OktoberFest…at St. Anne’s…or in Munich

003Friday afternoon was a lot of fun here at St. Anne’s!  We had our monthly dance with an ‘OktoberFest’ theme, complete with accordion music, dancing, German food, and a Tirolerhüte (Bavarian hat) for each participant to wear.  Our activities assistant, Paulla, actually made dirndls (traditional dresses) for herself and Shelly (our activities director) to wear.

IMG_1224When time came for snacks, it was no ordinary fare that was served: residents enjoyed bratwursts and sauerkraut.  It seemed that a very good time was had by all, including the band members who played for us.  Those who wanted it also could sip on low-alcohol beer during this cultural experience.  Although it wasn’t the real German “Oktoberfestbier,” they seemed to really enjoy the treat.  The German drinks, whose names even correspond to the occasion, have been served at Oktoberfest since 1818.

Even though it’s not quite the same as a trip to Bavaria, Oktoberfest at St. Anne’s was much more affordable and realistic for our residents than a overseas voyage would be.  Actually, I think we were a little late in our celebration; the traditional sixteen-day autumn festival in Munich runs from late September to early October.

Oktoberfest actually has its roots in the royal wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on October 12th, 1810. On that occasion, local citizens were invited to a celebration in the fields in front of the city gate, ending with horse-racing. This celebration was actually held across Bavaria and became an annual event.  An agricultural show was added the next year, which continues to modern times (held every three years).

This year, the people of Munich celebrated the 183rd OktoberFest, which is still held in the field named in honor of Princess Therese.

Resources: http://www.muenchen.de/int/en/events/oktoberfest/history.html and http://www.germanclubsandiego.org/oktoberfest-what

Short-Sheeting Shenanigans

Sister Rebecca asked that we share this article, written by Sr. Christina’s dad, on the St. Anne’s Scoop.  It was originally done for the Sisters’ Blog, Our Franciscan Fiat, during his visit here in North Dakota, while staying here at St. Anne’s.

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My name is Rick Neumann.  My daughter, Sr. Christina Marie Neumann, asked me to write my experience with short sheeting a bed.

Several years ago when Sr. Christina was first professed as a sister she and a novice decided to play a prank on my wife and me.  They had been at the Hankinson convent but later that day they were going to the Rugby convent.  They knew we would be coming to Hankinson to spend the night and to later go to Rugby to visit them.

So the joke was on.  We were going to be given the best guest room in the house.  We refer to it as the “Hankinson Hilton.”  It’s actually a suite of rooms.  Anyhow, they short-sheeted our bed.  If your bed has ever been short-sheeted, you know it can be an unpleasant experience.  After traveling four hours to get to Hankinson and several hours of visiting and playing cards with the sisters, we were tired and went to go to bed.  We pulled back the blankets and put our tired bones into the bed.  But we didn’t get very far.  Our feet could only extend 18 inches!  “Oh no, this isn’t good.  I just want to get to sleep!”  It took several seconds for me to figure out what had happened.  Our bed was booby trapped.  So we got up and fixed the bed and had a pleasant night’s sleep.

The next morning after breakfast, we were on our way to Rugby to see the two perps of the crime.  Along the way, we tried to come up with a way to get even.  It came to us…We would weave a story that would cause them a great deal of worry.

When we got to Rugby, they asked about our visit to Hankinson.  We talked as if nothing had happened to us but expressed to them that there was an investigation going on at the motherhouse. They asked about it, and we explained that the Fargo Bishop had come for a surprise visit, and since he was far more honored than us, he was given the “Hankinson Hilton” for the night.  When he went to bed he had a bad experience and was pretty steamed.

The look on the two young sisters’ faces was priceless.  It only lasted a few seconds until they realized we were teasing but it was worth it.

Publisher’s Note: Anyone wanting instructions for the proper methodology of short-sheeting may email me at: [email protected].

The History of Henry, our Resident of the Month

scare crowOne of our workers caught herself saying ‘hello’ to a motionless form sitting in our main entrance. His name is Henry. This scarecrow has been staying at St. Anne’s during the month of October for the past few years.

Scarecrows, according to one article, have had their place in human society for centuries. Even back in ancient Rome and Greece, people would put wooden figures out to watch over their fields. Scarecrows, or variations thereof, actually cross many cultures. In fact, in Japan, rice field protectors were made of oily material and fish bones, another source said. The first record of scarecrows comes from Ancient Egypt, where wheat fields near the Nile were protected from quail by scarecrows.

European farmers, during the middle ages, followed this well-established tradition. Some actually believed that scarecrows had special powers and actually thought they would protect crops from diseases. A scarecrow ould consist of animal skulls (as in Italy) or a wooden witch (in Germany). In Brittan, scarecrows were actually alive, since boys were given the job of patrolling the wheat fields with bags of stones, according to this same source.

