FALLS CHURCH, VA (03-04-2025) - Sister Judith Gebelein, FSE entered eternal life today at Virginia Hospital in Arlington, following an acute respiratory complication. Her Community of Sisters kept vigil in prayer with her as Sister Judith prepared to be welcomed into her eternal home. Sister Judith has lived at the FSE Falls Church center since 2006 when the Sisters first began ministering in the Diocese of Arlington at the invitation of the Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde. Prior to being assigned to Falls Church, Sister Judith was a member of the Franciscan center in Lowell, Michigan for 33 years. Sister Judith began her journey as a Franciscan religious woman in 1965 as she entered the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, La Crosse, Wisconsin. She professed first vows in 1969. In 1973, she became a founding member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. She and six classmates celebrated their 50th jubilee of vows in 2019. Sister Judith, daughter of the late Roy and Shirley Gebelein, was born on December 10, 1946, and grew up in Stratford, Wisconsin, the oldest of seven children. As a child, Sister Judith (Judy) contracted polio. The effects of polio remained with her during her life and motivated her to overcome the handicaps imposed on her body from the disease, and to minister to others as a nurse. Sister Judith earned a B.A. degree in sociology from Viterbo College (now University), and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) from Grand Valley State University. From 1970 to 1976, she worked at St. Francis Hospital, La Crosse, Wisconsin; Cherry Creek Nursing Home in Lowell, and Grand Rapids Oncology Group. For 25 years, she was a [...]

ROME (02-15-2025) - Pope Francis announced today the appointment of Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE as President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State. We Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, as a Community dedicated to serving the Holy Father and the Church, offer Sister Raffaella our prayerful support as she assumes this new mission for the Church. The announcement published on Vatican News states: Pope Francis has appointed Sister Raffaella Petrini as the new President of the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State and President of the Governorate of Vatican City State. A statement released by the Holy See Press Office on Saturday also said the appointment is effective March 1, 2025. Sister Petrini, a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, has served as Secretary General of the Governorate since 2021. With this appointment, she becomes the first woman to hold the highest leadership position within the Vatican’s administrative structure. In her new role, she will oversee the governance of Vatican City, managing its daily operations and policies in accordance with the directives of the Holy See. The Governorate is responsible for various aspects of Vatican City's administration, including security, infrastructure, and cultural heritage. Sister Petrini’s predecessor, Cardinal Fernando Vérgez Alzaga, L.C., served as President since 2021. Sister Raffaella, a native of Rome, is a member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist.

WASHINGTON, DC (01-24-2025) - Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist from Meriden, Connecticut, Lewiston, Maine, Falls Church, Virginia, and Boynton Beach, Florida centers joined thousands of pro-life supporters for the National March for Life in Washington, DC.  The theme for the 2025 March is "Life: Why We March." The Connecticut Sisters participated in the Archdiocese of Hartford's Respect Life Ministry pilgrimage to the nation's capitol to witness to the dignity of human life. The busload, comprised of priests, religious men and women, lay faithful adults and teens, left Thursday morning. The group attended the Opening Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at 5:00 P.M. The Most Reverend Paul Loverde, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Arlington, celebrated Mass for the group at their hotel, and was the guest speaker during the breakfast on Friday. The Archdiocese of Hartford's Respect Life Ministry activities are organized by Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist Sister Suzanne Gross and Sister Amaris Salata. Sister Christianna Hamann and Sister Francesca Silver from Lewiston came with the Diocese of Portland pilgrims and met up with their fellow Sisters at the rally preceding the March to the Supreme Court. Sisters from the Falls Church center accompanied groups from parishes and schools as well as from The Catholic University of America. Sister Clare Hunter, from the faculty of St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, led a group of seminarians to the March for Life.

JERUSALEM - Sister Maria David Magbanua, FSE, was highlighted in a recent National Catholic Reporter's Global Sisters Report for her service with the children of migrants and asylum seekers in Jerusalem. Sister Maria David has been the director of St. Rachel Center for the past three years, carrying out this ministry under the auspices of the Latin Patriarchate's Vicariate for Migrants and Asylum Seekers. St. Rachel Center provides services as a day care program, after school and youth programs, summer and school holiday camps, foster care program and volunteer program. The day care program ministers to up to 28 babies from four months to three years old during the day. The after-school program serves about 30 school age children, and the summer and holiday camps minister to about 60 children ages four to 17 years. The article describes the Church's response to the overwhelming need for this ministry as migrants and asylum seekers come to the Holy Land seeking a better life and future. Sister Maria David, herself an immigrant from the Philippines, arrived in Jerusalem as a young lay woman seeking work. It was there that she met the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist and later became a member of the Congregation, professing perpetual vows in 2010. For more about Sister Maria David, see Featured Sister. Read the National Catholic Reporter's Global Sisters Report.

The entire Community of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist wishes you a joyful and blessed Christmas Season! As the Church opens the Jubilee Year of Hope, may our hearts be lifted up by the hope of the Incarnation, the miracle of the Body of Christ in our midst. We pray in gratitude and for the needs of our families, friends, collaborators and viewers. Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist Motherhouse Community, Meriden, Connecticut Assisi, Italy Boynton Beach, Florida Bridal Veil, Oregon Burlington, Vermont Falls Church, Virginia Jerusalem Lewiston, Maine Lowell, Michigan Pocatello, Idaho Rome, Italy Vancouver, British Columbia

ROME (10-23-2024) - Sister Mary Mercy Lee, FSE who recently began to serve at the Vatican, was selected to read Pope Francis' message and blessing to the English-speaking pilgrims at the Holy Father's General Audience on October 23. Thousands of people from around the world gather each Wednesday in St. Peter's Square to see and listen to Pope Francis who customarily presents an instruction or reflection on a topic of his choice. Currently, he has been speaking on the Holy Spirit in the life of the Church. The audience concludes with his greetings and blessing to people of various language groups which he says in Italian, and then a delegate of each language interprets his message for the crowd. Sister Mary Mercy presented the message in English, addressing those present from English-speaking countries. https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2024-10/pope-at-general-audience-23-october-2024.html Sister Mary Mercy's part begins at 31:10 in the Vatican video.

