Sister Denise Boyle from Franciscans International visits us.

Sister Denise, a Franciscan Sister from Ireland and Executive Director of Franciscans International, visited us on April 8th and 9th to share with us her work on the Franciscan NGO, Non Governmental Orgination of the United Nations for the poor of the world. Sorry, I forgot to take pictures but you can find more about the Organization on their web page franciscansinternational.org The FI do marvelous work and we pray and support their efforts.

April Spring on the Monastery Grounds

Lambs at the co-op farm and Turkeys on the Monastery Grounds

Father John O'Connor OFM, Provincial of the Holy Name Friars, visits the Poor Clare Community

Father John O'Connor OFM, Holy Name Province Provincial, visited us today March 21,the first day of Spring. Father John celebrated the liturgy and stayed for dinner prepared by Sister Etta, which by the way was delicious. After dinner we visited in our community room with Father John. Thank you for the visit.

Sister Shirley Irasga OSC -died February 26, 2011

Sister Shirley was in the 53rd year of life and 26th of Religious Life. Shirley died at the Monastery surrounded by all the Sisters.
Born in Can-avid, East Samar, Philippines. In 1981, she entered the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters in the Philippines and in 1982 Shirley transferred to the Poor Clare Monastery in Stamford, Conn. When the Monastery in Stamford closed Shirley came to the Monastery in Chesterfield, NJ.
Sister Shirley was one of those gentle souls who worked quietly behind the scenes and always did everything with perfection.
Shirley loved a good party and she loved her Sisters.
Shirley leaves a hole in our hearts and we will miss her very much. She promised to send us two good women to replace her. Praise to our God for Shirley's life.

Friar Jim VanVurst, A Friar from Cincinnati, Ohio ,is giving us a retreat from February 13 to February 19.

Friar Jim has been in many leadership roles, a teacher at University level, and presently, among other duties,is Religious Assistant to the Poor Clares in the Bentivoglio Federation.
Part of the retreat is learning to do some actual water color painting. The pictures above show Friar Jim doing a demo and other pictures are of the Sisters trying to do some painting.

Snow upon Snow -Beautiful, Quiet and Peaceful.

We pray today for those who are plowing the snow so people can get to work. We pray for Police and firefighters and all who have to be out in this weather.

While the weather outside is cold and frosty, our Sister Pat, works quietly in a nice warm Monastery.

St. Francis and Saint Clare loved all of Creation but the birds were especially loved by both of these Saints.

If you click on any of the slideshow pictures you can get a better view of the birds.

May God be praised in all of His creatures.

Sister Nelia received the Habit on January 15th and Sister Karen on January 17th. Congratulations. They are a blessing for our Community

Christmas, and Visitors ,Knights of Columbus, Rosary Society of St. Clare, Florence, NJ at the Monastery

Advent- Christmas Poem Dedicated to Sister Marge OSC

Watching the evening news-
commercials breaking in
after tragic tales
we are told the meaning of Joy-
A BMW -
Always with a song for Happy Holidays -
never Christ's-Christmas-coming.

Settling in for Night Prayer
the dusk filling the chapel panes-
enveloping the quiet space -
a door -
enlightening the Joy within.

For He is Creator and Gift,
The Shepherd and the Lamb-
He is the Son and the Babe of Bethlehm-
always God's Son and always Son of Mary.
He is the Story and the Song-
The Melody and the Notes-
But always the Song
He sings through us,
Played out once in time
for us to learn.

He is Hope and Love,
Always Love.
He is Peace and Joy,
always His Joy.
Open the doors of our hearts.
He is doing something new.
Happy Holidays ???
It is never Happy Holidays,
Always Christ-for-the-masses,
Our Christmas Joy

Sister Margaret (Marge) McGowan OSC died December 2, 2010

Our Sister Marge, died December 2, 2010 at 1:00PM at St. Joseph's Center in Morris Hall , Lawrenceville, NJ. Sister Miriam and the Sisters were present with Marge as she went home to the Good Shepherd whom she loved with all her heart.

Born in Summit, NJ, Sister Marge was a vice-president of a banking corporation for many years before entering the Poor Clares in Bordentown, NJ. Sister Marge was very instrumental in helping with the finances that helped build our new Monastery in Chesterfield, NJ. Mr Harry Hill, our lawyer at the time and Bill Taylor our construction person found Marge an asset to the building process.

The Sisters will miss Marge for many reasons not to speak of her wonderful Irish Wit.
We know Marge will intercede for us and send us vocations and maybe a dog.

Sister Nelia, our postulant, had visitors from North Carolina

We enjoyed the visit of Evelyn and Arcie and their son Raymon and their daughter,Krystle