MERIDEN, CT (03-13-2022) - Marigold Rocero smiled delightedly when Mother Miriam Seiferman, FSE, Mother General, announced that Marigold's religious name would be Sister Josina Marie. At a private Community ceremony in the Chapel of St. John, Marigold was received into the novitiate of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist by Mother Miriam. As a sign of entering a life-changing choice and mission, it is customary for the new Sister to receive a religious name as well as the religious habit and veil of the Community. Mother Miriam shared that "Marie" expresses Sister's devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and alludes to her birth name, Marigold. "Josina" expresses qualities of St. Joseph reflected in Sister's life in Community - obedience, "behind the scenes" acts of charity, willingness to sacrifice for others without calling attention to herself. Mother Miriam explained that "Josina" also refers to Mother Josina Roth, the oldest Sister in the founding group who transferred to the newly-formed Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist from the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in 1973. Mother Josina had been the Assistant Mother General for 18 years and served many years as education supervisor in the former Community. Mother Miriam asked Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Co-foundress, to share more about Mother Josina for those who had not known her. Sister Josina Marie was born and raised in Ampayan Butuan City, Philippines, the daughter of Salvador and Myrna Rocero. She studied for two years at Southwestern University in Cebu City and completed her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Benedicto College in Mandaue City. She worked for four years at Daniel Mercado Medical Center in the hemodialysis and intensive care units. In 2011 [...]

Brother Leo Maneri, Franciscan Brother of the Eucharist, and Sister Patricia Glass, Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist, on Ash Wednesday 2010! They are still smiling and looking forward to a holy Lent in 2022! Pope Francis reminds us all of the meaning of receiving ashes on Ash Wednesday in his homily: The ashes bespeak the emptiness hiding behind the frenetic quest for worldly rewards. They remind us that worldliness is like the dust that is carried away by a slight gust of wind. Sisters and brothers, we are not in this world to chase the wind; our hearts thirst for eternity. Lent is the time granted us by the Lord to be renewed, to nurture our interior life and to journey towards Easter, towards the things that do not pass away, towards the reward we are to receive from the Father. Lent is also a journey of healing. Not to be changed overnight, but to live each day with a renewed spirit, a different “style”. Prayer, charity and fasting are aids to this. Purified by the Lenten ashes, purified of the hypocrisy of appearances, they become even more powerful and restore us to a living relationship with God, our brothers and sisters, and ourselves. - Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis, Ash Wednesday, March 2, 2022, Basilica of Santa Sabina, read by Cardinal Parolin Also for our reflection is the prayer intention of Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE, Co-foundress, for Lent: "May our interior journey of Lent bring a deeper relationship to Christ and an increase of love and peace in our world."

The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist wish you all a very blessed Christmas Season! May Christ, born of Mary and now present in the Eucharist throughout the world, be your source of strength, your hope during trials and your constant joy!

ROME (12-10-2021) - The traditional lighting of the Christmas tree in St. Peter's Square and the blessing of the Nativity scene was held on December 10 during an evening ceremony in the Vatican's audience hall. Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE, Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, gave the closing remarks, acknowledging the masterful artistic work of the Peruvian artists who created the Nativity scene, and those who made it possible to erect the 91' spruce tree from Andalo, Italy, for this year's Vatican Christmas tree. The ceremony included colorful videos of children from the Huancavelica Region of Peru reenacting the nativity of Jesus in lively song and dance, and sending greetings to Pope Francis. A video from Andalo depicted the mountainous terrain of the region and breathtaking views of the town and surrounding areas. Sister Raffaella was appointed by Pope Francis on November 4 as Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State. It is a Vatican tradition that the officials of Vatican City State preside over the annual tree lighting ceremony. Click on photos to enlarge.

ROME (12-09-2021) - As Secretary General of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE, will preside with Archbishop Fernando Vergez Alzaga, President of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, over the traditional lighting of the Christmas tree and presentation of the Nativity scene in St. Peter's Square on December 10, at 5:00 p.m. Rome time. Sister Raffaella will present words of greeting during the ceremony. Delegations from the places of origin of the tree and the Nativity scene will be present. The tree comes from Andalo in northern Italy. The Nativity figures are from the Huancavelica Region of Peru. The display will remain in St. Peter's Square until the end of the Christmas season. Watch the ceremony on the Vatican YouTube channel.