– Br. Michael, ofm

Pentecost is a time of new beginning. The Holy Spirit is wild and full of life leading us new ways and guiding our steps unto new paths. Each day is an invitation to begin again and to be a vessel of the Holy Spirit.

In early May I had the opportunity to be in Assisi. I sat in prayer gazing upon the church Francis rebuilt and listened to the Holy Spirit. This is the simple prayer which arose in me.

Begin

Begin again

Your invitation, O Holy Spirit

to be rooted in life in Christ.

Begin

Begin again

My daily invitation

as one rooted in Christ.

Begin

Begin again

Our communal invitation

as a universal family.

Begin

Begin again

An invitation

to be a disciple

to be brave and to trust

to be one who lives the gospel

Begin

Begin again

An invitation

to take a step

trusting you O Holy Spirit are leading.

Amen.

May the gift of the Holy Spirit which is a gift for each of us inspire and encourage us to begin again today and in each day of this summer.

Photo Credit: Jon Tyson

Trail Closure

From May 15 to June 30, 2025, the Sister Moon Trail on Southlands at The Mount will be closed off due to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis. We appreciate your cooperation in remaining off this trail during this time.

The Brother Sun Trail remains open.

During these sacred days we pray with St. Francis of Assisi:

Most High, Glorious, Good God

to you alone belong praise and glory,

all honour and blessing.

Praise and bless God and give God thanks;

and serve God with great humility.

• Canticle of Creatures

Peace and All Good

during these Holy Days and the Easter Season.

   Easter Blessings and Greetings

     from the Friars and Staff at Mount St. Francis

The trails for the Way of Cross are open all weekend.

Limited access to washrooms Good Friday and Holy Saturday 9am-5pm.

A Prayer for Easter

Risen Lord

You are life,

You are new life,

You are fullness of life.

Risen Lord

You are hope,

You are renewing hope,

You are our journey of hope.

Risen Lord

You are here,

You are here among us,

You are here raising us up.

Risen Lord

On this pilgrimage of life,

we rejoice in your resurrection

for it reminds us hope is always here

because you dwell among us.

May we be witnesses

of your resurrection in all we do,

in the ways we build community,

in how we gather at table

and recognize you in the breaking of the bread.

May we journey with hope,

May we raise our voices with hope,

May we allow our hearts to be transformed

by the hope which is your new life in us.

Amen. Alleluia!

Br. Michael,

Photo Credits: Heino Eisner

Kelly Sikkema

                         – Br. Michael, ofm

For my entire life I have traveled up and down Highway 48 East of Regina. It is a simple highway to drive; nothing complicated. There are a few curves, lots of straight-a-ways, the occasional dip, usually not too many potholes and plenty of beautiful farmland to see. This highway is part of my holy ground as it always leads me home. In leading me home it also has markers along the way which anchor and remind me hope lives here.

Like the burning bush Moses encountered which caused him to remove the sandals from his feet (Exodus 3.1-8), I too have had encounters of the living God along this highway. Whether it has been visiting with my Goddaughters and their families, or enjoying a visit to the family homesteads or connecting with family I have removed my shoes many a time encountering God the great I AM. I have prayed in nearly every Catholic church on this highway, wept at funerals, rejoiced at weddings and delighted in baptisms. I have made pilgrimages to the Calvary Memorial Shrine Site at Candiac, to the cemeteries along this highway, and I have stood before many a nativity scene in front of churches and homes. These holy ground moments remind me God, the great I AM, is with us in all the moments of life. I have been guided home by streetlights, farm lights, the Candiac cross lights and the front lights of my parent’s home. Each time I make this pilgrimage of hope I am reminded God, the great I Am is gracious and abounding in steadfast love (Psalm 103).

No matter which season I am traveling Highway 48 there is always one marker I look for on the journey. It’s not a burning bush per se but always captures my attention. It’s not a fig tree needing tending too, but it has been left alone for one year more and this always makes me glad. When driving East on the 48 just past Kendal on a little bluff stands a lone tree. It stretches its branches to the west in an uneven manner. It’s not a very big tree but remains sturdy. Sometimes cattle are grazing around it, other times it seems to shudder in the cold Saskatchewan wind, but still it remains. I have the buds in spring and have seen years of full green leaves. It stands out against the harvest sky and is majestic when adorned by frost; it really is a tree for all seasons.

As a child when we were traveling West on the highway this tree was the beacon of hope indicating we would soon be at our Grandparents. When traveling East it was the reminder I was coming from the holy ground of time spent with one set of Grandparents and would soon be embraced by my other Grandparents.

I’ve been thinking about this lone prairie tree as we enter this Third Week of Lent. Both the burning bush encounter of Moses and the fig tree of the vineyard in the parable of Jesus (Luke 13.1-9) we hear this Lenten Sunday called it to mind. This tree has been a sign of hope for me my whole life and I bet it has for countless others who have passed by it; for my mom tells me it has been there for her whole life. I’m so grateful it has been left “alone for one more year” by the farmers of the field in which it stands. This tree speaks to me the message of hope which is the undertone of the parable shared by Jesus.

The gardener begging for one more year to tend the tree is the reminder of how God gives us time to grow, for conversion of heart, to mend relationships and to bear fruit. As we step further into Lent let us be attentive to the tending we need to do in our lives and in our relationships. You never know when a burning bush may appear. As we continue in this Jubilee Year let us be attentive to the beacons of hope along the highway of life. Let us be attentive to the holy ground on which we tread. Let us be brave enough to say again, “Here I am” as we pilgrimage onward.

Lent at The Mount

March 12- Day Away

8:45 am – 3:00 pm

OR

Twilight

6:00 pm – 9:00pm

Cost: $35

Register @ 403-932-2012  – mtfrancis@shaw.ca

Charity of the Cross:

Our Being In Christ

Evening Twilight – Day Away

Tuesday, April 15 – 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm.  Includes supper.

Wednesday, April 16 – 9:00am – 3:00 pm. Includes lunch.

– same presentation on each day –

Cost: $35

Register: mtfrancis@shaw.ca – 403-932-2012