Dear Friends Of St. Francis Lodge:
As some of you know, this past Monday, November 14th, our home in Minneapolis was broken into. We lost a lot of valuables and our house was trashed. it was very hard for my wife and me to come home to see we were violated. It was her mother’s and grandmother’s jewelry that was most valuable in what it meant to Beth.
The person who did this was staying at a neighbor’s home and decided to rob us. We actually helped the family out where this person was staying on multiple occasions and even let them stay at St. Francis Lodge for a week at a time for two summers. That’s what probably hurts the most. The people who took this person in have brought other bad people in before and it has blown up as well. Needless to say, we are upset with this family for making such bad choices on who to help and for bringing these people into our neighborhood.
Through this hardship Beth and I have realized that God is teaching us a lesson from this. Although it would be easy to say that it doesn’t pay to help others out, I am reminded that I am the recipient of a lot of kindness from many people who helped me along the way. When I speak to Rotary Clubs, Lions Clubs, Serra Clubs, etc. about my life, I tell them to “keep giving. Everything you have given, has been received. You are making a difference. My life is proof of that from all those who gave to me. Not everyone is going to thank you. But, I am for all of us”.
We are praying for the person who robbed us and for the family that harbored her. Please pray for them too.
Finally, with Thanksgiving coming this month, I have launched a new web site called www.didIeverthankyou.com (did I ever thank you), as a place where people can go to reflect on their lives and post a note to thank someone in their lives (living or deceased) for something they did that made a difference. I am convinced gratitude is healing and contagious and can change our perspective on life. Please help us direct people to this site. Our goal is to have a large amount of “thank you’s” by Christmas.
You are in our Prayers. Please Keep us in yours.
God Bless You and & HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
I recently returned from Joliet, Ill. where I was able to visit with my old friends, The Sisters Of St. St. Francis in Joliet. I spoke at the Joliet Rotary Club about my book and was able to tell my story.
The most rewarding thing I have found while giving these speeches is that I am able to say how truly grateful I am to the many people who have helped me along the way. They have made all the difference in my life. I am extremely lucky to be able to thank those people for what they did for me and let them know that my life has turned out well because of them.
It seems I always receive the same reaction from each group I speak to; They are happy to hear that the work they do is truly making a difference. I think everyone needs to be thanked and everyone has someone to thank. It is empowering and creates a sense of peace.
I have recently set up my Facebook page, “Did I Ever Thank You?” to give people to have a place to go where they can thank someone who has helped them or has made a difference in their lives, even if the person is gone. I am doing this because I believe gratitude is healing.
In 2012 I plan on a national tour called, “Did I Ever Thank You?” to get this message out to the world. For more information please visit the tour website http://didieverthankyou.com/
Thank you to everyone who is taking the time to read this blog.
Sal
After 11 years, Beth, my two daughters, and I finally saw our dream of building a lodge at St. Francis Lodge finally become a reality.
It was a special day indeed when three Sisters Of St. Francis from Joliet, IL came to the Dedication May 29th of the Jack Weinmann Family Memorial Guest Quarters at St. Francis Lodge. Sister Albert Marie Papesh, Sister David Ann Hoy, and Sister Ann drove 14 hours to be our special guests. Sister David Ann actually raised me and my little sister Kitty in the orphange back in the 1960′s. It was special that she got to see that her hard work had paid off.
Father Bernard Rieser came up from the Twin Cities and co-celebrated the Holy Mass with Father Duane Pribula from Our Lady Of The Pines in Nevis. Approximately 75 people were in attendance to see the Blessing of the building and the Holy Mass. Included was Jack Weinmann’s wife and family.
It was a special day indeed.
Sal
For those of you who have read my book, “Did I ever thank you, Sister?”, you know I was raised in the early 1960′s by Catholic Nuns in an orphanage in Joliet, IL. from when I was eight years old until I left for Boys Town in Nebraska at age 14 in 1968.
While I lived with the Nuns I was treated with all the love that they could provide, unconditionally. They gave all of us whom they took care of in the orphanage all they had without complaining. Sometimes it must have been very difficult for them because we were not even their own children. But they never let us feel that way.
