Bishop Caggiano joins Bridgeport seminarians Ricardo Comin and Deacon Chris Ford on a mulching project with Franciscan Brother Leo Maneri during the seminarians' retreat. MERIDEN, CT (06-30-2018) - The Franciscan Community of Sisters and Brothers welcomed thirty seminarians of the Diocese of Bridgeport for a work retreat June 24-29 in coordination with Father John Connaughton, Director of Vocations for the diocese. The days included daily Mass, prayer and conferences, work experiences on the land, and evening dinner with the Franciscan Community. Small teams of seminarians were assigned work projects for the week - mulching flower beds on the Walter Acres, refurbishing stone pathways, transplanting peonies, clearing logs from the woods, assisting with children's camp activities and helping with the adventure leadership camp for youth. One day the men added their muscle to help load bales of hay from the field to the barns. The Sisters and Brothers enjoyed the lively presence of the men and the opportunity to work in collaboration with them and their mentors. The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, joined the group on the last day and offered Mass for the men and the Franciscan Community. A few comments about the week: "I was really pleased at the way the week with the Sisters went. Bishop Caggiano often speaks about how important renewal in the priesthood is to renewal in the Church.  Fostering friendships and fraternal charity among the men who are in formation for priesthood for the Diocese is an essential part of building up the local presbyterate.  As I watched the way the guys worked and prayed and played together over the course of the week I was filled with great hope for the future of the Diocese [...]

MERIDEN, CT (06-24-2018) - Archbishop Daniel A. Cronin, Archbishop Emeritus of Hartford, noted the significance of the crowd gathered to celebrate the second death anniversary of Mother Rosemae Pender, FSE, Mother Foundress, at a Mass in the Franciscan Sisters' Chapel of St. John. In his homily, the Archbishop spoke of Mother Rosemae's influence in the Church as represented by the cross-section of priests, religious men and women, and dedicated lay faithful present to honor the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist's foundress on the solemnity of the birth of St. John the Baptist. Archbishop Cronin spoke of Mother Rosemae as a "John the Baptist person." As John represented the end of the Old Testament prophets, and prepared the way for the coming of Christ, he bridged the old and the new. The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist were founded as a result of Vatican II, and, as Mother Rosemae had lived religious life for years before the Vatican Council, she brought forth the new Community out of the former way of religious life into a new expression, along with Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Co-foundress. The growth and outreach of the Community, as signified by the many persons in attendance at the Mass, is a tribute to the efforts of the foundresses and their openness to the workings of the Holy Spirit, the Archbishop continued. At the conclusion of the second anniversary Mass, the congregation processed outside for the ringing of the chimes dedicated to the memory of Mother Rosemae. The Franciscan Sisters expressed gratitude for the eight priest concelebrants, the two deacons, the eight religious orders present for the Mass. The afternoon concluded with a reception for all in the Chiara Center. Mother [...]

MERIDEN, CT  (05-27-2018) Sister Mary Mercy Lee, former editor of the well-known Catholic Digest, professed her first vows of chastity, poverty and obedience during the Eucharistic liturgy on the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, May 27, 2018. Two years ago, Sister Mary Mercy, then Robyn Lee, resigned her position with the Catholic Digest and was received into the novitiate of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. During novitiate she studied the theology of vows and learned how the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist live them in daily life as a corporate body. Mother Miriam Seiferman, Mother General, received Sister Mary Mercy's vows and affirmed Sister's growth during her novitiate and her deepening understanding of Franciscan community life. Mother Miriam graciously and wholeheartedly welcomed Sister Mary Mercy as a professed Sister of the Community. Mother Barbara Johnson, Vicar General, presented Sister with the cross of nails, the official FSE symbol, and a new cincture with three knots representing the three vows, worn as a daily reminder as well as a public witness of the core of religious life. In the past year, Sister Mary Mercy was a religion teacher at St. Paul High School, Bristol, Connecticut.

