As a new Congregation, under the guidance of Mother Colette and later, other Sisters who came into leadership of the Congregation, the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph spread the Gospel in many areas of U.S. as well as a mission in Brazil.  At the beginning of the Congregation the Sisters were mainly educated to be teachers in elementary schools and nurses in hospitals and nursing homes.  In the 1960s Sisters were also educated to be social workers, parish ministers, directors of religious education and many other ministries that served God’s people for that time.  If you want more information on the story of the founding of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph go to Who We Are at the top of this page and then click FSSJ History.

The Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph is over 120 years old.  We have had two motherhouses – first Corpus Christi parish, St. Joseph Convent, in Buffalo, NY, then Immaculate Conception Convent at 5286 South Park Avenue in Hamburg, NY.  Presently we are living at what began as our third motherhouse, Immaculate Conception Convent at 5229 South Park Avenue in Hamburg, NY.  In 2015 the Sisters had a dream of sharing our house with others who wanted a safe and caring place in which to live.  Catholic Health System of Buffalo, NY bought the house and it is now known as St. Francis Park.  The Sisters live here with other lay residents.  If you want more information on St. Francis Park go to Who We Are at the top of this page and then click FSSJ History.  Scroll down toward the end and see the story of the selling of our home and there is a web site you can learn more about St. Francis Park.