Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph
Called by God into the Fraternity of Francis, we live in Simplicity, Servanthood, and Joy, renewing the spirit of Mother Colette Hilbert, "In all things Charity."
Current News
Palm Sunday
The continuation of our FSSJ Legacy in print …
Colette Hilbert, energetic agent for change confronting our complacency by her words and example . . .
Moving off into the unknown is difficult. Colette uprooted herself from her country, her family, and the Charity Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, and was led in a direction that required deep faith. Her arrival in America was jubilant, but the joyful welcome was short lived. She perseveres on a difficult path, a path that is neither straight nor short. It’s a path where questions find no easy answers, a path that presents her with extreme challenges to embrace far more than she could imagine.
The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, like Colette, have experienced the highs and lows, the heights and depths of what their vocation and dedication demand. Their journey like hers began in love, is nourished by memory, sustained by courage, lived in solidarity and carried out with trust, determined to possess an attitude of confidence. Their call to be energetic agents for change has been evident over the years. The closing of schools and the end of ministries they have been involved in has been difficult. Letting go of their ownership of St. Joseph Hospital, Hilbert College, Marycrest Manor, and Immaculata Academy have brought many tears. It meant the letting go of many of the success stories that confirmed the dedicated presence of the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph in the community. Leaving the Motherhouse that had been their center for many years was challenging. Their move to a new facility with many comforts and natural beauty in the end was a blessing.
After several years, however, they were faced with a new challenge—selling the building and property to the Catholic Health System of Buffalo. This brought them to a new chapter in their life. They now carried on their ministry as they shared space, their faith, their Franciscan charism, and a caring presence with lay people. Standing in trust, believing that their loss was redeemed by God, they use their precious gift of presence and wisdom as a means of witness and enlightenment to others. All the fragments of their ministerial accomplishments and their dedication told them that they were on the right path.
Colette’s words: “Conditions, people and needs are constantly changing, calling for new redeeming answers to life’s questions.” serve as a challenge for all of us to be a caring, transforming presence that moves into new needs.
The lived experiences of Colette and the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph can inform and challenge you as you reflect on your own life and your response to change.
What past history are you proud to claim?
What do you have difficulty coming to terms with?
Hopefully, your answers affirm that your response to change validates your beliefs. You cannot shield yourself from the realities of life; change is inevitable. Embracing change does not mean being in a constant state of upheaval. Confidence and optimism can radiate hope—which in turn can enable you to accept change. Hope enables you to look forward. Staying open and maintaining a sense of wonderment and mystery opens you to what change may bring. How can you balance your desire to define, to control and to insure the perplexing mystery of change? Your task is to look beyond the fear and uncertainty that change can bring and recognize that rebirth is possible. You can overcome adversity. You can achieve. You can love. You cannot control all the circumstances of your life. Your challenge is to listen in a spirit of openness and trust so that you can join with family, friends and others to accept change and move into God’s future. You must look to the wisdom that is available to you from lived experiences and share it for the good of all.
Sister Ann Lyons, FSSJ
2025 Lenten Calendar
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Immaculata Academy’s All Class Reunion
On August 25, 2024, over 150 Immaculatans gathered at THE OAKS at SOUTH PARK (in their former school auditorium) to celebrate an all class reunion. Guests ranged from representatives of the Class of 1950 to members of the last graduating Class of 2016. The walls of IA once again resounded with the strains of its school song, “Come, come, shout hurrah!” The afternoon provided an opportunity for reminiscing and reconnecting. Alumnae were able to experience how THE OAKS has chosen to honor the legacy of IA by incorporating IA artifacts into their design, and placing wall plaques throughout the clubhouse highlighting the building’s past. Discovered were repurposed IA light fixtures, porcelain sink, locker room slate dividers, hallway gate, IA letters from roof top, Script Immaculata from over main entrance, and Aud doors (now with windows); the Auditorium has been transformed into a Community Room, Backstage into a Yoga Room, Cloakroom, School Store into THE OAKS Leasing Office, the Locker Room into a Pool Lounge honoring IA, Room 106 into a Fitness Center and the School Gym into a Gym for families of THE OAKS with IA logo & bleachers intact. A great day to celebrate the enduring spirit of IA!
