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. 

Miraculous Medal Shrine & Mercy Petal Meeting

 

The Little Flowers celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday with a field trip to the National Shrine of the Miraculous Medal. The first statue to the right of the front doors was of our patroness, St. Thérèse. 

We recalled what we'd learned about St. Catherine Laboure and the story of the Miraculous Medal at the beginning of the year. 

We lit candles for our intentions in the intercessory chapel. Then we placed our hands in Mary's just as St Catherine did during the first apparition. Here, we had our petal meeting and learned about St Faustina and The Divine Mercy image. 

Saint Faustina (Helena Kowalska) (1905-1938) was born in Poland. She entered the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy in her 20s. She was visited by Jesus, who presented himself as the "King of Divine Mercy" wearing a white garment with red and pale rays coming from his heart. She was asked to become the apostle and secretary of God's mercy, a model of how to be merciful to others, and an instrument for reemphasizing God's plan of mercy for the world. Jesus told her to have the image painted that he showed to her. She kept a diary of her experiences. It wasn’t until after her death that others began to understand her deep holiness and life of suffering. St. Faustina’s feast day is October 5. She is the patron saint of mercy. We celebrate the feast of Divine Mercy Sunday the first Sunday after Easter.

The virtue of mercy is about receiving forgiveness from God and giving it to others without limit. Forgive seven times seven times, as God forgives us. We are to never despair of God’s mercy. There is nothing we could do to make him stop loving us. Let us remember to always turn back to him in contrition. We can grow in this virtue by practicing spiritual and corporal works of mercy.

The lily is a symbol of purity and is often depicted with the saints and Mary. It is a symbol of the Annunciation and the Resurrection which is why it is a flower for Easter. Its trumpet shape heralds the triumphant news that Jesus is risen! Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. -Luke 12:27

We prayed the Divine Mercy Chaplet on the rosary walk pausing to pray and explore the grotto. Continue to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet each day for the next three weeks to earn the Divine Mercy badge. We can also practice the virtue of mercy by doing spiritual and corporal works of mercy for others.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36

Next, we attended Mass, visited the gift shop, and had lunch at Mary Jane's Restaurant. 

The girls earned their mercy petals. And our new girls earned the Holy Lent patch by keeping their lenten promises. Thank you to all the Little Flowers that served others by greeting during Holy Week services and by helping with the chalk art event on Holy Saturday. 

May God Bless us and help us grow in the virtue of Mercy. Sts Faustina and Laboure, Pray for us!