100 Year Celebration of the Poor Clares in Chesterfield, NJ

Monastery 100 Year Celebration

Sister Miriam, our Abbess, welcomes Friar George Sandor OFM Conventual who was the homilest for the Eucharistic Mass. Friar George has know the Poor Clares since he was twelve years old and has continued to be our good friend over the years.

November 21, 2009 100 Year Eucharistic Celebration and dinner

We celebrated our 100 years of contemplative presence in the Bordentown/Chesterfield, NJ November 21,2009. Our foundering house, Boston, Mass. was represented by Sister Clare Frances OSC, Abbess and Federation President and Sister Veronica OSC . Sister Veronica Butler OSC who made our first foundation in Delray, FL.,was also present to join us in this joyful celebration. Karen Stapleton who will be entering January 17th came for a weekend visit and participated in the celebration.

November pictures

One spectacular leaf that fell this fall reminding us of the beauty of God.

Mary, our friend from the Catholic paper, The Monitor, came for an interview with the sisters about our 100 years in the diocese of Trenton.

While we were talking to Mary, Sister Mary Clare Dangler, a Franciscan Sister of Christ the King, stopped in to say hello. Sister Mary Clare is from Crosswicks , NJ which is down the road a piece as they say and was visiting her family. She is now stationed in Kansas City.

Friar Novice , Gerald , (friar in the background)tells us his vocation story. He mentions that the witness of the people of his parish were the ones who fostered his calling especially the little grandmothers. Gerald loves his vocation and though there have been ups and downs he feels that this is where he is called.
Father Ron listens attentively to the story.
Friar Michael, tells us his story of coming to the Holy Name Friars as Sisters Barbara and Shirley listen. Michael too had good role models growing up, and when he came to the USA he worked as a computer expert but found that he wanted more out of life. Michael is happy at his choice.

Feast of Saint Francis, October 4, 2009

Friar Jude Michael Krill was with us on the Feast of Saint Francis. Friar Jude celebrated our Mass and gave us a beautiful homily. One of the points he brought out was that Francis received his vocation at the Church of San Damiano and Clare received her vocation at Our Lady of the Angels. The surprising event though was that Our Lady of the Angels was home for Francis' order, the Friars Minor and San Damiano was home for Clare's order, the Poor Ladies.

The Collage below shows Friar Jude Michael enjoying dinner with Sister Miriam, Sister Barbara and Sister Claire Andre. Friar Jude Michael shows off his new stole and one of the pictures shows Jude Michael blessing our dog, Magnificat(aka Maggie) Francis loved all creation, birds, wolves and we are sure he would have loved Maggie.

Sisters of Saint Joseph /TOSF donate as a gift this elegant banner

The Local Community Sisters of SSJ/TOSF gave us, the Poor Clares of Chesterfield, NJ, this elegant banner for our 100 anniversary of our presence in the Bordentown/Chesterfield area. The banner says that we have been a contemplative presence in the Trenton Diocese since 1909 when we were invited by Bishop McFaul.
We are grateful to Sisters Anne Marie, Barbara, Catherine, Dian, Dolores, Felicia, Geri, Illuminata, Jeanne, Joyce, Kenneth and Shawn for undertaking this task and doing the banner. We promise prayers for this local group of Sisters and for Trinity High School and the students and staff there.
God be with you all and may He reward you for your kindness to us.

On September 1, 2009, to celebrate our 100 years in the Diocese of Trenton we invited Friars and Poor Clares in the area for a picnic All had a very relaxed and peaceful time and we expect to invite them back in 100 years.

Art at St. Bonaventure University

Picture of Carciri in Italy by Eric Lopez OFM

This picutre pf San Damiano in Assisi, Italy is by Eric Lopez OFM

Another picture by Paul O'Keefe OFM

Art at St. Bonaventure University

Paul O'Keefe OFM drawing

Franciscan Picnic

Franciscan Picnic for Friars and Sisters September 1

Greeting the guests for the picnic and than Mass together to beginning our day of fun. We are celebrating 100 years in Chesterfield/Bordentown Area.

Now we eat and have fun with our friends.

Franciscorps visits Monastery of Saint Clare , August 28,2009

Brother Jim More OFM Conventual brought eleven post graduate students to visit our Monastery and to help them to understand our life.
Four of the young people will be going to Costa Rica to do volunteer work among the poor.
Seven will do volunteer work in Syracuse, NY among the poor.

Path in the Woods to our Creek

This is a wonderful hide away to sit and meditate with God amid nature.

Feast of Saint Clare-Brunch at 10:00 AM and Eucharistic Celebration at 7:00PM

Friar Steve Kluge presides at Transitus for Saint Clare Monday evening August 10,2009

Bontanical Gardens, Our Lady of Victory Church and Letchworth Park around Buffalo, NY- side trips while we were studying at St. Bonaventure University

Summer at Bonaventure University

St. Bonaventure University Enrichment Program for Poor Clares July, 2009

Sister Suzanne OSF Was our Dean Mother during our stay at St. Bonaventure

St, Bonaventure University enrichment Program for Poor Clares July5 to 25th 2009

Maria Pia Albrsoni was our professor and took Clare and her form of Life in the 13 Century.

Friar Michael Blastic OFM helped with defining necessary issues.

A Class on Stained Glass

Sister Pat and Sister Florence were at a workshop at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, NY for three weeks. One of our teachers, Sister Ann Therese Kelly is a well know stained glass artist.
Below is her blog .
When I return home we will put up more pictures on our blog of the different teachers and Poor Clares who took part in this workshop for you to see and enjoy. Sister Pat Coogan from the Langhorn community will send us pictures and as soon as we have them we will share them with you.
Until then enjoy sister Kelly's blog.


http://sisterkelly.blogspot.com/

Sister Agnes Celebrates her 80th Birthday

The Sisters celebrate with Sister Agnes on her milestone birthday with gifts from each sister, cake an ice cream and the video "Oklahoma." Sister Agnes loves musicals. Congratulations and peace to you, Sister Agnes.

Flowers and Monastery Garden Grounds

The top picture is our Monastery Grounds. It looks peaceful doesn't it?

Did you know that if you plant your Easter Lilies in your garden after Easter they will bloom around the Feast of Saint Peter and Paul. These are ours.

Sister Shirley's Silver Jubilee Celebration

Sister Shirley's Jubilee took place on the feast of Saint Anthony of Padua

Link to slideshow

http://

Friars of Holy Name Province Ordination May 16th 2009

Visit our photo album

Picasa Web Albums - Monastery - Monastery Hap...

Roses in our yard

Links

Franciscan sources
http://www.franciscan-archive.org/ - 3k

A Blessing Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4JFBsmyiFc -


This is like a FRanciscan song of Creation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EdaLfJjDuE

Saint Clare's Garden

Young folk pray the rosary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsQeyDZJ_HQ

More pictures pf Father Hugh's first mass at the Monastery after his ordination on May 16th.