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LCWR Welcomes Pope Leo XIVWith joy, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious welcomes Pope Leo XIV as the new head of the Catholic Church. We are deeply grateful for his humble acceptance of his election and his willingness to serve the church and the wider world at this critical moment for the global community. We believe Pope Leo XIV’s experience as the prior general of his Augustinian order, his years as a missionary in Peru, and his ministry as the prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and as president of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America combine to give him both the skills and the heart to serve the Catholic Church well throughout the world. He also has the breadth of knowledge and a deep concern for marginalized peoples that will make him a credible moral voice for the larger world.
We were especially heartened to hear in his greetings to the people after his election these words: “We have to look together how to be a missionary church, building bridges, dialogue, always open to receiving with open arms for everyone, like this square, open to all, to all who need our charity, our presence, dialogue, love…. To all you brothers and sisters of Rome, Italy, of all the world, we want to be a synodal church, walking and always seeking peace, charity, closeness, especially to those who are suffering.”
We look forward to working with Pope Leo XIV towards these important goals which find deep resonance within our own hearts. -
Bp. Barron's Reflections
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The Riches of Franciscan Poverty
The Franciscan Crown is a devotion taught to us during our formation as Franciscan Sisters and still appears in our official documents as a “part of our tradition.” Until 1969, professed sisters in our congregation wore the seven-decade rosary attached to the cord that was part of our habit. This prayer form, which focuses on the seven Joys of Mary, has always appealed to me.
And among the seven Joys celebrated in the Crown, the third joy–The Nativity- seems to me to be so very Franciscan. The little prayer we were taught to recite with this Joy goes like this: O Mary, so poor in the stable, obtain for us the riches of Franciscan poverty, that will aid us to find Jesus, and say with truth, ’my God and my all.’ Those five words regarding poverty always make me think- what are the riches of Franciscan poverty? Now- today- for me- for all Franciscans?
As I try at various times to unwrap the meaning of the phrase for myself, different ideas surface, often evoked by other words in the prayer. ‘So poor in the stable,’ for instance: evidence of poverty can be hard to find in many classical art portrayals of the Nativity- but then I’m led to ponder St. Francis’ creation of a living nativity scene in Greccio 800 years ago. What a gift to us to consider that Francis was so moved by the humility of God’s Son coming to earth in human form in such a setting. As he often did, Francis let his enthusiasm to share his understanding lead the way to bring vibrant life to his expression of faith in what happened in that stable- real people, live animals, and a baby! It seems to me that Francis’ desire to live in poverty radically would have been affirmed by his comprehension of the incomprehensible: the Son of God chose to come into the world in utter poverty!
The phrase about how the riches of Franciscan poverty “will aid us to find Jesus” also can be mined for meaning over and over. Sometimes, I consider how Francis saw Jesus in the leper and greeted him with a kiss, or when Francis was in Rome and went to sit with the beggars in St. Peter’s Square, so eager was he to be identified as one of them! How those actions of Francis remind me to be sure I am looking for and responding to Jesus in the lepers and beggars of today- the marginalized, homeless, migrants – our brothers and sisters all!
“and say with truth, ‘my God and my All’! To live an authentic Franciscan life certainly has the potential to lead each of us to such a profession of faith. Undoubtedly, Francis uttered those words with great passion, humility, and conviction. In fact, I’ve read that Bernard of Quintavalle witnessed Francis praying all night with just those five words repeated over and over. What a challenge for me to someday be able to utter the words as full-heartedly and in truth!
Sr. Regina Holtz, FSP
Franciscan Sisters of Peace
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Franciscan Joy!
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Celebrating the Feast of St. Francis on October 4th each year has been a long-time tradition for Franciscans worldwide. Francis, who was known for a life of poverty and love for all of God’s creatures, has become one of the most venerated saints.
St. Cabrini Nursing Home in Dobbs Ferry gathered all the Franciscan residents, Sisters, Brothers and Third Order Secular Franciscans for a special Mass honoring them for their years of ministerial service and inviting them to renew their lifetime commitment as Franciscan women and men. As residents of Cabrini, they now minister to one another and to the other residents with whom they live, as well as to staff, spreading joy and peace.
