1 Franciscan Way

My name is Erin and I hail from the greater Cashton area in southwest Wisconsin. I am 21 years old and I have two younger sisters. My spiritual "BFF" (Best Friend Forever) is Mother Teresa. Her life was an amazing example of how to find joy in Christ through everything. Even through her hardships she was always smiling for Jesus. My goal is to use Mother Teresa as inspiration as I begin my own religious life. I found this same joy as I met the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George. One of the other big draws for me was how the Sisters show how holiness comes in a variety of forms.

Mother M. Regina Pacis and Sister M. Kateri are nearing the end of their time of Visitation in our Sacred Heart Region in Brazil.  They will have spent six weeks visiting our Sisters and various convents in Brazil.  Check out some photos from their experience in Mâncio Lima!

Hello!  My name is Miranda Edgar and I am from Hot Springs, Arkansas.  I am eighteen years old which makes me the youngest of three.  Both my brother and sister are enjoying the vocation to the married life.  During high school I played on the varsity bowling team learned how much I enjoy bowling.  I also enjoy listening to music, driving around, and spending time with others.  My favorite saint is St. Faustina because of her constant yes to God.  I was drawn to the Sisters by their joy in giving everything up for Christ.  When I left the convent for the first time I felt as if I was saying good-bye to my family.

Hi, I'm Samantha.  I am 20 years old.  I spent most of my life in St. Louis, MO and have spent the past two years as a student at Benedictine College in Atchison, KS.  I come from a small family:  Mom, Dad, me, and a four-year old brother.  I love to sew and knit in my free time and go on wild adventures in the pages of a good book.  It was through one of these books that I began my admiration (which later grew to a great devotion and love) for St. Therese of the Little Flower and her little way.  I was first drawn to the Sisters for their infectious joy and how much I felt comfortable, like I had been here all my life.  By my second visit, Alton felt like home.

Hello, my name is Ashley Vola and I am 19 years old.  I am the youngest in my family and I have one older brother, Michael.  I lived with my Mom, Dad, and brother, Michael in Lake St. Louis, Missouri my whole life.  Some things I enjoy doing with family and friends include camping, hiking, playing cards, listening to music and reading.  I love being outside whenever I have the chance.  I felt very drawn to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George through the Holy Spirit.  With the Sisters I found the deepest desires of my heart being satisfied in their peace and joy.  Mary's 'yes' of pure love helped me to give my yes to our Lord.

On Monday morning, three of us pilgrims from the United States are scheduled to arrive in our Motherhouse in Thuine, Germany. Sister M. Timothea and Sister M. Alfrede will celebrate their Golden Jubilee with their classmates on October 16 and enjoy time with their families in Germany. Sister Eva-Maria will visit the Motherhouse and be part of a two-week pilgrimage to Assisi, where our Sisters have an international house. If God wills and an Internet connection permits, an occasional posting of photos and activities may take place. Since this is a pilgrimage and truly a journey in God's hands, only He knows what is ahead and what is possible to share. Please pray for us as we travel to the places where our Franciscan way of life was born. Be assured of our prayers for you, especially as we visit the graves of our foundress, Mother M. Anselma in Thuine, and of Sts. Francis and Clare in Assisi. ( Take a sneak peek at our German Sisters' website!)

Encircling the Blessed Sacrament on the monstrance in our San Damiano Adoration Chapel are the words, "Veni Si Amas," which mean, "Come if You Love." The same invitation, offered to those visiting our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in our adoration chapel, is extended to young women who are seeking His Heart. Do you desire to give Him everything? Do you long to know the deepest desire of your heart? You are invited to come join other young women encounter the Heart of Christ and His love for you! You will find information here about the October 15-17 Veni Si Amas retreat scheduled in our Provincial Motherhouse in Alton, Illinois. For more information, visit this page or email Sister M. Consolata, our vocation director.  Her email address is found on this page! Please ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten the minds and inflame the hearts of those who are seeking to know and do His Will.

On Entrance Day in Alton, we have a couple of links to share with you. Of course, there is the one from this blog: Welcome to our Family, Postulants! Then there are the pages on our province website which was just updated by our vocation director, Sister M. Consolata: Entrance Day 2010 ..... And, of course, we don't want to miss introducing you to our New First-Year Novices.... And Second-Year Novices.... Meet our newest Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George!!!!

Today, on the Feast of the Birth of Mary, our new postulants entered the postulancy of our American Province of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Martyr St. George! We thank God for the gift of these vocations. Pictured above - on their very first full day in the convent - are (from left) Ashley Vola, Samantha Goodson, Miranda Edgar, Jennifer Clark and Erin Leis. Welcome, Postulants! We Sisters are grateful that you have accepted Christ's invitation to belong totally to Him in our Franciscan community, and we support you wholeheartedly with our prayers and help! If you would like to send a word of welcome and encouragement to these new postulants, we will pass the greetings along to them. Just leave them as a "comment"!

Archbishop Robert Carlson and Sister M. Beata The weather was great! The friends who supported us by hitting the little white ball around the Golf Tournament were amazing! Archbishop Carlson sent the golfers off with a prayer, and Bishop Hermann golfed! All in all, it was an amazing event, for which we thank God! For more photos of the Golf Tournament, check out our Facebook photo album .