Here, in our own land, the native people used “bird scarers” as well, but these were mostly real men.   Some would stand on wooden platforms, howling and shouting at approaching crows and woodchucks. Other means of protection were also employed, such as poisoning crows so that their wild flying deterred others and placing poles around the fields.

Scarecrows had their place in the history of the American Colonies as well. Later immigrants to America also shared their traditions. During the Great Depression, scarecrows became especially popular.

Although we at St. Anne’s aren’t seeking protection from harm due to birds, or crows in particular, we enjoy having our resident of the month with us this time of year. Some staff, however, have commented on being startled by him.  Sr. Christina, her mother (visiting from Minnesota), and a few residents put him together one afternoon this past week.

scare crow makingIf you stop by to visit us, you might want to say hello to our scarecrow, Henry, as well. Don’t expect any response though, as he is rather bashful and not accustomed to conversation.

Are You Achin’ to do Some Bakin’?

001Some of us enjoy baking, while others avoid it at all costs.  At St. Anne’s, this harvest season has provided us with plentiful produce to use, donated from various sources.  From apples to zucchini, we have been blessed.

In this article, we’ll share some of the positive effects baking can have on a person as well as an idea (or excuse) for utilizing your baking skills.

According to goodnet.org, baking is actually good for your mental health for a number of reasons.  For one thing, it’s meditative, giving you time to think, reflect and ponder.  It also stimulates your senses, thus increasing “feel-good endorphins.”  This site also reminds us that “baking is creative” and creativity is good for a person. I (Sr. Christina) personally enjoy this aspect of baking.  Using what you have on hand to make tasty treats is fun.  I just made a zucchini cake for Sr. Rebecca’s birthday and was able to use up some stray ingredients we had around.

Another benefit of baking, mentioned by the above-mentioned site is that it makes others happy.  If I may return to the personal experience I just shared, the Sisters and visitors enjoyed the cake very much this morning.  (I must confess, I enjoyed a piece, too, complete with a little extra cream cheese frosting.)

Another article on the benefits of baking mentioned another aspect which I will confirm.  This is the fact of the benefit of working with one’s hands.  In our modern world, so much of what we do is with paper and electronics.  Actually “getting in there” and working with physical matter with your hands can have a soothing, therapeutic effect.

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Now that I’ve shared all these benefits, may I ask “Are you achin’ to do some bakin’?”

If you are, I have an outlet for you.  St. Anne’s auxiliary is having its annual bake sale Saturday, October 24.  You’d be most welcome to enjoy the mental health benefits of baking and bring the tangible result (aka, a plate of cookies or bars) over for our sale Other options might be muffins, breads, jams or candies.

You might consider this a double-benefit, as it would help both you and us!  🙂

Don’t Be Blue! Memoirs from our Life at St. Anne’s

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAThis morning one of our residents made me chuckle.  He came to the reception desk where I was working and asked for his daily pop money.

For a few of our residents, we take money out of their trust accounts and keep the quarters in a little pouch designated with their name.  At night, we lock up the pouches for safe keeping.  The residents come, then, once or twice a day to get quarters to use in the pop machines.  This way, we can help them budget their money and they don’t have to keep so much in their rooms.

Although each pouch is labeled with the resident’s name, remembering each one’s color is easier than looking closely every time to read the name.

The above-mentioned resident has his quarters in a blue pouch. In the past, reminding myself of the color, I’ve said to him in fun: “Don’t be blue!”  This little phrase has kind of stuck, even on him.  This morning when he, himself, said to me: “Don’t be blue!”, it tickled my funny bone.

I’m glad we can laugh at the little things around here and enjoy some humor  As our little slogan goes, “it’s great to be alive at St. Anne’s!”

Sr. Christina M. Neumann

Check Out and Share our New Video for St. Anne’s!

I am happy to be able to share with you a little video we’re produced about our facility.  It’s less than seven minutes long and may now be viewed using a few different options (see below).  I encourage you to check it out and share it with anyone you think might be interested.

You can view it:

I hope you enjoy it!

Volunteering: Lending a helping hand can help you in return

annella 002 (2)Along with duties to job and family, many people chose to share their time with others by volunteering. St. Anne’s Guest Home is one place that can definitely benefit from this generosity. Many of our volunteers are getting older and are no longer able to help us as they once did. On the other hand, we are blessed at times with university students and other young people who come to help us out.

Not only do volunteers help the place they serve, they also gain personal benefits. Volunteerweb.org lists several:

Volunteering is a way that you can cultivate new skills, or enhance old ones. Are you a musician? Coming to entertain at St. Anne’s is a way you could get in better practice. Are you gifted socially? Coming to visit one-on-one with residents is a way you can tap into this gift. This site also mentions volunteering as a way of being part of your community. It also can give a real sense of achievement and motivation. Volunteering is also a way of gaining new experiences. It broadens your horizons, exposing you to all kinds of people.

It also is a good résumé builder. It is said that “73% of employers would recruit a candidate with volunteering experience over one without.”

