MERIDEN, CT (12-01-2023) - Fifty years ago on December 2, 1973, the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist were established as a pontifical religious order of women by a decree of the Vatican's Sacred Congregation for Religious. The Sisters were formerly members of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The erection of the new Congregation on December 2, followed upon a meeting with the Sacred Congregation in Rome of the President and Vice President of the Franciscan Sisters of the Perpetual Adoration and three representatives of the group that was to become the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. Standing on the steps of St. Peter Basilica, Rome, on November 5, 1973, are, from left, Mother Ann Marie Kerper, former Mother General of FSPA; Mother Rita Brunner, former Provincial of FSPA Southern Province; and Mother Rosemae Pender, of FSPA Provisional Province, former Council Member, formation director, and leader of the experiment in Religious Life that resulted in the formation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. Mother Rosemae Pender, was appointed Superior General of the new Congregation by the Vatican. Her assistants were Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Mother Rita Brunner and Mother Mary Ann Schmitz. The new Community numbered 55 Sisters. Mother Rosemae Pender, FSE, (right), Superior General and Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE Mother Rita Brunner, FSE and Mother Mary Ann Schmitz, FSE Our Mothers General and Vicars General 1973-1981 Mother Rosemae and her three assistants, known as the Transformation Team, guided the Community during the founding years until the Constitutions were written and approved by the Vatican [...]

MERIDEN, CT (10-07-2023) - On the memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary, the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist gathered in the Chapel of St. John for a private ceremony of reception into novitiate of Marie Tessier. During the past two years as a pre-postulant and a postulant, Marie has lived with the Community in the initial formation house in Meriden. Marie read her letter of request to enter novitiate to which Mother Miriam Seiferman, Mother General, responded with a joyful "Yes" and reflected on the beauty and humble spirit of Marie's request to be formed toward a spousal relationship with Christ within Community. After blessing the habit, veil and cincture, Mother Miriam presented them to Mother Barbara Johnson, Vicar General, to assist in clothing Marie. Upon re-entering the chapel, dressed in the new habit, Marie shared what the postulant medal meant to her during the past year. She experienced wearing the medal as a connection with the heritage of the Community and in particular, with Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Co-foundress. Marie expressed her desire to be a part of carrying forth the Community's Franciscan, Eucharistic heritage into the future. Mother Miriam then presented Marie with her new religious name, Sister Marie Emmanuel. "Emmanuel" meaning "God with us" will be a reminder to the new Sister of God's presence with her and as a religious, of her vocation to be a God-presence to others. Sister Marie Emmanuel received blessings from Mother Miriam, Mother Barbara and Mother Shaun, after which the FSE Community sang the Blessing of St. Francis for her. Sister Marie Emmanuel is the oldest of nine children of Carole and Robert Tessier of Warrenton, [...]

In preparation for perpetual vows on August 6, 2023, media-savvy Sister Jeanne d'Arc was asked to create a video of her vocation story. Enjoy and be inspired!

MERIDEN, CT (08-06-2023) - Sister Jeanne d'Arc Paquette professed perpetual vows during Mass on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the Chapel of St. John in the presence of clergy, family, friends and her Community of Franciscan Sisters and Brothers. Mother Miriam Seiferman, FSE, Mother General, received Sister's vows and welcomed her as a fully professed member of the Community. Celebrant for the solemn occasion was the Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop of Hartford, whose homily highlighted the glorious experience of Christ's apostles as He was transfigured before them. The Archbishop spoke about the call of consecrated women and men to witness to the glorious life of faith in the Church and in the world. Following her profession of vows, Sister Jeanne d'Arc received blessings from Mother Miriam, Mother Barbara Johnson, Vicar General, and Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Co-foundress. Archbishop Blair bestowed the blessing of the Church on the newly professed Sister and the ring symbolizing her life commitment to Christ and the Church through the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. Sister Jeanne d'Arc's parents, Michael and Patricia Paquette of Fredericksburg, Virginia, presented their daughter to the Community at the beginning of Mass. Her siblings, Adrienne, twin sister Anne Marie, Joseph and Grace and their families were also present. Patricia Paquette and Chaela Franck, on flute and harp respectively, filled the chapel with the musical beauty of Ave Maria as a communion meditation. Reverend Jeffrey Romans, pastor of St. Bridget of Sweden Parish, Cheshire, and Reverend Raymond Borkowski, OFM, Conv. of St. Paul Parish, Kensington, concelebrated. Deacon Donald Philip assisted. Reverend Michael Ruminski was the master of ceremonies. [...]

MERIDEN, CT (07-18-2023) - The General Chapter of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist announces the election of the Mother General, Vicar General and General Council to serve the Community for the next six years. The Chapter delegates gathered for the election the afternoon of July 17 following three days of prayerful retreat. Mother Miriam Seiferman was elected Mother General for a second term and Mother Barbara Johnson will serve as Vicar General, also for a second term. First Councilor is Sister Veronica Schueler; Second Councilor is Sister Mary Elizabeth Endee; Sister Raffaella Petrini and Sister Clare Hunter were elected as Third and Fourth Councilors, respectively. Mother Barbara, a licensed marriage and family therapist, is the Executive Director of the Franciscan Life Center, Meriden, and formator of novices and temporary professed Sisters. Sister Veronica, a member of the Bridal Veil, Oregon, center, and a lawyer by profession, is Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Portland. Sister Mary Elizabeth is Director and marriage and family therapist for the Franciscan Life Center as well as vocation director for the Community and director of pre-postulants. Sister Raffaella lives with the Rome Community and serves as the Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State. Sister Clare is Assistant Professor of Theology at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, Florida, where she lives in Community with her follow Franciscan Sisters who also work at the seminary.

