Dear Friends in Christ,

What a blessing to celebrate Mother’s Day this Sunday! We owe so much to our mothers for the countless sacrifices they have made for us, most especially for carrying us for nine months in the womb, then giving us the gift of life. As we celebrate this special day, we acknowledge and pray for all mothers, whether biological mothers, spiritual mothers, grandmothers, or godmothers. Thank you to all mothers for all the many ways that you have shown your love to all those around you!

However, we also know that Mother’s Day can be a difficult time for many. Some of us, perhaps, have experienced difficulty in their relationship with their mother, or have been deprived of the love and affection from their mother. Additionally, many women among us wish to become mothers, but for reasons known only by God, they struggle with the cross of infertility in their lives. For all those who struggle to find joy on Mother’s Day, we love you and we are united in prayer for you. May our Blessed Mother give consolation to you in this difficult time.

Today, as we continue on our account of my recent pilgrimage to Italy and Poland, I wish to take the time to share with you about my experiences with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist who are stationed in Assisi. This letter is very appropriate for Mother’s Day because of the exemplary way in which the Franciscan Sisters exemplify motherly care to all those they minister to. We here at St. Philip’s are so blessed to have these Franciscan sisters here on our campus, and we are grateful for the countless ways that they share Christ’s love with us through their presence.

For my retreat in Assisi, I am deeply grateful for the many ways that the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in Assisi assisted me in coordinating a number of details for the trip. First, the sisters assisted me in finding a place to stay where I could pray, rest, and be rejuvenated during my retreat. Thanks to their recommendations, I was able to stay at a retreat house that was within easy walking distance from the center of the town, and possessed a spectacular view of the town with the valley below.

On one of the days of my retreat, I had the opportunity to visit with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist who picked me up and brought me to their Center. I got to meet three of the Sisters stationed there, Sr. Mary Francis, Sr. Agnese, and Sr. Josina. After celebrating Mass with them, they treated me to a delicious breakfast while sharing stories of their ministry there in Assisi. One of the more interesting elements of their ministry is the olive oil they produce every year from the olive trees on their property. This is always done at the beginning of November, right around the Solemnity of All Saints. As we celebrate this Mother’s Day, I pray that all mothers, especially our spiritual mothers from the Franciscan Sisters, will be enriched by God’s abundant blessings.

May Christ's Peace be with you, Fr. Briggs