Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist

Institute of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist
AbbreviationFSE
EstablishedDecember 2, 1973; 51 years ago (December 2, 1973)
FounderMother Rosemae Pender, FSE
TypeCentralized Religious Institute of Consecrated Life of Pontifical Right (for Women)
PurposeTo rebuild the Church
HeadquartersGeneralate:
405 Allen Ave. Meriden, Connecticut USA
Membership80 members (2018)
Superior General
Mother Miriam Seiferman, FSE
(July 2017-present)
Vicar General
Mother Barbara Johnson, FSE
Councilors
  • Sister Mary Richards, FSE
  • Sister Suzanne Gross, FSE
  • Sister Clare Hunter, FSE
  • Sister Raffaella Petrini, FSE
AffiliationsRoman Catholic Church
Websitehttps://fsecommunity.org/

The Institute of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist (FSE) is a Roman Catholic religious congregation for women. The motherhouse is in Meriden, Connecticut, in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford.

History

The Institute of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist was founded by Mother Rosemae Pender, FSE on December 2, 1973, as a result of a period of renewal within the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration of La Crosse, Wisconsin which led to a divergence of outlook within that Congregation.[1] Mother Rosemae Pender and Mother Shaun Vergauwen served as Mother General and Vicar General, respectively, from the beginning until 2005. In 2002, the Franciscan Brothers of the Eucharist was founded in Meriden as a complement to the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist.

From 1976 to 2004, the religious sisters operated the ferry terminal and store on Shaw Island, part of the San Juan Islands in the state of Washington.[2] As of 2018, the congregation had about eighty members.[3]

Apostolate

  • Franciscan Life Center, Meriden, Connecticut: provides a variety of services including counseling, education, and youth programs.[4]
  • Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care, Meriden, Connecticut: is licensed to provide home health care services including nursing, physical therapy, and home health aides, in almost two dozen Connecticut towns.[5]
  • In Oregon, the Sisters operate the Franciscan Montessori Earth School, founded in 1977.

The community has thirteen different centers around the world, including the United States, Jerusalem, Rome and Assisi. The Sisters teach at universities, work in hospitals, operate a school in Bethlehem and work at the Vatican.[6]

The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist share the original founders with the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration and the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi of St. Francis, Wisconsin.

References

  1. ^ "Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist: Our Story". Archived from the original on 2012-04-14. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  2. ^ index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=7504 Oldham, Kit. "Franciscan nuns depart Shaw Island, after running the island ferry terminal and store for 27 years, on June 2, 2004", HistoryLink, Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History, October 12, 2005
  3. ^ org/vermont/franciscan-sisters-of-the-eucharist-at-uvm/ Urban. Cori. "Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist at UVM", Vermont Catholic, Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, April 26, 2018
  4. ^ Franciscan Life Center
  5. ^ Franciscan Home Care and Hospice Care
  6. ^ "Flach, Mike. "Franciscan Sisters host fundraising event", Catholic Herald, Arlington, Virginia; April 8, 2014". Archived from the original on September 19, 2016. Retrieved June 26, 2016.