POCATELLO, ID - Sister Janice Otis, FSE, a founding member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, entered eternal life the afternoon of February 12, 2019, after a series of health issues over the past months. Her Sisters of the Family Life Center, Pocatello, were praying with her as she died. Sister Janice, with Sister Mona Brunner, founded the Family Life Center on Truckerville Road in 1975. Sister Janice was known throughout the region for her involvements in both civic and religious organizations. Sister Janice was born in Spokane, Washington, on January 24, 1935, to Marie and Philip Otis. As a youth, she enjoyed swimming, ice skating and softball, and was an avid reader. She started piano lessons in the third grade and played organ during high school. Her music skills continued throughout her life as she obtained a Bachelor of Music Education from Viterbo College, and taught music in Wausau, Wisconsin; Spokane; Blackfoot and Pocatello, Idaho. In 1956 Sister Janice entered the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, Wisconsin, professing first vows in 1955 and final vows in 1961. Her religious name was Sister Cecil. When the option was given for Sisters to return to their baptismal names, she did so. Sister Janice chose to become a founding member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist from the order's beginning in 1973. She lived in southeast Idaho since 1970 where she served her Community in various capacities: from 1970-1974, she was a Migrant Religious Education Teacher for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Boise and set up religious education for migrant children in labor camps and towns from 1974-1976, she tutored migrant children in elementary schools [...]

JERUSALEM (02-05-2019) - Cardinal Edwin O'Brien, Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, bestowed the Order's Cross of Merit of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem on Sister Monica Navalta, FSE at a ceremony held at the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem. In receiving the Cross of Merit, Sister Monica is recognized as a "person of unquestionable moral conduct who has served the Church and has shown great charity and love for the Holy Land" according to the Order's website. Sister Monica serves in the English section of the Latin Patriarchate in Jerusalem and has frequent contact with issues related to the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher. She assisted in organizing the pilgrimage of the Order's Rome staff who were present for the ceremony. Sister Monica also ministers to the large number of migrants who live in the Holy Land. Her Franciscan Sisters in the FSE Jerusalem Center report that Sister Monica is receiving calls and messages from all over the world congratulating her on the auspicious award. The Cross of Merit comprises three crosses: a large one worn around the neck, a smaller cross pin on a long ribbon, and a small lapel pin. The Governor General, Ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Madrone, assisted Cardinal O'Brien in draping the large cross around Sister's neck. The ceremony was strategically planned as a complete surprise to Sister Monica who characteristically prefers to stay in the background and carry on her mission without notice. Congratulations, Sister Monica, for this well deserved award! Click on photos to enlarge.

PANAMA - Sister Frances Zajac, FSE and Sister Sophia Peters, FSE send greetings from World Youth Day in Panama! The Sisters, along with priest-chaplain, Father Glen Dmytryszyn, Parochial Vicar of St. John Bosco Parish, Branford, Connecticut, and nine young adults from Connecticut and Michigan left the Franciscan Motherhouse in Meriden on Wednesday, Jan. 23 for their flights to Panama City. The theme of the 34th World Youth Day 2019 is, “I am the servant of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Lk 1:38). The Franciscan Sisters' group is being hosted by Sister Sophia's cousin and his family (see photo above). The Sisters report that they have received a warm welcome, are being well-fed and enjoying the local culture. On Thursday they joined the 200,000 other young people for the Welcoming Ceremony with Pope Francis. A highlight of the days ahead will be the Saturday overnight prayer vigil followed by the closing Mass with Pope Francis on Sunday.

The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist wish you a Very Blessed Christmas and a New Year of Hope and Joy!

The Sisters at the Family Life Center in Pocatello, Idaho offered an Advent Retreat entitled Mary Waits on the feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8.  In her presentation, Sister Mary Colman Pyle drew parallel feelings of activities in the retreatants' lives with those feelings Mary possibly would have felt in the involvements she and those around her had experienced. Accompanying the presentation were pictures of famous paintings of the events of Mary’s life. In the afternoon Sister Mary Matthew Morrisroe presented on the Advent mystery of waiting. The question "why does God call us to wait for so many things  in life?" was explored through quotes from Scripture and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. A time of meditation in front of the Blessed Sacrament and small group discussions provided the participants time to reflect on their experiences of waiting, and the opportunities that they have to grow in patience, hope, faith and love through "having to wait" both in joyful and sorrowful times in our lives. Waiting provides a time to grow in holiness! The Sisters at Family Life Center, Pocatello, Idaho discuss Advent themes with retreatants.

Sister Amaris professes the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience in the presence of witnesses Sister Sophia Peters and Sister Maria Sena (far right). Brother Leo Maneri, FBE assisted with the microphone. The newly professed Sister Amaris receives the blessing of St. Francis in song from the Community. MERIDEN, CT (11-25-2018)  On the Solemnity of Christ the King, Sister Amaris Salata professed her first vows into the hands of Mother Miriam Seiferman, FSE, Mother General. Sister Amaris has been a novice for the past two years at the John Lateran House of Formation. Growing up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and through her college years, Sister Amaris was a participant in pro-life activities. She is now the Assistant Program Coordinator for Pro-Life Ministry for the Archdiocese of Hartford. Sister Amaris has had an active career as a certified public accountant and is currently pursuing a master's degree in marriage and family therapy. In professing the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience for three years, Sister Amaris commits to community living according to the Constitution of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. To symbolize this commitment, Sister Amaris received a cincture with three knots, representing the vows. She also received the insignia of the Community, a medal made of square nails in the form of a cross held by a circular wire, signifying the vertical and horizontal dimensions of Community life, prayer and apostolic outreach, held by the Eucharist as the center of religious life. The Community sang the blessing of St. Francis to conclude the vow ceremony held during the Mass.

