Presence Magazine
Welcome to Presence Archive. Here you'll find a stories that tell of FSPA, affiliates and prayer partners who collaborate to minister in areas of greatest need, living the Gospel through contemplation and action. While we no longer publish Presence, this collection of stories serves to inspire goodness. Please follow our storytelling page, Perspectives, where we continue sharing the stories of our relationships, Gospel Living and Unity in Diversity. And, consider subscribing to Perspectives Update to get our monthly e-newsletter (scroll to the bottom of this page and enter your email address in the newsletter sign up box).
March 2021 E-Edition
You've been invited ...
"Braiding Sweetgrass" woven with social and ecological justice for all creation
Sister Karen Lueck publishes book encouraging a different view of leadership
Finding "The Way" through universal values
December 2020 E-Edition
FSPA called to envision the future
with new formation team
Access to healthy food and
white privilege
Finding great hope in "Fratelli Tutti"
Hope for the world radiates from
Villa St. Joseph
FSPA sisters and affiliates embrace virtual fall gathering
September 2020 E-Edition
FSPA welcomes Sister Michele Pettit
into first profession
Who is my Sister?
How COVID-19 opened hearts
Walking, virtually, with women
discerning religious life
The path to racial solidarity
June 2020 E-Edition
Extension Cords Companion Community: presence at a distance
A common thread: environmental justice, current ministries and a pandemic
COVID-19: 'will we ever know how many have succumbed to this virus?'
Sisters take to the air to invite
discernment with FSPA
Refreshed website offers visitors
new opportunities
Presence Briefs June 2020
March 2020
- FSPA moves into the next chapter of perpetual adoration
- FSPA honors World Day of Prayer Against Human Trafficking
- Service Saturday: encountering the art of caring for one another
- Leaven's intentional process of learning leads to new energy
December 2019
- Award recipient shares recognition with FSPA
- Living out the Gospel: FSPA Affiliate Fall Gathering 2019
- Global Tent for our Common Home: Pan-Amazon Synod
- FSPA welcomes 44th class to perpetual adoration
- Celebrating 'a gift to our community' in Spokane
August 2019
- Giving Voice emboldens me to Live Religious Life NOW
- Leaning further into A Revolution of Goodness
- 'White privilege never expires'
June 2019
- "Reverse caravan" explores root causes of immigration from Honduras
- Town hall promotes peaceful resolution in Kumbo, Cameroon
- FSPA ready to begin new novitiate experience in Chicago
- Sister Marianna reflects upon pilgrimage to Holy Land
- 43rd prayer partner class welcomed to ministry of perpetual adoration
- Conferences address white privilege and move attendees to internal work
- Sister Antona Schedlo: the Gringa Missionary
- Connection with FSPA deepens faith for three new affiliates
March 2019
- Mentorship: sharing our Franciscan values
- A Revolution of Goodness "shoulder to shoulder" declaration takes shape
- Adoration Moment meditation: broaden, deepen adoration experience
- When mentoring children and teens, positive energy spreads
December 2018
- Continuing a revolution of goodness
- New prayer partners
- Adoration ministry: global requests ...
- We commit ourselves to protected and care for Mother Earth
- Stay engaged: group seeks 'spirit filled justice seekers'
- New affiliates
August 2018
- A Revolution of Goodness has begun
- Revolutionary reflection: Sister Delmarie Gibney
- Revolutionary reflection: Mary Ellen Dunford, affiliate
- Revolutionary reflection: Alice Holstein, honored guest
- Sustaining environment
- Affiliates share Catholic social teaching
- The Postville Summons
- FSPA welcomes new prayer partners
- New affiliates to spread Franciscan goodness and ministry
March 2018
- Women at the Well is a time to fill your cup
- Adoration Talk
- Sister shares story of chapel as "God's Answer to a Bold Promise"
- Efforts raise awareness of local and global human trafficking issues
- Trees serve as lasting gifts and friends to Prairiewoods' retreatants
- We are called toward a consciousness of oneness
December 2017
- Why mission matters: annual sponsorship conference
- FSPA celebrates six new 'spiritual collaborators'
- New Prayer Partners
- The Tau Cross: a revolutionary response to goodness
July 2017
- Franciscan Eucharistic people: living into our call
- Reflections on Affiliation Spring Gathering 2017: transforming justice
- Associate welcomed into 'network of relationships that include all FSPA'
- Vocation scouts: sharing the joy of life as Catholic sisters
- We listen to the call of evolutionary consciousness
- New Affiliates
- Sisters Kristin Peters and Laurie Sullivan follow footsteps of Saint Clare
- ParTee for a Cause
- New prayer partners
February 2017
- FSPA gives gratitude for chapel tour ministry
- Affiliate called to be sunbeam
- Decision-making from a cosmic common good
- Francis: veteran of war
- New affiliates
- The face of adoration
December 2016
- Greenhouse blessing: tending to the land and its relationships
- Sponsorship Conference gifts ‘The Grit and Grace of Prophetic Hope’
- Ecospirituality - Tillers and tenders: gardening for cosmic conscious conversions
- Justice Network - The U.S.-Mexico border: an open wound
- New affiliates commit to living and sharing Franciscan values
August 2016
- Parish commissions sister to design new set of Stations of the Cross​
- Through the lens of mercy: reflecting upon the perils of our world
- Ecospirituality: The language of another: opening our perspectives, raising our awareness
- Getting to zero: La Crosse Collaboration to End Homelessness
May 2016
- Conditions of physicality and spirituality: an affiliate's experience
- Affiliate Lueretha Tillman: 'I've been blessed!'