Volunteering, according to idealist.org, can be a means of personal growth as well as of having an impact. Think of what a difference you can make in someone’s life by your presence and caring. An article by United Way also encourages volunteering as a source of friendships, growth, and learning.

One particular group of volunteers here at St. Anne’s is sometimes referred to as our ‘auxiliary.’ This group, which supports our activity department by helping with fundraisers, such as our upcoming fall sale and luncheon, is actually having its fall meeting on Thursday, October 8. If you’d be interested in finding out more or would like to attend the meeting, please call Shelly at 701-746-9401 or email us.

Celebrating a Visit from Our Bishop

bishop at St. Anne's
Written by Betty Canavan

It was no surprise that a huge number of St. Anne’s residents turned out to greet Bishop John T. Folda on Wednesday, September 9th.

Bishop Folda is only 54 years old but he displays the wisdom, courtesy and kindness of a man well beyond his years. As he arrived at St. Anne’s and was introduced by Sr. Rebecca to all of us who were anxiously awaiting him, he stepped forward and personally greeted each and every individual, awaiting their name or their requests for a blessing or a prayer.

For those of you who do not know his background, our Bishop was born in Omaha, Nebraska, attended Catholic schools and graduated in 1979. He then, enrolled in the University of Nebraska and studied architecture and electrical engineering. By 1983, Folda attended seminary in Philadelphia, graduating with a B.A. in Philosophy in 1985. His decision was to continue Theological Studies at St. Charles and he earned a Master of Divinity in 1988 plus a Master of Arts in Theology in 1989.

Bishop Folda was ordained a priest for the Lincoln Diocese by Bishop Flavin in May 1989. For the next two years, he went on serve as Parochial Vicar at Cathedral of the Risen Christ and teach religion in high school. In 1991, he was sent to the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome, where he earned his Licentiate in Sacred Theology. Upon his return in 1993, the Diocese of Lincoln assigned him as pastor of two churches, and he served as the Assistant to the Vicar General of the Lincoln Diocese, a board member of Nebraska Catholic Conference, a guidance counselor and teacher of religion. Each of these, in itself, a tremendous task.

By 1995, while continuing his work at the diocesan office, Folda, was appointed to two more churches. Within two more years, he became Director of Diocesan Religious Education, Co-Vicar for Religious, Master of Ceremonies and Censor Libroram. At the same time, he was appointed Delegate of the Bishop to Madonna Rehab Hospital and continues as vice-president of the Board of Directors. Bishop Folda also sits on a number of other committees and boards, setting the standards for finance, social service, education and ethics.

By 1999, Bishop Folda was appointed Rector of St. Gregory the Great Seminary. From 2008 to 2010, he was president of the National Association of College Seminaries, and in 2007, Pope Benedict XVI named him ‘Chaplain of His Holiness’, with the title of Monsignor. He was appointed Bishop of Fargo by Pope Francis in April 2013, and ordained and installed in June.

Part of the joy in celebrating this accomplished man taking time to meet, greet and have a photo opp with us here at St. Anne’s was the fact that he brought his assistant Fr. Matthew Kraemer, (originally of St. Mike’s) with him.

014At that time, our own Chuck Gust and Fr. Matt put on their accordions and played polkas, waltzes and other songs. While we enjoyed ourselves dancing or toe tapping, Sr. Rebecca was able to slip Bishop Folda out for a tour of the building and introduce our nurses, dining staff, office assistants and care workers. But, the residents just kept coming.

Also, as the Bishop made his way to the lobby, members of the church community started to arrive for Adoration and he made himself available to meet and speak with them. Before he left, Bishop Folda asked that we pray for more young men and women to come to the consecrated life. Please remember to include our wonderful Bishop in your prayers

The art of reading is alive and well at St. Anne’s…celebrating International Literacy Day

book-worm-clip-art-ace9Kanc4Today is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as International Literacy Day, highlighting the importance of literacy to individuals, communities, and societies alike, according to Wikipedia.

The ability to read is a great gift.  How many of us remember some of our childhood favorite story books?  Also, do you ever stop and think about how many times in the course of a day you rely upon your ability to read without even realizing it? From looking at the morning paper to tasks at work to reading instructions to make supper, the number of times we depend on our literacy is extensive.

At St. Anne’s we help foster this ability, and the use thereof, in several ways.  Both our basic care unit and our low-rent housing apartments have libraries which residents are welcome to use.  We also get two subscriptions to the Grand Forks Herald so residents are able to read the daily news both in our Activity Room and in our Atrium area.  For those who enjoy having literature read to them, we offer “Reading Hour” twice each week, reading from various volumes of fiction.

One further way St. Anne’s provides opportunities for people to utilize and benefit from their literacy is through our monthly newsletter, The Broadcaster.  This little publication also offers residents (who are on the committee) the chance to express themselves, take part in something, and have their names in print.  They have to exercise their capacity for reading to do research which they then include in their articles.

Today, as we mark this international observance, may we be grateful for the gift of reading and use it for good!