Whew - I'm tired after another full day!

Working in long-term care certainly has gotten more complicated lately.  Serving a very vulnerable population in the midst of a pandemic involves a lot of precautions unheard of before now. 

I just took over at the front desk for the evening shift, and had the honor of checking my first temperature and asking my first passerby to use hand-sanitizer.   We are being quite strict about monitoring people for possible symptoms of COVID-19, even though there haven't been any documented cases yet in our locale. 

Life certainly has changed in the past week!  Things are quite stressful. 

We are certainly living in a time which requires a lot of prayer.  Thankfully, I was reminded of a handy little opportunity to incorporate praying for this drastic situation into my daily life. 

We are so often reminded to wash our hands (or use alcohol based hand sanitizer).  The CDC recommends doing this for at least twenty seconds.  Some recommend singing 'Happy Birthday" to yourself twice.  A better option, it seems to me, is to say a couple of prayers while thoroughly washing the various nooks and crannies of the hands with warm soap water. 

I timed it once, and it takes about 20 seconds to pray a 'Hail Mary' and 'Glory Be.'  Consequently, I've taken to doing this as my hand-washing timing system. 

Throughout the day, especially during these times, I certainly have plentiful opportunities for prayer, and plenty need of it. 

Please join me; it's much more effective than singing 'Happy Birthday."

I just finally got my strength and energy back after having been sick with an ugly bug.  I'd guess that you might say it was just in time! 

Last night, a staff member from the night shift was not able to make it into work, and none of the others from that department were available to fill in for her.  (There are always two staff members scheduled at night.)  Thus it was that I worked here until 5 a.m., rather than getting off duty at 10 last night.

The night really went very well; I have no complaints.  I got the cleaning duties done, did rounds to check on residents, and still had plenty of time to work on a big project in the office. 

One nice thing about the night shift is that most of it is after midnight...
Whenever I've worked the shift, I've found time to slip into chapel and get my private prayer time in 'for the day.'  That way, I don't have to try to fit it into my post-dawn schedule (which normally includes a long nap)!

Along with making alterations to my prayer schedule, working nights also impacts my eating habits.  I usually grab a snack or two during the night and then cut back the following day (part of which is spent in bed).

Today, I went back to bed after Mass, having told the cook that I would not be in for any hot cereal.  After enjoying close to four hours' rest, I came back on time to get a bowl of chili (one of my favorite meals) before going to work at the front desk. 

It must have been breakfast time, since I kept wanting to say 'good morning' to people I saw!
I've never had chili for breakfast before, but it was pretty good today.

This evening, Sister Elaine shared how fast she felt the week was going.  She works in bookkeeping, and has been busy. Among other things, she has to get ready for the board meeting here on Saturday.  The pressure of the deadline probably has something to do with her feeling that week is slipping away from her.  It can be a stressful time for board members here.

I, personally, have a very different attitude toward these quarterly gatherings.  I have my small part in the preparatory work: cleaning guest rooms and making the reports available electronically shortly beforehand. 

To me, the weekend of the board meeting is always something to look forward to.  We get a change from the normal routine and get a chance to see some of our Sisters again. (Something that happens all too seldom, it seems.) 

To me, this week is going "plenty slow."  I think the fact that I am so looking forward to the visit has a lot to do with this.  Unfortunately, before I know it, it will be over.  :(

I am not criticizing Sr. Elaine's perspective here; "it has it's merits" (to borrow her expression);  I am simply musing on the huge difference perspective makes.

I find this in my personal life as well.  I am preparing a talk on the Morning Offering and Examen Prayer for our next women's gathering.  It has been a powerful reminder to me, and has impacted my interior life - for the better.  Through this preparation, I have improved my own practice of the examen prayer, and have renewed my efforts at looking upon my past day with gratitude.

Facing a North Dakota winter and all the other struggles in this journey we call "life" can make a person focus more on the negative than on the blessings.  It can be easy to fall into this trap.  My renewed efforts at the daily examen prayer have helped me to remember an attitude of gratitude, not only at prayer before "turning in for the night," but during the day as well. 

I certainly am not perfect at this, but at least I’m getting a nudge in the right direction. :)

I pray that each week of my life (not only those leading up to joy-filled gatherings) may be a time when I look ahead with hope, grateful for God's blessings: past, present and future.

Working in the long term care sector requires weekend work.  Here at St. Anne's, most staff alternate weekends; they work one weekend and have the next one off.  This is true, as a rule, for aides, dietary staff, nurses, and receptionists. 

I don't get weekends off, but my hours change every other week, based on the schedule of the other receptionists.  One weekend I work the morning shift and the next I work the evening.

