Sister Michaela Serpa, FSE and Sister Faith Marie Woolsey, FSE recently completed studies for Masters degrees in Theology at Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Sister Michaela earned a Master of Arts degree in Theology with a concentration in Bioethics. This degree adds a theological perspective to her professional training as a doctor of pharmacy. Sister Michaela serves as a pharmacy supervisor at Yale-New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. She received her doctoral degree from Idaho State University. Sister Faith Marie's Masters degree is in General Theology. She works as a physical therapist at Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care in Meriden, Connecticut. She earned a doctorate in physical therapy from Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a way of forming Sisters holistically to meet with a faith perspective, the challenges presented in their various professions, it is a common practice in the Community that Sisters study theology to complement their professional degrees. Congratulations, to our 2020 graduates!

As we all join together in experiencing a most unusual Holy Week and Easter, we assure our many friends that we maintain a spiritual closeness to you through our prayers for you. We unite with Pope Francis in his prayer and concern for the whole world and we hold in our hearts the intentions of our loved ones. May the joy of Easter be our bond of union as we celebrate Christ's Resurrection, the most miraculous event of all time. In the words of St. Francis of Assisi: May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He show His Face to you and be merciful to you. May He turn His Countenance to you and give you peace. The Lord bless you! Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist Meriden, Connecticut Bridal Veil, Oregon Lowell, Michigan Pocatello, Idaho Falls Church, Virginia Boynton Beach, Florida Burlington, Vermont Durham, North Carolina Vancouver, British Columbia Assisi, Italy Rome, Italy Jerusalem

The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist join our Holy Father Pope Francis in prayer today on the Solemnity of the Annunciation for all those affected by the coronavirus. Pope Francis' prayer: “As trustful children we turn to the Father. We do it every day, several times a day; but right now we wish to beg mercy for mankind, so sorely tried by the coronavirus pandemic. And we do this together, Christians of every Church and Community, of every tradition, of every age, language and nation. We pray for the sick and their families; for health workers and those who help them; for the authorities, law enforcement agencies and volunteers; for the ministers of our communities. Today many of us celebrate the Incarnation of the Word in the womb of the Virgin Mary, when her humble and total “Behold” reflected the “Behold” of the Son of God. We too entrust ourselves, with full confidence, to the hands of God, and with one heart and one soul we pray: "Our Father..."

May you all have a joyful, inspiring and loving Christmas season! The Community offers prayer in gratitude for you, our families, friends and collaborators, and the blessings you have bestowed upon us through your relationship.

HARTFORD, CT (10-06-2019) - Sister Patricia Glass, FSE was honored during the Annual Archdiocese of Hartford Respect Life Mass on October 6, 2019, at the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford. Archbishop Leonard P. Blair bestowed the Saint Gianna Beretta Molla Pro-Life Award on Sister Patricia and three other pro-life advocates who were selected for the award for their exemplary dedication to the Church's teachings on the dignity of human life. In his homily, Archbishop Blair gratefully acknowledged the efforts of all the pro-life advocates present for the Mass as the Church faces unprecedented opposition to the teachings expressed by St. John Paul II in Gospel of Life. The Archbishop presented recent examples of violence and disregard for the dignity of human life in the United States, and urged the congregation to continue to witness to respect for life. Sister Patricia was recognized for her volunteer service to the Pro-Life Ministry of the Archdiocese. For over 15 years, she has handled numerous unseen tasks for the Ministry's events. For the March for Life to Washington, D.C. in January, she is out in the parking lot at 5:00 a.m. in the dark directing traffic with her team of parkers, as 200 people arrive to board the buses for the trip to Washington, D.C.; at the hotel in Washington, D.C. she opens up her well-prepared sacristy suitcase to set up the altar for the Archbishop's Mass and ensures everything is ready for the priests and the over 200 people who attend the Mass; for the annual Respect Life Mass she packs a van with boxes of candles for distribution at the Mass and drives the load to the Cathedral. Former [...]

