On Monday, September 29th, as part of the Annual Mayo Heritage Week, the Great Heritage Bake Off took place. This new event, based on “The Great British Bake-Off” was instigated by Tripp Welch, Values Council Chair. In competition with 5 duo teams of Physician/Administration partners, Sisters Mary Eliot Crowley and Dawn Kling, both current volunteers at St. Marys, represented the Rochester Franciscans. As in the popular TV cooking program, the participant teams were each given an apron, too many choices of ingredients, and an historic recipe missing key information. It was definitely an exercise in teamwork and problem-solving while on your feet with the clock ticking. Each team was randomly assigned a kitchen station, given unfamiliar equipment, and approximately 35 minutes to produce one dozen of what turned out to be Louise Mayo’s chocolate cookies, with icing. Three judges had a checklist for evaluating the efforts of the 6 teams. Our Sisters were delighted to come in 2nd place. All the participants enjoyed the experience, as well as the sampling of the efforts. A thank you note was shared with all teams, stating: “Your enthusiasm and teamwork in tackling Louise Mayo’s cookie recipe truly reflected many of the Mayo Clinic Values. Thank you for being such inspiring leaders!”
At the Sisters’ Sale to raise funds for the Poverello Fund, someone found this scarf in a pile of things that were to be sold and brought it to the picture of Sister Lauren Weinandt to testify that it was the same scarf. And it was! So she bought the scarf for Sister Linda Wieser as a memento to keep the legacy of Sister Lauren alive. Sister Linda says it is an honor to have it! Shown with the portrait of Sister Lauren is Sister Linda with the scarf and Sister Bernadette Novack.
Received from Mayo Clinic to share with the Sisters:
Transforming Patient Care with AI: Introducing Mayo Clinic’s Assisi Cluster
Mayo Clinic has started a remarkable new chapter in its ongoing mission of service, compassion, and healing with the establishment of the Assisi Cluster, an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) computing infrastructure. Named in honor of Assisi Heights—the motherhouse of the Sisters of Saint Francis in Rochester, Minnesota—the Assisi Cluster symbolizes the enduring legacy of compassion, service, and innovation that has guided Mayo Clinic for generations.
Assisi Heights has long served as the spiritual and organizational center for the Sisters of Saint Francis, whose vision and dedication were instrumental in founding Saint Marys Hospital alongside Dr. William Worrall Mayo. By bridging the compassionate legacy of the Sisters of Saint Francis with the technological promise of AI, the Assisi Cluster is meant to help healing hands reach more patients faster.
“Our aspiration for AI is to meaningfully improve patient outcomes by detecting disease early enough to intervene. What was once a hypothetical — ‘If only we had the right data’ — is now becoming reality thanks to AI and advanced computing,” Matthew Callstrom, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of the Department of Strategy and leader of Mayo Clinic’s Generative Artificial Intelligence Program, said.
At the heart of the Assisi Cluster is NVIDIA’s DGX SuperPOD—a unique computer that works quickly behind the scenes, helping researchers examine medical images—such as pathology slides—with new eyes. This innovative technology, powered by some of the most sophisticated computing tools available, will help researchers find answers sooner and detect illnesses earlier, giving patients a better chance for healing.
The Assisi Cluster will also help Mayo accelerate the development of AI foundation models that researchers can use to discover new medications and treatments while enabling more personalized care.
“This computer power, coupled with Mayo’s unparalleled clinical expertise and platform data of over 20 million digitized pathology slides, will allow Mayo to build on its existing foundation models. We’re transforming healthcare by quickly and safely developing innovative AI solutions that can improve patient outcomes and enable clinicians to dedicate more time to patient care,” Jim Rogers, CEO of Mayo Clinic Digital Pathology and Senior Administrator of Mayo Clinic’s Generative Artificial Intelligence Program, said.
The Assisi Cluster is a tribute to the values that Mayo was founded on and its partnership with the Sisters of Saint Francis.
Below: Scenes from the commemoration of the new Assisi Cluster, including a dove release, with representatives
Our Beloved Saint Teresa of Avila
By Sue Reif, OSF
Franciscan Representative to CST Alumnae Board Saint Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) is a beloved figure in the history of the Rochester Franciscans. Our former college in Winona was named after this prominent Spanish mystic, religious reformer, and the first of only four women to be named “Doctor of the Church.”
In honor of Saint Teresa, her statue was installed at the College of St. Teresa, in 1920, placed originally between the old Assisi Hall and the main academic building. Later, the statue was moved to the area in front of Alverna Hall. Following the closing of CST in 1989, and with the uncertainty of buyers for the campus, in 1990, the statue of St. Teresa of Avila was moved from our former campus to Assisi Heights.
As we all know, endings can open the door to new beginnings, and such has been the case on our old campus. What was once a place of learning and growth for college students (run by the Sisters of St. Francis, Rochester, MN) has become the “home” of Cotter Schools, serving infants beginning at six weeks of age through grade twelve. When Cotter welcomed the Sisters for a visit last year, the Sisters were amazed at the transformation and how well Cotter has maintained the integrity and look of the campus from its original buildings.
Recently, our Leadership Council responded “YES” to the request by CST Alumnae to return the statue of St. Teresa of Avila to her original “home” on our former campus, 105 years after her statue was first dedicated. The statue will be placed outside of Saint Teresa Hall in the newly landscaped area of the Villa Street entrance.
In recognition of the Sisters’ generosity in allowing the statue to be moved, last month representatives from the CST Alumnae Board and Cotter Schools were at Assisi Heights to thank the Sisters and celebrate together. Several Board members arrived early on Friday morning, September 5th, with treats for all the Sisters from Bloedow’s Bakery in Winona, and joined Sisters on 3rd Francis for their ‘coffee hour’. Cotter School Representatives and Alumnae Board members enjoyed lunch with Sisters in the Dining Room, followed by a beautiful prayer ritual put together by Colleen Peplinski, Executive Director, and members of the CST Alumnae Board. It was truly a Franciscan and Teresan gathering of friends!
L to R: Colleen Peplinski, Executive Director, CST Alumnae Association; Amy Rubie, Advancement Associate (Former CST Alumnae Staff); Mike Swenson, Vice President of Advancement; Anna Koopman, Director of Operations; and Mary Eileen Fitch, President/CEO, Cotter Schools