When we used to have Mass here every day, the morning nurse would watch the desk for me so I could participate in the Liturgy with the other Sisters and residents on my weekends of morning duty.  However, now that we don't have this luxury, my Saturdays have taken a different turn. 

Unable to go to the local church for 7:15 a.m. Mass, yet aware of my duty (and immense privilege) to attend Mass daily, I go to the 5 p.m. Mass.  (Canon Law instructs Religious to participate daily as far as possible.)  Attending the evening Mass is not the ideal; I miss out on the Saturday morning readings, etc., but I am grateful to be able to go at all. 

Another element of my Saturdays, regardless of what shift I am working, is holding "Reading Hour" for our residents.  Currently, we are reading The Prince and the Pauper, the enthralling story of a poor London boy and a prince (some 400+ years ago) who switch places.  My dad had read it to me when I was growing up, and I remember him commenting on how difficult it was to read.  He became quite adept at "translating" texts to me when the archaic language was beyond my comprehension.  Now, it is my turn, and I have my chance to hone my linguistic skills!

Yesterday, however, we did not check in with London's rich and poor because another special activity was scheduled for the afternoon.  The Secular Franciscans who meet here monthly came to do a service project, making valentines with our residents. 

Later in the afternoon, before heading over for confession and Mass, I mixed together a batch of cookies, using up a half bag of cherry chips I had left in the freezer and forming the cookies, by hand, into heart shapes.  (They were too small to use the cookie cutter).  I depend on St. Martha and Mary's intercession in these endeavors as I am sure they spent many hours cooking and baking.

The cookie-making took a little longer than I had planned, so I wasn't sure if I would make it to the church before the priest left the confessional to prepare for Mass.  (It is a ten-minute walk.) 

However, my prayers were answered and I was able to receive two sacraments on this mild Saturday afternoon.  After Mass, a friend of ours insisted on giving me a ride home, and I made it in plenty of time for evening Office.

What an interesting Saturday schedule!  I am thankful to God for all His blessings!

This week, the hearts of many of us are in Washington D.C., with the thousands of pilgrims from around the country (and our own parishes) who are journeying there for the annual March for Life.

This time of year, as we commemorate the fateful Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision, is a good time to be reminded of the need for us to pray and work for the end of legalized abortion. It's easy to forget about the issue during the year, and I find events like this to be a good reminder.

In my state in life, along with writing to legislators when bills are on the table, I think the most important thing for me to do to advance this movement is to pray.  I hope you join me in doing this as well.

We pray for mothers in unexpected pregnancies.  We pray that more babies, whose mothers are at a loss as to what to do, may be given the chance to come to birth and live out their life.

This topic of praying for babies (and their mothers, of course), came to mind again because of a conversation I just had a few moments ago...

This afternoon, as I was sitting at the reception desk, a long-time friend/volunteer of ours came in for her weekly hour of Eucharistic Adoration, which we hold in our chapel.  Referring to an understanding between us (going back several months now), she promised to "pray for more babies" during her time with Jesus.

Actually, this appreciated promise of prayer has nothing to do {directly} with the pro-life cause...

During one of our monthly women's gatherings, which she had attended, this woman shared with me that she and a friend of hers refer to me as the "baby," since I am the youngest Sister her at St. Anne's."

Teasingly, yet in earnest, I urged her to "pray for more babies."

Now, whenever we see each other, she assures me of her prayers for vocations to our community with this endearing expression.

“Jesus is the soul of our apostolate” and we are “made for mission” are some messages ringing in my mind after participating in the Student Leadership Summit (SLS20) sponsored by FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students).  Held in Phoenix, AZ, with around 8,000 participants, including numerous clergy and consecrated religious as well as college students, campus ministers, high-caliber speakers, parish youth ministers, and families, SLS20 provided an opportunity to get a glimpse of the Church, the Body of Christ.  There were speakers, activities, liturgies, exhibits, and more! 
 
As often happens with large conferences, it was not humanly possible for one person to take in all that was offered; this is a good reminder that the Lord does not call us to do everything but has something particular in mind for us among all the choices of life.  The somewhat overwhelming schedule/program of SLS20 was a reminder of, and an opportunity to practice, the personal discernment necessary in life, which presents us more options than we can possibly embrace.  That aspect of modeling the message was evident at several layers throughout SLS20.   There was the constant discernment necessary to navigate each day but the daily structure was also a model for our lives in that each day started with worship, an opportunity for Eucharistic Adoration and Holy Mass, before the other activities began. 
 