MERIDEN, CT (07-07-2019) - During the annual July meeting of the perpetually professed Sisters, the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist honored ten Sisters on their 70th, 60th and 50th anniversaries of vows. During the Eucharistic liturgy, celebrated by the Very Reverend Douglas Mosey, CSB, the Sisters renewed their vows and received blessings from Mother Miriam Seiferman, Mother General; Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Co-foundress; and Father Mosey in the name of the Church. The Community sang the Blessing of St. Francis for the jubilarians. The honored Sisters are Sister Bernice Blaha, 70 years; Sister Patricia Glass, 60 years; Sister Mary Roberta Connors, Sister Judith Gebelein, Sister Barbara Johnson, Sister Mary Anne Linder, Sister Mary Richards, Sister Maria Sena, Sister Janet Siepker and Sister Ann Frances Thompson, 50 years.

The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist and Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist hosted the seminarians of the Diocese of Bridgeport for a week-long retreat at the motherhouse in Meriden, CT. Father Connaughton, Vocation Director of Bridgeport, was with the seminarians throughout the week. True to Franciscan spirituality the retreat incorporated prayer and work on the land as a way to build bonds of community with each other and with God. Work projects included care and maintenance of homes for the elderly, clearing brush and fallen trees, and helping with loading hay bales from the hay fields to the storage barns. This time of physical labor and care for creation are expressions of Franciscan spirituality that transform mere toil into co-operation with the Creator. Prayer gave rhythm and structure to the retreat as the seminarians joined the Franciscan communities for daily Mass and liturgy of the hours. They also spent time in prayer and reflection as a peer group, building relationships that will carry into their priestly formation. The Sisters enjoyed sharing dinner with the seminarians at the end of each day. Sharing a meal also allowed them to share about each other’s lives and vocation stories. For many it was a continuation of the friendships begun during last year’s retreat. The Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport, celebrated Mass on the last day of retreat in gratitude for the physical, spiritual, and interpersonal works that were accomplished, and for continued collaboration between the priesthood and religious life.

MERIDEN, CT (06-23-2019) - The Solemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ focused on two sacred events for the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. A Mass in commemoration of the third death anniversary of Mother Rosemae Pender, FSE, Mother Foundress, was celebrated by the Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, S.T.D., Archbishop of Hartford, at the John Lateran Center of Formation. Following the Mass, the Blessing of the renovated original structure and the 13-bedroom new addition of the John Lateran Center marked an historic day of completion for this years-long building project which was funded entirely by donations. Approximately 240 guests attended the outside event which was graced by a sun-filled, cloudless blue sky and a gentle breeze. Concelebrating the Mass with Archbishop Blair were Bishop Christopher Coyne, Bishop of Burlington; Very Reverend Douglas Mosey, CSB, Very Reverend Kevin Meehan, LC, Reverend Raymond Borkowski, OFM Conv., Reverend Christopher O'Connor, LC, Reverend Lawrence Symolon and Reverend Robert Landback. Deacons Donald Philip and Vincent Raby assisted, and Reverend Matthew Gworek and Brother Leo Maneri, FBE were Masters of Ceremonies. At the beginning of the ceremony, Mother Miriam Seiferman, FSE, Mother General, welcomed everyone. Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE, Mother Co-foundress, then explained that Mother Rosemae's love of the Church was depicted in her choice of a feast day, the Dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. Known as the "Mother of all the churches," the Basilica symbolizes the universal Church centered in Rome. Years ago, the Sisters chose the name of the motherhouse, now the formation center, to be "John Lateran." The two sacred events of Mother Rosemae's death anniversary and the blessing of the John Lateran Center come together in [...]

The Franciscan Sisters proudly introduce our 2019 graduates! Sister Paul Mary Dreger, FSE Sister Paul Mary Dreger, FSE received a Master of Arts in Theology, Magna cum laude, with a concentration in Sacred Scripture from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, Connecticut, through the distance learning program. Sister Paul Mary lives in the Pocatello, Idaho, center and is the director of the Early Learning Foundations program (ELF), as well as the before and after school program and summer program, at Holy Spirit Catholic School, Pocatello. Sister Christianna Hamman, FSE and Sister John Frances La Fever, FSE Sister Christianna Hamann, FSE also earned a Masters of Arts in Theology from Holy Apostles College and Seminary. Her concentration was Apologetics. Sister Christianna is a teacher at Rice High School in Burlington, Vermont. Sister John Frances La Fever, FSE graduated from Central Connecticut State University with a Masters in Business Administration. Sister John Frances is a receptionist at Franciscan Life Center, Meriden, Connecticut. She lives with her fellow formation Sisters at the John Lateran Center of Formation. Congratulations to our talented Sisters!

Easter Sunday - Miracles