Mariazell Pilgrimage Spring 2020

It was different this semester - but last week some of the faculty, staff, and families of the Kartause hiked to Mariazell!

Every semester the students and staff hike to Mariazell, one of the most visited shrines in Europe.  (You can see two our previous pilgrimages there in 2015 and 2017).  But with this semester cut short due to the pandemic, many of the students did not get to there.  As the Spring semester came to a close last week (classes had to continue online with our professors here and the students back in the USA), it was suggested that we hike there for the intention of the Fall semester, the future direction and life at the Kartause and for "more God" - in our personal lives, the life and formation of the program, Franciscan University and the world in general.

It was a beautiful day to hike - the day after the Ascension.  We began by praying in the Kartause church (Maria Thron) - we offered our intentions and prayed first day of prayers for Novena to the Holy Spirit for Pentecost.  We started hiking from the nearby Nature Park.  After two hours, Brian drove a van with our kids (Ellie and Francis) and another family and we switched spots - I went home and the rest of the group continued on another 5 hours of hiking to reach Mariazell.  There they prayed in the Basilica in front of the miraculous statue of Mary - wearing masks.  Then they enjoyed ice cream and drove back to the Kartause.  We all gathered for Mass upon their arrival.

It's beautiful to be here.  To pray here.  Strange too.  To be here without the students.  To not know what the future holds.  But I guess that's always really been the case.  

As I stood in the empty church the other day, I thought about all those who had previously prayed here.  Some in even more quiet, uncertain times than we're currently experiencing.  The monks who prayed here in the 1300's.  All the students, faculty, staff and families who have prayed here since Franciscan University's study abroad program began 29 years ago.  And all of those in between, during the centuries that have passed.

Our trust and hope is in the Lord!

Mother Mary, pray for us!  

Coronavirus Home Haircut

Home haircut time!

This was my second time cutting a substantial amount of Ellie's hair off!  (The first time she was 3 years old).  I'll probably need a professional to even it out at some point, but she looks adorable :)

My hair was also getting looooooooong, so I went to a professional last weekend and got it cut off!

Thanks to my sister for this little side-by-side collage:

That’s Amore! (Hochmoor & Hochreit Visit)

We visited a moor on Saturday!  What's a moor?  See the pictures below - that's amore!  (Get it?!)

OK, so first we stopped at this charming 300 year old farmhouse about 30 minutes from our house, up in hilltops in Hochreit.  The kids adored seeing the farm animals and playing on the playground at "Ablass - Familie Zettel."

While we were there, the farmer told us we should check out Hochmoor just 3 km up the road.  There we found a moor (a tract of open uncultivated upland) with a little nature preserve designed for kids to explore the plants and animals living there.

It was a great day exploring these little towns!  I don't think we saw one mask while we were up there... we only saw a few people, that's probably why!  It was a great way to enjoy the day :)

Hochreit:

Want to see "moor" pictures?  Check these out ;)

Hochmoor - Leckermoor:

Back to School During Coronavirus Pandemic

Ellie went back to school last week!

At her school, all of the classes were divided in half - and they alternate every other day going to school.  So last week, Ellie went to school on Monday and Wednesday mornings with 9 of her classmates.  They wear masks when they enter the school building and in the hallways, but not in their classroom.  They used to have two students to a shared desk - but now each student has her/his own desk.  They can't sing at school or have gym or swimming class.  (Although the outdoor pool is scheduled to open this coming Friday!)  The students stay 1 meter apart.  In front of the school they have spray painted lines to show the distance they must keep and the children line up out there before entering the school building one at a time.  I got to see the new set-up when I dropped Ellie off for her piano lesson, which also resumed last week.  I'm no longer allowed to enter the school building and wait outside the classroom door with her.  But her teacher comes to the door and gets her, so it all works out!

The other days of the school week, the teacher send home work for "homeschool."  Last week, there seemed to be less assigned - perhaps it's because the teacher is assessing how each student is doing and filling in gaps where needed.

Ellie really liked being back at school.  She didn't seem to mind any of the new rules.  She said she likes going to school, and she likes staying home for school.  So win/win, I guess, because that's what we're doing!  I actually really liked this set-up.  It was great to have a little more time to focus just on the boys while Ellie was away at school for a few hours, but also great to have her back at home most of the time.

The school year here goes until July 3.  So in total, Ellie will have 15 days in the school classroom.  Hopefully on July 3 we'll be flying to the USA for our annual five week vacation to visit our families!

Pictures from school (before her afternoon piano lesson):

Pictures from "home school":

Pretending to make Mary's Meals:

"Field trip" to the sand volleyball court:

More backyard fun with neighbors: