning, we started talking about bridges. 
 
I noted that there is an interesting difference between “back home,” where the bridges over the Mississippi are known for the street they are on (e.g., Robert, Smith, Wabasha), and Grand Forks, where they seem to have special names unrelated to their location.
 
Sr. Elaine mentioned an interesting tidbit.  She said that there was a saying that “Sr. Fortuna helped build the Kennedy Bridge,” since she used to sit outside and watch the construction being done on it. 
 
This would have been around the early 1960s. 
 
I had heard about Sr. Fortuna when studying the history of our province as a postulant or novice, but I hadn’t remembered that she had been in Grand Forks.  Sr. Fortuna had been such an important person in the history of the community in Hankinson; I found it interesting that she had ties up here in “the North Country.”
 
This morning, Sr. Elaine had to cross the river all by herself since I am working the front desk and will go to St. Mike's this evening.  The priests are scheduled to be back for the evening Mass. 

After lunch, I went in to chapel.  I wanted to set up for tomorrow’s morning Mass.  Although I’ve done this during the wee hours of the morning when working the night shift, I’ve never set up for Mass this far in advance!  The reason for this is that Father will be without a sacristan in the morning, though I briefly instructed one of our residents in the minimal basics. 
 
Just now, I put everything in place with the chalice, complete with veil and corporal, and put it back in the cupboard.  All they’ll have to do in the morning is pull it out (plus lighting candles and putting on the mic). 
 
I hadn’t really expected to be leaving so soon, but plans have changed in a wonderful way!
 
Last evening, at the end of my phone call with Sr. Mary Ruth in Rugby, the topic of the weekend’s travel came up.  We have a community meeting tomorrow at our provincial house in Hankinson.  The Sisters from Rugby will be travelling down this evening for the occasion, while the car from Grand Forks is set to leave promptly at 7 a.m. tomorrow morning. 
 
A couple of times during the past week, I’ve had the nagging thought, “It sure would be nice to ride down with the Sisters from Rugby!”  Our convent is pretty much on their way.  This would give me a little extra time away to be with our Sisters at the provincial house. 
 
I thought I might have to work this evening, and also did not want to invite myself, so I didn’t do anything about it.  I should say I didn’t do anything but pray. 
 
That little word should not be underestimated! 
 
I entrusted the situation and my desire to Our Lord, giving it over to Him and moving on with my life.  I tried not to give it much more thought. 
 
Yesterday at table, though, I hinted at my little far-fetched hope with my superior.  At this point, it was just a desire that I thought would probably be unfulfilled since I had no intentions of inviting myself.  Nonetheless, she nonchalantly said that I could go early with them if it worked out. 
 
So, here I am Friday afternoon, after getting up early to get cookies made for our residents.  I’ve started throwing some things together, but am not quite ready yet (physically).  Interiorly, I am more than ready and so excited for the opportunity to get away and have a nice time with our Sisters.

Yesterday turned into kind of a different day.  I ended up working the p.m. (aide) shift, after finishing my eight hours at the front desk. 
 
My first duty was to serve snacks.  As I went into the activity room to provide nourishment to our starving residents (whose sustenance had been delayed a good half hour), I remembered that I had a tray of brownies in the freezer.  They had been sent home with us from a recent parish mission where we Sisters from St. Anne’s spoke last Monday. 
This unexpected time of serving snacks was the perfect opportunity for me to use these up and treat our residents.  I was happy for the chance to “move them along.”
 
I took several bars off the tray and onto a plate to stick in the microwave. 
 
I hope our residents enjoyed their treat as I continued my unforeseen afternoon activities.
I made it through the rest of the shift, and topped off the night by starting on a fun project (also unexpected).  I read about holding a cute pet photo contest as a fundraiser and thought it would be perfect for St. Anne’s, where I work, in honor of St. Francis’ feast day coming up. 
 
Before taking a shower and going to bed, I started setting that up.

But rather, love your enemies and do good to them,
and lend expecting nothing back;
then your reward will be great
and you will be children of the Most High,
for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.
Be merciful, just as also your Father is merciful.
“Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned.
Forgive and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6)
 
Today’s gospel was a reminder to me of a lesson that I learned as a child and which is still just as valid today: we need to forgive. 
 
When I was in grade school, some of my classmates were not very nice to me, making derogatory remarks and even throwing spitballs, etc.  I was targeted because of my impaired vision.  I was a little bit ‘different’ from the other kids.  I remember being in tears one night about this, struggling to forgive the perpetrators.  I knew, from the scriptures, that we have to forgive those who hurt us if we want to be forgiven. 
 
I can remember talking to my dad about this, and him trying to console me.  Nonetheless, I knew what I was called to do.  I was called to forgive those who had hurt me, just as the gospels said.  I remember praying, as a seventh grader or so, for the grace to do just that.  I believe my prayer was answered.  I was able to forgive and move on from these childhood hurts.
 
Unkind words and harmful behaviors, unfortunately, do not end with childhood, however.  This year, I’ve had my struggles with a few people.  The gospel this morning, and this pivotal childhood memory, urge me to make an effort to forgive these people and not to harbor grudges against them.  I don’t have to engage in superfluous conversations with people who have a history of being unkind to me, but I do have to forgive them.
 
I am called to pray for them and love them. 

This morning after Mass, as he passed by the front desk, Father said, “So the Rugby Sisters are coming?!”  The good news had obviously been relayed to him by Sr. Elaine.
 
We hadn’t been sure if our Sisters in Rugby would be keeping the Labor Day weekend tradition, as they also had been invited to a wedding, but just last night, Sr. Rebecca got news that they were indeed coming, and right after school today! 
 
We had thought that they probably would come late Saturday, so this news was a pleasant surprise. 

Earlier in the week, I had been looking to the weekend with some trepidation, knowing it would be a busy one with work and other commitments and also a certain situation I was a bit uneasy about.  Now, however, with this good news of a weekend with our visiting Sisters, my attitude has shifted. 
 
Ever since I was a novice in Rugby (quite a few years ago now), this Labor Day tradition has been a beautiful part of my life.  The Sisters at Little Flower Convent in Rugby travel to Grand Forks to spend the weekend with the Sisters at St. Anne’s Convent. 
 
The same delightful arrangement is also part of the Thanksgiving weekend experience, though last year it was drastically curtailed due to COVID concerns. 
 
Happy Labor Day weekend, everyone!