My life has turned out wonderful. I am well educated and successful. I have two beautiful and educated children and a very happy marriage of almost 30 years. Without the love of those Nuns and our Priests, as well as the kindness of the Catholic Church, I don’t know where I would be today. I very well could be dead, in jail, or living under a bridge, if not for the Nuns. I am very grateful.
It seems to me, with all that I am seeing in the press lately about the new scandals that are unfolding against a few Priests, the Church and the Pope are being attacked by people who wish to bring our faith down and not just seek reconciliation for the alleged sins of a few bad Priests. The Doctrine of the Church has lasted for over 2,000 years because the Doctrine is correct. “Life first”, has always been at the root of our faith. That is what I stand on when I look to the Church for guidance in these trying times. Jesus gave us that and it has always survived.This Pope has clearly been strong on supporting this Doctrine.
I am calling for prayers from all Christians for the Pope, the Catholic Church, all Christianity, and for the forgiveness of sins for all the whole world.
Sal Di Leo
Dear Friends:
As many of you know, the official dedication of the “Jack Weinmann Family Memorial Guest Quarters” at St. Francis Lodge on beautiful Lake George is set for Saturday, May 29th, 2010.
Finally, after 11 years, and a lot of prayers and kindness of so many wonderful people who have supported this mission, we will be ready to host the Nuns. Our little retreat center is located deep in the majestic Paul Bunyan pine forest of northwestern Minnesota.
This summer we expect the Sisters Of St. Francis from Joliet, Illinois, The Dominican Sisters out of Springfield, Ill, and many other orders of Nuns from around the world to come and stay at our free retreat.
If you know how to work with your hands and would like to help finish off the bunk-house or help get the landscaping done, we will be going up every weekend until the Dedication. Please let us know. We provide a place to stay and food. It is quite a bonding experience for all of us who go up.
Finally, we are in need of the following items to furnish the little lodge. Below is our wish list for anyone who wishes to help.
1). One Futon bed, queen size, for the Nuns quarters.
2). Two single beds for the Nuns quarters.
4). One 4 drawer chest of dresser for Nuns quarters.
3). Three single beds for the Bunk House quartes.
4). One Double Bed for the Bunk House quarters.
5). One Queen bed for the Bunk House quarters.
6). A mini-refrigerator for the Bunk House quarters.
*Unfortunately, this is not a 501c3 Non-Profit project. So, if you give, you need to know you cannot get a tax credit.
Thank you and God Bless You.
Sal & Family
(612) 382-3582
Beth and I have spent the last 12 months working on completing the guest quarters at St. Francis Lodge. This summer, it will be completed and we will have a beautiful family place that we will all be able to enjoy for the rest of our lives. Also, we will be able to share it with Nuns and others we love and care about. It truly has been a wonderful journey over the past 11 years for our family and all those who have helped make it happen.
This spring, we are going to get the bathroom fixed in our little house in Minneapolis, re-finish the wood floors, fix the garage, front steps, etc on our house to get it ready to sell by the summer. It would be mean we would probably will be moving out of our house by the end of the summer, after 20 years. We will leave behind many wonderful family memories. We intend to move to a condo (rent) or something.
With both of us closing in on 60, it is our hope and dream to enjoy the remainder of our lives with our mission at St. Francis Lodge and with our children as much as they can put up with us. One other goal is to figure out a way to live in Minnesota for six months and then maybe go somewhere else during the winter, quite possibly out of the country for six months.
We know that we will have Nuns and very exceptional people from all over the world come and stay at St. Francis Lodge. The “guest quarters” in the basement at St. Francis Lodge will be dedicated for anyone who wishes to stay with us. It will hold four people comfortably with their own bathroom and kitchen. The bunk house can hold another four if necessary. The upstairs in the loft will be designated as our family’s private quarters and the main kitchen can be used by guests if they need to cook a full meal etc. The guest quarters will have its’ own grill outside and private entrance so we assume most will stay downstairs and enjoy the beautiful view of the lake and the peace and quiet that St. Francis Lodge offers. Anyway, we feel with our sharing this wonderful place for God, we will meet wonderful people all over the world. Maybe we can go visit some them when we travel.