Sister Therese Gutting, FSE, Head of School, works with Cyrus and Kellan in the Atrium of the Franciscan Montessori Earth School, the space where the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program is carried out. PORTLAND, OR (11-16-2018) Congratulations to our Franciscan Montessori Earth School in Portland, Oregon! For the past three years the Franciscan Montessori Earth School has been working hard to earn accreditation by the Western Catholic Educational Association. On November 16 they were granted a six-year accreditation. The Western Catholic Educational Association is a private educational accrediting agency for Catholic elementary and secondary schools in ten western United States and the US Territory of Guam. The WCEA is responsible for recognizing schools that exhibit excellence in Catholic education. Schools striving to receive accreditation must demonstrate Catholic identity, strong organization, sound curriculum and instruction, and resources and support services. It takes a whole school community to create a positive environment for Catholic education. Each staff member, student and parent has been instrumental in making this dream a reality. Sister Therese Gutting, FSE, Head of School, had this to say, "We thank all of our community for your support during this process, and look forward to sharing with you even more ways that our school not only is acknowledged for its achievements, but for being 'Remarkably Different.'" The recognition of its programs, staff, students, and outstanding parent community certifies the Franciscan Montessori Earth School as a Catholic Montessori School based on the standards of the WCEA. Sister Therese spoke about the spirit of the "remarkably different" school, "From its beginnings in 1977, the Franciscan Montessori Earth School has represented a unique opportunity for families from all walks of [...]

BOISE, IDAHO - On the occasion of the canonization of Saint Pope Paul VI and the 50th anniversary of the publication of Humanae Vitae, the Diocese of Boise held a "Growing a Culture of Life Symposium" on October 19-20, 2018. The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, Pocatello, were involved in the planning of the symposium and led Morning Prayer on the second day of the conference. Sister John Mary Sullivan, FSE, of Vancouver, BC, presented the first talk on Saturday morning to the conference participants. Her topic, "Made in the Image of Love: A Biblical Understanding of the Human Person," was "an overview of some of the key Scripture passages that reveal to us an understanding of the dignity of the human person, made in the image and likeness of God who is Love." Sister John Mary is a Life, Marriage and Family Program Specialist for the Archdiocese of Vancouver. Franciscan Apprentices (lay associates of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist) presented breakout sessions on Saturday afternoon. Ruth Hayes-Barba, a therapist and marriage and family life educator, Portland, Oregon, spoke on "Humanae Vitae through the Life Cycle: Clinical and Pastoral Perspectives." David and Wendy Behrend of Boise, educators and parents, presented "Blessings from Humanae Vitae." Jay Wonacott, Director of the Marriage and Family Life Office for the Diocese of Boise, and Sister John Mary at the conference.

Sister Barbara Johnson, FSE and Sister Mary Richards, FSE greet Bishop Betancourt. MERIDEN, CT  (10-18-2018) - The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist welcomed the new Auxiliary Bishop of Hartford at a reception following the Ordination Mass in the Cathedral of St. Joseph in Hartford on the feast of St. Luke the Evangelist. Pope Francis appointed Father Juan Miguel Betancourt, SEMV of the Archdiocese of St. Paul as auxiliary bishop on September 18, 2018. The Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop of Hartford, ordained the new bishop during a festive Mass. Seven Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist were invited to join the Cathedral Schola for the occasion.

ROME  (10-14-2018) - As an entire Community, the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist rejoice today in the historic canonization of Pope Paul VI during whose papacy and with his approbation the Community was founded. A representative group of Sisters was present at the canonization ceremony and Mass in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Thousands of people from all over the world gathered under sunny skies to pray and to celebrate Pope Paul VI and six other new saints: Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador; two priests, Francesco Spinelli and Vincenzo Romano; two women religious who founded religious orders, Maria Catherine Kasper and Nazaria Ignazia of Saint Teresa of Jesus; and Nuncio Sulprizio who died at the age of nineteen in Italy. The teachings of Pope Paul VI not only guided the founding of the Community but continued to underlie its growth and approach to mission. His encyclical, Populorum progressio (On the Development of Peoples) has inspired the Sisters in their apostolic outreaches to believe in the potential of each individual to become the person God has called each to be, "In God's plan, every man is born to seek self-fulfillment, for every human life is called to some task by God. At birth a human being possesses certain aptitudes and abilities in germinal form, and these qualities are to be cultivated so that they may bear fruit" (par. 15). Pope Paul VI spoke clearly in his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Nuntiandi (On Evangelization), words that ring true with the Sisters in their efforts to be a corporate "wordless witness," whose very presence speaks to others of hope and faith. Frequently the Community reflects on the challenge of par. 21: "Above all the Gospel must [...]