“Shine like lights on the world,
as you hold on to the Word of Life..."
(St. Paul to the Philippians)
A Jubilee encourages the one celebrating the anniversary to reflectively ponder all the chosen roadways of life, including detours as well as the adventures. We all know that it can only be God’s Light that keeps one on the roadway moving ever forward.
For those of us privileged to witness and enter into the Jubilee of another, we have the advantage of seeing the lights of a person’s life . . . the kindness, the goodness, the generosity, and the image of God that comes through a life of love.
This past May 22nd, we renewed our Covenants as Associates of the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor. During our preparatory meeting with the sisters in the Saint Clare Community, we shared our proposals, our experiences with Mother Frances...
On Sunday, August 24th about 80 people gathered in St. Clare Convent Chapel to celebrate our Annual Covenant Ceremony. The Franciscan Sisters of the Poor welcomed with great joy Joan Hock, Pam Rouster, Nancy Smith...
I practice daily prayer and reflection based on the teachings of Francis and Clare and with materials received from the Congregation. I will continue to teach my high school students about Francis, Clare and the Congregation.
Five years ago, when I presented in Chapter, I told the Sisters that I love life and that there is a circle of life which I follow wherever it goes. Even after 25 years as a member of our religious family, I feel myself evolving and changing.
During this year – which for me is a jubilee year – I find myself looking at a statement made by Pope Ratzinger when he was still a Cardinal: “…for the Church the time has come for less organization and more Holy Spirit.”
This year in the U.S. Area we celebrated 4 platinum jubilees (70 years), 3 diamond jubilees (60 years) and one golden jubilee (50 years). Over their collective 510 years of service, they have given much, seen much and, particularly...
During the U.S. Area Assembly in April there was a celebration of the 510 years of fidelity of these Sisters and God's fidelity to them. However, at that time it was really only the Sisters who were present. It seemed to me that it was fitting...
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of my first profession has been a great opportunity for me to look back and be grateful for the gift of the call to be an SFP. Religious life has given me the opportunity to experience the breadth and depth...
In my heart I can still hear the echo of the powerful words in the Gospel of May 18, 1984. “Peter, do you love me? Do you love me more than...?” We had chosen this passage because Mother Frances was inspired by it...
“Give me everything”
These are the words I heard at 16 years of age that began my journey. In trying to understand what this meant and how to live it, I arrived at Casetta Nova. Meeting the Franciscan Sisters...
I think I am Franciscan by nature. When I was in my teens, I would sing the love songs I heard on the radio, only I sang them to God. As the fifth of six children – 3 boys and 3 girls -- reared in a very Catholic household, I met and dated a number of...
With the grace of God, religious life is a wonderful life. And if I had life to live over again, I would do it again, of course! I came from a small town in Newfoundland – only 45 families lived there – the third of six children: three boys, three girls.
The celebration of a Jubilee is as good a time as any to reflect back on the years, and the joys, of religious life. Certainly I lived through them all – and loved every one of them. Religious life has changed dramatically during these years...
I am happier now than I was when I entered! I have absolutely no regrets. I have been so blessed. I never expected, as a farmer’s daughter, to learn so much or go to so many places. I have served in Dayton OH, Detroit, MI, Brazil and Senegal...
I know that living as a woman religious is truly God’s work; always sayingyes to God and my superiors is what my life is about.
My first step into the Congregation was made at twelve years of age. I was injured...
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Sister Therese Martin Hessler is awed by the number and variety of experiences and opportunities offered in religious life. “They all grew out of my participation in our charism, and the missions in which it is expressed... |
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Karen made her first commitment on November 11, 1985 and her permanent covenant on August 8, 2010. Karen's independent study in preparation for permanent covenant was to write a paper on the new ministry... |
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Sister Arleen grew up in Resurrection Parish in Dayton, Ohio and attended the former Julienne High School. She then became a registered nurse and worked at St. Elizabeth Hospital for three years before entering St. Clare Convent... |
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Sister Margie Ferri made her final vows on September 8, 1960. She is celebrating 60 years as a Franciscan Sister of the Poor! Sister Margie was born in Charleston, South Carolina, and was the first of three children... |
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"These years were very special to me. It has been a great joy to dedicate my life to God as a consecrated religious. Since my youth, God used the OFM Franciscan Friars as instruments to encourage my vocation... |