St. Josephine Bakhita was born around 1869 in Darfur (now western Sudan). She was seized by slave traders. Over the course of twelve years (1877–1889) she was sold three more times and then she was finally given her freedom. Josephine became a Canossian Sister and forgave her captors.
St. Josephine Bakhita is venerated as a modern African saint, and as a statement against the brutal history of slavery. St. Josephine Bakhita has been adopted as the patron saint of modern Sudan and human trafficking survivors. She was canonized by St. Pope John Paul II.
The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph are committed to praying for the end of human trafficking. We are grateful to Sr. Deborah Marie for sharing, on our prayer board for all the residents at St. Francis Park, the United Nations Blue Heart campaign to educate and help in the ending of slavery. If you click on the picture with the blue heart you will more easily be able to read the information. To learn more about ending human trafficking go to: https://www.usccb.org/resources/stop-slavery
Our Leadership Team
Sr. Jean Cherry, Councilor, Sr. Marcia Ann Fiutko, General Minister,
Sr. Andrea Ciszewski, Councilor
FSSJ 2022 Chapter
General Chapter Direction Statement
In these transformative times of change, challenge and collaboration, we, the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, embrace our call to Widen the Tent of our Hearts for the common good of God’s people and our common home, Mother Earth.
We willingly extend our hearts and hands to:
– Accept into our lives all persons as our sisters and brothers and to join efforts to bring an end to racism;
– Continue our efforts to minimize climate change and its effects on the life of our planet; and
– Collaborate with lay and religious partners to develop sustainable services and governance for our Congregation.
In the midst of our Holy Aging, we freely offer our gift of a Franciscan ministry of presence.
We began our Chapter with a day of retreat lead by Sr. Margaret Carney, OSF – – pictured on the left. The picture on the right shows Sr. Alexine and Sr. Ann Marie sharing their Franciscan stories of faith and hope.
The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph spent some of their second day in Chapter widening the tent of our hearts by listening to Dr. Deidre DeBose (left), Vice President of Mission and Equity at Hilbert College. She shared her story of the blessings of faith, honesty, and courage as she faced racism in her life.
The Sisters shared their faith and support of Dr. DeBose by giving her a blessing as she continues her work at Hilbert.
A particularly pertinent quote Dr. DeBose shared with us was,
“Privilege is not about what you’ve gone through,
it is about what you haven’t gone through.”
Janaya Khan
This tent, created by Sr. Ann Lyons, FSSJ and Sr. Lynne Anne Schimminger, FSSJ, was in the Chapter room, reminding us all of our call to widen the tent of our hearts.
Sr. Lynne Anne Schimminger, FSSJ was asked to create a logo for our 2022 Chapter with the theme Widen the Tent of Our Hearts. She drew a Bedouin tent which would ordinarily have a closed back side. However, the back of this tent is open. It beckons us to move out into the future where God is leading us. You’ll notice that the landscape has mountains and hills and is somewhat hazy. Our destination will become more defined as we engage in prayer and contemplative dialogue during the coming year.
The tent flaps are flowing with the breath of the Spirit, allowing for flexibility; the tent pegs are strong and durable to ground us in our Franciscan charism and the Gospel.
The striped colors of the tent signify our diversity since each Sister will be called to widen the tent of her heart in a unique, personal way. As we pray with this logo we are invited to sit awhile in the tent, enjoying the warmth and hospitality of God’s presence—and, then, to open wide the tent of our hearts bringing Christ to the world beyond ourselves.
Feel free to join with us in praying our Chapter Prayer below.
Prayer for Widening the Tents of Our Hearts
Gracious God, we are challenged by the prophet Isaiah to enlarge the tent of our hearts, open wide our tent curtains, lengthen our ropes and strengthen our stakes.
May we not hold back, but stretch our hearts to the limit, embracing all persons as our sisters and brothers.
May our tent stakes go deep to keep us rooted in Christ and
our Franciscan charism.
May we spread our tent flaps unsparingly, clearing out our biases and making room for more compassion.
