1 Franciscan Way

WE HAD A DREAM . . . to build a Chapel in which Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament could take place day and night, in which YOU could join us, the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George, in prayer and adoration before our Eucharistic Lord. On May 6, 1983, our dream became a reality: ST. FRANCIS ADORATION CHAPEL “SAN DAMIANO” was dedicated and opened. Our Community and our beloved Bishop Joseph A. McNicholas, the late Bishop of the Springfield Diocese, ALSO HAD A DREAM . . . to establish the LEGION OF ONE THOUSAND, to find one thousand people to visit the Blessed Sacrament each week at our Adoration Chapel. Weekly visits may be made at the time most convenient for the individual member. The Adoration Chapel is open daily, 6:30 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. The LEGION OF ONE THOUSAND is a spiritual organization. There are no meetings, no dues, no officers! We presently have 473 members. MY DREAM . . . is to increase our membership to one thousand. Would you like to know more about the Legion...

“Although you have never seen him, you love him and without seeing, you now believe in Him, and rejoice with inexpressible joy touched with glory because you are achieving faith’s goal, your salvation” (1 Peter 1:8-9; Liturgy of the Hours, Thursday Evening, Week 1. Why pray? What good does prayer do when it leads to “empty results?” So were my thoughts as I knelt before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament this evening. So many people, especially our sisters and their relatives, are suffering due to illness or lost faith. What good is my prayer for them when it is “just going to happen anyway?” “For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken” (Psalm 62:5-6). It is HOPE that is the reason for my prayers and supplications and the virtue that helps me to persevere, even in the silence of seeking answers. It is hope in a God who is love and all-loving, a God who is merciful and all-knowing. It is hope in a...

As November approaches and we remember our beloved dead, it seems an appropriate time to begin a reflection on the saints that have influenced our congregation in one way or another. So, this inaugurates a Wednesday series on "The Motherhouse Saints." Christ the King Church, the "chapel" of our Motherhouse in Germany, is richly decorated with images of the saints who reflect some particular aspect of our history, spirituality or apostolic work. Over the next weeks, we will glance at their lives and their meaning to our congregation. This introductory installment shows the mosaic in the sanctuary of the Motherhouse Church. Christ the King, robed and sceptered as King, wearing the stole of a priest, displaying His Sacred Heart, is the focal point of the entire Church. When seen in person, this huge vision of Our Lord is overwhelming - He dominates your vision from the moment you enter the doors. He is surrounded by angels and Saint George and Saint Elizabeth of Hungar...

“Christ is calling you; the Church needs you; the Pope believes in you and he expects great things of you!” My life would never be the same as the words of John Paul II coursed through my mind and beat with fervor in my heart. Me? Could he possibly mean me? Like many others, I felt Pope John Paul II was speaking directly to me as I sat behind him in the nose-bleed section of the stadium in Saint Louis. Throughout my high school years after this encounter, the idea of having a possible vocation to the religious life shocked and bewildered me, but at the same time brought me such peace. As each year came and went, my relationship with Jesus Christ and His Church grew with greater depth, understanding, and love. Through daily mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Rosary, Scripture and God’s divine intervention through his priests and religious, I soon realized that, yes, the Pope did mean me. Christ was calling me and how could I say no? After one year of college, I soon came to the realizatio...

With this week, Visitation of our American Province comes to a close. Through the whirlwind time since September 9th, Mother Margaretha Maria and Sister M. Engratia have visited every convent and apostolic work of our American Province Saint Elizabeth. They have encouraged us in our religious life and vocation. It has been a great grace to see how united we are in the essentials of our religious life. Our love for the Eucharist, our love for the Church, our willingness to work for the honor of God - these things have been handed down to us from Mother M. Anselma and are still the driving force of our community. Through the time of Visitation, these essentials have had the opportunity to come to the forefront of our minds. May God continue to bless us in His merciful love.

This year the Feast of St. Francis was a day of many graces! We celebrated the 25th Silver Jubliee of three Sisters at our 5:50am Mass. Yes, thats right! It was early in the morning! We had to start early to get in a full day of celebrating! We give thanks to the Lord for the gift of Sr. M. Jessica, Sr. M. Monica and Sr. M. Jacinta. Sr. M. Jessica, originally from Montana, now serves at our Mother of Good Counsel Home in St. Louis. Sr. M. Monica comes from New York and currently teaches in Tulsa, OK. Sr. M. Jacinta found us all the way from Maine and now lives in Lincoln, NE where she teaches at a grade school. Twenty-five years of prayer, sacrifce, service and offering of their lives to the Lord. Thank you Sisters for your joyful witness! We continued later in the morning and gathered again at 10:00am to celebrate Mass and the 50th Golden Jubilee of Sr. M. Josephine. What a witness to perseverance and joy in serving the Lord. Sr. M. Josephine is our faithful laundress! Archbishop Jose...