Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY

News & Updates

October 12, 2026

Where God, Respect, and Family Unite

By: Sr. Lorraine Chen, OSF

The school motto for St. Aloysius Primary School in Kingston, Jamaica, is “Where God, Respect and Family Unite.” On Monday, October 5th, Sr. Odette, Sr. Teresita, Sr. Lorraine and Jeanne Croskery, a partner-in-mission, attended a special presentation at St. Aloysius Primary School and St. Joseph’s Infant School. We first went to St. Aloysius School where over 1,000 students waited quietly for the beginning of this special assembly. It was awesome to see all these boys and girls so alert and ready to learn despite the tropical weather conditions. We learned later that there is a breakfast program for all the students.

The school assembly included highlights of the life of St. Francis of Assisi, the singing of the

Peace Prayer of St. Francis, and the introduction of the Sisters and their connection with the

school. The influence and legacy of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany were clearly evident,

along with the prominent display of the Franciscan core values, the mission statement, and

the school’s logo which bears the Franciscan coat of arms.

We then went next door to St. Joseph’s Infant School where we were warmly greeted by the

principal, the teachers, the staff and students. It was clearly obvious that there was a holistic

approach to the education of these 3 to 6-year-old boys and girls. There was a fantastic stage

presentation of singing, dancing and an instrumental selection. The classrooms were

attractively decorated and enhanced the educational experience. We were impressed

with the achievements of both schools.

The air-conditioned computer lab and the media center were updated and well-equipped.

There were services that were available to assist the learning process, such as, a school clinic,

a Guidance Therapeutic Center, and a comprehensive listing of extracurricular activities.

The school canteen provides a hot meal daily for the students, which, for some, is the only meal

for the day. The question that comes to mind is “How is all of this funded?” The response is

mainly through grants, especially, through the St. Elizabeth Mission Society and the Allegany

Franciscan Ministries ACOR.

During the presentation by the St. Joseph’s Infant School students, we learned the historical

background to the beautiful floral display, WELCOME BACK HOME! Here is an excerpt.

In 1838, the author, John Watts, used these words to describe the home at 74-76 Duke Street. “The new house was just as one imagines a Victorian convent in the Caribbean. It was an elegant detached villa of red bricks with lawns at the rear, across the black-clad Sisters moved silently. At that time, it was the current home of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany where they had their convent and a little school known as Immaculate Conception Academy.

A seed was planted which, through prayer, sacrifice, dedication and resilience, has

matured and blossomed. Kudos to the principals, Benece Baker-Dunn and Rose Marie Clarke,

the teachers, the staff, the parents, and the students!

Longtime FSA Finance Manager Ellen Weaver has retired, but not without a proper sendoff from the Sisters as well as the staff of the Motherhouse, Congregational Office, Mission Society/Renodin Foundation, and Home Care & Hospice. The dietary staff, as always, impressed everyone with their culinary and artistic talents. We all wish Ellen a joyful retirement.

Sister Liliane shared these pictures of the service for

the Feast of St. Francis at St. Elizabeth Motherhouse.

The Franciscan Center in Tampa celebrated the 800th Jubilee of St. Francis with a daylong event featuring prayer, reflection, fellowship and care for creation.

Presented by the center’s executive direction Brian Lemoi, Br. Louis Canter, OSF, and Associate Cheryl Maggio, it included a Mass celebrated by Fr. Charlie Schmiech, OFM, a Fruit of the Earth luncheon, a Catholic Climate Covenant Commitment Ceremony and rededication of the restored outdoor St. Francis statue and ceremonial planting.

(Is Sr. Colleen telling Brian to go a little easier on the holy water?)

Canticle Farm is as busy as ever with classes, visits from school students and, of course, harvests and other regular farm activities.

They welcomed back the Franklinville High School Work-Based Learning class last week, and with Isaac's guidance, they prepared the rows for serviceberries, plus a few quince, persimmon, and mulberries. These students are literally laying the groundwork for the new community food forest.

There's been a lot of natural dyeing in the community garden lately. Gardener Kate Brelje has been growing dye plants and using the garden's fire pit to make dyes with friends. The groups have used indigo, Hopi dye sunflowers, marigolds, opal basil, cosmos, zinnias, sumac, goldenrod, and black walnuts. They've tried cotton fabric and wool yarn, and used various methods including dye vats, bundle dyeing, and pounding/hammering flowers.

Music is the theme of some upcoming classes at the farm.

All the information you need to register is in the following graphics.

And, the farm staff welcomed a new team member last week. They say they think he got tired of just watching them from the corner of the high tunnel and decided to join them.

For more information you can go to https://www.canticlefarm.org/

BayCare Health System is expanding its role in clinical research through its participation in the NORM-HF pivotal trial, an international study evaluating a new physiologically guided approach to heart failure management.

Interventional cardiologists Firas Almahasneh and Alok Singh performed the first implant of the investigational Norm™ System at BayCare’s St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa on Sept. 30. The study is led by Nirav Raval, MD, medical director of BayCare’s Heart and Vascular Institute, with Eugene DePasquale, MD, a heart failure and transplant specialist, serving as sub-investigator.

The system uses a small, implanted sensor placed in the inferior vena cava, a large vein that carries blood back to the heart. Patients take daily readings from home through a connected app that follows a physician-directed care plan.