GREAT FALLS — A religious order in Great Falls is keeping the faith during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through prayer and song, the sisters of the Poor Clares Monastery in Great Falls are sending a message of hope in a time of uncertainty.
The sisters have been praying for citizens and visitors to Great Falls and Montana since they started their community in 1999. On Monday, they wanted to continue that tradition outside, especially for nearby healthcare workers.
“We see Benefis, we see the Great Falls Clinic, we see Park Place, and we’ve got numerous nursing home sand medical facilities around us,” said Sister Judith Crosby. “So we pray for them a lot and when the Mercy Flight takes off and lands we also pray for them. St. Clare was a healer. She healed with a simple gesture by the sign of the cross on the forehead of the sisters when they were sick or people who came to the monastery.”
For the most part, the Poor Clares live a closed life, so stay at home directives don’t affect them too much. Sister Judith’s advice to people who find themselves at home these days more than usual, is to live in the now. “You have to be centered in what's going on right now and not planning ahead to what I would be doing if I was at work or if I was at school,” said Sister Judith.
Sister Judith says it’s been a tough adjustment to not being able to hold regular masses at the monastery, but encourages people to attend once the stay-at-home directives are lifted. Click here to learn more about Poor Clares on their website.