MERIDEN, CT (05-21-2018) - The motherhouse community is celebrating the educational accomplishments of Sister Francesca Silver and Sister Collette Maritim this month. Sister Francesca Silver, FSE Sister Francesca received a Masters degree in Theology with a concentration in Dogma from Holy Apostles College and Seminary on May 5, 2018. Sister Francesca lives with her fellow Sisters in formation at the John Lateran House of Formation. The degree in theology complements her other degrees in environmental studies. Sister is a part-time teacher of Spanish at St. Bridget School, Cheshire, Connecticut. She enjoys teaching children at the Summer Enrichment Experiences where she specializes in stream studies, bugs, and all fascinating and beautiful creatures of the earth. Prior to entering the Franciscan Community, Sister Francesca delighted in her work as a teacher/naturalist in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont, Townsend, Tennessee. Sister Collette Maritim, FSE Sister Collette received a Bachelor degree in Nursing from Central Connecticut State University on May 19, 2018 at the commencement ceremony held at the XL Center, Hartford. Several Franciscan Sisters weathered the drenching rain to attend the event in the packed stadium. On Friday, May 11, Sister Collette received her nursing pin at the Class of 2018 Pinning Ceremony held in the Welte Auditorium at the university. This traditional ceremony of the nursing profession is a ritual of completion as well as a symbol of welcome into the medical community. The ceremony included introduction of faculty and staff, congratulatory remarks by university authorities, keynote speakers, reflections from the class of graduates, explanation of the pin, and presentation of the pin to each [...]

MERIDEN, CT (04-22-2018) - Sister Joanne Schatzlein, OSF engaged a crowd of 70 religious and lay men and women in reflecting on the early documents of St. Francis of Assisi and his followers. The conference, held on April 21, 2018, at the Franciscan Sisters' Finch Avenue campus, was praised by attendees who enthusiastically responded to Sister Joanne's depth of knowledge and radiant spirit. The "Sources that Reveal the Person of St. Francis of Assisi" talks focused on who St. Francis is, as revealed in his original writings and those of his biographers. Sister Joanne is a member of the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi in St. Francis, Wisconsin, near Milwaukee. A Franciscan scholar, Sister has led numerous pilgrimages to Assisi in the past years and is a much-sought-after presenter for religious congregations and lay groups in the United States.

It's not too late to register! SOLD OUT October 24-November 5, 2018 Visit the sacred Franciscan places in Assisi. Pray in the ancient holy churches in Rome. See details: Registration Form:

MERIDEN, CT (03-27-2018) - The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist throughout the world are continuing the Community's tradition of celebrating Holy Week, the most sacred week of the year, by focusing on the paradoxes expressed in the Scripture readings of each day. With variations due to local customs and schedules, the Sisters incorporate traditional practices, foods and pre-liturgical presentations that highlight the events of Christ's Passion. A few years ago, Father Mike Schmitz of the Diocese of Duluth briefly described the Sisters' approach to Holy Week in this teaching video. During Holy Week, the Franciscan centers, in union with the motherhouse center, are reflecting on the Church as a "family of families" in light of the need to combat the "tsunami of secularism" as expressed  in the pastoral planning document of Cardinal Wuerl of the Archdiocese of Washington: "Today the environment in which we preach the Gospel is highly secularized. In the 2012 Synod on the New Evangelization, a common theme that emerged was the impact of popular culture on the way people think about faith. I have spoken of this global trend as a “tsunami of secularism” that has washed across our cultures, taking with it many foundational elements, such as appreciation of marriage and family, a basic understanding of right and wrong, and a sense of community" (p. 16). Aware of the Church's preparation for the upcoming Synod on Youth, the Franciscan Sisters have invited many young people to participate in the liturgies and activities of Holy Week.

MERIDEN, CT (03-24-2018) - The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, the Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist and Franciscan Apprentices welcomed Mr. John Bee and Mr. Mickey Wells into the "Franciscan Family" as they made their life commitment to Apprenticeship at the Community Mass on Saturday, March 24. Franciscan Apprenticeship is a program of lay association. Apprentices are dedicated to Franciscan spirituality and are spiritually centered in their lay vocations by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. The day before Palm Sunday is traditionally celebrated by the Franciscan Sisters as "Commitment Saturday" in honor of Christ "setting his face" toward Jerusalem as he was committed to carrying out His Father's will, even as it meant suffering and death. Appropriately, the Apprentices present at the Mass renewed their commitments in response to the new Apprentices' life commitments. Mother Miriam Seiferman, Mother General, responded to the lay men's commitments by offering each an Apprentice name and patron saint. John Bee received the name "Louis" in commemoration of St. Louis Martin, the father of St. Therese of Lisieux, who, with his wife, was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015 as a model of holiness and a witness to marriage and family life. The canonization of the Martins was the first time a married couple was canonized together in the same ceremony. John Louis' wife, Christine Mariam Bee, is also a Franciscan Apprentice. Together, they help other couples understand the Church's teachings on marriage and family, and are active members of their parish. Mother Miriam expressed that "Francis" would be the name chosen for Mickey Wells in likeness to St. Francis of Assisi. Mickey Francis' reverent love of the earth and creation, [...]