MERIDEN, CT (06-16-2023) - The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart will be remembered by Cara Fusco as a special feast as she was received into the novitiate of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist on this day. In a private ceremony, Cara read her request to Mother Miriam Seiferman, Mother General, in the presence of the Franciscan Community, after which Mother Miriam's wise words of acceptance and affirmation echoed in the hearts of all present. The Reverend Christopher Murphy, Rector of Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Providence, Rhode Island, blessed the habit, veil and cincture with which Cara would be clothed. Mother Barbara Johnson, FSE, Vicar General, assisted Cara in exchanging her postulant tunic for the newly-blessed habit. Upon returning to the chapel, Mother Miriam announced that Cara would be given a religious name expressive of her openness to do God's will at every step of her formation. Her name is Sister Fiat Marie. "Fiat" was the response of the Virgin Mary to the angel's message that she had been chosen by God to be the mother of Christ: "Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum - let it be done to me according to your word." Mother Miriam pointed out that Sister Fiat Marie has shown this capacity of resilience and freedom in response to God's will, and with the Community's support, she will continue her formation in the same spirit. Sister Fiat Marie received blessings from Father Murphy, Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE Co-foundress, Mother Barbara and Mother Miriam. The Community sang the Blessing of Saint Francis as their affirmation. Sister Fiat Marie was raised in Foster, Rhode Island, on a small farm where she enjoyed [...]

Sister Carmina Rose Muscat, FSE receives her diploma from Very Reverend Peter Kucer, President-Rector of Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Photo courtesy of HACS. Sister Collette Maritim, FSE accepts her diploma and congratulations from Very Reverend Peter Kucer during the commencement ceremony in the Holy Apostles College chapel. Photo courtesy of HACS. MERIDEN, CT (05-06-2023) - The Franciscan Community congratulates two industrious Sisters on earning Masters degrees from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Sister Collette Maritim of the Lowell, Michigan center earned a Master of Pastoral Studies with a concentration in Pastoral Counseling. Sister Collette studied through the distance learning program offered by the college. She accomplished this while working full time as a nurse at a Grand Rapids hospital and serving the medical needs of her local Sisters, as well as participating in the many Community activities and events of the center. Sister Collette's studies in pastoral counseling build upon her Bachelor's degree in nursing which she obtained in 2018 from Central Connecticut State University. Sister Carmina Rose Muscat, a native of Connecticut, earned a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Connecticut. Her new Master's degree in Theology with a concentration in Scripture provides a solid foundation and theological perspective for her life in Community and her ministry as a physical therapist for Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care in Meriden. Sister Carmina Rose and Sister Collette both work in health care and witness daily to respect for the dignity of human life and the sacredness of care for those who are suffering. From left, Mother Barbara Johnson, FSE, Vicar General; Mother Miriam Seiferman, [...]

MERIDEN, CT (04-11-2023) - Holy Week at the motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist was beautiful, full and meaningful. Our liturgies contained the richness of the Church's traditions, the see-touch-smell realities of palms, walking in procession, bowing, kneeling, singing and reciting, incense arising, darkness and candle light, the blazing holy fire and the blessing of water, capped by grand Easter alleluias of voice, organ and trumpet. A hope-filled community of clergy, religious and lay faithful coming together in Eucharistic prayer, adoration and faith to celebrate the most profound mysteries of Christ's life. Each day's liturgy was introduced by brief presentations on aspects of Pope Francis' catechesis of February 15, 2023. The Holy Father spoke about "The passion of evangelizing - Why proclaim, What to proclaim and How to proclaim." The Community focused on "How to proclaim" - as lambs going out in the midst of wolves with simplicity, humility, innocence, dedication and tenderness. (See text at the bottom of this post.) The Community is grateful for Reverend George Nursey, Ph.D. of the Diocese of Orlando who celebrated the liturgies and whose homilies enriched the Community's experience each day. Father Nursey serves as the Dean of Pastoral Formation and Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary, Boynton Beach, Florida. We share a few photos of our wonderful Holy Week. May you have a joyful and blessed Easter Season! Click on photos to enlarge. [...]

MERIDEN, CT (04-02-2023) - This winter the Sisters at the motherhouse adopted a lamb that had been abandoned, and they became attached to Ruth right away. Ruth is helping the Community enter into Holy Week by being an example of “meekness, innocence, dedication, tenderness.” In these days leading up to Easter we are reflecting on Pope Francis’s address on February 15. The Holy Father exhorts us to live as apostles and missionaries who were sent as lambs among wolves. Ruth joined in the Palm Sunday procession and exemplified the qualities Pope Francis encourages us to develop. “[Jesus] says this: 'I send you out as sheep among wolves' (v. 16). He does not ask us to be able to face the wolves, that is, to be able to argue, to offer counter arguments, and to defend ourselves. No, no… Be humble. He asks us to be like this, to be meek and with the will to be innocent, to be disposed to sacrifice; this is what the lamb represents: meekness, innocence, dedication, tenderness.” Pope Francis

You are invited to join in this pilgrimage to the holy sites of Rome and Assisi. Click on image below to download and print the brochure.