Followers of Francis    April 2003

Published by the Vocation Office of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY If you would like to receive our free vocation newsletter, please contact Sr. Mary McNally, Vocation Director, at fsavoc@aol.com, or call (813) 870-6314 to be added to our mailing list.

"God Chose Me"
by Sr. Mary Lou Lafferty, OSF

“I always wanted to be a sister,” said Sr. Mary Lou Lafferty. “It was intuition – I just knew.”

Growing up in Lowell, Mass., Sr. Mary Lou attended public elementary school. Family and Sunday school were her main religious influences. The Sisters of Notre Dame at St. Patrick High School taught her, and after discerning a call to religious life, Mary Lou decided to join that community after graduation. During this same time, she met with a priest for spiritual direction, who suggested she contact another congregation - the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY. She visited the sisters at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Brighton, Mass., as well as St. Elizabeth Hospital in New York City.

Why the Allegany Franciscans?
“I felt a great sense of joy and hospitality among the sisters during my visits to the hospitals,” said Sr. Mary Lou. “Another reason I chose the Allegany Franciscans was because it would be easier on my mom. My dad died when I was 14, so it was important to me to be able to visit and help my mom when she needed me.”

Sr. Mary Lou entered the order at age 17. She went to the Motherhouse in Allegany, New York, for a brief orientation and then was off to Rochester, New York to begin a long career in Catholic education. She has worked as a teacher (mainly on the junior high level), principal in four schools, and as the assistant superintendent in Paterson, New Jersey and Boston.

In September 2000, Sr. Mary Lou was elected to a leadership position in the congregation, where she ministers with and to her Sisters in New England area, as well as New Jersey and part of New York.

Advice from Sr. Mary Lou Meet with a spiritual director. It will help you become more knowledgeable about yourself, and help you decide if you are called to religious life. This dialogue will unfold into wonderful things for your future!


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Why I am an Allegany Franciscan
by Sr. Phyllis Coughlin, OSF

We are followers of St. Francis of Assisi, the saint everyone loves. We work in partnership with the people, promoting human rights, the environment and peace. We go wherever there is a need – today we are in the United States, Jamaica, Brazil and Bolivia.

We carry out Christ’s command to Francis: “Build up my Church”. We are focused, like St. Francis, on spreading love and joy. We are a congregation with a history and a future.

Sr. Phyllis lives in West Islip, NY.


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What is Your Will, Lord? by Sr. Mary McNally, OSF

Happy Easter! We have just experienced the season of Lent during which Scripture has given us the opportunity to reflect on the humanity as well as the divinity of Jesus. One of the experiences that could have meaning for those discerning religious life, is the Agony in the Garden.

Jesus was trying to discern what to do. He was struggling to know the will of God. He sensed He is being called to something, but His humanity was hesitant. Perhaps it was fear of the unknown, or possibly of the known!

He spent time with the Lord calling upon God for direction and strength. He struggles and tells God he would rather not enter into what he senses he is being called to, “Let this cup pass from me.” In the end of His discernment process, Jesus says, “Your will be done.” This is the genuine conclusion of the discernment process, being open to God. Having a sense of peace even with the unknown, for Jesus knew that God was with Him.

Am I struggling with what I feel God may be calling me to? What are my fears? Have I told God?

Why we come ~ Why we stay
Sr. Mary Lou and Sr. Phyllis have both shared why they are Allegany Franciscans. It begins with God’s call and our response of yes. That call and response continues throughout our life through our varied experiences. In your discernment process, when you listen to sisters’ stories of why they came to religious life, also ask them why they stay!

--Sr. Mary


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Ask Sr. Mary

How long is the Affiliancy Process?
A woman is usually in the Affiliancy from one to two years, depending on her readiness. During this time she continues in her present job and life style, while she gets to know our community and sisters. Although a year can seem like a long time, it really isn’t. There are many “things to do” when applying to the Candidacy. For instance, a woman must have several documents, such as Birth, Baptismal, First Communion certificates. This is required by religious communities as part of the entrance requirements. Start collecting them now! Communities will also require an autobiography, and a physical and psychological assessment. All of this information is very helpful and insightful to the woman applying for Candidacy.

Where is the Candidacy located?
Our Candidacy is presently located in Haddonfield, New Jersey. The Candidacy is when a woman actually starts living the life with us. All of our Candidates live together with professed sisters with whom they share community and prayer life. We recognize that the Candidacy is a time of transition for women. Although there are opportunities for ministry, the purpose of this time is to start living religious life, and to acquire a knowledge and appreciation for religious life as an Allegany Franciscan. This is a time to grow in knowledge of self, deepening one’s prayer life, and continuing in the discernment process.

Did you know?
The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany was the first American-founded religious congregation of women to establish a foreign mission; we went to Jamaica, West Indies, in 1879.


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Come and See Weekends in 2003

May 2-4 Allegany, NY
May 30-June 1 Boston, MA
June 6-8 Bronx, NY