MERIDEN, CT (October 2020) - St. Francis of Assisi could easily be named "the people's favorite saint." On October 3, all Franciscans remember his death, his "transitus" with special services that commemorate the blessings he gave to his Brothers, St. Clare and her Sisters, and all his followers. The next day, St. Francis Day, October 4 is a major feast day for Franciscans and for the Church. Masses are offered in remembrance of him who renewed religious life and who upset the norms of the 13th century by living a life of poverty and "rebuilding the Church." This year, Pope Francis chose Assisi as the place to sign and launch for the world his new encyclical, All Brothers on October 3. Assisi also was chosen for the beatification of Carlos Acutis, an Italian teenager who is on the way to becoming a saint. All of these events point to the universal love for St. Francis and his special place in the Church. We offer a series of "Reflections on St. Francis" as part of the celebrations during October focused on St. Francis:

MERIDEN, CT (08-23-2020) - The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist joyfully welcomed Sister Mary Kolbe Heffern, FSE and Sister Faith Marie Woolsey, FSE as perpetual members of the Community on Sunday, August 23, 2020. The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop of Hartford, celebrated the Mass of Religious Profession in the Chapel of St. John, assisted by Reverend Matthew Gworek, Master of Ceremonies. Deacon Ryan Eggenberger of the Archdiocese of Detroit proclaimed the Gospel. The Sisters pronounced their final vows in the presence of the Community of Sisters and Brothers and representatives of the two Sisters' families. Held within the limits of the State and Archdiocesan guidelines for gatherings, the simplicity of the liturgy served to highlight in a different way, the essential act that was taking place. Cantors Sister Marie Benedict Elliott and Sister Mary Mercy Lee and Organist Sister Mary Rose Irvine provided the familiar hymns as the Community sang silently in their hearts. Sister Mary Kolbe from Houston, Texas, is the daughter of Dan and Diana Heffern. She is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas and Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Currently she teaches art and Spanish at Catholic Academy of Waterbury in Waterbury, Connecticut and is pursuing a diploma in AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) Elementary. Sister Faith Marie is from Jackson, Michigan. Her parents are Michael and Ellen Woolsey. Sister Faith Marie is a physical therapist at Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care in Meriden. She received her degrees from Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids and Holy Apostles College and Seminary. [...]

MERIDEN, CT (08-11-2020) - On August 11, the Church and all Franciscans around the world celebrate the feast day of St. Clare of Assisi. We call to mind some of the images Pope Alexander used to describe St. Clare in the document of her canonization in 1255.

Mary Irvine presents her request to enter novitiate to Mother Miriam Seiferman, Mother General. Mary enters the chapel after being clothed in the habit and veil. She is holding her postulant medal which she will present back to Mother Miriam. MERIDEN, CT (06-24-2020) - Mother Miriam Seiferman, Mother General, received Mary Irvine into novitiate in a private Community ceremony in the Chapel of St. John on the solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist. After Mary presented her request to enter novitiate, Mother Miriam responded with a joyful "Yes" that echoed the sentiment of the entire Community of Sisters. Mother Miriam then blessed the habit, veil and cincture with which Mary would be clothed as a novice. Mother Barbara Johnson, Vicar General, assisted in the clothing. Upon her return to the chapel, Mary appeared radiant as she wore the habit of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist for the first time. Mother Miriam announced that Mary would be named Sister Mary Rose. The traditional blessings of the new novice by Mother Miriam, Mother Barbara and Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Co-foundress, were given to Sister Mary Rose, after which the Community sang the Blessing of St. Francis. Sister Mary Rose, the Community's first novice from Nebraska, is the daughter of Don and Pat Irvine of Cairo, Nebraska. Sister Mary Rose received a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of Nebraska - Kearney where she was the music coordinator for the Catholic Newman Center. As a postulant, she worked as the office manager for Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care. The novitiate is a time set apart for the novice to learn about [...]

Sister Michaela Serpa, FSE and Sister Faith Marie Woolsey, FSE recently completed studies for Masters degrees in Theology at Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Sister Michaela earned a Master of Arts degree in Theology with a concentration in Bioethics. This degree adds a theological perspective to her professional training as a doctor of pharmacy. Sister Michaela serves as a pharmacy supervisor at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. She received her doctoral degree from Idaho State University. Sister Faith Marie's Masters degree is in General Theology. She works as a physical therapist at Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care in Meriden, Connecticut. She earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a way of forming Sisters holistically to meet with a faith perspective, the challenges presented in their various professions, it is a common practice in the Community that Sisters study theology to complement their professional degrees. Congratulations, to our 2020 graduates!

