In union of prayer with the entire Church, the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist acknowledge with gratitude the tremendous gift Pope Benedict XVI was to the Church. His clarity of thought, his ability to express deep theological truths in simple and creative language, his steadfast faith and leadership, his fatherly care  and his prayerful presence were only a few of the gifts he shared for the life of the Church. Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE, Co-foundress, and the Rome Community - Sister Raffaella Petrini, Sister Judith Zoebelein and Sister Grace Marie Horan - are representing the Franciscan Community at the funeral of Pope Benedict XVI in Rome. The entire Community joins them in spirit to pray for beloved Pope Benedict XVI. In early 2005, the then-Cardinal Ratzinger had agreed graciously to present a spiritual conference for the Community's retreat preceding the General Chapter in July of that year. In April the anticipated conference speaker was elected as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI. Having to cancel his appearance at the retreat due to his new responsibilities, Pope Benedict XVI instead invited the Community to visit him. From left, Mother Miriam Seiferman, Vicar General, Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Mother General, and Mother Rosemae Pender, Mother Foundress, met with Pope Benedict on September 17, 2005, at his invitation, following the Community's General Chapter in July.

The entire Community of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist wishes you a joyful and blessed Christmas Season! May St. Francis of Assisi who called Christmas the "feasts of all feasts" be your inspiration to celebrate with joy and festivity the greatest miracle of human history, God becoming man! We pray for all of our families, friends, collaborators and viewers that your hearts may be lifted up by the hope of the Incarnation. Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist Meriden, Connecticut Motherhouse Community Assisi, Italy Boynton Beach, Florida Bridal Veil, Oregon Burlington, Vermont Durham, North Carolina Falls Church, Virginia Jerusalem Lewiston, Maine Lowell, Michigan Pocatello, Idaho Rome, Italy Vancouver, British Columbia

MERIDEN, CT (12-23-2022) - The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist happily invite you to visit our newly-published website, Praise Be To You. The site was developed as part of a generous grant from the Sisters of St. Francis Sacred Heart Charitable Fund, Denver. The focus of the site, the Praise Be To You! Educating for Laudato Si' Initiative, is to share the Franciscan value of respect for all life and for creation in union with Pope Francis' encyclical, Laudato Si' (Praise be to You), On Care for Our Common Home. Caring for creation - land, animals, plants - has been a significant part of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist community life since our beginning. On the website, we share not only four main pillars that underlie our care for creation but also simple, practical educational modules to use with children and adults.

The O Antiphons introduce the Magnificat at Vespers (Evening Prayer) each evening from December 17-23. The images used are from the Old Testament and are seen as "heralds" of the coming of Christ. Each antiphon is a plea for Christ to come and bring salvation to the world. The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist are praying each day of the O Antiphons for the most pressing and serious crises affecting the Church and the world. We unite our prayer with the Holy Father, Pope Francis, who constantly prays for healing, peace and fraternity for all nations. O Wisdom December 17 O Wisdom, O holy Word of God, you govern all creation with your strong yet tender care. Come and show your people the way to salvation. O Adonai December 18 O sacred Lord of ancient Israel, who showed yourself to Moses in the burning bush, who gave him the holy law on Sinai mountain: come, stretch out your mighty hand to set us free. O Flower of Jesse's Stem December 19 O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have been raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before you. Come, let nothing keep you from coming to our aid. O Key of David December 20 O Key of David, O royal Power of Israel controlling at your will the gate of Heaven: Come, break down the prison walls of death for those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death; and lead your captive people into freedom. O [...]

ROME (12-03-2022) - Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE, Secretary General of the Governorate of Vatican City State, presented a reflection at the traditional Vatican ceremony of the lighting of the Christmas tree and presentation of the creche. The ceremony was held in Paul VI audience hall. The large tree and creche made of wood are displayed in the center of St. Peter's Square for the public's viewing throughout the Christmas season. Sister Raffaella spoke about St. Francis of Assisi's love of the feast of Christmas, as he called it the "Feast of all feasts." The entire reflection is below. The ceremony of the Inauguration of the Nativity scene and the lighting of the tree can be viewed on the Vatican YouTube channel. Sister Raffaella's reflection:

Sister Anne Therese Yuen pronounces vows of chastity, poverty and obedience in the presence of Mother Miriam Seiferman, Sister Maria Sena and Sister Renee Marek. Brother Leo Maneri, FBE assists with the microphone. MERIDEN, CT (11-24-2022) - Sister Anne Therese Yuen professed first vows in a ceremony during Mass on Thanksgiving Day. Mother Miriam Seiferman, FSE, Mother General, received Sister's vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, affirming her readiness to enter the joys and challenges of vowed life in community. Mother Barbara Johnson, FSE, Vicar General, bestowed the medal of nails in the form of a cross upon Sister Anne Therese and clothed her with the traditional cincture with three knots representing the vows. Sister Maria Sena, FSE, and Sister Renee Marek, FSE were the witnesses. The Reverend Lawrence Symolon of the Archdiocese of Hartford, celebrant of the Mass, blessed the newly professed Sister in the name of the Church and signed the official documents as the Church representative. Click on photos to enlarge and see captions.

