Annual Overnight

 The girls had a blast spending a jam packed night in the parish hall. We began with pizza dinner followed by professional story telling from our friend from the Iris society. He helped kick off the theme of service and charity. He encouraged us to remember one of his stories to share with a friend.

Next, we made Wear and Give Miraculous Medal bracelets to give away when the Holy Spirit moves us or when someone gives one a compliment and Good Deed Beads to help remind us to do acts of kindness (spiritual and corporal works of mercy) each day. We learned about the Miraculous Medal and St Catherine Laboure and how the Wear and Give Ministry is still spreading Mary's love for all her children and bringing them closer to her son, Jesus. 

We earned our Service petals at our petal meeting where we learned about Saint Jeanne Jugan, foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor. She was called to care for the elderly. We are each called to service in a particular way by the people and situations God places before us. We can turn work into the virtue of service by choosing to do the work out of love for God and others. 

The girls were given Iris coloring contest sheets in the yellow packets. Instructions for entry are in the packet and are due by January 31st. There are also instructions for the Ackerman essay contest which is due May 17. You'll notice a familiar name listed as the first place winner. Check out her wonderful essay published in the packet. Congratulations to R! 

Next, we celebrated the birthday of a Little Flower with cake and ice cream and a fun party with Bingo, karaoke, and board games. The girls finally got their wish of having more time to just be together. 

We ended the night praying in the chapel and singing the Divine Mercy Chaplet before sharing the roses and thorns of the day. The girls bonded and shivered through their night in the unheated youth room with the motion sensor lights punctuating their sleep. 

The next morning we packed up and thought better of hiking to breakfast due to sub zero temperatures, and enjoyed more fellowship and good food at a local establishment. Thank you to all our volunteers that helped make this much anticipated annual event a success. 

Babler Campout/Iris Work

Our weekend camping trip with the Little Flowers was cut a little short by rain. We made the most with the dry time we had. We were treated to an astronomy lesson and star gazing by local experts who brought out their telescope and got to see the rings of Saturn. We had lessons about the virtues of simplicity and optimism. We hiked, hammocked, and broke bread together. We had amazing campfire baked apples. We also built and launched model rockets. We were optimistic about retrieving them and most were! We ended the days by praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet around the fire (and again while packing up camp late at night the second night). 

Wreath 5: Lesson 3

Virtue: Optimism Saint: Maria Mazzarello

Verse: “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, plans for your welfare and not for woe. So as to give you a future of hope.” -Jeremiah 29:11

St Maria Mazzarello (1837-1881) was born one of 10 children on a vineyard in Italy. At 15 she entered the convent of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate. She was known for her constant joy in all things. When she was 23 an epidemic of typhoid overtook her town and she cared for the sick, contracting the illness. She recovered but remained weak and frail. She saw a vision of a farmhouse with little girls running around and heard the words, “I entrust them to you.” Soon, she opened a sewing school for young girls. She became friends with Don Bosco, who would become a Saint as well. Together they worked to educate young boys and girls and formed the Salesian religious order. She became a missionary to South America where she died. She is considered an incorruptible saint because her body has not decayed. Her feast day is May 14. She is a patron saint against illness. 

Optimism comes from the virtue of hope. Optimism is the work we can do to make the best out of hard situations and trust in God’s will in all things. It doesn’t matter how many times we fall, but that we get up each time. Being grateful helps us develop the attitude of optimism. If you woke up tomorrow with what you thanked God for today what would you have?

Wreath 5: Lesson 2

Virtue: Simplicity Saint: Cunigunde of Luxembourg

Verse: “Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.” -Mark 10:15

St Cunigunde of Luxembourg (c975-1040) was a descendant of Charlemagne. She was a queen married to King Henry II who was also a Saint. The couple were known for their charitable works and life of simplicity despite being royalty. Their marriage was a spiritual one, and they lived chastely. She was accused of scandal and walked over flaming hot irons without injury to prove her innocence. One night her bed caught fire threatening the life of herself and her maid. She made the sign of the cross and the fire extinguished. She became very ill and promised she would build a monastery if she regained her health. She was healed and kept her promise. After the death of her husband, Cunigunde entered that Monastary herself, exchanging her royal gowns for the Benedictine habit. Her feast day is March 3. She is the patroness of Lithuania. 

The virtue of simplicity allows more time and space for Jesus to fill. What could you do to simplify and make more time for Jesus? When is less more? Think about your bedroom. Your calendar. Your prayer time. Your dinner time. Your backpack. The time you spend with your friends. The time you spend with your family. 

Read Mark 10:13-16. What does it mean to “be like a child”?

Little Flowers worked hard selling Iris at the American Iris Society Tent at Greentree Festival. They also built a new bed in the garden and planted rhizomes.