"We, the Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis, Oldenburg, are women of prayer,
committed to the Gospel values as lived by St. Francis and Mother Theresa Hackelmeier.
From our life in community we are sent to extend the mission of Jesus through our presence and service.
Enlivened by a spirit of justice, reconciliation and peace,
we collaborate with others in responding to the needs of the world."
We fulfill these words by being women of prayer in the ministries we do and the places where we are present. Since Vatican II opened the doors to the many needs of the world, we minister in education, parish ministry, social service, healthcare and social justice.
committed to the Gospel values as lived by St. Francis and Mother Theresa Hackelmeier.
From our life in community we are sent to extend the mission of Jesus through our presence and service.
Enlivened by a spirit of justice, reconciliation and peace,
we collaborate with others in responding to the needs of the world."
We fulfill these words by being women of prayer in the ministries we do and the places where we are present. Since Vatican II opened the doors to the many needs of the world, we minister in education, parish ministry, social service, healthcare and social justice.
Information on visiting the sisters:
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Visitors will not be allowed in the Convent until further notice
We will still allow packages to be dropped off for Sisters but they have to be left between the lobby doors at SCH. Click HERE to read the COVID19 Safety Plan for the Sisters of St. Francis. |
News From The sisters...Catholic Sisters' Week: Challenge to End Hunger
We the Oldenburg Franciscan are collecting donations for the Batesville Area Ministerial Association Food Pantry. Send donations to Sister Annette Grisley, P.O. Box 100, Oldenburg, IN 47036.
You are also encouraged to contact your local, state and federal representatives and advocate for policies that will increase access to food, including expanding SNAP benefits, increasing the minimum wage, and funding food initiatives. By clicking on the following URL and entering your zip code you can find and then contact your US Senators. www.senate.gov/senators/contact Do the same with this URL to contact your US Representative. www.house.gov/representatives Franciscan On-Line Discernment Group
March 10th at 8:00 pm EST / 7:00 pm CST Register at: https://tinyurl.com/FranciscanLent 
Please join us for our Lenten series starting on Ash Wednesday for single men/women 18-45.
To register please go to: https://tinyurl.com/FranciscanLent 
CORPORATE STANCE ON RACISM...
On the 170th Anniversary of their founding January 6, 2021, the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana, promulgated the following Corporate Stance on Racism.
Recognizing the wondrous diversity, culture and color among all God’s beloved peoples, we, the Sisters of St. Francis, Oldenburg, Indiana forcefully condemn the sin of racism that is the root of so much historical and current injustice... Click HERE to read the full article. S. Pat Bietsch featured in article...
As we read about Sisters ministering to the Navajo amid the pandemic, we are reminded of our deceased S. Pat Bietsch and her ministry there with S. Marlene Kochert. Click the link below to read the article:
https://www.globalsistersreport.org/news/ministry/blog/sr-patricia-bietsch-shared-her-life-navajo |
Publications and Programs:
Click the image above to view our current brochure!
ATTENTION - Until further notice our programs at the Oldenburg Franciscan Center will be presented using ZOOM!
Click image to view the Summer Celebrate!
ATTENTION - per the requests of the Indiana State Board of Health and the Governor of Indiana, effective JULY 22nd - Michaela Farm Store patrons must wear a mask while shopping in the Farm Store or while visiting the surrounding areas of the porch and drive.
THANK YOU for helping us support a healthy community. 
Click the Links Below to FOllow Us on Facebook!"BEST PARTS"Could a Franciscan Vocation be in your future? |
PRAY WITH US
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READINGS AND REFLECTION FOR MARCH 7, 2021
THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT |
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Exodus 20:1-17
1 Corinthians 1:18: 22-25 John 2:13-25 |
Our Weekly Reflection...
