12/06/2026
Our community at Glebe welcomed four Franciscan Sisters of the Lord (Congregazione delle Suore Francescane del Signore) recently. The Superior General, Sister Priscilla Dutra Moriera, Sisters Leidiana, Donata and Marieangela spent five days with us earlier this month.
Their Congregation is based in Rome, and they minister in Timor Leste, Indonesia, Italy, Rwanda, the Philippines and Brazil.
The Sisters shared every meal with us, came to prayer each morning and evening, and accompanied us to Sunday Mass. One of the community took them to Featherdale Wildlife Park to see the native animals, which they loved. Another highlight was a walking tour of the city to see some of Sydney’s icons, including the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
We gave them a tour of the Congregational Centre at Toxteth House. They were very interested in the history of the Good Samaritan Sisters as the first Australian Congregation.
All the Sisters were familiar with the Franciscan-Benedictine connection. The Benedictine community of Assisi had given St Francis his first church, the Porziuncola, now to be seen inside Santa Maria deli Angeli. It is covered with glorious frescoes and is a sacred place of prayer and peace.
One of the Sisters had visited Subiaco, and all the Sisters had been to the Abbey of Monte Cassino. In Subiaco is a rare fresco that has preserved the true likeness of St Francis. As a pilgrim, he visited Sacro Speco (Holy Cave of St Benedict) in 1223.
It was a joy to have the Sisters stay with us – they were typical Franciscans who delighted in everyone they met and everything they saw.
Sister Priscilla described the visit as a time of profound human and spiritual growth. “We were deeply moved by your fraternal freedom and independence – a way of living that served as a luminous example of true communion and a wonderful blessing for us.”
