Holy Thursday - Body Given

Wednesday - Day of Aloneness

Tuesday - Compulsion to Completion

Extravagant Monday

Palm Sunday - Procession

MERIDEN, CT (04-12-2019) - We, Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, invite you to follow Christ with us through Holy Week as we share each day a short video about the theme of the day. Since 1978, our  Community throughout the world has celebrated Holy Week with a unique focus for each day, based on the event of Christ's Passion commemorated in the day's liturgy. As we strive for holiness, our human nature can pull us back in fear and hesitation, and at the same time, impel us forward in faith and conviction. We see the tension of those tendencies in us during Holy Week as we strive to follow Christ in his Passion, Death and Resurrection. Let us pray together for the Church and for one another that this week will truly be a Holy Week. Commitment Saturday You might want to hear how Father Mike Schmitz of the Diocese of Duluth, a friend of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, describes the Community's unique approach to Holy Week in his video, Praying Through Holy Week. The introduction states, "Find out how the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist from Duluth pray during Holy Week, and maybe discover something you can use in your prayer life as we walk with Jesus from his entry into Jerusalem, to Calvary and the Resurrection. The unique prayer commitment Fr. Mike suggests in this video follows Jesus through all of his experiences—from suffering to celebration—in this the holiest week of the year."

MERIDEN, CT (03-28-2019) - Late winter-early spring means pruning time for the Sisters who care for the Homestead Orchard at the motherhouse. Sister Francesca Silver had a helper as she went about her work. Sister Faith Marie Woolsey caught these photos of the favorite four-legged volunteer named Emmie-Sunshine. The Homestead Orchard is dedicated to Mother Rita Brunner, FSE who managed the fruit trees at the Franciscan center in Lowell, Michigan, for many years. The Motherhouse Community looks forward to delicious apples, peaches, nectarines and pears, thanks to the diligent work of the Sisters who faithfully care for the orchard.

FALLS CHURCH, VA (03-27-2019) - In an article in the Arlington Catholic Herald, Sister Mary Timothy Prokes answers the question, "Why do you wear a habit?" See her answer. Sister Mary Timothy is a noted writer and theologian who has the unique gift of expressing deep theological principles in ways that are understandable to the "man on the street." More about Sister Mary Timothy.

LOWELL, MICHIGAN (03-21-2019) - Sister Damien Marie Savino, FSE, Ph.D. and Dr. Philip Sakimoto of the University of Notre Dame presented an engaging talk on"Banana Peels and Climate Change: A Daily Examen" at St. Robert of Newminster Parish, Ada, Michigan on March 21. Using principles expressed by Pope Francis in his encyclical Laudato si': Care for Our Common Home, the two scientists proposed a daily examen of the events of each day and how that might lead to practical steps to increase one's personal caring for creation. Dr. Sakimoto is an astrophysicist and and the former Acting Director of NASA’s Space Science Education and Public Outreach Program. Sister Damien Marie is the Dean of Science and Sustainability at Aquinas College. Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE, Mother Co-foundress, was a special guest at the presentation.

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 [...]