Welcome to RuahMedia.ORG - a ministry of FSPA showcasing fine arts creations.

Sponsored by:

Lisa Zmuda:

“My ‘techie’ ministry enables the people I work with to carry out their ministries more effectively.”

Malinda Gerke:

“I continue the traditional healthcare ministry of the congregation through harp therapy in hospitals and nursing homes.”

Maryam Gossling:

Icons are a more recent interest in Maryam's work. She teaches workshops and will also take commissions to paint patron saint icons.


Lisa Zmuda presently works as part-time network administrator for her community’s motherhouse. Her part-time work allows her to pursue a variety of media work for others. Her creativity has produced CDs, DVDs and powerpoint presentations on a commission basis. Total production is done by Sr. Lisa and her Sisters who volunteer assistance with packaging. Over the past 6 years, Lisa has provided Powerpoints, photography and videotaping
services for her own community as well as national conferences: Franciscan Federation, sponsored Bonaventure Fest, and the Franciscan Institute's 6th National Forum by St. Bonaventure University. She has created a series of PC screensavers that are inspirational, religious and/or Franciscan. To view these, select “Media” above.


Sister Malinda Gerke is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. She spent most of her life as a professional music teacher and liturgist. Malinda is currently promoting the traditional healing ministry of the congregation by providing harp therapy in hospitals, nursing homes and hospice situations in the greater La Crosse area. The harp used for these recordings was built by Lyon and Healy Harp Company of Chicago , Illinois, during the late 1890’s. It was purchased by the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 1900, and has become part of the heritage of the community. The instrument, a Style 22
gold concert harp, was re-built and completely restored in 1997 by Lyon and Healy and is again being used for religious services and concerts at St. Rose Convent in La Crosse, Wisconsin.


The value of an artist to the world is if he/she can make people see and feel things they would not pay attention to. This calls for a unique way of looking at things, a special awareness of the ordinary, or simply an individual insight about the commonplace. We all have our viewpoint on reality, and Sister Maryam's art springs from her background, and from her everyday surroundings. Maryam is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and has been
an art teacher in elementary and high schools in Iowa and Wisconsin and at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. She has worked as a graphic artist in Los Angeles for fifteen years before she moved back to Iowa where she now is the artist in residence at Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center. Icons are a more recent interest in Maryam's work. She teaches workshops and will also take commissions to paint patron saint icons.