Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY

The application process includes two steps. First, a brief LOI (letter of intent) application must be completed to confirm eligibility. Second, if the LOI is approved, you will be invited to complete a full application.

The Fall ACOR grant deadlines are:

Fall Cycle

LOI Application – March 27, 2025

Full Application – April 1,2025 by 12 pm noon (invited applicants)

Visit their website for more information including a webinar recording with complete program information. Note: there are materials on the website in Portuguese for applicants in Brazil. 

For more information, please contact Erin Baird at (727) 507-9668 or ebaird@afmfl.org

The Centennial Celebration of Chetwood Primary, Mt. Alvernia Prep, and Mt. Alvernia High schools in Jamaica continues. On behalf of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, Sisters Trinita Solnek, Odette Haddad, and Teresita DeSouza recently received a key to the city of Montego Bay. Also, the St. James Municipal Corporation Council has declared October 4, 2025 (the Feast of St. Francis) as Mt. Alvernia Chetwood Day in recognition of the centennials.

You can read more in the

“Online Catholic Opinion.” 

Send your special prayer blessings to friends or loved ones this Easter with Mass enrollment cards from St. Elizabeth Mission Society. As members of the Mission Society, their intentions will be remembered at Easter Sunday Mass and in other Masses celebrated throughout the Easter season in the Motherhouse Chapel. They will also share in the prayers and good works of our Sisters in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States. 

As a sponsored ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, the St. Elizabeth Mission Society shares in its spiritual aims, one of which is to advance the awareness of God's love. Donations given for the cards are used to support the ministries of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and their Associates who work to educate, heal, clothe, and feed those who are experiencing poverty in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States.

St. Elizabeth Mission Society Easter Mass Cards

By: Laura Whitford, St. Elizabeth Mission Society

Help the Jubilee Sisters "celebrate their journey" with a special Jubilee Mass enrollment card from the St. Elizabeth Mission Society. As members of the Mission Society, their intentions will be remembered at Masses celebrated throughout the year in the Motherhouse Chapel. As always, they will also share in the prayers and good works of our Sisters in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States.

As a sponsored ministry of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, the St. Elizabeth Mission Society shares in its spiritual aims, one of which is to advance the awareness of God's love. Donations given for the cards are used to support the ministries of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany and their Associates who work to educate, heal, clothe, feed and be present for those who are experiencing poverty in Bolivia, Brazil, Jamaica, Mozambique and the United States.

Easter & Jubilee cards, as well as various other enrollment cards, can be ordered online at https://www.franciscanhope.org/shop/

or you can call the Mission Society office at (716) 373-1130 or e-mail the staff at StEliz.Office.Manager@FSAllegany.org

for more information about ordering the enrollment cards.

Easter & Jubilee cards will also be available in the Mission Society office. 

This month, the Congregation signed on to an Investor Statement issued by the Interfaith Center for Responsible Investment (ICCR).

In it, we call on Congress to reject piecemeal immigration-related orders and directives that only prolong uncertainty and create confusion and, instead, come together to enact comprehensive immigration reform that protects all stakeholders and fosters long-term economic growth.

We urge the business and investment communities to join this effort, as the uncertainty created by disruptive and discriminatory anti-immigrant policies will have broad financial and legal implications across the private sector, impacting all its participants.

The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany were reminded during Catholic Sisters Week of the tremendous impact they have had on communities and individual community members.

During a luncheon celebrating Catholic Sisters Week on March 10, Olean Mayor William Aiello read a proclamation saying, in part, “Catholic Sisters are the embodiment of what Jesus taught his followers during the Sermon on the Mount. … They have been a strong and active presence in the Olean Area for generations,” tending to the sick, teaching students and feeding the poor, “serving our community and inspiring faith in our community.”

Before reading the proclamation, the mayor – who attended St. John’s School in Olean – said, “My life is what it is today because of the Franciscan Sisters.” After reading the proclamation, he offered his “sincere gratitude to all the Sisters who have had a profound effect on my life. Their contributions to the community are boundless.”

St. Bonaventure University President Dr. Jeff Gingerich also spoke during the luncheon, telling Sisters they have had “such an impact of my understanding of what it means to be Franciscan, and I don’t let you know that enough.”

He also talked about the current political landscape regarding education.

“We don’t quite know what’s happening with the federal government, (but) we don’t really operate with a political agenda. We operate as a Franciscan university and that’s our mission.”

He said he was struck by the opening prayer’s mention of justice and mercy, healing and compassion, in a world burdened by violence, injustice and indifference.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on (in the world)” he said. “I’m so glad we can be a part of a community that’s grounded in compassion, grounded in integrity, mercy and kindness and love. Few communities are as grounded in this as the Franciscan Sisters community.”