As we all join together in experiencing a most unusual Holy Week and Easter, we assure our many friends that we maintain a spiritual closeness to you through our prayers for you. We unite with Pope Francis in his prayer and concern for the whole world and we hold in our hearts the intentions of our loved ones. May the joy of Easter be our bond of union as we celebrate Christ's Resurrection, the most miraculous event of all time. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He show His Face to you and be merciful to you. May He turn His Countenance to you and give you peace. The Lord bless you! Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist Meriden, Connecticut Bridal Veil, Oregon Lowell, Michigan Pocatello, Idaho Falls Church, Virginia Boynton Beach, Florida Burlington, Vermont Durham, North Carolina Vancouver, British Columbia Assisi, Italy Rome, Italy Jerusalem

The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist join our Holy Father Pope Francis in prayer today on the Solemnity of the Annunciation for all those affected by the coronavirus. Pope Francis' prayer: “As trustful children we turn to the Father. We do it every day, several times a day; but right now we wish to beg mercy for mankind, so sorely tried by the coronavirus pandemic. And we do this together, Christians of every Church and Community, of every tradition, of every age, language and nation. We pray for the sick and their families; for health workers and those who help them; for the authorities, law enforcement agencies and volunteers; for the ministers of our communities. Today many of us celebrate the Incarnation of the Word in the womb of the Virgin Mary, when her humble and total “Behold” reflected the “Behold” of the Son of God. We too entrust ourselves, with full confidence, to the hands of God, and with one heart and one soul we pray: "Our Father..."

May you all have a joyful, inspiring and loving Christmas season! The Community offers prayer in gratitude for you, our families, friends and collaborators, and the blessings you have bestowed upon us through your relationship.

HARTFORD, CT (10-06-2019) - Sister Patricia Glass, FSE was honored during the Annual Archdiocese of Hartford Respect Life Mass on October 6, 2019, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. Archbishop Leonard P. Blair bestowed the Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Pro-Life Award on Sister Patricia and three other pro-life advocates who were selected for the award for their exemplary dedication to the Church's teachings on the dignity of human life. In his homily, Archbishop Blair gratefully acknowledged the efforts of all the pro-life advocates present for the Mass as the Church faces unprecedented opposition to the teachings expressed by St. John Paul II in Gospel of Life. The Archbishop presented recent examples of violence and disregard for the dignity of human life in the United States, and urged the congregation to continue to witness to respect for life. Sister Patricia was recognized for her volunteer service to the Pro-Life Ministry of the Archdiocese. For over 15 years, she has handled numerous unseen tasks for the Ministry's events. For the March for Life to Washington, D.C. in January, she is out in the parking lot at 5:00 a.m. in the dark directing traffic with her team of parkers, as 200 people arrive to board the buses for the trip to Washington, D.C.; at the hotel in Washington, D.C. she opens up her well-prepared sacristy suitcase to set up the altar for the Archbishop's Mass and ensures everything is ready for the priests and the over 200 people who attend the Mass; for the annual Respect Life Mass she packs a van with boxes of candles for distribution at the Mass and drives the load to the Cathedral. Former [...]

MERIDEN, CT (07-07-2019) - During the annual July meeting of the perpetually professed Sisters, the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist honored ten Sisters on their 70th, 60th and 50th anniversaries of vows. During the Eucharistic liturgy, celebrated by the Very Reverend Douglas Mosey, CSB, the Sisters renewed their vows and received blessings from Mother Miriam Seiferman, Mother General; Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Co-foundress; and Father Mosey in the name of the Church. The Community sang the Blessing of St. Francis for the jubilarians. The honored Sisters are Sister Bernice Blaha, 70 years; Sister Patricia Glass, 60 years; Sister Mary Roberta Connors, Sister Judith Gebelein, Sister Barbara Johnson, Sister Mary Anne Linder, Sister Mary Richards, Sister Maria Sena, Sister Janet Siepker and Sister Ann Frances Thompson, 50 years.