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The
Congregation of Franciscan Sisters Minoress
originated in London in 1888. |
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Mother
Francis Murphy, Foundress of the Franciscan
Minoress Sisters was born in County Wexford on 29th March 1842.
She
was educated at home sharing a governess with three sisters. Her home
was a deeply religious one where daily reading of the Bible was part of
family life. Later sisters who had lived with Mother Francis would
remark, 'She seemed to know the Bible by heart'. This love of The Word
of God prepared the heart of Mother Francis to resonate with Saint
Francis of Assisi whose Rule of Life, based on the Word of God, she
would eventually embrace.
On 22nd July
1888, with the approval of Cardinal Manning Mother Francis began a new
ministry committed totally to the destitute. Her wonderful human
courage, illuminated by faith in Christ Jesus and the Poverello's spirit
of compassion, inspired her new Franciscan ministry. It was a work
of mercy to help the itinerant and immigrant people of London, who were
poor to the point of destitution.
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| Cardinal Manning belongs in a significant way to the history of The
Franciscan Sisters Minoress. He was profoundly moved by the appalling
conditions of the poor and by the destitution of the Irish immigrants
who came to England in great numbers in the 19th century. The zealous
Cardinal sought religious sisters who would assume special
responsibility for home visiting in the hazardous society of Long
Acre and Covent Garden areas of London. Providentially, he found a
response in Francis Murphy.
Cardinal Manning and Mother Francis were alike in their devotion
to Saint Francis of Assisi and admiration of the Poverello's love of the
poor and disadvantaged. Their mutual Franciscan compassion found means
to overcome obstacles and began an apostolate which has, under God,
borne much fruit these past 120 years. Mother Francis' response resulted in the
creation of a new congregation : The Franciscan Sisters Minoress'.
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Home
visiting was the initial call of the sisters and they sought to relieve
the poverty of the people, by providing them with the necessities of
life. In this a desire was born and is still part of the life of each
sister today, to be of service to people of all ages - to touch their
daily lives and to have them touch ours.
At
the invitations of local Bishops we moved to areas other than London, to work in
their dioceses. We now have convents in England, Ireland, Scotland and
South Africa. Nowadays the sisters are involved in various ministries:
education from nursery to adult level; nursing from conception (
pro-life), to death ( care of the elderly) and Aids nursing, child care,
retreats ,prayer and chaplain ministries, parish ministry, including
visiting, parish missions, catechetics and youth work.
In
all our convents we try to keep alive the spirit of minority, by living in
the simplicity and joy of the gospel. Caught up in St Francis's hymn of
praise to God, who is Creator of all, we are grateful for the privilege of
being servants of all that is created.
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The Mother House, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.
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| In 1900 Mother Francis was approached by Bishop
Bagshawe of Nottingham to accept ministry in Melton Mowbray
Leicestershire. The sisters moved to a convent in Sherrard Street, Melton
Mowbray but this house soon became too small for the sisters. They then
moved to 9 Thorpe End, Melton Mowbray and opened a private convent
school. Four little Catholic children enrolled - forever inscribed
in the history of catholic education in Melton Mowbray. Sunday school
instruction and the meetings of Children of Mary sparked active
interest. Enrollment of catholic and non - catholic students demanded more
space. By 1903 another move was necessary and this time the move was to
Tower House, Dalby Road where the sisters remain to this day. Tower
House is the Mother House of the congregation and there is also a
thriving primary school dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi. |
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Saint Francis School, Melton Mowbray |
Education of the young has always been a priority for
our Congregation. According to the gifts of the sisters our
involvement varies from nursery to adult level. We take to heart
the words of Pope John Paul II stated in his historic visit to England,
'Our beloved young people : the Church of today and the hope of
tomorrow'. |
| Saint Clare's Convent is the House of Formation for the
Congregation. Here we receive candidates, postulants and novices who
wish to explore the gift of vocation as a Franciscan Minoress
Sister.
From 1903 until 1983 the noviciate was at the Mother House in
Melton Mowbray . Inspired by Church teaching and our Franciscan
tradition it was decided to have the noviciate as a separate foundation
from the Mother House. Saint Clare's was established as a noviciate in
1983.
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Saint Clare's Convent, Clay Cross |
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The Portiuncula, Clay Cross
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Within the grounds of Saint Clare's Convent we also
have a purpose built Franciscan House of Prayer and Solitude: The
Portiuncula. Realizing that the call to solitude lies at the heart of
our Franciscan vocation, the Franciscan family continues to discover new
ways of interpreting and living Saint Francis' Rule for Hermitages. Our
Portiuncula is one example among many.
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San Damiano Convent, Alfreton, Derbyshire.
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Saint Clare, the first woman follower of Saint Francis of Assisi,
continues to be an inspiration and encouragement to our sisters. To mark
her special year in 1993 we established a new Convent in her honour : San
Damiano Convent.
The Lord has called us to this greatness: that those who are to be
effective mirrors and examples for others, should see themselves mirrored
in us. Therefore, if we have lived according to this form of life which I
have already spoken about, we shall leave a noble example to others.
(Testament of Saint Clare)
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Saint Anthony's Convent, Cabra, Dublin.
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Saint Anthony's Convent was opened to mark the
centenary of our Congregation. In our early history Mother Francis had
established a foundation in Carlingford, County Louth, Ireland to do
home visiting and give religious instruction. Today, in Cabra, the
sisters are involved in this inner city parish where their
varied gifts bring to this ministry the creative, evangelizing gifts
inherited from Saint Francis and our Foundress Mother Francis. |
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At the request of Archbishop Campbell of Glasgow our sisters opened a
Convent in Scotland in 1946. Our nursing apostolate in Glasgow has
embraced all areas of nursing care from conception to death. Our present
convent is situated close to the sisters ministry of care of the elderly
in Saint Francis Nursing Home.
Saint Francis Nursing Home, Glasgow
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Franciscan Convent, Glasgow
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Saint Theresa's Convent, South Africa
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In 1965, the Franciscan Friars in the Prefecture of
Volksrust asked our Congregation to send some sisters to help in their
mission work among the desperately poor in the Eastern Transvaal of
South Africa. In 1966 six sisters departed from London airport -
the first missionary venture of the Minoress Sisters.
Today in the spirit of Mother Francis, our sisters in South Africa
reach out to the poor in many different ministries including Aids
Nursing, Child Care, Catechetics, provision of food and housing for
those in need.
Saint Theresa's is also a house of welcome for those who wish to
explore our Franciscan Minoress way of life.
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You
have not only a glorious history to remember and recount, but also a
great
history still to be accomplished!
( Pope John Paul II) |
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