"A glorious miracle - a saint meeting her Beloved of 75 years during the Eucharist!" MERIDEN, CT (07-10-2016) - Condolences flooded in to the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist by email, mail, texts and telephone as friends around the world heard the stunning news of the death of Mother Rosemae Pender, FSE, Mother Foundress of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. Mother Rosemae entered eternal life suddenly during the celebration Mass for her 75th Jubilee of vows at the Franciscan Sisters’ Chapel of St. John. Mother Rosemae had received the renewal of vows of Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE, Mother General, also a jubilarian, and then renewed her own vows into the hands of Mother Shaun. Following the renewal of vows, Mother Rosemae presented the Constitutions (rule of life) of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist to Archbishop Emeritus Henry J. Mansell, principal celebrant, during the offertory procession. She then suffered a heart attack and died before the end of Mass. Over 260 friends, religious, and priests were present in the chapel for this most profound and historic moment. Several persons in their heartfelt messages exclaimed, "Only saints have such a blessed death!" Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE, Mother General, announced the day of Mother Foundress' death that the Community would wait to hold the funeral until the Sisters from all the centers arrived as already scheduled for the Community retreat and meetings in early July so everyone could be present. "We need to grieve together," Mother Shaun said. Mother Rosemae's body was brought to the Chapel of St. John for a private wake on Saturday, July 9th, after being cared for by the Community funeral directors/embalmers, Sister Patricia Glass and Sister Frances [...]

MERIDEN, CT (05-18-2016) - Robyn Lee's story on CatholicMatch Institute's web site had so many concurrent visitors that the server could not handle the volume and went off-line. Robyn's story, "I Quit CatholicMatch for God" begins, "I’m leaving my job at CatholicMatch because I fell in love. My love story, as well as my CatholicMatch story, both begin with a break-up. Shocking, I know." Robyn is a postulant with the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist and the managing editor of CatholicMatch Institute's blog Faith, Hope and Love. Her popular blog post explained that she has resigned her position at CatholicMatch and will be entering the novitiate. Over the years, Robyn's blog has provided wise advice to young adult Catholics as they seek the spouse God has prepared for them.

MERIDEN, CT (05-13-2016) Sister Rosario Ongayo, FSE was awarded a Masters degree in Theology with a concentration in Scripture from Holy Apostles College and Seminary, Cromwell, Connecticut at the graduation ceremonies. Sister Rosario presented her Special Project in April in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters degree. Sister Rosario's Special Project was a book of meditations on the 20 mysteries of the Rosary, illustrated with Scriptural references and poignant examples from her work as a certified nursing assistant. Sister Rosario has a profound devotion to the Rosary as indicated by her name. Congratulations, Sister Rosario!

LOWELL, MI (05-04-2016) - Sister Theophane Wurzer, FSE, entered eternal life on Thursday evening, May 4, 2016 at the Franciscan Life Process Center where she has lived for the past 25 years. An avid worker and dedicated professional, Sister Theophane tirelessly contributed her talents to the Church and the Franciscan Community as a professed religious, maternal-child nurse, gardener, quilt-maker and wholehearted card player. Sister Theophane was born on June 27, 1921, in St. Lucas, Iowa, the fifth of twelve children of Konrad and Barbara Wurzer. She was named Theonilla. After attending St. Luke School in St. Lucas, she finished her junior and senior years at Aquinas High School in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In 1940, she entered the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in La Crosse, and in 1941, as a novice, was named Sister Theophane. She professed first vows in 1943. In 1973 Sister Theophane became a founding member of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. Sister Theophane attended Viterbo College in La Crosse and the Catholic University of America from where she received a Bachelor of Nursing degree in 1952 with a focus on pediatrics. She obtained a Master of Science in Nursing Education from Indiana University in 1967. She spent a total of 21 years in La Crosse teaching pediatrics and maternal-child nursing in St. Francis School of Nursing and Viterbo College. Her post-graduate work was at the University of Windsor. From 1959 to 1966 she was the medical and pediatrics supervisor at Sacred Heart Hospital in Idaho Falls, Idaho. Her nursing experience also included four years as an instructor in the St. Luke Nursing School, Duluth, Minnesota, and six months in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. As a motivated, goal-oriented [...]