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Followers of St. Francis: Sister Shirley Shafranek, OFS/T
You could say that Sister Shirley Shafranek, OFS/T, was born a Franciscan and that, as her life unfolded, so did her realization that God was calling her to religious life. Now a vowed Franciscan sister with the Sisters of St. Francis in Tiffin, Ohio, Sister Shirley’s early life subtly hinted at her future with the Franciscans. She was raised in rural Chelsea, Iowa, along with four brothers, in a devout Catholic family. Despite their religious conviction, Sister Shirley and her brothers attended public school because money was tight. However, faith was a huge part of their home lives. “I remember kneeling down by [my mother’s] chair each night and saying my prayers,” Sister Shirley says. “I could even tell you the order we all learned them in.”
FELC Receives $10,000 Check from Sutton Bank
Sutton Bank CEO Tony Gorrell and John Schuld, V.P., Market Manager at Sutton Bank, presented a check for $10,000 to the Franciscan Earth Literacy Center (FELC). The funds will be used for need-based financial aid scholarships for FELC’s Summer Learning Camps, Science Days, and Seeds of Hope Agricultural Education Programs. Accepting the check on behalf of FELC are Board Secretary Char Pope, Seeds of Hope Agriculture Program Supervisor Sr. Shirley Shafranek, Board President Tony Reser, Board Liaison Sr. Carol Inkrott, Education Coordinator Samantha Busack, and Seeds of Hope employee Clinton Kimmet. For more information on FELC programs and scholarship availability, call 419-448-7485 or email FELC Director Mimi Johnston at mjohnston@felctiffin.org. To learn more about FELC, visit www.felctiffin.org.
Pictured (L to R): John Schuld, Char Pope, Sr. Shirley Shafranek, Tony Reser, Tony Gorrell, Sr. Carol Inkrott, Samantha Busack and Clinton Kimmet.
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Open in new tab Seeds of Hope—News Article
Seeds of Hope Farm Market is back in business this year with the help of workers from Seneca County Opportunity Center.
Sister Shirley Shafranek of the Franciscan Earth Literacy Center, which operates the market, said the center received a grant from the Betty Jane Foundation this year to provide jobs for disabled people. The new employees are assisting with the market by picking vegetables and stocking the tables, and also cleaning, weeding, watering and doing other tasks.
Sensory Garden Survey
Click HERE to take the Sensory Garden Survey
The new Sensory Garden at FELC is almost finished! Filled with beautiful live plants and other features, this unique, inviting space encourages visitors of all ages to explore the garden using every sense–touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing, with colorful signs to educate and guide the way. Children will especially enjoy interacting with multiple fairy gardens and visiting with the rabbits, chickens, a duck and even a small fish pond. The area also includes a new picnic area complete with new plastic lumber picnic tables, benches and sun sails. The Sensory Garden is made possible through generous grant funding by the Meshech Frost Foundation and the Foundation for Sustainability and Innovation. All are welcome!
