Sisters of St. Francis of Penance & Christian Charity - Stella Niagara

06/09/2026

Birthday blessings to Sister Diane Gianadda!

06/02/2026

Happy Birthday to one of our resident artists, Sister Carolyn Fisher.

05/28/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14ds1mV2FTY/

Follow our Franciscan Central Archive.
Celebrating our Past, Present and Future!

2026 Digital Exhibit Project Highlights:

Explore the stories behind artifacts in our FCA partner collections. We recently completed a project using the digital exhibit platform Omeka that showcase the depth and diversity of our collections—inviting visit to discover, learn, and connect with the past in new ways. This series will highlight specific items featured in our inaugural exhibit.

Joe Malham, an artist-in-residence and iconographer at St. Gregory the Great Church in Chicago, was recently featured in Chicago Catholic for his beautiful art series entitled “Chicago Heroes.” The series focused on holy Catholics who ministered in the Archdiocese of Chicago and accomplished great things in their lifetimes. It featured prominent Chicago Catholics such as Augustus Tolton and Dorothy Day. One of the Chicago heroes Joe selected was Venerable Mary Theresa Dudzik, foundress of the Franciscan Sisters of Chicago. “I became familiar with Mother Mary Theresa from my association with Father Augustin “Gus” Milon, who helped run the Port, a soup kitchen. Sister M. Claudiana Jachimowicz, a Franciscan Sisters of Chicago, also volunteered there and helped Father."

There is an ethereal quality to Mother Mary Theresa as she is slightly out of proportion. The object is not to show the way she was human, but to illustrate her slightly elongated, which shows she’s been transformed into her divine state. She is then situated against a gold background, symbolizing God’s own created light. The two pillars to left and right of her represent the Scripture and tradition of the Church. This is where we get the stories of the lives of the Saints, so we can venerate them and raise them to the altar as models of humility,” Joe told the Sisters. “The detail in her habit projects some movement. I also worked very hard on her hands. The right hand is blessing and has the three fingers joined together symbolizing the Trinity and the two fingers are raised to symbolize peace, and also the humanity and divinity of Christ.”

To see this Omeka exhibit, see the link below:

https://fcarchive.omeka.net/

05/27/2026

Sister Maria Elena Larrea - ¡Feliz cumpleaños!
(Happy Birthday!)

05/25/2026

05/25/2026

Gracious God,
On this Memorial Day, we pray for those who courageously laid down their lives for the cause of freedom. May the examples of their sacrifice inspire in us the selfless love of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Bless the families of our fallen troops, and fill their homes and their lives with Your strength and peace.
In union with people of goodwill of every nation, embolden us to answer the call to work for peace and justice, and thus, seek an end to violence and conflict around the globe.
We ask this through your name.

- Author Unknown

05/17/2026

To Sister Barbara Pfohl we send our very best birthday blessings!

05/16/2026

Ah, tis the birthday of our dear Irish Buffalo gal, Sister Patricia McMahon. May your glass be ever full!

05/10/2026

How perfect to celebrate the Foundation of our Congregation on Mother's Day.
Mother Magdalen Damen - her faith, determination and simplicity was and is, a reflection of God's love for us and all creation.