MERIDEN, CT (08-15-2024) - Saint Bridget of Sweden Parish in Cheshire, Connecticut, an active parish serving over 3,000 households, honored Sister Mary Rose Irvine, FSE on Sunday, August 11 at a farewell reception. Sister Mary Rose ministered as a pastoral associate the past three years and has been reassigned by the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist to a new mission. Reverend Jeffrey V. Romans, pastor, in his bulletin announcement of Sister's leaving, praised Sister Mary Rose as a "guiding light in our parish family." He voiced the sentiment of many parishioners as he acknowledged that Sister Mary Rose "has brought such an incredible amount of wisdom, enthusiasm and passion for helping our parish family to grow in faith. We have truly been blessed to have her ministry among us." The parish served a decorative cake in honor of Sister Mary Rose at the reception where parishioners offered their gratitude to her. One parishioner expressed her appreciation as she said, "You added so much to St. Bridget's. Your hard work and efforts seemed effortless as you did everything with a smile." A married couple simply shared, "You have filled our lives with so much joy!" Father Romans enumerated several initiatives and programs Sister Mary Rose coordinated, "She was very busy throughout the year leading book studies, bible studies, video series, adult education evenings, working with the homebound, running bus trips, assisting with numerous ministries, and so much more. I cannot begin to express my gratitude to her for bringing the ChristLife Program to our parish family and for all that this program has done to help parishioners develop and deepen a personal relationship with Jesus Christ." [...]

INDIANAPOLIS (07-21-2024) - The National Eucharistic Congress wrapped up today as the approximately 60,000 participants return to their homes, parishes and dioceses across the United States, inspired by the experiences of adoration, liturgies, workshops, vibrant speakers, exhibits and most of all, by the overwhelming number of Catholics sharing in a common experience of Christ in the Eucharist. The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist echoed that sentiment. Their days were filled with meeting new people, connecting with former colleagues, and sharing in all the offerings of "Eucharistic amazement" the event provided. See a few of the images of the Sisters at the Congress below, and on FSEVocations Facebook. Click on photos to enlarge and see captions.

ON THE ROAD TO INDIANAPOLIS (07-16-2024) - (Photo) The delegation of Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist attending the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis July 18-21 stand by the sculpture of Saint Clare of Assisi on the Franciscan campus in Meriden, Connecticut just a few days before leaving for Indianapolis. From left, the Sisters and their centers are Sister Angela Marie Castellani, Bridal Veil, Oregon; Sister Mary Mercy Lee, Meriden; Sister Anna Rose Kalinowski and Sister Collette Maritim, Lowell, Michigan; Sister Christianna Hamman, Lewiston, Maine; Sister Marie Benedict Elliott, Falls Church, Virginia; Sister Amaris Salata, Meriden; Sister Grace Marie Horan, Falls Church; and Sister Faith Marie Woolsey, Meriden. During the past year, Sister Marie Benedict Elliott has been working on a communications committee for the National Eucharistic Revival office. She is looking forward to the event in Indianapolis: "It has been a privilege to serve on the Heart of the Revival Newsletter editorial team. I look forward to seeing the Lord at work in this gathering and to hearing the stories of those participating. We also appreciate the support of those in union of prayer at home." Sister Grace Marie Horan enthusiastically commented, "As Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, this is a blessed opportunity to witness to our love for Jesus in the Eucharist, in union with Catholics from around the nation. We hope a revival of this love will affect every aspect of our lives as Catholics trying to bring God’s love to every person and situation we meet, since all our activity flows from this center of Eucharistic love and devotion." Sister Anna Rose Kalinowski served on the Eucharistic Revival Committee for the Diocese [...]

Crests of Archdiocese of Hartford, Diocese of Portland and Diocese of Burlington MERIDEN, CT (07-16-2024) - The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist join the faithful of three New England dioceses in welcoming their new bishops. The Motherhouse Community welcomed the Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne as the new Archbishop of Hartford. As Co-adjutor, Archbishop Coyne became the Chief Shepherd upon Pope Francis' acceptance of Archbishop Leonard Blair's resignation on May 1, 2024. Several Sisters attended the Mass of Welcome on October 9, 2023 and the Archbishop's Inaugural mass at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Hartford, on May 5. The Diocese of Portland in Maine welcomed its new bishop on May 7 as Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley, O.F.M. Cap. ordained Bishop-elect James Thomas Ruggieri as the 13th Bishop. The new bishop was a priest of the Diocese of Providence. Mother Miriam Seiferman, FSE, Mother General, and Mother Barbara Johnson, FSE, Vicar General, attended the Mass of ordination and installation, representing the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist Community in Lewiston, as well as the entire congregation. The Franciscan Sisters began their ministry in the Portland Diocese in 2021 at the invitation of Bishop Robert Deeley. On May 6, Pope Francis appointed Monsignor John J. McDermott as Bishop of Burlington. Since the appointment of former Burlington Bishop Christopher Coyne as Co-adjutor of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Monsignor McDermott has served as the Burlington Diocesan Administrator. The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist have worked closely with Monsignor McDermott in their ministry at the Catholic Center at the University of Vermont-Burlington. The bishop-elect was ordained and installed as the 11th Bishop of Burlington on July 15 [...]