Our Wedding Celebration in Review: Melissa and Francois Kiemde

Queen Mab Friends, Family, Readers -- Far and Wide:

Perhaps you were able to be with us physically on our wedding day; perhaps you joined us in prayer from afar; either way, we hope you enjoy these images documenting what was an amazing experience for us. Gratitude goes out to each and everyone of you who helped us bring forward this blessed day -- one celebrating love, commitment, community. We recognize how truly fortunate we are to join in this blessed sacrament of marriage. We wish that each and every person called to loving commitment would have such an opportunity. What an honor it is; what a joy, now, to share these pictures with all of you.

Blessings to all this day! Here's to celebrating many seasons of Love!

Melissa and Francois

Rehearsal Dinner and Wedding Prep Site

Hello Dress!

Hair and Make-Up Artist Extraordinaire: Rhonda Jackson!

Blessed shoes

Across town at St. Jane House, the Groom and his bridal party prepare themselves...

Beloved "Gabby Love, Love!"

I love this man's laugh and smile!

Daddy and his little girl

Beautiful Frederic and Handsome Francois

Bouquet (and all flowers) arranged by Antoinette Bennaars-Mawanda; Engagement Ring handed down by the Liewer/Arduser Great Grandparents; Gold bands: Kay Jewelers

Seeing each other for the first time

Ms. Sassy and Ms. Sassy: all dressed up!

The Kiemde Clan

Kisses for dad!

The Borgmann Clan and newest members...

To the Walker Sculpture Garden!

We know the beauty and abundance of the "Cherry in the Spoon.."

Wedding Party, from Left to Right, Back Row:
Aaron Borgmann, Usher; Francois Zongo, Groomsman; Ben Borgmann, Usher;
Middle Row: Marianna Toth, Bridesmaid; Stephanie Johnson, Matron of Honor; Melissa Borgmann, Bride; Francois Kiemde, Groom; Frederic Nassa, Best Man; Joy Chaney, Bridesmaid;
Front Row: Gabby Kiemde, Groom's Girl

Our Wedding Party ROCKS!

So does our photographer, and her eye: Alisa Foreman, Shadow Lake Portraits

More poses in front of Frank Gehry's "Standing Glass Fish"

Loving the Art!

Artwork: "Five Plates, Two Poles" --
and a Bride, Groom and Bouquet?

Back at the church, we add bridesman, David Mann,
and Usher, Matt Peiken to our Wedding Party Photos

The Music!
Thank you to the St. Olaf International Choir, along with other Church of St. Philip singers and musicians, who all nicely round out our wedding ensemble

Nadege Ouevi sings a prelude tune in French

Let the wedding-aisle-walking commence!

Thank you Mom and Dad for getting me this far...

Our trifecta of priests: Fr. Dave Liewer, Fr. Dale Korogi, Fr. Jules Omba Omalanga

Sr. Rafael Tilton, OSF, proclaiming the Word...

Before a beautifully peopled prayer space...

Ann Shallbetter and Julie Strahan lead the congregation in music

Jeffrey Bissoy reads from Corinthians

Collaboration, singing, "The Lord is My Light!"

Our unity candle ritual becomes a COMM-UNITY ritual

Love this Light!


Francois and Melissa light their candle from the community flames

Fr. Dale Korogi delivers a beautiful homily (always!)

Sr. Jill Underdahl, CSJ, is the first to read her prayers of the faithful,
written for this occassion, alongside Zac Willette.

Can you tell we love their words?

More beautiful musicians!

I love this man so much!

Breaking the bread (Thanks to Lee George who baked our eucharist)

The community blessing

Procession out! Gabby Leads the way....

Our wedding cake, courtesy of Carolyn Sawyer and Mark Wenzel

What a feast! Thank you to all of our blessed guests who made this banquet possible, bringing food to share with the entire community. And Merci to Mark, Olga and the nuns, for laying it all out so magnificently...

Pot Lucks are really amazing, you know?

Center pieces and decor, courtesy of Olga Nichols and Brian Mogren: Team Ambiance!




What's a table without roses, candles and champagne? Ha!

And the Open Mic commences with Bridesman, Emcee Extraordinaire, David Mann

Zac Willette, our master of ceremonies from the Rehearsal Dinner, returns to toast us after his beautiful words on hunger, love and abundance, the night before.
WE LOVE THIS MAN!

Julie Landsman warms us with her words

Brendan Teehan sings, "Sweet Melissa"

Friend Jody Tigges with her toast

Berato Wilson, Former North High Writing as Performance Student and Teens Rock the Mic poet graces the stage and silences the guest with his original poem

Delaney Melissa Teehan, God-daughter and toastmaster extraordinaire!

Another sung toast: Beautiful Brent Floren

Our dear friend Colette DeHarpporte with a reflection on love by Jesuit, Pedro Arrupe

Kathryn Kaatz with wise words for us all

Our best man, Frederic Nassa, honors his longtime friend, Francois Kiemde

Groomsan, Francois "Jr" Zongo, toasts baker/ mentor/ friend/Groom, Francois "Sr." Kiemde

And the matron of honor toasts her sister Melissa

Nephews Noah and Trent Borgmann round out the musical toasts right before....

Parents of the Bride, Beth and Steve Borgmann, sing their toast
to love and one another:
"You are My Sunshine!"
(such fine harmonizing by these two!)

Can you hear Francois laughing?

How about Melissa giggling?

Our toasters are so entertaining; we are so fortunate!

It's unanimous: We love the Open Mic Tributes to Love!

Bring on the Band!

The good, bad, funky: Hookers and Blow!

People of all ages will rock out

Guests from Francois' family in Madison: Sister Agnes Kiemde,

and former countryman, Saidou Kabore, with his wife Veronica

Hello musicians...

