On March 18, 2010, the aroma of Irish stew and soda bread filled the Franciscan Welcoming House as guests arrived at 6 p.m.  for the Enrichment Evening.  Even though it was one day after St. Patrick's, one could see the green décor on the table settings add to the enjoyment of a festive dinner and evening together. 

The topic for the evening centered on water issues and its importance for citizens of the US and world.  Members of the Water Committee of the Benedictine/Franciscan Social Justice Group spoke to the issues.  It included Jim Vogel, Franciscan Associate , Sister Maritherese Woida, OSB and Sister Mary Zirbes, OSF.    The evening included many facts and information on water, articles from Journals, local newspapers and magazines on water use, exploitation and overuse along with efforts in the local St. Cloud area to respect this wonderful resource of creation.  The evening ended with a prayer and sprinkling of water on the 24 persons in attendance.  The members of the Franciscan Welcoming House, Sisters Loretta Denfeld, Cordy Korkowski, Ange Mayers and Clara Stang hosted the evening.

The next and last Enrichment Evening for the season will be held on Thursday, April 15 and will feature the experiences of the four Franciscan Community Volunteers:  Will Braun, Spencer Buchert, Alicia Landale and Caitie Tobin.

Sister Cordy Korkowski

Sacred Heart Chapel, St. Francis Convent, Little Falls, Minnesota

Thursday, March 1, 2010

We gathered at the foot of the Cross in quiet, reflective prayer. Through simple meditative prayer chants of Taizé music and the beauty of lighted candles, we were drawn into a deeper experience of God's presence in our midst. Taizé prayer expresses a basic reality of faith that can awaken the spirit within. In the midst of community we gathered together in reflective silence; we listened to Scripture readings and intercessory prayer. Cantors invited all to join in singing simple psalms. The prayer of Jesus, "that all may be one," is a special invitation to persons of all faiths to pray with us. Come join us for our next experience of Taizé prayer on May 6, 2010 from 6 - 7 pm.

                                         -- by Associate Iris Prieto

In Venezuela education is free and obligatory at all levels and modalities. When the baby is born, the mother enrolls her child. Teachers visit homes in order to teach mothers ways to stimulate the intelligence of their babies. When these children reach three years of age, they may be enrolled in preschool for three years.

The school year lasts 200 working days, from September 16 to July 31. Primary school lasts six years and secondary school, five. One can earn a bachelor degree in Science, Humanities or Commerce. There is another modality, Technical Education, with a duration of six years. On completion, students gain the title "Middle Technician."

Some universities are free - the public universities. The schedule is from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Students, along with their teachers, receive lunch. The government is providing schools with computers, video beams, internet, etc.

The downside is that space for freedom of thought is closed as the government tries to pigeonhole young people into the government criteria, although the new education law states that education should not be politicized.

The salary for a teacher depends on the scale at which he or she is located: from teacher I to teacher VI. I am a teacher III so my salary is U.S. $400 per month, with 36 working hours a week. The government has set this cap of 36 hours, but the union says they should let us work 54 hours a week. Yes, we have unions which defend us with wage claims. We have health insurance by collective agreement, which covers my children, husband and my parents. This insurance is HCM (hospitalization, surgery and childbirth) and orthodontics. It also covers the death of the beneficiary.

World Water Day: March 22, 2010                           --Associate Jim Vogel

The theme for this year's World Water Day is: "Communicating Water Quality Challenges and Opportunities."

At a United Nations meeting early in the New Millennium of 2000, the following goal was identified: "provide safe drinking water and proper sanitation to every person on this earth." As a follow-up in 2005, the UN declared a "Decade of Water" with the slogan, "Water for Life 2005-2015," to attempt to bring this goal to reality.

Here at St. Francis Convent in Little Falls, Minn., we have a committee in place called "Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation" (JPIC). My wife Alice and I have been part of that committee since 2000. The issues of "Sister Water" were one of the topics the committee addressed. About the year 2005 a joint committee was formed, collaborating with the Benedictine Sisters of St. Joseph, Minn. Early on in this joint endeavor, it was decided that "water" was of such importance that a subcommittee should be established to focus on water issues. Thus, the "Water Subcommittee" was formed, consisting of Sister Mariterese Woida, OSB; Sister Mary Zirbes, OSF; and me. 

We have been faithfully involved with worldwide water issues through our study and research. Each year we have a special project to present on March 22, World Water Day.  This year we are publishing a list of resources and information on Water Education Materials, Ideas for Water Awareness, Water Conservation Ideas and Water Projects for citizens, students and groups. We hope by means of this publication that we can get much of the awareness and knowledge we've discovered into the hands of interested people, further fostering the care of "Sister Water." 

I personally feel blessed for having the opportunity to participate on the JPIC Joint Committee and especially for working so closely on a regular basis with such holy, knowledgeable, experienced and caring sisters on our little Water Subcommittee.