Franciscan Sisters of Peace
Encyclopedia
The Franciscan Sisters of Peace are a Roman Catholic community of women in consecrated life
found in the United States
, who minister or have ministered in the Archdiocese of New York, Archdiocese of Newark and Archdiocese of San Francisco, as well as the Diocese of Paterson, Diocese of Metuchen, Diocese of Rockville Centre, Diocese of Albany
, Diocese of Gallup and Diocese of Tucson. The community is rooted in both the Catholic penitential movement
and the pattern of Gospel life known as the Rule of the Third Order of St. Francis
.
journeyed from Gemona del Friuli
, Italy
to New York City
to minister and provide for the needs of Italian immigrants in the city. These women had a dedicated pioneering spirit that attracted vocations and gave impetus to diverse ministries, and also brought peace to others through their works of mercy and justice.
In 1890, the Sisters founded the American Province
of St. Francis, within their European congregation. The Provincial motherhouse
was established in Peekskill, New York
.
In 1986, one hundred and twelve vowed women of the St. Francis province co-founded a new Institute of Consecrated Life
of Diocesan Right known as the Franciscan Sisters of Peace, based in Haverstraw, New York
. The new congregation embodied a new expression of the charism of Saint Francis: peace. As mentioned by the congregation, peace is the fruit of a life based on four fundamental values: contemplative prayer, conversion, poverty, and minority (humility). The Franciscan Sisters of Peace are rooted in the pioneering spirit, faith and trust in Divine Providence characteristic of the early sisters.
The mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace is to proclaim and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the footsteps of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi
. Today, they continue to spread their mission of peacemaking in a variety of ways as teachers, social workers, administrators, parish associates, prison chaplains, retreat directors, day care workers and health care workers.
The Franciscan Sisters of Peace are also one of five religious communities (along with the Sisters of Mercy
, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus
, the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
) responsible for the creation in 1995 of Marian Woods, a healthcare facility for residents that range in age from 65 years to 100 years of age. Each resident is a member of the founding congregations and has a debilitating condition that has impaired their ability to perform every day tasks.
Marian Woods was built on eleven acres of peaceful property in Hartsdale, New York
, with 120 acres that surround the property preserved as a town park.
Consecrated life
The consecrated life in the Christian tradition, especially the Roman Catholic Church, but also the Anglican Church and to some extent other Christian denominations, is, as the Roman Catholic Code of Canon Law states: "a stable form of living by which faithful, following Christ more closely under...
found in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, who minister or have ministered in the Archdiocese of New York, Archdiocese of Newark and Archdiocese of San Francisco, as well as the Diocese of Paterson, Diocese of Metuchen, Diocese of Rockville Centre, Diocese of Albany
Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany covers all or part of 14 counties in Eastern New York...
, Diocese of Gallup and Diocese of Tucson. The community is rooted in both the Catholic penitential movement
Catholic Peace Traditions
The following article will trace the ideas and practice of peace in the Catholic Church from its biblical and classical origins into the 21st century. This Catholic tradition, because of its long history and breadth of geographical and cultural diversity, encompasses many strains and influences of...
and the pattern of Gospel life known as the Rule of the Third Order of St. Francis
Third Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
.
Introduction
Early in his ministry, Saint Francis of Assisi offered guidelines that became the foundation of what became the third form of Gospel life. Franciscan lay penitents soon began living in community, professing vows, and doing works of charity. This movement soon developed into religious congregations of the Third Order Regular, including the Franciscan Sisters of Peace.History of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace
In 1865, three Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred HeartThird Order of St. Francis
The Third Order of St. Francis is a third order within the Franciscan movement of the Roman Catholic Church. It includes both congregations of vowed men and women and fraternities of men and women living standard lives in the world, usually married...
journeyed from Gemona del Friuli
Gemona del Friuli
Gemona del Friuli is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 90 km northwest of Trieste and about 25 km northwest of Udine....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to minister and provide for the needs of Italian immigrants in the city. These women had a dedicated pioneering spirit that attracted vocations and gave impetus to diverse ministries, and also brought peace to others through their works of mercy and justice.
In 1890, the Sisters founded the American Province
Ecclesiastical Province
An ecclesiastical province is a large jurisdiction of religious government, so named by analogy with a secular province, existing in certain hierarchical Christian churches, especially in the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches and in the Anglican Communion...
of St. Francis, within their European congregation. The Provincial motherhouse
Motherhouse
The term motherhouse is used by religious Orders and religious congregations to designate the principal house or community for that group. It can be either for the entire institute or for a region....
was established in Peekskill, New York
Peekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products...
.
