LOWELL, MI (01-19-2018) Spending her entire religious life making people feel at home, Sister Zita Senzig, FSE, 90, entered her eternal home today with her Community around her. Sister Zita had gradually weakened and was prepared for God to call her to new life with the Holy Trinity. She told her Sisters that she was looking forward to seeing her friends and family once again in the heavenly household. Sister Zita entered religious life as a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration in 1949 and professed perpetual vows in 1958. In 1973 she became one of the founding members of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. She was trained as a homemaker and a nursing assistant, studying home economics at Viterbo College and receiving a Certificate as a Nursing Assistant from Clatsop Community College, Astoria, Oregon. Sister Zita was known by many as an expert in home cooking and was at home in the kitchen preparing meals with enthusiasm. She had a gift of conversation and a ready laugh both of which were appreciated by the elderly persons she visited on a regular basis as part of her mission to others. As a Eucharistic Minister, Sister brought the Blessed Sacrament to those who were unable to attend Mass. This special ministry of visiting and praying with others was warmly and joyfully received by lonely parishioners who became her friends. As a dedicated religious woman, Sister Zita served in La Crosse and Big River, Wisconsin; Roselle and West Bend, Iowa; Blackfoot, Idaho; Duluth, Minnesota; Juneau, Alaska; Shaw Island, Washington; Assisi, Italy; and Lowell, Michigan. In her 27 years in Assisi, Sister Zita became [...]

MERIDEN, CT (01-06-2018) The Motherhouse Community shared their musical talents in a concert held in the Chapel of St. John in celebration of the Solemnity of Epiphany. The event was held as a thank you gift for the employees, volunteers and friends of the Sisters' professional services. The program featured Christmas hymns selected from the musical heritage of the Community. Sister Bernardone Rock, FSE was conductor; Pat Riello and Sister Christianna Hamman, FSE were accompanists.

The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist wish you a Very Blessed Christmas and a New Year of Hope and Joy! As the Community continues to move forward in the spirit of our Foundresses, our Christmas card depicts the Nativity set brought from Rome to the Motherhouse by Mother Shaun, FSE, Co-Foundress, in 1975. The chimes in the background are dedicated to our Foundress, Mother Rosemae, FSE.

MERIDEN, CT - Sister Mary Elizabeth Endee, FSE, Vocation Director, attended a Vatican-sponsored conference in Rome focused on the theme of the upcoming 2018 Synod of Bishops, "Young people, faith and vocation discernment." The Vatican Congregation for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life organized the conference for Major Superiors and Vocation Animation Personnel on Vocational Ministry. The Conference was held in Rome from December 1 through December 3, 2107. Over 800 consecrated men and women from all over the world attended. The conference featured renowned speakers who spoke on trends apparent in young people and how the Church can address their concerns. Sister Mary Elizabeth shared her enthusiasm for the purpose of the gathering: "It was an exhilarating experience to meet so many religious from diverse cultures who have the same mission and desire – to bring youth into personal relationship with Christ."

MERIDEN, CT – December 2, 2017 marked the 44th anniversary of foundation for the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist as they commemorated the first Foundation Day on that date in 1973, the First Sunday of Advent. Each year the Sisters celebrate the historic event on the First Sunday of Advent and observe December 2 as a day of prayer and fasting. By decree of the Vatican’s then-named Sacred Congregation for Religious, the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist were established as a separate religious order in the Church, with pontifical status, pending the approval of a Constitution to be submitted in due time. The fifty-five Sisters who formed the founding group were members of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration. At midnight of December 2, they transitioned to being Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE, Co-foundress, lights the Advent wreath at the beginning of the Mass celebrating the 44th anniversary of the FSE Community. Father Douglas Mosey, CSB (right) blessed the wreath, assisted by Deacon Donald Philip. Franciscan Apprentices, Franciscan Brother and Sisters greet Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Co-foundress (center), after a Mass commemorating the 44th anniversary of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist’s founding.

MERIDEN, CT (11-19-2017) "Thousands enjoy Franciscan Life Center Christmas Fair" read the headline of the online Meriden Record-Journal story of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist's 26th annual Christmas Fair. People of all ages spread through the campus of the Franciscan Life Center, carrying their purchases of pottery, homemade breads, candles, cookies, jams and pickles, knitted items, grab bag surprises, garden tools, and a variety of gently used treasures found at the "Merry Miscellaneous" shop. Others take a break and enjoy hotdogs, fried dough, coffee or fresh cinnamon rolls. The highlight of the event each year is the Living Creche which takes place three times during the day. A procession of angels, shepherds and kings accompany Mary and Joseph with their newborn baby to the hay-lined manger where sheep and goats are grazing. Musicians lead the crowd in singing Christmas songs and the account of the birth of Jesus is read aloud. Santa makes an appearance, adoring the Christ Child and reminds those present that Jesus is the reason for the celebration of Christmas around the world. The Franciscan Christmas Fair has become an inter-Center event as Sisters from Pocatello, Idaho, Bridal Veil, Oregon, Lowell, Michigan, and Falls Church, Virginia come to lend their talents and well-honed skills in baking, organizing, sign-making and helping-wherever-needed spirit to the local Center. Lay volunteers this year traveled from Texas, Michigan, Virginia, Florida and New York to join the other 150 lay people who are heads of committees or volunteers for the day. [...]

