Let us be one heart united in love.Mother Francis Bachmann

April 9, 2017

Dear Sisters,

Today we celebrate the dreams of three young women, which came together in ways that they could not have imagined. In 1851 a widowed mother of four, her younger sister who wanted to found a religious community but first wanted to help her sister, and a third-order Franciscan began to share their hopes with each other. Four years later they founded a religious community.

Bishop John Neumann of Philadelphia met the women who were, in a sense, fulfilling the bishop’s own dream of bringing a community of women religious to Philadelphia. He had received permission from Pope Pius IX on his ad limina visit to Rome. However, the pope, himself a Third Order member, thought it might be better to begin a Franciscan community to the USA. He believed that the new nation needed a Franciscan spirit.

For one hundred sixty two years this Franciscan spirit has permeated areas of our country and beyond. In various iterations we have shared our charism with countless others. Although the paths of the three women would quickly go in diverse directions, the mission of living the gospel in the spirit of Francis and Clare ever binds them.

We are blessed to celebrate this day together in prayer. As we do we remember each other, our congregations, all Franciscans, Pope Francis and the Church, our nation and all the people of God.

Blessings on this our founding feast! May we ever continue to preach the gospel always, using words when necessary!

Peace and all good,

The Sisters of St. Francis The Sisters of St. Francis The Sisters of St. Francisof Philadelphia of the Providence of God of the Neumann Communities

Founders’ DayPrayer Service – 2017

Introduction: Today we celebrate the 162nd anniversary of our founding in Philadelphia in 1855. Three young women, whose hopes and dreams had been intertwined for four years, knelt before Bishop Neumann and were vested in the Franciscan habit. Today we continue their legacy and express our gratitude for their call and for ours.

Opening Mantra: Be Praised, My Lord

Prayer: Most high, glorious God enlighten the darkness of our hearts. Give us true faith, certain hope and perfect charity, a sense and a knowledge, Lord, that we may do your holy and true will.

Reading: Matthew 6/25-34

Reflection: The Reflection may be accompanied by soft music for 7-10 minutes. The passage below (not intended to be read aloud) might direct us in our contemplation of God’s word in our lives.

Our early founders truly depended on the providence of God. They sought God’s righteousness and all else was given to them. It seems that today we are in situations very similar to theirs. We do not know what will happen as our communities become smaller, where or how we will be led. Likewise we experience this in our Church, our nation and our world. Yet God give us the same assurance. Inspired by the three women we honor today, may our confidence in God continue to grow ever stronger.

Faith sharing: On our founders, our Franciscan call, God’s goodness, or whatever touched our hearts.

Prayer:Aware of God’s goodness, we offer praise and thanks.

Response: We praise and thank you.

For the gift of life …For our Franciscan call … For heroic women who have left us a legacy …For the gift of sisterhood …For the gift of the journey … For the gifts of our congregations … For …Together we pray: Glory to the Father …

Closing song: The Praises of God

Adapted from St. Francis of Assisi, Andrea Likovich, OSF ©1984 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, Our Lady of Angels Convent, Aston, PA 19014 All rights reserved. Used with permission.