Brother Joe Kotula of Mt. Irenaeus (The Mountain) noted that the Sisters “supported Fr. Dan Riley tremendously,” in his efforts to start the community, even serving on the board of trustees. He joked that if not for Sr. Paul Cosmas Gagne, The Mountain’s chapel wouldn’t have restrooms, but she insisted on it. He also mentioned Sr. Ann Rothmeier’s enthusiastic, “Right on,” when she approved of a project.

He also talked about the Sisters’ commitment to peace and justice, and the grants they give to take students to talk personally to politicians about what matters to them.

Fr. John O’Connor, Guardian of St. Bonaventure Friary, who could not attend the event, did send a letter (read by Pastoral Care Director Rev. Carrie Wolfe) thanking the Sisters for being “a most important presence in our lives and in our ministry, not just here at St. Bonaventure, but also in the legacy Holy Name Province.”

He said he got to know the Sisters when he was in formation working at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. He said the lessons he learned from the Sisters “greatly helped me in subsequent years in ministry and in leadership.”

He added that he is not alone in the experience as “many friars have spoken of their valuable partnership with the Sisters.”

On March 12, Sisters planted “peace,” prayed for peace and are now letting peace grow in their hearts.

During a Peace Plant & Pray event, Rev. Carrie said studies by the American Psychiatric Association show that the number one reason people say they are angry is feeling forgotten and that they didn’t belong anywhere.

That’s why she thought planting Forget-Me-Nots would be a good way to manifest peace.

“We will plant some peace as we gather around the peace pole, as we gather around Christ,” she said. “We could plant some Forget-Me-Nots as our way of standing against anger in the world.”

After the planting, Sisters listened to three songs by singer/songwriter Carrie Newcomer, listened to some Scripture readings and said some prayers, all related to spreading peace.

As an outward symbol of spreading peace, and letting peace grow, Sisters were given peace badges.

Rev. Carrie said, “This will be our badge as we patiently and trustingly wait for peace. It’s a reminder that we need to keep peace in our own heart (because) we can’t give what we don’t have.”

On March 14, during luncheon tea, Sisters heard from former St. Bonaventure University President Sr. Margaret Carney.

“I cherish wonderful memories of being a neighbor and sister to you in the years I lived in Allegany and Olean,” she said in a letter read by Rev. Carrie.

She wrote that some of the highlights include daily or Sunday Mass with the Sisters; the creche scene in front of St. Elizabeth Motherhouse during the Christmas season; the annual Shower for Mary; Sisters standing witness for peace in the park year in and year out; Sisters returning to Allegany for Chapters or Jubilee celebrations; and “your constant help and prayer for St. Bonaventure University.”

She added, “Even though we are all facing aging and limits on our capabilities, we still have hearts for service and consciences of prayerful compassion. May you always be models of such hearts and grace-filled spirits.”

Congregational Minister Sr. Margaret Magee has received information from Fr. Joe Monahan, TOR, chaplain at Our Lady of Lourdes/Virtua in Camden, New Jersey, on the hospital’s upcoming 75th Anniversary celebration.

In planning for the anniversary, they are having a new altar, ambo and presider’s chair built. It should be completed by July 1, 2025, the anniversary of the day the hospital opened.

They are working on a date for the new bishop of Camden, Joseph Williams, to consecrate the new altar during the anniversary.

We’ll have more information on the celebration as we receive it.

After many years of enjoying the blessings of ministry in the field of catechesis in parish and diocesan leadership formation in New York and Boston, I am now in my “semi-retirement” years, and ministering with and for the international missionary congregation of the Augustinians of the Assumption (Assumptionists) in Brighton, MA. 

It is a congregation I first met in the early 70s when I was a team member for family retreats at The John XXIII Retreat Center in Cassadaga, NY. Our community had first come to know the Assumptionists when their fathers would come to celebrate Mass, as needed, at our retreat house in Alden, NY.

My ministry today encompasses the areas of communication with two newsletters, the daily updating of their website with posting articles, news, general information in the province (U.S., Canada and Mexico,) interviews of new members of the province, some development involvement with their Mass Guild (similar to our Mission Society) and the joy of facilitating and membership in two groups of their Lay Assumptionists (similar to our Associates) here in Boston and in their parish in Sturbridge, MA. In addition, the congregation in the U.S. also has communities at Assumption University in Worcester and a shelter and two parishes in El Paso, Texas.

One of the most nourishing opportunities I have at the Center is what I call “ministry of presence,” which enables me to participate and give witness in sharing our Franciscan spirit and tradition in all forms of prayer, special activities and events which often involve formation opportunities around church issues of the day, various cultural celebrations, and special events. In the resident community there are eight religious and seven young laymen (who are not seminarians) but are either working in the area or are studying for post graduate degrees in near-by colleges or universities. The house also includes six provincial staff members of men and women from Monday through Friday. In total, anyone visiting the Center could run into someone from nine different countries, which also reflects our Franciscan values of gospel living. Talk about the gift of universality and diversity of the Church!

As I said, I am most grateful to our congregation and the generosity of God’s grace to be able to minister in this corner of God’s Kingdom.