Beth and I feel we are going forward to a different chapter in our lives. All of which we hope and pray are good and according to God’s Will.
Sal and Beth Di Leo
(612) 382-3582
St. Francis Lodge
Lake George, MN
www.salsbook.net/stfrancislodge
(612) 382-3582
Dear Friends In Christ:
After 11 years, we have almost completed our project at St.Francis Lodge. This winter we have worked deligently on completing the “Jack Weinmann Family Memorial Guest Quarters” at St.Francis Lodge.
With the completion of the “walk-out quarters” (basement level) this month, we will have three bedrooms, three baths, a full kitchen and a kitchenette in our little lodge that will be officially opened at our dedication on May 29th. We hope to see you all there for this wonderful occassion as Father Duane Pribula from Our Lady Of The Pines church in Nevus, Minnesota, will celebrate a “Holy Mass” to bless us and this place for God. We will also comemerate all of those who have been a part of this mission along this 11 year journey. There will be a reception for all of those who attend immediately following Mass. Please mark your calendars. We are so grateful to all of you who have been a part of this mission over the past 11 years.
The weekend of March 19-21, a group of volunteers will go up to work on completing the “bunk-house” above the garage that will be extra quarters for visitors to stay with us as well. If you would like to help us with this phase of the project, or would like to help us this spring on getting the landscaping done to get the grounds in order for the dedication, please contact us.
If you go to www.salsbook.net and click on St. Francis Lodge, you can see the photos of the building of the “Margaret Manley Memorial Chapel” and the building of the “Jack Weinmann Family Memorial Guest Quarters”.
You are in our prayers. Please keep us in yours.
God Bless You All.
Sal, Beth, Jane, Sarah K. Di leo
After 11 years, we have almost completed our project at St.Francis Lodge. This winter we have worked deligently on completing the “Jack Weinmann Family Memorial Guest Quarters” at St.Francis Lodge.
With the completion of the “walk-out quarters” (basement level) this month, we will have three bedrooms, three baths, a full kitchen and a kitchenette in our little lodge that will be officially opened at our dedication on May 29th. We hope to see you all there for this wonderful occassion as Father Duane Pribula from Our Lady Of The Pines church in Nevus, Minnesota, will celebrate a “Holy Mass” to bless us and this place for God. We will also comemerate all of those who have been a part of this mission along this 11 year journey. There will be a reception for all of those who attend immediately following Mass. Please mark your calendars. We are so grateful to all of you who have been a part of this mission over the past 11 years.
The weekend of March 19-21, a group of volunteers will go up to work on completing the “bunk-house” above the garage that will be extra quarters for visitors to stay with us as well. If you would like to help us with this phase of the project, or would like to help us this spring on getting the landscaping done to get the grounds in order for the dedication, please contact us.
If you go to www.salsbook.net and click on St. Francis Lodge, you can see the photos of the building of the “Margaret Manley Memorial Chapel” and the building of the “Jack Weinmann Family Memorial Guest Quarters”.
You are in our prayers. Please keep us in yours.
God Bless You All.
Sal, Beth, Jane, Sarah K. Di leo
Minnesota Vikings Coach, NFL Hall Of Fame Coach, Bud Grant, Signs Collectors Edition Of Sal Di Leo’s Book, Did I ever thank you, Sister?
I am so pleased and grateful that Bud Grant, the former Minnesota Vikings Coach, who has been a wonderful friend to my family and personal mentor to me over the past 20+ years has agreed to sign and number 100 collectible copies of my book. Bud, as he has over so many years is helping me out. These 100 numbered books with Bud’s signature will be sold for $25.00 earch and all the proceeds will go to help with our mission at St. Francis Lodge, which my wife and I have been building for over 10 years. St. Francis Lodge is a free retreat center, located in the heart of the Paul Bunyan Forest in Northwestern Minnesota. We are building St. Francis Lodge as our way of giving bck to the wonderful Nuns who raised me in the Guardian Angel Home Orphanage in Joliet, Il. back in the 1960′s. To order the book, please e-mail me at saldileo@salsbook.net or call me on my cell phone at (612) 382-3582. I will then write a personal note to you and sign it below Bud’s signature.
Thank you and best Regards,
Sal