Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY

Sister Anita Maria Ferreira da Silva, OSF

May 11, 1930 - October 22, 2025

Reception: August 5, 1954

Novitiate: August 16, 1955

First Profession: August 16, 1956

Perpetual Profession: August 16, 1962

“Death is the Lord’s embrace to be lived with hope!” Pope Francis.

On May 11, 1930, Anna Ferreira da Silva was born in the city of Goiás, the daughter of Mr. Antônio Ferreira da Silva and Mrs. Josephina de Bastos Ferreira. Anna received a missionary call to serve in education at a very young age and didn't hesitate to travel to the city of Ceres at the invitation of the Franciscan friars who had settled there with the mission of serving that community in religious and educational instruction. She spent a few years there, and it was her opportunity to meet the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, who had arrived in Ceres in February 1951, also with the mission of serving the youth of Ceres. God's plans are unfathomable; could this have been the moment of Anna's calling to consecrated religious life?

What we do know is that Anna sought to know what God had in store for her and, in 1954, entered the Postulancy at the Sant'Ana Convent in Anápolis, Goiás, where she began her life in the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. The following year, 1955, she was received into the Canonical Novitiate at the Santa Elizabeth Convent in Allegany, New York, where she made her First Religious Profession, changing her name to Sister Anita Maria, as was customary at the time. Returning to Brazil, she remained for two years at the Mãe Admirável Convent, serving in the Pastoral da Educação (Education Ministry) as a primary school teacher and accompanying the Legion of Mary. Her life was guided by the art of teaching, working in Education from 1957 to 1973, impacting the lives of many families through her noble mission as an educator and in the Catechetic Ministry. During this time, she served on many missions, including the Convento Mãe Admirável, the Congregation's regional headquarters; the Convento Imaculada Conceição in Ceres, where she returned; the Convento Santa Maria Goretti in Goiandira; the Convento São Miguel Arcanjo in São Miguel do Araguaia; and the Convento Nossa Senhora de Fátima in Porangatu.

We are certain that her life dedicated to mission has left its mark on many people. In 1974, Sister Anita arrived at the Convento Menino Jesus, working in the Pastoral da Saúde (Health Ministry) as an Administrative Assistant at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia in Anápolis and also studying Hospital Administration. A shift from academic education to caring for life, from teaching writing to learning how to manage, her life following the course of the mission, just as Mary, who heard the voice of the Lord and kept it in her heart, Sister Anita answered the Lord's call so many times that in 1978 she returned to the Convent of Our Lady of Fátima in Porangatu, staying until 1981, where she celebrated her Silver Jubilee in 1980. Celebrating Jubilee! 25 years of service and dedication, having Jesus as the Way, Truth, and Life, and managing through prayer and fraternal life the setbacks that life brings. In 1982, she returned to the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Anápolis as Administrator, remaining in this position until 1984.

Since the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany are always attentive to the Lord's call, from 1985 to 1988, Sister Anita served as an Administrative Assistant at the Cassiano Campolina Hospital in Entre Rios, Minas Gerais. Her life was like this, steeped in dedication, prayer, and fraternity. Her compassionate demeanor and unmistakable clear eyes marked the history of generations. Among her many years of dedication, Sister Anita lived at the San Damiano Convent in Anápolis, where she served with such love and zeal at the Adolescent and Child Center (NACRI), where her remarkable presence will never be forgotten by so many needy families there. In 2014, with her health already weakening, she heard the Lord's call to rest, take care of her health, and live fraternally at the Convento Mãe Admirável, the place where she lived her final years, receiving all the professional and fraternal care that she dedicated to so many people for so many years. We know that Sister Anita, throughout her life, as a Franciscan Sister of Allegany, served on many other missionary fronts, in many services, dedicating her life to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Today, we gather, sisters, family, and friends, to bid farewell, give thanks, and ask that Sister Anita watch over us from heaven, where Saint John Paul II welcomes her into the choir of saints.

She leaves a legacy of service, prayer, and fraternity that will continue to inspire the religious community and all those who had the privilege of knowing her.

Translated with DeepL.

For original Portuguese:

Breakfast Visitors

One of the best things about living and working at the Motherhouse is the friends who visit for breakfast.

Sister Carol is among those who showed off their artistic talents by making fall wreaths.

In the foreground, Sister Ann Martin shows off her finished wreath.

Earlier this month, 10 Associates in Allegany renewed their commitment to the Associate Way of Life for a year. The prayer was a beautiful act of love for Franciscan spirituality and willingness to strive for an ever-growing understanding of faithful living.  

Sr. Cathy Cahill, the newly elected Congregational General Minister shared her own journey within the Allegany community and invited the Associates to join the congregation in prayer each day. Sr. Kathy Maire followed with her own reflections on life as an Allegany sister and invited the Associates to reflect on how their faithfulness to Franciscan life influences their understanding of life and ministry.  She stated that the sisters viewed the Associates as a blessing and challenged them to offer their reflections in order for the sisters to better understand their particular contributions to the congregation.

All were invited to share a meal with the sisters following the ceremony.

Sr. Cathy Cahill, Congregational Minister

Sr. Kathy Maire, Associate Minister

“BayCare Creates: Project Teddy Bear”

Project Teddy Bear gave team members the opportunity to adopt a BayCare Bear, in partnership with FiCare Credit Union, which donated 500 bears for this contest.

Teams were encouraged to be creative in dressing up the bear and placing him/her in a scene for submission in a BayCare-wide competition. The St. Joseph’s Hospitals Mission Integration Team entered its bear, Francis.

