Many events happened in September but I will focus on two significant events that touched our lives in a powerfully engaging manner on the same day! Saturday, September 13, the Lake Wobegon Bike Ride for Catholic Charities began in St. Joseph, going through all the little towns on the trail to Sauk Centre. Over the years I have admired the work of Chuck and Lucy Rieland who were the masterminds of this event. It all began after 9/11 when the World Trade Center went down. Chuck works for Stanley Morgan and had spent a great deal of time at the Trade Center in New York presenting workshops, training classes, etc. He was deeply affected by the 9/11 tragedy and wanted to do something positive that would make a difference in the lives of others. Praying about what he could do, he woke one morning with the Children's Home in St. Cloud on his mind.

The Rielands, from Fridley, both decided to visit the Children's Home. Almost immediately,"This is IT!" Chuck's passion to do something to benefit the lives young people took off and this year the Lake Wobegon Bike Ride completed its 9th year. The proceeds are for the Children's Home sponsored by Catholic Charities in St. Cloud. The amount raised this year is not yet in but Chuck thinks that, when it is, the total raised over the nine years will be around $700,000.

Chuck invited faith communities along the trail to provide refreshments. The monastery is honored to play a small part by serving the coffee and hot chocolate -- Chuck brings the rolls! Ss. Mariterese Woida and Thomasette Scheeler are always happy to help serve the beverages at the St. Joseph Shelter. Each year I grow in admiration of this worthy event. Exciting, new ideas are already being planned for next year's event, which is on Saturday, September 12, 2015. Riders of every age participate; you can stop when your energy gives out. Plan now to get involved and make a difference! Fee is $30.

As though this wasn't enough, as we returned to monastery, we saw cars everywhere. It was was National Mormons Service Day! One hundred volunteers were expected but 215 arrived (100 went to Waite Park to work on a project). Sisters in charge of coordinating various work areas were amazed at what got done: clearing out gardens, washing tables and chairs in dining rooms, deep cleaning in the kitchen, digging around the foot markers in the cemetery. Becky Terwey, our director of food service, was kept on the run with the crew she had cleaning and painting. One of them said "This is the cleanest kitchen we have ever cleaned"! The volunteers brought everything, even their own food! Real movers and shakers, an inspiration to us all.

What is the connection between the Mormons and the Sisters? In 1948 a contingent of Sisters went to Ogden, Utah, to begin a hospital. Sisters and Mormons developed close ties with the Sisters which continued when they returned here two years ago. In gratitude, the Utah Mormons contacted the St. Cloud group and asked them to do something for the Sisters to help express their gratitude for the great contributions they made in health care in Utah. The rest is history! 

You can read a volunteer's perspective on the day at our blogspot. In their service to others, they take seriously words from Matthew: "What you do to the least of my brethren you do unto me." WOW! What an example to all of us