St. Francis Lodge Stations completed by Notre Dame Sister

The Courier, November 2003

Beth and Sal Di Leo on either side of Sister Mary Ann Osborne
On Friday, October 3, a unique artistic endeavor was celebrated with a very quiet, personal ceremony at the Motherhouse of the School Sisters of Notre Dame in Mankato. Sister Mary Ann Osborne, a Notre Dame Sister, has been diligently carving the outdoor Stations Of The Cross for St. Francis Lodge, a free retreat that is being built for nuns in Lake George, Minnesota, by the husband and wife team of Beth and Sal Di Leo (see story in the June, 2003 Courier).

The ceremony included a short viewing of the Stations, followed by a Mass and lunch with the Notre Dame Sisters. "We are so excited to see the Stations completed and are so grateful for Sister Mary Ann for taking on such a big project with very little notice. Sister has been working hard all summer and has completed this very large project in a relatively short time. She has been a God-send," explained Beth Di Leo. "The Mission of St. Francis Lodge," added Sal Di Leo, "is to provide a place of peace and prayer for Catholic nuns, in a beautiful wilderness setting with no organized agenda, in a quiet bed and breakfast at no charge. Sister Mary Ann's Stations will only add to the beauty and holiness of the lodge."

The Di Leos are buiding St. Francis Lodge as their way of giving back. Sal was raised in an orphanage in the 1960's by the Sisters Of St. Francis and is grateful for their love and work. For more information on St. Francis Lodge go to www.salsbook.com and click on St. Francis Lodge.

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