While in Rochester, Minnesota, last Tuesday, I was at one point almost lost and then happened to see a sign for "Assisi Drive" and followed it to see where it led. It wound up a hill to this convent on Assisi Heights, overlooking the city. The sign said "Sisters of Assisi Convent"........the official name of the order is
Sisters of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis of the Congregation of Our Lady of Lourdes, established in 1877.
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"Chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes"
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From the book, Sacred Sites of Minnesota, by John Brian Paprock & Teresa Peneguy Paprock: "The Italian Romanesque architecture is similar to that of the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, Italy. It features a tall bell tower with bells from Holland, beautiful stained glass windows and mosaics, and marble from all over the world.
The Assisi Community Center in the facility is one of the largest conference/retreat centers in Minnesota, serving more than 40,000 people annually........Also ecumenical, it houses offices of The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and the Rochester Montessori School. Assisi Heights also features a labyrinth, a peace garden, and a monastery." Tours are available.
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*This would be a good place to contemplate and meditate. May you be able to do that today, wherever you find yourself.
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6 comments:
Beautiful place! St Francis has also been one of my favorites...good to know the animals have someone looking after them.
Sometimes the best trips are those completely unplanned! I am adding this to my ever growing list of places I want to visit! AND it is not all that far away so.... no excuses!
Several years ago I was in Creston, Iowa, and was driving back towards Des Moines. I got off the main road some how and while trying to get back on it happened across a place where the Mormons had stayed over the winter - it was, of course, along the Mormon Trail that runs through southern Iowa.
There was a cemetery and large monument and a park ... it was quite a place and literally miles away from anywhere. I saw a small sign, followed it, drove over miles of gravel road and out in what looked like a large pasture was this nice park.
Take care.
That mosaic of the virgin is so beautiful. The architecture is lovely too.
Hi, Gail,
Yes, I enjoy stories about him, too, and the statue was nice.
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Hi, Russell,
Unplanned and unexpected fun is my favorite kind. Hey, that's great you followed the sign to the Mormon Park.....it sounds like an interesting place.
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Hi, Ruth,
Yes, that small mosaic above the door was surprisingly beautiful. I almost missed noticing it.
Jeannelle, the community center may be Ecumenical, but you seem to be drawn to a goodly number of Catholic things lately. Another coincidence - I went to St. Francis of Assisi elementary school and attended St. Francis of Assisi church until I left home in 1993! He's my favourite saint, it goes without saying, no merely because his name was on thc church and school, but because he was such a lover of all animals. I have a linen wall-hanging in my dining room with his prayer and himself, tending to various birds and beasts.
These are gorgeous old buildings and I love the front of Lady of Lourdes Chapel.
Kat
Poetikat,
Many of my lifelong friends are Catholic and I've loved St. Francis' prayer since I was a kid.....its hanging on my wall, too, but no picture of the saint. Catholics settled around here early and built lovely churches that still inspire.
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