End of Year Pancake Breakfast

 We celebrated the end of the school year by attending Pentecost Mass where the troop was recognized and brought up the gifts. 

We then hosted a free pancake breakfast for the parish. The girls took orders, delivered the food and drinks, and bussed the tables. The parents cooked the food. 

We gathered at a home to prepare the night before. 

We then had our end of school year recognition where the girls earned their year long St Vincent de Paul charity badge. The girls shared their favorite memories and we enjoyed a slideshow of. the year's events. We said good-bye to three graduates as they move on to high school. We also welcomed new leadership as the key and rosary were handed on to continue the mission of the Little Flowers.  

Memorial Day Compassion

 Our troop helped out at the Memorial Day Mass by handing out programs before and flags and carnations for those wishing to decorate grave markers after. Then we had a petal meeting about the virtue of Compassion, St Marianne Cope, and the Corporal Works of Mercy. We took the remainder of the flowers to our cemetery to honor the graves of veterans of our parish and others buried there that were special to us. 

Wreath 5: Lesson 9

Virtue: Compassion Saint: Marianne Cope

Verse: “As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him” -Psalm 103:13

St Marianne Cope(1838-1880) immigrated from Germany to the U.S. and settled in Utica, NY. She dropped out of school at 14 to help support her family and when her father died, she entered the convent of the Sisters of St Francis. She taught other German immigrants about the faith and eventually became the Superior of her convent. She helped found new hospitals. In 1883 the King of Hawaii requested help with the leper community on the island as Fr Damien was dying of the disease. Over 50 other orders had already refused because of the deadliness of the disease. Sr Marianne joyfully said yes and with six sisters, traveled to Molokai and spent the rest of her life caring for people with leprosy. She never contracted the disease. She attended to St Damian as he died. Her feast day is January 23rd. 

“I am hungry for the work and I wish with all my heart to be one of the chosen Ones, whose privilege it will be, to sacrifice themselves for the salvation of the souls of the poor Islanders. I am not afraid of any disease, hence it will be my greatest delight even to minister to the abandoned lepers.” -Sr Marianne Cope

Compassion, like sympathy and empathy is about understanding another’s situation. However, compassion is an active virtue that asks us to do something about the suffering of others, to courageously, suffer with the other. The Corporal Works of Mercy focus on what we can do to show compassion to others and help relieve suffering.  

Iris Shows and Constancy

 This year's Iris show included a rainy tour of area gardens by bus followed by an auction and dinner. The girls made their displays choosing an around the world or down by the station theme. The Iris were given to the residents of St Agnes Home at the end of the show. 

Horticulture Entries

Photography Auction Entries

Box Lunch Break

Making  Floriculture Displays

Manning the Plant Sales

Garden Tour

Dinner

Auction

Ready for St Agnes

The girls had another opportunity to hone their floriculture skills at the Iris show at the Missouri Botanical Gardens on Mother's Day. 

Wreath 5: Lesson 8

Virtue: Constancy Saint:Marian de Paredes

Verse: “This saying is trustworthy: if we have died with him we shall also live with him.”

 -2 Timothy:11

St Mariana de Paredes (1618-1645) lived in what is now Quito, Ecuador. Her parents were Spanish Nobels and she was their 8th child but was orphaned at a young age. She lived as a hermit in her older sister’s home, praying and fasting in her room, living almost entirely on the Eucharist alone. She became a Third Order Franciscan. Many miracles were attributed to her. She died shortly after her town suffered an earthquake and epidemic. At her funeral, a lily is said to have sprouted up where a drop of her blood hit the ground, proving her sanctity. She was from then on called the Lily of Quito and became the first saint from Ecuador. Her feast day is May 26 and she is the patron of Ecuador. 

Constancy is the virtue by which we continue to strive, toil and do good works despite obstacles or setbacks. It goes along with fortitude and helps us create habits of character. Constancy is staying on the path of holiness no matter the temptations and distractions that get in our way. Trusting in God’s plan for us and relying on his grace through the sacraments and prayer can help us grown in this virtue.