MERIDEN, CT (10-08-2017) - Sister Michaela Serpa, FSE professed perpetual vows at a Mass on October 8 in the Chapel of St. John, the motherhouse chapel of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. The Most Reverend Peter F. Christensen, D.D., Bishop of Boise, celebrated the Mass. Concelebrants were the Very Reverend Douglas L. Mosey, C.S.B., Reverend Tom Coughlin, O.P. Miss., Reverend Andrew LaBudde, L.C., Reverend Christopher Mahar, Reverend Austin Phiri, Reverend Skip Thompson, M.S.A. and Reverend John Young, C.S.C. Sister Michaela is from Pocatello, Idaho. Her parents, John and Cristina Serpa are active members of the Catholic community of Pocatello. In his homily, Bishop Christensen spoke about the vocation to consecrated life and encouraged Sister Michaela to be confident in her capacity with God's help to be faithful to her vows, the Church and the Community, and to keep her predominant attitude of "I can do it!" at the forefront as she faces issues in her apostolate of fostering the dignity of human life through her mission as a pharmacist. Sister Michaela works in the Pharmacy Department of St. Raphael's Campus of Yale-New Haven Hospital. She earned a Doctor of Pharmacy from Idaho State University. Under the patronage of St. Michael the Archangel, and to further her education in the Catholic Church's teachings on human life, she is pursuing a Masters degree in Bioethics.    

BRIDAL VEIL, OREGON (09-25-2017) - About 9:00 p.m. on Labor Day evening, September 4, the Sisters in Bridal Veil, Oregon were asked by local authorities to evacuate their home in the Columbia River Gorge as the area was threatened by a rapidly spreading forest fire. The fire was moving westward from the Eagle Creek area where it started. The ten Sisters stayed overnight in a Portland motel and in the Franciscan Montessori Earth School which the Sisters operate. In the following days friends and families welcomed the Sisters into their homes. Grateful for the good news that the house had escaped the flames even as areas near the house were burned, the Sisters thanked the firefighters for their hard work, and thanked friends, colleagues, families and their Community members across the world for the urgent prayers offered for the Sisters' safety. They were allowed to return to Bridal Veil on September 16 and to begin the process of clean-up from smoke and ash pervading the house. See local articles and videos as reported in the Portland area media below. From the Oregonian: http://www.oregonlive.com/wildfires/index.ssf/2017/09/eagle_creek_fire_forces_nuns_t.html http://www.kgw.com/news/local/nuns-from-bridal-veil-convent-displaced-by-eagle-creek-fire/472696811 From the Catholic Sentinel: https://www.catholicsentinel.org/Content/News/Local/Article/As-Oregon-fires-rage-Franciscan-sisters-forced-to-evacuate-convent-/2/35/34101 https://www.catholicsentinel.org/Content/News/Local/Article/The-sisters-are-back/2/35/34180  

MERIDEN, CT (08-06-2017) - Sister Grace Marie Horan, FSE professed perpetual vows on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, August 6, in the Chapel of St. John at a Mass celebrated by the Most Reverend Leonard P. Blair, Archbishop of Hartford. Sister Grace Marie was accompanied in the entrance procession by her parents, John and Ever Horan of Fort Worth, Texas, who presented her to the Franciscan Community through the person of Mother Miriam Seiferman, Mother General, who received her and thanked Mr. and Mrs. Horan for the gift of Sister Grace Marie's life. The vow ceremony took place after the Gospel. Mother Miriam received Sister's vows in the presence of the official witnesses, Sister Maria Sena, FSE and Sister Mary Elizabeth Endee, FSE, and the congregation of 200 people. In making this final profession, Sister Grace Marie vows to God to live out her life in chastity, poverty and obedience in the Community of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. To symbolize this life commitment, Sister received a ring blessed and presented by the Archbishop who represents Christ as Bridegroom of the Church. Sister received blessings from Mother Miriam, Mother Barbara Johnson, Vicar General, and Mother Shaun Vergauwen, Mother Co-foundress. The professed Sisters renewed their vows and then sang the Blessing of St. Francis for the newly professed Sister. In his homily, Archbishop Blair related the feast of the Transfiguration to the vocation to religious life in making the "invisible visible." Christ shone in glorious light as he was transfigured in the presence of three of his apostles. Consecrated religious, too, are called to show forth to the world the light of Christ and illumine [...]

“Saint Francis...invites us to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness.” - Pope Francis, Laudato Si’ LOWELL, MI (07-27-2017) - On July 27, the Laudato Si’ Sanctuary was dedicated to Mother Mary Ann Schmitz, FSE, in gratitude for her many years of caring for the land of the Franciscan Life Process Center and for being the inspiration of the project. The dedication of the Sanctuary was the culmination of work that began in 2014. This prairie restoration project began when Joe Trenshaw met with Mother Mary Ann Schmitz to discuss possible Eagle Scout projects. After discussing several options, the two engaged Chris Baer, a member of the Grand Rapids Audubon Society and an expert on prairie restoration to help them. Joe decided to focus his efforts on the prairie and performed the initial work selecting the area, preparing the land, and gathering and planting seeds. Since then, various school groups have removed invasive plants and collected seeds to expand the prairie area. The ultimate goal is for the prairie to cover around 10 acres of Center land. Prairies are unique habitats that are on the decline in the Midwest. “Before the advent of widespread agriculture, prairies were dominated by grasses such as big bluestem and Indian grass as well as many wildflowers,” states Mother Mary Ann. “They also supported a rich ecosystem for birds and grazing animals.” All of the plants, including lupine, bee balm, and coneflowers, in the Laudato Si’ Sanctuary are native to Michigan, which is very important in order to encourage biodiversity and places for native birds, [...]