- Expanding the common good: 'for the poor, the vulnerable and all those imperiled
- Justice Network - Joining the U.N. conversation: creating a culture of 'peaceful co-existence'
- FSPA raise money for, compete in three La Crosse-area fundraisers
- Thirty-seventh group of prayer partners commissioned in spring ceremony
March 2016
- Pair of FSPA centenarians celebrate with family and friends
- Adoration: The Franciscan heart of a connected creation
- FSPA, affiliate work to alter course of consciousness and acceptance of mental illness
- Justice Network: FSPA steps up to 'The Challenge of Today's World Refugee Crisis'
Presence Archives:
December 2015
- New White Mountain Apache Tribe program takes flight
- Ethical decision making: what does a Franciscan tradition have to offer?
- Laudato Si’: Clarion Call to Care for Creation
- Justice Network: Changing the direction of mental health in Minnesota
- Three new covenant affiliates join FSPA in service and mission
- Justice Network: Sister Marlene appointed to Wisconsin Human Trafficking Task Force
- Sister offers tutoring services at the click of the mouse
- Retired Seniors Volunteer Program honors two FSPA
- Thirty-sixth prayer partner commissioning service held
August 2015
- Pastor and parishioners honor sister during Year of Consecrated Life
- Sister's research leads her to Vatican Library to study Francis' letters
- Justice Network: affiliates strive to normalize conversations on mental health
- Affiliates co-host celebration honoring the success of spirituality in recovery
- New affiliates commit to sharing Franciscan values
May 2015
- Questions compel sister to counseling for chemical and mental abuse
- Sister Thea Bowman: 'Jesus was her everything'
- Justice Network: working for gender equality, homelessness
- Solar greenhouse addition will allow for year-round food production
- 'Amazing power of prayer' and 'Franciscan spirit' inspire new affiliates
- Five women join FSPA eucharistic adoration ministry
February 2015
- Affiliate’s call to Franciscan lifestyle struck during campus tour
- Justice Network News: Justice for genocide and modern slavery
- Ecospirituality: How do we allow reflection to form creative unions as we celebrate consecrated life?
- FSPA blessed to receive new affiliates and to celebrate silver jubilarians
- Wake up the World: Reflections on consecrated life from lived experiences
- Action for Mission: teaming up to bring Franciscan compassion to elementary school
December 2014
- FSPA Sponsorship Conference: celebrating excellence in servant leadership for 25 years
- Wake up the World: Reflections on consecrated life from lived experiences
- Ecospirituality: Sisters of the Earth conference - The New Emerging Humanity, Healing into Wholeness
- FSPA mission sparks new flames of affiliation
- Partners commissioned, now join us in perpetual adoration
- Sister Thea sculpture carved, homegoing event plans taking shape
August 2014
- Two new affiliates share the spiritual gifts they bring
- Sister Amy celebrates in ceremony her commitment to FSPA
- Two women join FSPA prayer
- Sisters attend closing of Iowa church
- Jubilee celebrations and reflections
May 2014
- Sisters volunteer to ensure guests have access to health insurance coverage
- Ecospirituality: Silica sand mining pandemic: our local contribution
- Justice Network: Task Force to Eradicate Modern Slavery
- Furthering your spirituality: Prairiewoods' universe story
- Eucharistic prayer partners commissioned, now join sisters in prayer
February 2014
- Rejoicing in Prayer of Praise: two FSPA celebrate together in song
- With presence and prayer, affiliate serves law enforcement chaplaincy
- Ecospirituality: Reviewing ecological advocacy: what is ours to do?
- Vocational journeys: a sister's young adult ministry in the Windy City
December 2013
- Franciscan beauty shines through sponsorship conference
- Transitus: the passing of St. Francis, harmonizing of sisters and affiliates
- Ecospirituality: We are called to live as brother and sister
- Four new affiliates enter into ministry with FSPA
- Nine new prayer partners commissioned in November
August 2013
