Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY

Sister Rita Cecília Fernandes Coêlho

Along with her many and varied other accomplishments, Sister Rita Cecília was a talented songwriter. This song, performed during our Brazilian Sisters’ 80th anniversary celebration, poetically and affectionately tells the story of the first missionaries, and the beauty of the Sisters’ history built with faith, courage, and generosity.

Jamaica Associates Commitment & Renewal

By: Paula Lyn, Associate

Contributions by Lorraine Chen, OSF

Sisters and Associates, as women engaged in striving to spread the Gospel

message the Franciscan way, let us pray that we will continue to walk in

solidarity “in the footsteps of Francis and Clare” with renewed spirit, as

we recommit ourselves to Christ.

On April 16 the sisters at Immaculate Conception Convent in Kingston, Jamaica, renewed their vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. 

As stated in the Franciscan Morning and Evening Praise, on April 16, 1209, Pope Innocent III approved the first Franciscan rule, and the Order received its canonical status. On this date, many Franciscans throughout the world formally renew their commitment to the Franciscan Way of Life.

We, as Associates in Jamaica, were invited to renew our commitment to the Associate Way of Life. The ceremony was especially joyous as two alumnae of Immaculate Conception High School made their first commitment as Associates of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany.

They are Moya Leiba-Barnes and Joanne Rattray.  Mayo, an insurance executive, is the Chairperson for the Finance committee of the FSA in Jamaica. Joanne, a lawyer, is a member of the planning committee for the Jubilee Year for St. Francis of Assisi. Both Associates received the Tau cross and the Associate pin from their mentor, Sr. Celia.

Sr. Celia is wheelchair bound, so Moya and Joanne went to the convent every Saturday to be mentored. How beautiful when Joanne and Moya knelt before Celia. Sr. Odette Haddad assisted. 

Celia is the sister of Angela Cools-Latigue (deceased) and the aunt of one of our associates, Martin Payne.

Thanks, Celia, for your commitment to the Associate Way of Life while embracing us as we journey with the sisters. 

We would also like to thank Sr. Lorraine Chen who has graciously accepted the role of liaison in Jamaica for the Franciscan Sisters. Thanks for a beautiful commitment ceremony Lorraine. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our celebrant could not be present. However, we continued with the renewal and a communion service led by Sr. Teresita DeSouza. Thanks Terry. 

 The evening continued with a candlelight service. The sisters renewed their vows and then passed their candles onto the associates symbolizing our journey and mission-focused collaboration with the sisters. 

The ceremony concluded with the singing of the Blessing of St. Francis, accompanied by the organist and ICHS alumna, Allison Wallace.  

We were later invited by the sisters to break bread at dinner. There was conversation, laughter and a lot of bonding. Thank you, sisters. 

We have been called to follow in the footsteps of Francis as we embrace the Mission and Values of the Associate Way of Life.  

The Franciscan Central Archive shared the story of “Al’s Gals” on its Facebook page this week. Here’s what they wrote:

Some of our FCA partners are connected as congregations known affectionately as “Al’s Gals” after Mother Alfred Moes. Mother Alfred directly or indirectly was responsible for the founding of several congregations and lived for a time with yet another (all after originally taking vows as a Marianite of the Holy Cross in Indiana). 

Mother Alfred was accepted into the Third Order Regular of St. Francis by Father Pamfilo da Magliano of St. Bonaventure College on June 1, 1863. She first founded the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate (Joliet Franciscan Sisters) in Joliet, Illinois, and was summoned to St. Bonaventure, NY, by Father Pamfilo. There, on August 2, 1865, he named her the first general superior of the new congregation. At the same time, he received the first novice in the new congregation and the two sisters stayed with the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and Associates at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse across the road from the college.  It was there that they were introduced to the Allegany’s Constitutions which they used until 1880.  

Mother Alfred later was sent to Minnesota where another congregation, the Rochester Franciscans - Sisters of Saint Francis, came into being. Here again she was responsible for many educational institutions and St. Marys Hospital which ultimately formed the basis for the world-renowned Mayo Clinic. Two other congregations trace their heritage to Mother Alfred: in 1901 three sisters from Joliet established a new community in St. Louis, MO (Franciscan Sisters of Our Lady of Perpetual Help); in 1916 sisters from Rochester went to Sylvania, OH, and ultimately established the Sylvania Franciscans-Sisters of St. Francis. 

While not all of Al’s Gals are current FCA partners, the archives of all these congregations have materials documenting the links among them and the connections between sisters and ministries throughout the Midwest.

Thank you to Sr. Carole Ann Hoppe for the pictures.