In 1986, one hundred and twelve vowed women of the St. Francis province co-founded a new Institute of Consecrated Life
Institute of Consecrated Life
Institutes of consecrated life are canonically erected institutes in the Roman Catholic Church whose members profess the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience by vows or other sacred bonds...
of Diocesan Right known as the Franciscan Sisters of Peace, based in Haverstraw, New York
Haverstraw, New York
Haverstraw is the name of two locations in Rockland County, New York:*Haverstraw, New York, a town*Haverstraw , New York, a village located entirely within the townIt may also refer to:*West Haverstraw, New York*Haverstraw Bay*Haverstraw Indians...
. The new congregation embodied a new expression of the charism of Saint Francis: peace. As mentioned by the congregation, peace is the fruit of a life based on four fundamental values: contemplative prayer, conversion, poverty, and minority (humility). The Franciscan Sisters of Peace are rooted in the pioneering spirit, faith and trust in Divine Providence characteristic of the early sisters.
The mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace is to proclaim and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the footsteps of Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi
Clare of Assisi
Clare of Assisi , born Chiara Offreduccio, is an Italian saint and one of the first followers of Saint Francis of Assisi...
. Today, they continue to spread their mission of peacemaking in a variety of ways as teachers, social workers, administrators, parish associates, prison chaplains, retreat directors, day care workers and health care workers.
The Franciscan Sisters of Peace are also one of five religious communities (along with the Sisters of Mercy
Sisters of Mercy
The Religious Order of the Sisters of Mercy is an order of Catholic women founded by Catherine McAuley in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. , the order has about 10,000 members worldwide, organized into a number of independent congregations....
, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus
Society of the Holy Child Jesus
The Society of the Holy Child Jesus is an international community of nuns that was founded in England in 1846 by Philadelphia-born Cornelia Connelly. Cornelia converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1835. The Society was approved in 1887 by Pope Leo XIII, and the rules and constitutions were...
, the Sisters of Saint Dominic of Blauvelt and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament
The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament was founded in 1891 by Saint Katharine Drexel. Originally called the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament for Indians and Colored People, the religious order is commonly known today as the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.-History:The Third Plenary Council of...
) responsible for the creation in 1995 of Marian Woods, a healthcare facility for residents that range in age from 65 years to 100 years of age. Each resident is a member of the founding congregations and has a debilitating condition that has impaired their ability to perform every day tasks.
Marian Woods was built on eleven acres of peaceful property in Hartsdale, New York
Hartsdale, New York
Hartsdale is a hamlet and a census-designated place located in the town of Greenburgh, Westchester County, New York. The population was 5,293 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hartsdale is located at ....
, with 120 acres that surround the property preserved as a town park.
Philosophy of the Congregation
According to the Mission Statement of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace, the community states the following philosophy as guiding their mission in the world:- We believe in a God of Wisdom, Beauty, and Goodness, who is Creator of all things.
- We believe that all creation is in relationship in and through Jesus Christ.
- We believe that a simple, non-violent life originates in Jesus Christ and continues in the tradition of Clare and Francis of Assisi.
- We believe that the sacredness of each human person and of the earth leads logically to non-violent, mutually affirming relationships.
- We believe that the Third Millennium must be dedicated to simple, non-violent living.
- We believe that women, children, the economically poor, sand the earth suffer from the absence of a simple, non-violent way of life.
- We believe that non-violence is a Franciscan way of seizing the moral initiative, breaking the cycle of humiliation, exposing injustices of systems and cultures, and claiming the power of truth.
- We believe that simple, non-violent living requires creativity, humor, moral imagination, trust, gentleness, frugality, and a willingness to suffer rather than retaliate.
- We believe that the desire for peace as a way of life connects persons of different religious traditions and cultures toward a profound and powerful realization of the Reign of God for the Third Millennium.
- As Franciscan Sisters of Peace, we believe that we can stir and encourage the imagination and create the concrete responses to violence needed in our lives today.
Mission of the Congregation
This is the Mission Statement of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace, as quoted from their website:- We commit to educating toward a lifestyle characterized by the Christian and Franciscan perspective of simplicity and non-violence in a global community.
- Peacemaking is the charism of our Community. As our ongoing mission in this regard, we:
- continue the peacemaking features of the ministries of the Sisters and Associates in the Newsletter of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace;
- establish a regular column in the Newsletter for educating about simplicity and non-violence;
- develop knowledge of and access to resources and reference materials that can be used for programs in the home, community, and classroom.
- recite daily the Pax Christi Peace Prayer and encourage others to do so.
- Along with our life of prayer and our commitment to social justice, we look to the arts as a means of stimulating imagination, humor, sensitivity, and a moral voice about peacemaking. We:
- endorse art forms of music, video, dance, etc. to share stories of peace;
- teach and encourage others in similar projects;
- work towards the creation of violence-free areas and violence-free responses in our everyday lives;
- network with other persons and organizations to promote peace.
- In the tradition and spirit of Saint Francis, we pray for peace and strive to develop it in our own hearts and lives as well as to bring it to the lives of those with whom we minister.