From left, Mother Barbara Johnson, FSE, Vicar General; Karin Siobhan Pasquale, Mother Miriam Seiferman, FSE, Mother General; and Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE, Mother Co-foundress. MERIDEN, CT (11-11-2022) - The Franciscan Motherhouse Community of Sisters, Brothers and Apprentices witnessed Mrs. Karin Pasquale of Watertown, Connecticut, make a life commitment to Apprenticeship at the Chapel of St. John on the evening of November 11, 2022. Karin's husband, Chris, and their children were present for the ceremony. Franciscan Apprenticeship is a life dedication of lay Catholics to live Franciscan spirituality in relationship with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. Franciscan Apprentices witness to Franciscan values in the secular world as they live out the teachings of the Catholic Church in their prayer, family life and professional life. They extend the mission of the Franciscan Sisters as lay men and women. Karin's dedication as a wife, mother and teacher of a growing family is her primary focus, now enhanced by her embrace of Franciscan spirituality. She has a faithful devotion to the Blessed Virgin and strives to imitate Mary's maternal care in her daily life as mother. Karin's commitment fittingly took place on Veterans Day which is also the memorial of St. Martin of Tours, a soldier in his younger years. Karin, also a soldier and veteran, graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and served as an officer in the U.S. Army. During the commitment ceremony, the new Apprentice receives an additional name expressive of her mission. In light of her Irish heritage, her womanly spirit of fortitude and drive as a leader, Karin's Apprentice name is Siobhan, which is Irish for Joan in honor of [...]

MERIDEN/CHESHIRE, CT (10-09-2022) - The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in collaboration with the Cheshire Police Department hosted a neighborhood social hour and prayer vigil at the Franciscan Life Center campus on the National Faith & Blue Weekend. Faith & Blue is a national organization dedicated to facilitating positive relationships among law enforcement professionals and local residents, businesses and community groups through the connections of faith-based organizations. Sister Barbara Johnson, FSE, Executive Director of Franciscan Life Center worked with Chief of Police Neil Dryfe, Sergeant Tracy Gonzalez and Officer Alex Wells to plan the event. The participants visited on the patio of the Chapel of St. John while enjoying beverages and chocolate chip cookies made by the Sisters. The group then moved to the chapel for the prayer service. Sister Barbara welcomed everyone and extended the Community's gratitude to the Cheshire Police Department for their faithful service. She introduced Chief Dryfe who spoke of the importance of the Faith & Blue initiative and his appreciation of the local community for their support. The service included patriotic hymns, Scripture readings and prayers of intercession. The Sisters sang the Blessing of St. Francis for all present and in particular for the police force. All sang God Bless America to conclude the prayer hour. Click on photos to enlarge.

BRIDAL VEIL, OR (09-28-2022) - The Most Reverend Alexander K. Sample, Archbishop of Portland, anointed the new altar at the St. Michael Chapel of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist in Bridal Veil on September 18, 2022. The sacred ritual of anointing sets aside the structure for one purpose, the celebration of the Sacrament of the Eucharist. The anointed item is no longer a piece of furniture but a sacred table to be reverenced and respected. The ceremony of anointing included the Archbishop's pouring of chrism on the altar and rubbing it over the entire surface of the altar top. He then set a brazier on the altar for burning incense. As the incense rose up, the Archbishop used a censer to incense the altar from all sides. The altar cloths were then placed on the altar by Mother Miriam Seiferman and Sister Mary Margaret Delaski, followed by the candles, and sacred items for the Mass. The Franciscan Sisters of Bridal Veil were honored by the presence of Mother Miriam Seiferman, FSE, Mother General, for the occasion. Those who had been a part of the process of the altar's creation - from the cutting of the cherry trees near the house, to the milling, air drying, kiln drying, and sanding of the wood, to designing and final fabrication - were in attendance. The wood for the altar came from the Sisters' land. In 2018, the roots of five cherry trees were endangering a retaining wall and needed to be cut down. The cherry wood became the source for the altar as well as for other furnishings of the chapel. After a period of time of being somewhat abandoned [...]

MERIDEN, CT (08-23-2022) - Swiss Guard Lt. Urs Breitenmoser, himself a basketball player, was enthused when he met the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist at the Vatican and found out that their motherhouse is in Connecticut USA, the "Home of the Huskies." He is an ardent follower of UConn Coach Jim Calhoun and the Huskies team. Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Mother General at the time, and a good friend of the coach, shared Urs' interest with the coach, so on her next visit to Rome, she met with Urs and presented him a UConn jersey as a gift from Coach Calhoun. The Swiss Guard, in turn, sent a jersey of the Swiss Guards Basketball team back for Coach Calhoun. Urs faithfully followed the Huskies and watched as many games as he could through the seasons. This summer, Urs' hope of one day meeting the famous Connecticut coach, was fulfilled - again, through the friendship of Mother Shaun. "Jim was very happy to drive back to West Hartford from his vacation in Rhode Island early one day to meet Urs," Mother Shaun shared. They spent about an hour together, joined by Mother Shaun, Mother Miriam Seiferman and Sister Judith Zoebelein. The coach toured the group through the sports facilities and his office at the University of St. Joseph, West Hartford, where he is the men's head basketball coach. Mother Shaun and Urs holding their signed basketballs from Coach Jim Calhoun. The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist welcomed Urs, his wife Roseangela and daughters Sara and Matina to the motherhouse to meet the Community and to share an All-American dinner of hamburgers and hotdogs. "Our time together was very [...]