The members of the Franciscan Sisters of Peace Leadership Team were delighted to participate in the liturgy and luncheon that followed, providing the opportunity to spend the day with our sisters Mary Daniel Bauer, Georgeanne Farrell, Constance Gaynor, Cecelia Hall, Francine Kavanah, and Ann Smith. May they be blessed with a life of gratitude for all that has been and for all that is yet to come!
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As Laudato Si Week concluded on May 25, a new project focused on religious communities was launched- the Creation Care Prayer Network! This project is a world-wide effort of the Catholic Church to unite religious and lay communities who will commit to pray for the healing of our common home. Major sponsors include:- Global Catholic Climate Movement
- Franciscan Friars Generalate
- International Union of Superiors General.
Our congregation has joined the Creation Care Prayer Network as a means of living up to our Chapter Direction Statement in two ways: “to be in solidarity with those who suffer” and to make “intentional choices to steward the gift of creation and respond to the threat of climate change”. By joining the Prayer Network we are giving public witness to our commitment, along with more than 200 congregations in over 35 countries on 5 continents.
For more information and to join the network - www.laudatosipray.orgPlease join us in praying for the following intention during the month of May:
For the residents of the US Midwestern states who have been affected by prolonged periods of severe weather caused by changes in atmospheric conditions, which have caused high winds, torrential rain, flooding and tornadoes, and resulted in loss of life, homes, and farmland.
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Peace and Justice Focus
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Minores Fund
We, the Franciscan Sisters of Peace, continually respond to the call to be servants and to enter into solidarity with the “Minores” of our time - called to make the concerns of the poor and powerless our own.
The Minores Fund is a congregation fund that directly serves today’s poor and powerless in ways that are connected to our charism and Franciscan values, and are reflected in our Chapter Direction Statement.
The most recent grant from the Minores Fund was for support of Seafarers & International House in New York city. Since 1873, Seafarers, operating under the auspices of the Lutheran Church, has responded to the urgent needs of vulnerable seafarers and immigrants. Funds were sent to the organization in support of the annual ‘Christmas At Sea’ program, which provides satchels of warm clothing to seafarers who are confined to ships due to long term contracts, and more so this year due to the lengthy delays in getting ships into port. We view these seafarers as “unseen essential workers” during the current pandemic, which keeps them separated from family during the holidays.
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At the Congregation Center...
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In MemoriamSr. Carolyn Nicolai, was born April 16, 1940 in Teaneck, NJ to Marie and C. W. Nicolai. She had a sister, Marie, who was married to Jim Wyble and they had five wonderful children, Daniel, Kenneth (K.C.), Carolyn, Janet, and Mark. Sister grew up in Ridgefield Park, Bogota and Ki
nnelon, NJ. She graduated from Butler High School in 1958 after which she attended Miller Secretarial School. Once she was skilled in secretarial work, she was employed as a secretary in NYC until 1960. It was then that she entered the Franciscan Sisters in Peekskill, NY and began a life of service that spanned 65 years.
Sr. Carolyn earned a BA degree in Spanish and Education at Ladycliff College, Highland Falls, NY and an MA in Religious Education at St. Joseph’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY.
During her early years of ministry Sr. Carolyn taught in several Catholic elementary schools in New York and New Jersey. Though she loved teaching, she also felt called to minister to the elderly in the Kennedy Residence, Pompton Lakes, NJ and Bethany Residence, Wayne, NJ. In addition, she served as Pastoral Associate in St. Nicholas Parish in Passaic, NJ. (READ MORE...)
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Sr. Catherine Murphy, recently became ill and transitioned to St. Cabrini Nursing Home where she was cared for by the Healthcare Staff there along with Hospice of Westchester. She died peacefully on October 21, 2025 no doubt hearing her Lord say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”
She was born in Philadelphia to Rose and John Murphy on February 20, 1934. Growing up in a large family with eight siblings, James, John, George, Joseph, Gerald, Mary, Suzanne and Margaret taught her how to give and take. No doubt the dinner table was a place to share many stories with lots of laughter and sometimes sadness.
During their formative years the Murphy clan learned so much from their parents and from each other. It
was not until a friend asked Catherine to accompany her on a visit to Mount St. Francis, located in Peekskill, NY, that she met the Franciscan Sisters for the first time. It was that experience that drew her to religious life. In September 1954, not too long after making a retreat to discern her vocation, she entered the Franciscan community.
(READ MORE...)
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