Coats of Arms

Crests of Archdiocese of Hartford, Diocese of Portland and Diocese of Burlington

MERIDEN, CT (07-16-2024) – The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist join the faithful of three New England dioceses in welcoming their new bishops.

The Motherhouse Community welcomed the Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne as the new Archbishop of Hartford. As Co-adjutor, Archbishop Coyne became the Chief Shepherd upon Pope Francis’ acceptance of Archbishop Leonard Blair’s resignation on May 1, 2024. Several Sisters attended the Mass of Welcome on October 9, 2023 and the Archbishop’s Inaugural mass at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Hartford, on May 5.

The Diocese of Portland in Maine welcomed its new bishop on May 7 as Cardinal Sean Patrick O’Malley, O.F.M. Cap. ordained Bishop-elect James Thomas Ruggieri as the 13th Bishop. The new bishop was a priest of the Diocese of Providence. Mother Miriam Seiferman, FSE, Mother General, and Mother Barbara Johnson, FSE, Vicar General, attended the Mass of ordination and installation, representing the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist Community in Lewiston, as well as the entire congregation. The Franciscan Sisters began their ministry in the Portland Diocese in 2021 at the invitation of Bishop Robert Deeley.

On May 6, Pope Francis appointed Monsignor John J. McDermott as Bishop of Burlington. Since the appointment of former Burlington Bishop Christopher Coyne as Co-adjutor of the Archdiocese of Hartford, Monsignor McDermott has served as the Burlington Diocesan Administrator. The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist have worked closely with Monsignor McDermott in their ministry at the Catholic Center at the University of Vermont-Burlington. The bishop-elect was ordained and installed as the 11th Bishop of Burlington on July 15 at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Burlington. Mother Miriam Seiferman, FSE, Mother General; Mother Barbara Johnson, FSE, Vicar General; Mother Shaun Vergauwen, FSE, Co-foundress; Sister Barbara Cline, FSE and Sister Paul Mary Dreger, FSE of the UVM Catholic Center attended the Mass of ordination and installation at the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, Burlington.

Bishop McDermott Burlington VT

Newly ordained Bishop John J. McDermott greets Justin Hollingshead, a former University of Vermont student who entered the Church at the UVM Catholic Center, and Sister Paul Mary Dreger, FSE, Campus Minister at the UVM Catholic Center, following the Mass of Ordination and Installation.