Further, participants were encouraged to attend various sessions and then come together in the afternoon for “Power Sessions” to teach each other/share what they learned.  This structure not only promotes the development of Christian friendship (a topic addressed in several sessions), the basis of incarnational evangelization (another topic addressed in various sessions), it also provides another level of processing the material being received so individuals are prepared to apply it to their lives in a very tangible way, if they so choose.  In addition, this structure enabled persons to gather information from sessions they were physically unable to attend while providing encouragement and a safe space for God-talk to flourish.  I was blessed to learn from and enjoy the encouragement of women from the University of Idaho for the Power Sessions.  Campus ministers were encouraged to kick off the 2020 with a retreat day, and I took the opportunity to join them.  This again modeled the ministry all ministers are called to…staying firmly rooted in Christ amidst the busyness of life – taking time to pray even when there are six things to be done at any given moment.  If our ministry is to be fruitful, we must be Christian Mystics living the Mystery; through contemplative encounter(s) with Christ, who meets us individually where we are, we are transformed by that Mystery and sent forth in mission.
 
This conference has been a reminder that the active life will not see us through and that the interior life is the root of all ministry.  This was reinforced by the conversations I had with individuals in “Mission Way,” at our display about the Franciscan Sisters of Dillingen.  When students would stop by and ask, “What is your apostolate?” I found myself giving various answers: sometimes I would tell them that I work at a school and we have sisters at a nursing home and at a basic care facility as well as a retreat center but other times I would simply tell them we pray and live together in community.
 
All in all, SLS20 was a remarkable way to wrap up 2019 and begin 2020.  Now for the challenge of carrying out those resolutions.  Nunc Coepi!  Or, as St. Francis said, “Let us begin to serve the Lord God, for up until now we have done little or nothing.”

I was reminded this morning how blessed I am in not having to travel on dangerous, wintry roads, since I live so close by (just across the yard, in fact.)

Although this proximity does have its benefits, it also brings with it some less-than-ideal circumstances as well.

When you live close, and coworkers are snowbound at home, you can end up working your regular shift/department, plus theirs!

Therefore, today, I am the morning receptionist.  This afternoon and evening, I will also be the p.m. receptionist as well as the care aide. 

Thankfully, those who are able to make it in do cooperate and work together nicely.  For example, Sr. Elaine will be helping me out for a couple of hours at the front desk so I can tend to the needs of our residents elsewhere in the building. 

The picture above is taken from our atrium, which my dad used to say would be "the perfect place to watch a snowstorm."  In reality, however, during snowstorms, we are sometimes completely occupied with other matters and don't have much extra time just to sit and enjoy this wonder of nature. :)

I must confess, though, that until I saw the effects of a terrible, driving wind out the window, I was tempted to go out and play in the snow later this afternoon.  This was before our other receptionist called in, though.)

I know that, officially, it's called Gaudete Sunday, but since my childhood (before I knew the Latin term), I've called it "Pink Candle Sunday."  I so enjoy the rich liturgical traditions of our faith!  We get to rejoice in the midst of our Advent waiting.

Although it was extra work on an already busy day yesterday, I wanted to make the most of things for the morrow's celebration...I ironed rose colored paneling to accent the front of the altar (this proved to be more complicate than I'd anticipated.), and found a rose colored chasuble for Monsignor to wear.  Although, the color is referred to as "rose," it always looked pink to me.  I remember a priest back home stressing the fact that it is not pink but rose. 

In this, I can't help but recall my dad's (whose birthday we remembered yesterday) facetious remark that "real men can wear pink."  (He had a pink shirt, himself.)

This morning,  I dug in the sacristy drawer and found a rose colored chalice veil as well.  I was happy!  (I'd thought we had one, but couldn't remember for sure.)

I hope you, too, rejoice, at this beautiful time of year as we sing, "Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"

This past Friday, I was invited to go sledding at Lincoln Park with some students from the Newman Center.  I hadn't been sledding in a long, long time, though I grew up less than two blocks away from the best sledding hills in town!

We didn't get started until around eleven at night, and it was 1:30 a.m. before my head finally hit the pillow.  This was after a full day, coordinating an evening discussion group with our residents, and attending festivities at the Center.  

I had so much fun, though it took me a few moments of watching others go down the hill to get up the nerve to try!  We used a variety of "sleds," from big pieces of cardboard to metal (trash can?) lids to actual plastic sleds and saucers.

Although it was far from hot outside, I kept quite warm climbing back up the hill after each delightful passage down.  It brought back memories!

The only drawback from the night (besides some sleep deprivation), was hitting a rough spot on one of my downward voyages.  Almost three days later, I still have a 'pain in the seat' when I walk or move the wrong way. 

I don't regret the outing, however; it was well worth it!!  

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