Dear Friends,With great joy we will celebrate the opening of our 150th Anniversary on August 3, 2008! We are hoping that you would like to enter into the celebration with us by sponsoring an ad in our 150th Anniversary Journal, "Gratitude for the Past...Embracing a Future Full of Hope." These journals will be disseminated throughout the anniversary year in conjunction with the various gatherings. We are most grateful for your support.
Peace and All Good!
The Allegany Franciscans
Visit the Franciscan Action Network (FAN) to Support the People of Zimbabwe
Click here to visit the FAN website and email Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and add your voice in support of peace.
Trafficking—in Allegany and Beyond
by Melissa Scholl, OSF
Toward the end of April, the news that appeared on the radio, TV and in the newspapers was about a group of undocumented Mexicans working in Mexican-owned restaurants in Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. This really hit home because Allegany and Bradford, Penn. (only about 19 miles from Allegany), were sites of two of the restaurants. Read more
Freeing the Slaves
by Sr. Lucy Cardet, OSF
God has blessed us. Having shared about human trafficking with persons and organizations we knew, more opportunities for learning and engaging others presented themselves, opportunities that were both encouraging and challenging. Read more
 Our next General Chapter
is only months away! Visit our Chapter 2008 page to read about preparations. Chapter 2008: A Novice's View
A time to return to our origins and to rekindle our charism...that is how I see Chapter 2008. All that is most beautiful, most sincere, the best in us— that is what we bring when we gather. The first friars returned to the Portiuncula every Pentecost for Chapter. They returned to what was most precious, they returned to their original fraternity. They brought joys and sorrows, experiences from different places, signs of the grace of God manifested in totally new cultures and lifetstyles. Gathered together, they celebrated life by sharing everything they had experienced; returning to the mission, they left filled with and renewed by the Spirit. That is Chapter: we are renewed so that, each day, we may reaffirm our commitment as consecrated Franciscans. --Lílian Cristina Pinheiro Canonical Novice, Brazil |
Donations
If you would like to make a donation to the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, please send it to: Generalate, Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, PO Box W, St. Bonaventure NY 14778. For more information, contact Colleen Prey at fsa@fsallegany.org.
©Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY 2008
Franciscan Sisters of Allegany
St. Elizabeth Motherhouse, 115 East Main Street, Allegany NY 14706
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Last updated July 19, 2008
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Listen! More from our Vocation Ministry
July 2008: The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany issued a Corporate Statement opposing the privatization of water and the use of bottled water unless absolutely necessary. View and print brochure (PDF)
Read more about the Environment Commission
The Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation, attentive to the religious tradition and pastoral mission of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, New York, is committed to the Gospel stance of social justice which is lived out in a spirit of love, healing and compassion. The Foundation will focus its energy and resources primarily in the Twin Tier Region (NY and PA) and strive to improve the quality of life of our poor and marginalized neighbors. More information can be found here. For a Grant Application, view the PDF file here.
Are you being called to Religious Life?
School is over, parish organizations are shutting down for the summer, vacations are beginning...are you are still wondering if you are being called to religious life? Let us help you find out. Please contact our Vocation Director, Sr. Mary McNally at fsavoc@aol.com. For more vocation information, click on "Become a Sister" above.
***Our Fall 2008 - Spring 2009 Schedule will be posted soon.
Congratulations to our 2008 Jubilarians!Pictured in top photo, seated, left to right: Sr. Joan Michele Carberry, OSF; Sr. Avril Chin Fatt, OSF (Congregational Minister); Sr. Carole Ann Hoppe, OSF.
Standing, left to right: Sr. Betty Frascino, OSF; Sr. Therese Van Bourgondien, OSF; Sr. Kathleen Keck, OSF; Sr. Susan McGillicuddy, OSF; Sr. Diva Goncalves Veiga, OSF; Sr. Maria Cecilia Bandeira, OSF. See list of all Jubilarians
Also pictured is the Renovacao dos votos (Renewal of vows) in Brazil. From left to right are Sr. Terezinha de Jesus Oliveira, OSF; Sr. Maria Cecilia Bandeira, OSF; and Sr. Diva Goncalves Veiga, OSF.
We also celebrate with joy the Silver Jubilee of Sr. Gwendoly Melhado, OSF. Congratulations to everyone!
Avril Chin Fatt Awarded Honorary DegreeOn Sunday, May 11, Congregational Minister Sr. Avril Chin Fatt was awarded the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters, honoris causa by St. Bonaventure University. Sr. Rita Frances Guaracsi was also recognized for her tireless efforts to link the university, as well as the greater Allegany/Olean area, with the Motherhouse. Congratulations to Sr. Avril and Sr. Rita!
Sr. Diva Goncalves Veiga, OSF
from an article on www.piresdorio.go.gov.br
translated by Sr. Mary Conrad Wiersteiner, OSF
A citizen of Pires do Rio from her heart, Sister Diva, the fourth child of a former mayor of the city, Deodor Veiga, and his wife Josephine Gonçalves Veiga, was born on the Olinda Ranch, in the vicinity of the town of Santa Cruz, but within the municipality of Pires do Rio. Of a tradi-tional family of Pires do Rio, on the paternal and maternal sides, Sister Diva studied in the schools of the city, gradu-ating from Sacred Heart Normal School. Invited by the “Divine Call,” Sister Diva entered religious life in 1957, choosing to follow the Gospel precepts as a Franciscan Sister of Allegany. She was a postulant in An-apolis, and a novice in Allegany, New York, and professed her first vows in August of 1959. Returning to Brazil, she was missioned to the Parochial School in Goiandira where she was a teacher and principal for seven years. Transferred to Cristalandia, she was prin-cipal of the State High School during a period of seven years. Read more
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Allegany Art
Visit www.AlleganyArt.com to see expressions of our Franciscan spirituality.