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I went, I saw, I wept with compassion
by Sister Donna Marie Zetah
 During Community Days there was a display with a certificate of recognition and appreciation for the work in Humane Borders of Sisters Elizabeth Ohmann and Audrey Jean Loher.
Humane Borders (in Spanish Fronteras Compasivas) is an organization that ministers to the humanitarian needs of the immigrants who cross the U.S./Mexican border. The staff and members expressed deep appreciation to the Franciscan Sisters, in particular to Sister Elizabeth Ohmann who is cofounder of Humane Borders and has dedicated her life to the efforts since 2000 and to Sister Audrey Jean Loher who has ministered there for the past two years.
Water is essential to life. Immigrants were dying in the desert from dehydration. This awareness moved a small group of people, Sister Elizabeth being one of them to DO SOMETHING. They began putting water in the desert. At present in this relatively small area of the U.S. border, there are 70 water stations maintained daily to help prevent deaths of those in passage.
In my ministry with Mexican families in Long Prairie, I have listened to many stories of their journey to the U.S. and specifically to Long Prairie. I wanted to see the beginning to their journey. I went to the desert on June 4. I went to the water stations. It is an awesome experience. It is an incredible endeavor to undertake this trip. The motive has to be driven with a need so great that even death is a worthwhile risk. My sadness at such a realization was only tempered by the fact that men and women of every walk, every faith or simply compassionate people dedicate their time and life to the cause of others.
I felt very grateful to be present at the time of this recognition of our sisters in this noble work. I thank them and the support of our Community, that we are there to make a difference.
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Foster Grandparents give special one-to-one time
 The Central Minnesota Foster Grandparent Program began as an experiment back in 1965. Over the years it has become a nourishing environment for children who might otherwise fall through the cracks of the educational system and for adults whose life experience brings a breadth of patience and understanding.
Sister Joyce Piotrowski joined the ranks of other Foster Grandparents last summer. She has become a permanent fixture at Saints Peter, Paul and Michael Primary School in St. Cloud. A former teacher, she fits the job description: child-oriented, cheerful, good listener, encouraging and upbeat, sympathetic and understanding.
A typical day finds her listening to children read, keeping them on task and offering suggestions for their schoolwork. One particularly obstinate, temperamental fourth grader changed his attitude toward school when Sister Joyce discovered his interest in NASCAR; now they have a rapport that has led to his improved writing and reading skills. She also helps a kindergartener to focus and, as a result, the student does not fall behind the rest of the class. Another young girl greets Sister Joyce with a big hug, wrapping both arms around her in a tight squeeze; all she needs is a good hug.
In addition to her “grandparent” duties, she is active within her Franciscan community, driving elderly sisters, serving at special meals, ushering for events and serving on various committees. With her volunteer time, she is a Eucharistic minister and is active in the “Why Catholic” program, which help live out the FSLF commitment statement to “dedicate ourselves to rebuilding the Church.” Sister Joyce said, “I believe in working and serving where there is a need. I’m with a group of special needs students five hours a day five days a week who mightotherwise be left behind without one-to-one help.”
Grandparents often say that if they had known that grandchildren were so rewarding, they would have had them first. Sister Joyce skipped the marriage and family steps but learned about life in her community of sisters. Now she takes that wisdom and connects with children in a fun, energizing, nourishing way. “I live my life in grateful ministry.”
For more information on the Central Minnesota Foster Grandparent Program, call Jean Yager, Area Supervisor, at 320-229-4589 or 1-866-895-7992 or email her at jyager@gw.stcdio.org. During 2006, 254 Foster Grandparents mentored approximately 4,500 children for a total of 184,054 hours of service.
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 Meet Sister Vianney Weier
Praying Sister for the Franciscan Associates
Sister Vianney has been keenly interested in the relationship between the Franciscan Sisters and associates for a long time. She thoroughly enjoys supporting others who are supporting the Franciscan Sisters and likes to get to know the associates on a personal basis when they come to the convent in Little Falls.