REFLECTION: “GOD IS THE CENTER OF OUR LIVES”
The readings for the Third Week of Lent impress upon us that God is the Center of our lives. The commandments given through Moses to the Israelites are signposts meant to point the way toward authentically living out this reality. Jesus also reminds the people to make God the center of their lives when he encounters the sellers in the temple. In Matthew, Mark and Luke’s gospels Jesus admonished the sellers by telling them that “This is a house of prayer.” But John in his gospel is more forceful and goes further by making a whip to drive out the sellers, their goods and animals that were being sold and turned over the money changers booths. Also during John’s portrayal he says that Jesus will rebuild the temple in 3 days which was a reference to his passion and resurrection and not rebuilding the temple. The Jews did not understand his prediction and ask where he got the authority to throw out the sellers. But his prediction proved true in three days with his resurrection.
The scriptures that were written years ago are passed down to us today, so we can perhaps apply them to actions in the present time. When contemplating Jesus expelling the sellers for turning his house into a market place I was reminded of the attack on the Capitol building on January 6. In that attack God was not the Center of the attackers’ lives. Moses’ prediction that the commandments were a signpost for authentic living also proved to have been forgotten. Several of the commandments were not reverenced on that day especially: Honor your father and your mother, You shall not kill, You shall not steal. What would Jesus have done if he had been at the Capitol building that day? .
In the Gospel event, the Temple is a sacred building but is a building that can be replaced. The Capitao is a revered building but it too is still a building. Memories of what happened here will never be forgotten by those living today and will go down in history as a violent event.
God never gives up on us and God’s truest intention for creation is always aimed toward love and life. We read in Genesis that God looked on creation as very good. God’s intention is to be the Center of our lives and hopefully in all our lives God wins that center space.
Prayer from Psalm 16 as expressed in Psalms Now Let us pray: I look to God as my chief counselor, even in the darkest of night. God is ready to teach and guide me. I need only to recognize God’s perpetual presence. Because God continually surrounds me, I shall not lose my way. Is it any wonder that I am happy? Even my humanity, my tangible body, rests in the blessed realization of this security. God will keep even my human self from the destruction clutch of evil. You do show me the paths I must take. Within Your all-embracing presence there is genuine fulfillment. In my relationship with You I discover incomparable and eternal joy.
Marge Wissman, OSF
The readings for the Third Week of Lent impress upon us that God is the Center of our lives. The commandments given through Moses to the Israelites are signposts meant to point the way toward authentically living out this reality. Jesus also reminds the people to make God the center of their lives when he encounters the sellers in the temple. In Matthew, Mark and Luke’s gospels Jesus admonished the sellers by telling them that “This is a house of prayer.” But John in his gospel is more forceful and goes further by making a whip to drive out the sellers, their goods and animals that were being sold and turned over the money changers booths. Also during John’s portrayal he says that Jesus will rebuild the temple in 3 days which was a reference to his passion and resurrection and not rebuilding the temple. The Jews did not understand his prediction and ask where he got the authority to throw out the sellers. But his prediction proved true in three days with his resurrection.
The scriptures that were written years ago are passed down to us today, so we can perhaps apply them to actions in the present time. When contemplating Jesus expelling the sellers for turning his house into a market place I was reminded of the attack on the Capitol building on January 6. In that attack God was not the Center of the attackers’ lives. Moses’ prediction that the commandments were a signpost for authentic living also proved to have been forgotten. Several of the commandments were not reverenced on that day especially: Honor your father and your mother, You shall not kill, You shall not steal. What would Jesus have done if he had been at the Capitol building that day? .
In the Gospel event, the Temple is a sacred building but is a building that can be replaced. The Capitao is a revered building but it too is still a building. Memories of what happened here will never be forgotten by those living today and will go down in history as a violent event.
God never gives up on us and God’s truest intention for creation is always aimed toward love and life. We read in Genesis that God looked on creation as very good. God’s intention is to be the Center of our lives and hopefully in all our lives God wins that center space.
Prayer from Psalm 16 as expressed in Psalms Now Let us pray: I look to God as my chief counselor, even in the darkest of night. God is ready to teach and guide me. I need only to recognize God’s perpetual presence. Because God continually surrounds me, I shall not lose my way. Is it any wonder that I am happy? Even my humanity, my tangible body, rests in the blessed realization of this security. God will keep even my human self from the destruction clutch of evil. You do show me the paths I must take. Within Your all-embracing presence there is genuine fulfillment. In my relationship with You I discover incomparable and eternal joy.
Marge Wissman, OSF
