Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate
Who are the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate?........................................................................................................
We are the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate, serving in the Texas Panhandle, New Mexico, California
and Mexico. Our Provincial House and Novitiate are located at St. Francis Convent in Amarillo, Texas. We are
an active/contemplative order. We take vows of chastity, poverty and obedience and live in community.
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What is our Charism?...................................................................................................................................................................
Our charism is a gift from the Holy Spirit to live and announce the Gospel as "sisters-minor" in permanent
availability to the will of God in a needy world. This is expressed in the motto of our Mother Foundress:
"Todo por amor a Dios y como el lo quiere!" (All for the love of God and as He wills it!)
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What are our apostolates?..............................................................................................................................................................
Our main apostolates in the church are teaching in Catholic schools, religious education, nursing, missions,
care of the poor and elderly, and reaching out in every respect to the needs of humanity. Our work is as unlimited
as the God-given talents of each sister. If you feel called to a more contemplative life-style, we also have an
apostolate in baking hosts which we send to parishes in our diocese and the neighboring dioceses of Lubbock and
San Angelo.
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History......................................................................................................................................................................................
The Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate branched off from the root congregation founded in switzerland.
Late in the nineteenth century, in answer to a plea from a Bishop in Equador, our foundress, with a small group
of sisters left Switzerland and settled in Equador. When persecution against the church began in equador, Mother
Caritas left Equador and settled in Colombia. There the community flourished and grew into the present congregation
of Franciscan Sisters. Their work spread throughout the regions of South and Central America, Switzerland, the
United States, Mexico, Romania, Cuba and Africa. St. Francis Convent was founded in Amarillo, Texas on August 15, 1932.
In the United States, we currently have 1 postulant, 3 novices, 4 sisters with temporary vows, and about 40 sisters
with perpetual vows.
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Formation:....................................................................................................................................................................................
Formation as a Franciscan Sister of Mary Immaculate begins with the Affiliate. A young woman between the ages
of 18 and 30, who has finished highschool, and who is seriously considering becoming a sister, affiliates herself with
our community by beginning a training period outside the convent but under the guidance of one of our sisters. When she
is ready, the affiliate may ask to enter our community as a postulant. During the one-year postulancy, the postulant will
live in community with the sisters and continue her education. She will also become familiar with religious life and the
spirit of a Franciscan Sister of Mary Immaculate. Upon written request, and with the sisters' consent, the postulant begins
the next phase, the two-year novitiate. The first year as a novice is spent in deeply spiritual and religious self-formation,
to explore the values of religious life with God. In the second year, the novice continues her study of the Rule and
Constitutions of the congregation, and the vows. At the end of the novitiate, when she and the community feel that she is
ready, the novice may formally become a sister by making temporary vows of chastity poverty and obedience. This temporary
commitment lasts for five years during which time she will continue her apostolic work and religious and secular formation.
After this time, the sister may make her final commitment by pronouncing her final vows.
For more information about our congregation, contact:
Vocation Directress
St. Francis Convent
4301 18th Ave.
Amarillo, Texas 79107
or E-mail Sister Valentine
valfmi@yahoo.com
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Email: valfmi@yahoo.com
