Lessons in Humility
November 30, 2023
December 8: A Mary Feast and a Special Day for Sylvania Franciscans
December 8, 2023
Penny for Her Thoughts
“Mary’s White Mantle”
By Sister Penny Dunn
Bryan, Texas is usually not visited with snowfall, but I remember a few years ago we had a winter wonderland on December 7th.
I decided to round on nursing staff, visiting the departments in the Bryan St. Joseph Hospital. I greeted each nurse with, “Ho, Ho, Ho, how’d ya like the snow?” Eyes were opened wide with excitement; cell phones were pulled out so I could see pictures and videos of their children. The inner child showed its face as some parents joined their little ones in the fun, rolling in the snow, creating snow angels, throwing snowballs, and making tiny snowmen. Very few owned mittens and boots, but they didn’t seem to care.
I asked a few what it felt like for them and their children. Some said it was a blessing from God, others a gift. It brought the entire family together. Some said it felt peaceful, and others said it put the Spirit of Christmas in the air. That cold winter night lifted hearts in gratitude.
By noon on December 8th, the sun came out and the snow had melted. That didn’t prevent me from reflecting on the experience of that snowfall on our employees and their children. I couldn’t help but believe that on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, that maybe, just maybe our Blessed Mother came to us and draped her pure white mantle over our facilities and homes to remind us that she is our Mother, protecting us, loving us, and drawing us to her Son as she brought joy and peace to our little world here in Bryan, Texas.
Sister Penny Dunn
Sister’s clerical ministry from 1973-1982 preceded becoming a Novice. From 1985-1991, she served as Religious Ed. Director for St. Joseph Parish in Sylvania, spent three years in Corsicana, TX as a Pastoral Assistant, then returned to MN in 1994 to serve in the St. Timothy Parish in Blaine as Sen. High Coordinator and then Coordinator of Parish Faith Formation. From 2000-2011, Sister served as Director of Formation at St. Odilia Church in Shoreview, MN, and, since 2011, as Senior VP of Mission Integration at St. Joseph Health System in Bryan, TX.
