Thou that on sin’s wages starvest,
Behold we have the joy in harvest:
For us was gather’d the first-fruits
For us was lifted from the roots,
Sheaved in cruel bands, bruised sore,
Scourged upon the threshing-floor;
Where the upper mill-stone roof’d His head,
At morn we found the heavenly Bread,
And on a thousand Altars laid,
Christ our Sacrifice is made!
​

Those whose dry plot for moisture gapes,
We shout with them that tread the grapes:
For us the Vine was fenced with thorn,
Five ways the precious branches torn;
Terrible fruit was on the tree
In the acre of Gethsemane;
For us by Calvary’s distress
The wine was rackèd from the press;
Now in our altar-vessels stored
Is the sweet Vintage of our Lord.
​

The field where he has planted us
Shall shake her fruit as Libanus,
When He has sheaved us in His sheaf,
When he has made us bear His leaf.--
We scarcely call that banquet food,
But even our Saviour’s and our blood,
We are so grafted on His wood.

​Since we were founded for the spiritual benefit of the Diocese of Santa Rosa, we have always wanted to have a greater presence throughout the whole of our diocese, although the breadth of territory it spans –Petaluma to the Oregon border, over 300 miles– has made that a challenge. 

​In 2023, we heard that a Convent near Assumption Parish was up for sale. Ferndale is a picturesque small town in a dairy farming community, about three and a half hours from our Motherhouse in Santa Rosa. Its proximity to cities in the northern half of our diocese such as Eureka, Arcata, and Fortuna and its position as a “half-way point” to further northern communities such as Crescent City, made it the perfect launching pad for mission work. 

​When we acquired it, the Convent had been empty for several years and needed extensive cleaning and updating. Gratefully, many friends, old and new, pitched in to help us. ​By fall of 2025, the Convent was ready and we were ready to establish a more consistent presence, so we began to go up once a month to help teach the Confirmation Class at Assumption Parish on Sundays and engage with the students at St. Bernard’s School, Assumption Parish Homeschool Co-op, and Humboldt State Newman Center. 

​He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will” (Mt 26:39).

​The night before His Passion, Jesus took His disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane where He asked them to “watch and pray” with Him. Although their hearts were willing, their flesh was weak and they fell asleep. As Jesus considered His coming Passion and experienced the full weight of man’s sin, His suffering was so intense He began to sweat blood. Yet, through the pain, He prayed to His Father on our behalf and accepted all the circumstances of His death. This Lent, let us ask for the grace of true contrition for our sins as we consider how painful they were to Christ in His agony.

Today is Ash Wednesday, and the holy season of Lent has come anew. Each year we look forward to this opportunity for deeper repentance and conversion prompted by the beautiful prayers of the Church for this time. One thing that is particularly striking about the above prayer is the first exhortation, “Let us amend…Emendemus…” Yes, each one of us must choose to repent and accept the graces of conversion, but we do not have to do so alone. As religious we live in community, and as Christians we are members of the Church, the Body of Christ. The Scriptures exhort us to build each other up in living a life of charity, encouraging the good and giving fraternal correction when needed.

Last week on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, our Sisters desired to have a procession in her honor. Inclement weather did not allow this outdoors. Instead, we had a beautiful candlelit indoor procession around the convent to all of our Marian statues and pictures. Enjoy the pictures and let us ask Our Lady's intercession as we prepare to enter the great season of Lent.

For many it was an Evening with the Sisters but for us, it was an Evening with Our Friends! Thank you to all who were able to attend and especially to those who made such a wonderful event possible! ​

The evening included a lovely dinner, musical entertainment by the Sisters, a silent auction, and an energy-packed live auction featuring several Sister-made items. There were many highlights from the event, but a very special part for the Sisters was the opportunity to spend time with many of our friends both new and old. We are filled with gratitude to our loving God for the beautiful charism He has entrusted us with and a wonderful group of people to share it with.