Yes! We love the music!

More boogying! Kathryn and Larry get down!

Two crazy cats find one another to dance it out...

Happy, dancing family of Liewers

Wedding Reception hosts: John and Mary Michaels


Much love and gratitude for our journey ahead....
Merci Beaucoup!

One Tribe! One People! Meditating on the Black-Eyed Peas' Tune...

My friend Emily Burt-McGregor tagged me in a facebook post last evening as she referred to this Black Eyed Peas video. I had never seen or heard this tune, but found myself playing it and smiling. The song's lyrics made me tap my toes, nod my head and sing back to the screen, (my apartment windows, Marshall Avenue, the Mississippi River -- the world):
WE ARE ONE PEOPLE! ONE TRIBE!
ONE PEOPLE!

Do you agree?
Amen.
Happy Contemplating!
Melissa

Blogging for the Visitation Monastery in North Minneapolis

Family, Friends, Fans of "QueenMab" -- Far and Wide:

In the days, weeks, and months to come, I'll be devoting much more of my time to a new blog and website. The Visitation Sisters of North Minneapolis have asked me to write and host a blogsite for them as part of their vocations initiative to find "seven visionary women to be a prayerful presence in North Minneapolis." It's an absolute honor and privilege to be part of this campaign.

As many of you know, these nuns are near and dear to my heart; they've kept me not only breathing and upright over the course of the past decade, but cultivated a deep spirit of gratitude, expanding faith, and sense of hope as I've made my way from teaching at Minneapolis North High, and moved out into the world, trying to honor a calling to make change, build relationships, love, create and live well.

You have been with me through the "Teens Rock the Mic" and "Juno Collective" days; helped me host delightful, artful writing and teaching humans from abroad; followed along and aided in the transformation and sale of 1188 Juno; trekked through Africa with me on a six week journey at the start of my 40th year; and been witness to Francois Xavier Kiemde's courtship of yours truly, alongside our subsequent marriage.... Together, we have cracked open poems and scripture; asked contemplative questions on topics of leadership, governance and global citizenship; and meditated on the mundane. I invite you now to join me on this next adventure with the nuns! Come along as we search for these seven new women, explore the daily interactions at the monastery, and inhabit another contemplative realm where faith and action intersect.

Your good thoughts and prayers are deeply appreciated as we commence on this journey -- as I attempt to honor the fullness of these women's lives in this blog-writing venture....Who knows? Maybe you are acquainted with one of these women we are seeking? Perhaps this life of prayer and service speaks to you?

Love, Blessings,
Melissa Borgmann Kiemde
Visitation Vocations
www.visitationmonasteryminneapolis.org

"The Long Way Here" - Another Immigrant Narrative from John's Hopkin's Surgeon

The following was recommended to me by a friend in response to the posting about my husband's own immigration narrative. I share Dr. Kofi Boahane's story with incredible regard and awe for what he endured, (what people endure) to reach their dreams....Watch, consider the questions it raises, maybe say thank you for where each of you are today?



Some questions this video inspires me to ask:
Where would Kofi be without his persistence?
What would have happened had his chemistry professor not co-signed his loans?
What relationships are necessary for any of us to "succeed" or see our dreams into being?
When have you been "detained" from moving forward in life? What have the consequences been for you?
Who do you have to thank for where you are?
Who takes time to really get to know a colleague born outside their immediate community?
How do we celebrate the gift of our journeys to this moment, this place, and honor our respective paths?

Happy Contemplating...
Melissa

Immigration and Epiphany: A Sunday Meditation

NOTE: The following is an introduction I wrote for a reflection delivered at mass today at the Church of St. Philip in North Minneapolis. My husband and another parishioner were asked to speak as immigrants in this country, and share from their perspectives about what it has meant to journey beyond their places of birth, in the hopes of resettling and making a better life for themselves. Because Francois had to work, he asked that I deliver his narrative in his stead. We followed fellow parishioner, John Allagh, from Nigeria. John spoke beautifully of the Bible as "Immigration/ Migration Handbook," and challenged us all to consider how we are immigrants, on a journey. On this day, I fell in love all over again with my faith community and the large spirit of love, awareness, culture, diversity, justice and injustice that play out in the world and local community. I was moved deeply by and reminded that we are a people of radical hospitality and welcoming at CSP, striving to realize and celebrate our common humanity.

***

Sunday, January 3, 2010.

Homiletic Reflection

It’s powerful to hear people’s stories - their first person account or witness of their lives. As a former English teacher, and writer myself, my livelihood is wrapped up in narratives. I can’t think of a more incredible privilege, too, than listening to a person reflect on what they have encountered, and how they make sense of their journeys. Last week at St. Philip's we had Cece Ryan offering her first person account and meditation on questions of the Holy Family, and this week, we have the awesome privilege of hearing John Allagh, and a tale from my husband, Francois Kiemde.

As Fr. Jules has said, "Today’s service is dedicated to Immigration." Stories of people going on journeys, crossing borders and oceans in the hope and desire of resettling, of a making a better life for themselves somewhere else, and realizing their dreams…..

Today is also the Feast of the Epiphany. Of wise men encountering and recognizing the Christ Child in their midst.

As a contemplative person, I wonder,

“How do the two intersect? What does it mean to be an immigrant? What does it mean to experience the epiphany? Or to have an epiphany? How can hearing stories and reflecting on journeys trigger insight? Expand our minds and hearts to fuller knowledge of Christ in our midst?”

These are my questions as I close out today’s homiletic reflection time and space with my husband, Francois Kiemde’s story. As I read you his reflection, I invite you to consider your own tale of crossing borders, of seeking experiences and being a person of hope and opportunity, someone likewise recognizing the Divine in their midst…

Note: For a copy of Francois' narrative, please email us.

Merci!