“Our bear Francis is happy to take the name and habit of St. Francis of Assisi to honor the Saint and the legacy of our Founders, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany,” Mission Integration Coordinator Katrina Gill said.

Decorated teddy bears will be donated to BayCare Kids for redistribution in the community, and any unclaimed bears will be given to patients through Child Life Services at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital.

Thanks to Katrina for the submission.

The Franciscan Sisters of Allegany arrived in Brazil in 1946, in the city of Pires do Rio, Goiás. Their first visit to the Associates was in this same city, the place where it all began. They then visited Associates and Sisters in Anápolis, Goiás, Palmas, Tocantins, Joanápolis, Goiás, and Ceres, Goiás, respectively.

The meetings were planned in a welcoming manner: Songs, Prayer, and Reflection. Then, Sr. Colleen Brady and Linda Dees, FSA Associate Co-Directors, took charge of delving deeper into the Vision, Mission, and Values Statement, allowing the Associates to share their personal reflections. Sr. Rosimeire, in turn, called for the members to apply these “values” to their personal experience. As a sign of commitment, each Associate received an Associate pin and candle, while they sang the hymn: “The Lord is lighting lights…” At the end of the meeting, the Associates were blessed by the Sisters of Allegany present.

Their first visit highlight of the meetings was the warm welcome of the Associates from all the Communities visited. They were days of joy and fraternal experience.

Our thanks to the Sisters and Associates for their warm hospitality and to the translators who graciously facilitated clear communication.

Sr. Colleen and Linda Dees invited Sr. Marinêz and Sr. Rosimeire to evaluate the presence of the Associates’ Way of Life in the Brazil Region. The atmosphere was one of fraternal dialogue.

Dear Sisters and Associates,

Peace and Good!

The Presidential elections in our country were held in a calm and hopeful atmosphere, but the results were a disappointment for many as well as for us. The winners seem to be a replica of those who have been there for the last twenty years.  Anyway, time will tell.

Our protection and trust, always in God the Merciful Father.

We greatly appreciate all your solidarity and prayers for Bolivia in one of its most important stages.  Thank you very much.

With love and prayers,

Elvira and Maria, OSF

Sisters Judith (who took the picture), Gloria and Cathy, were among the people who attended Canticle Farm’s Music in the Garden on Sunday, October 19.

(Other photos provided by Canticle Farm)

Music was provided by the band Nothing to Lose, Paul Psathas of the band Not Norman, and Terry Bellamy & Band. Rain held off for most of the day, so children (and adults) were able to play outside and enjoy the new community garden.

The event was held to celebrate the recent successes of Canticle Farm, including the new garden, and grant funding that provided tools and an irrigation system among other improvements.

Canticle Farm volunteers and staff thanked everyone who enjoyed the show and supported the Franciscan Food Pantry Program. They also wanted to remind people that they accept online donations for the food panty on their website.

October 4 was declared Mount Alvernia/Chetwood Day in Montego Bay in recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany establishing Mount Alvernia Prep, Mount Alvernia High and Chetwood Memorial Primary schools in the city.

Going forward, October 4 will be celebrated annually as Mount Alvernia/Chetwood Day in Montego Bay.

The designation ceremony was part of the year-long celebration of the founding of the schools.

During the ceremony, Montego Bay Mayor Richard Vernon said the schools have “shaped the very soul of Montego Bay,” and he talked about the sisters “arriving with little more than conviction and compassion.”

You can see and hear video of his remarks here:

You can read the Jamaica Gleaner article here:

Last week, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany received a special citation and the Key to the City of Montego Bay, St James, during the parish’s 2025 Heroes Day Civic Awards Ceremony.

The presentation was also part of the year-long centennial celebration of Mt. Alvernia High School, Mt. Alvernia Preparatory School, and Chetwood Memorial Primary School in St James, all of which were founded by the Franciscan Sisters in 1925.

“I only wish that the Franciscan Sisters who were here at the very beginning could be here to enjoy this, to appreciate and to see how grateful this city is and continues to be," said Sister Odette Haddad.

Photos courtesy of The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper.

Remembering 50 years of working on responsible investing with Investor Advocates for Social Justice, our Allegany Congregation first got involved in the antiapartheid movement in South Africa. 

Founded in 1975 as the Tri-State Coalition for Responsible Investment, we as members started attending meetings with religious communities and other faith-based investors over the years. 

As part of an area called Shifting Gears – addressing human rights in the Auto Sector in 2017 – we purchased shares in the General Motors corporation to investigate human rights risks in the supply chain used by automobile manufacturers, e.g. rubber used in tires, pig iron and leather in Brazil and other countries.

Currently, we work with IASJ on indigenous people’s rights as well as climate and dignity, peace and demilitarization, immigrants and workers’ rights. They give us reports quarterly which are reviewed by the Finance Committee.

As stated by IASJ, constructive, transparent, and respectful engagements between investors and companies are an essential element of our work.  “As responsible investors, we advocate for responsible business conduct not only because it is the right thing to do but also is good for business. We conduct extensive research to understand the business model and potential barriers to change within the companies we engage. We explore ways to address environmental, social, and corporate governance that can lead to positive outcomes for impacted stakeholders as well as the companies and shareholders.”

Our work with IASJ helps us to partner with stakeholders – like providing proxy “tickets” for individuals to attend company annual meeting and possibly to ask questions of the Board and corporate officers. We encourage companies to meet with community groups directly.  

All of this helps us to advocate for an equitable economy following the social teachings of the Catholic Church.