May we keep our tent cloths supple enough to allow for flexibility, risk, and abundant blessing.
God of Extravagant Love, may we see your beauty reflected in all the faces of humanity that You so love. Amen
FSSJ Celebrate 125th Anniversary at
St. Francis Parish, Athol Springs, NY
Ambiance honoring Mother Colette Hilbert, our Foundress
Providing inspirational music and song:
Sr. Lucille Ann, Cantor
Sr. Andrea, Organist
Sr. Deborah Marie, Liturgy Coordinator
Fr. Ross Syracuse, Pastor at St. Francis Parish, gives the welcome to all at our celebration
Franciscan Friars who celebrated with us:
Fr. Ross Syracuse, OFM Conv., Fr. Michael Zielke, OFM Conv., Fr. James McCurry, OFM Conv., Fr. Charles, OFM Conventual, Fr. Mark David Skura, OFM Conv.
Sisters singing their Charism song, Called by God. This song was composed by Sister Deborah Marie Ciolek, FSSJ
Sister Marcia Fiutko, FSSJ, General Minister of our Order, invites the Sisters to renew their vows of Poverty, Celibate Chastity and Obedience.
Group picture!
Sister Marvina and friends!
Those who taught or ministered at St. Columba:
Sr. Deborah, Sr. Lucille Ann, Carmen Rivera (FSSJ Associate), Sr. Karen, Susan Odle.
Sr. Andrea and the Franciscan Friars
Sr. Ann Lyons and Sr. Lynne Anne Schimminger with friends
Friends from Catholic Health
Joyce Markiewicz, Vice President and Chief Business Development Officer at Catholic Health, and Jill Hirczak, Life Enhancement Director at St. Francis Park.
Dr. Brophy, President of Hilbert College, founded by the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, presents a citation from the Hilbert Board of Trustees, staff and students in honor of our 125th Anniversary.
Sr. Jean Marie Cherry with friends from the Franciscan Sisters of Allegheny and the Sisters of Social Service in Buffalo.
The Sisters started the day with the Sisters in Leadership pinning on corsages on each Sister. Sister Marcia Ann, General Minister, pins a corsage on Sister Angelis. The corsages were made by Sr. Benedicta.
Immaculata Academy has New Life as The Oaks at South Park
For 88 years the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph served God’s people by educating young women at Immaculata Academy in Hamburg, NY. They are grateful that the new enterprise, The Oaks at South Park, pays homage to the history of the property while offering beautiful, private “carriage house style” luxury apartments that will provide safe housing. For more information on The Oaks go to Home
The picture on the right is the cornerstone of Immaculata Academy with some of the articles found in it.
Hilbert College announced that a new baseball field and a new softball field has been named the FSSJ Field Complex, in recognition of the College’s founding congregation, the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph (FSSJ). The FSSJ Field Complex, which is slated to be completed for the Spring 2021 season, recognizes the generosity of the Sisters, whose sale of the property adjacent to Hilbert’s campus specified that the fields would be made available for Hilbert’s exclusive use.
Prayer
Each Franciscan Sister of St. Joseph is praying together or privately for our world at this time. Some pray in Chapel, some in parlors. Where or however we pray, God is with us. Know that you and your families have us holding you tenderly in our hearts.
As St. Francis taught us by example, we not only pray when we pray together but our hope and our call is to “become a prayer.” It is something all followers of Jesus are called to do.
Becoming St. Francis Park
The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph have always been open to the Spirit of God and what God is asking of us at each time in history. In the 2000s the Sisters became more aware that we were being called to create a legacy of a new home – one that would be constructed in the Spirit of St. Francis’s love of creation and one that would allow us to open our home, our spirituality and our hope for the future to others. In 2010 the new Immaculate Conception Convent was built (LEED Platinum) at 5229 South Park Avenue, Hamburg, NY.
In 2018, Catholic Health purchased Immaculate Conception Convent and helped the Sisters’ vision become a reality with the opening of St. Francis Park, an independent living facility for seniors from all walks of life. We invite you to spend some time on this site to learn more.
5229 South Park Avenue, Hamburg, NY 14075
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