Sister Vianney has been “associated” with the Franciscan community of Little Falls since she was a little girl growing up in Dodgeville, Wis. The local hospital there was operated by the Little Falls Franciscans, and the Weier family developed some deep and meaningful relationships with them. The whole family, including all 12 children, would often go to visit the sisters at the hospital.
Sister Vianney remembers how kind and wonderful the sisters were to her. Five other members of her family were also inspired to become Franciscans. As she grew up, she came to St. Francis High School in Little Falls for an education and received so much more when she decided to enter the Franciscan community in 1942.
After becoming a Franciscan Sister, Sister Vianney enjoyed a career in nursing for 43 years. She worked in various areas in the hospital, including the emergency and operating rooms. She always loved caring for people, and nursing was a wonderful way to minister to them.
 After nursing, she retrained and used her many gifts and talents to provide pastoral care at hospitals in Rhinelander and Madison, Wis., before moving back to the Motherhouse in 1996. She continued her pastoral care there, serving as sister companion. Sister Vianney accompanied the sisters to doctor’s appointments until 2005. In her spare time she enjoys reading, listening to classical music and enjoying the natural world. Sister Vianney loves living at the Motherhouse, as it is always an adventure. She relates that there is always something to do there.
Love, service and prayer, especially for the abused and downtrodden of our age, are the gifts or blessings that Sister Vianney believes the Franciscan Sisters offer the community of Little Falls and the world.
And if St. Francis was with us today, what would he have to say to us in this day and age? Sister Vianney doesn’t hesitate to answer. St. Francis would say that you belong to God. God is with you always. Give God your love and your life. Let go and let God. That is such a hard thing for most of us to do most of the time, but God protects us and helps us always. Peace and blessings will follow.
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‘I live my life in gratitude’
 Sister Cordy Korkowski is the pastoral minister for the young and vibrant parish St. Francis Xavier Church in Sartell, Minn.
As pastoral minister, Sister Cordy works to nurture the spiritual lives of parishioners and provide pastoral care. Much of her work is focused on hard passages of life, be it illness, death or loss. Sister Cordy’s strength is training and preparing lay people to reach out to others in their Christian faith.
For people in need of a listening presence, Sister Cordy coordinates the BeFriender program. BeFrienders offer their time and listening skills to nurture and care for those who have experienced loss, death, inner pain and transitions. The program’s goal is to minister to the heart and to the spirit, providing care, not cure.
Sister Cordy is also involved in the parish’s grief training program which supports members who are dealing with the death of a loved one. Sharing a common experience of loss enables those in need to draw on the support of others to move forward with their lives. Anyone in need of spiritual support is given a prayer blanket handmade by women of the parish. This ministry brings comfort and warmth to others. “You are covered in prayer” is sewn on each blanket.
 Known for her compassion and her deep, personal faith, Sister Cordy accompanies people as they approach death, their final home. She’s a comforting presence in the lives of the parish’s terminally ill and their families. As she helps people prepare for the end of life, she often speaks to them of their final journey. She finds some apprehensive but most are ready to be called home. She thinks of her presence and time spent as prayer and grace.
In the broader diocesan community, Sister Cordy is co-chair of Pastoral Associates and Ministers, which focuses on professional support, ongoing education and reflection for key parish leaders. She was part of St. Cloud Metro Revisioning, a focus group dealing with reorganization of the St. Cloud metro area in light of clergy shortages. And in September 2005, Bishop John Kinney appointed her to the Advisory Board of the Diaconate Program of the Diocese of St. Cloud.
As she ministers, Sister Cordy finds that many people seek a stronger faith life; in fact, they yearn for it. She shares her Franciscan values throughout her ministry. Her own life with the sisters at the Franciscan Welcoming House in St. Cloud and the outreach programs there complement her ministries with prayer, fun, community living and appreciation that all is gift. “I hope always to live my life in gratitude,” she said.
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