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

Holy Saturday - Night

Good Friday - "No law"

Holy Thursday - Body Given

Wednesday - Day of Aloneness

Tuesday - Compulsion to Completion