Missionary Allison Dethlefs

Above is a picture of Allison with her missionary parents and brother in Honduras when she was 5 years old. She says that  now she is ready to enter, "what for me has felt like a lifelong call to overseas mission."

After three months of training, Allison was commissioned as a missionary Franciscan. On January she will go to Cochabamba, Bolivia where she will spend at least two year working and living in community with the marginalized and oppressed in the spirit of Christ's love and call to mission and encounter.

You can read about her here. She will be making some blog entries like this one.

Allison says, "During this Advent season, I invite you to join me on this journey and fulfill your own baptismal call to mission as individuals and as a parish. I humbly request your prayers and encouragement and, if possible, your financial support."

Unfortunately Allison's email didn't come through her letter on the back of the bulletin this weekend, but you can email her here.

Fr Vogel's New Home

Inspired by Pope Francis and in solidarity with the poor, Fr. Vogel has decided to move into a tent.

Fr. Damian has given Fr. Vogel permission to set up a tent and live on the vacant lot the parish owns on 84th street -- behind the house most associates have chosen to live in.

"Fr. Damian was a little hesitant at first," Fr Vogel explained, "but I pointed out that there is a shower in the Parish Office that I can use and with the remodel of the Steinhausen Center maybe a small refrigerator could be set up for me to keep a few food items. Fr. Damian did suggest that I not make the move until a port-a-potty can be set up. It is a luxury that the homeless don't have, but he convinced me I should make use of one so I'll wait for that to arrive."

While this may seem like something sudden, it is something they have been discussing for quite some time. Since Christmas Fr. Vogel has been sleeping on the floor of his home to help make the adjustment and has been eating simple foods that could be eaten raw or grilled.

If you're wondering about the home Fr. Vogel has been living in, he thinks it could be torn down to expand parking. While Fr Damian says that is a possibility, he thinks we should make certain Fr Vogel doesn't change his mind after a few months. He also pointed out that the next associate may want to sleep in a bed.

Fr. Vogel says he won't need much help moving although some tips from the boy scouts may come in handy. The move date just depends on how quickly the port-a-potty arrives.

For any more information please see today's date.