Get to know more about the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia!  These sisters continue to make a difference in the  lives of God's people every day---through their ministries, their volunteer work, and their prayers.  We hope you enjoy reading more.

Congregational E-News  ~  Oct. 15, 2016
Fall---"a season of resting, a time to be still." What about my "season of resting," my "time to be still"? When do I provide this time in my busy life? Daily? Weekly? Or just "occasionally" or "sometimes"? Teach me, God of All Seasons, to provide time in my life so that I can store up nourishment for my inner life, time to rest and sleep in your nurturing presence. Only then, God of All Seasons, can I fully enjoy the reality of your ongoing awakening within my life!
Autumn
 
Pumpkins, gourds, and orange-colored trees
Gently swaying and dancing in the breeze
Leaves of golds and reds in sunlight glow
Preparing themselves to just let go
Splendor and beauty of harvest moon
Nature is speaking and singing her tune
Brother oak drops acorns galore
Squirrels are gathering their food to store
Mother bear is looking for a spot that's best
To hide and sleep for winter's rest
Geese migrating in vee formation
Sun's angle maps their destination
Fall is upon us, then winter's chill
A season of resting, a time to be still
Nature is at labor nourishing the earth
For spring's awakening, God's season of birth!

 
Phyllis Petryk
Franciscan Companion in Mission

Get to Know the Franciscan Charism

Franciscan Charism! Do you share it? Have you witnessed it?
What is Charism? It is a word used often here with the Sisters of St. Francis. Sr. Kathleen Moffatt described it best when she said, "It is the unique gift that God's Spirit has given to EVERY human being!" As Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia, we strive to live the Gospel through relationship. Our community life, our prayer life, and our ministries are about being in relationship with all that God has created. It is in living daily---the Third Order Regular Rule, our constitutions, our Mission Statement, and our Commitment Statement as well as the four values of the Third Order Regular---that Gospel relationship comes to life in joy. 

We are starting a movement of sorts using the hashtag #HowsYourCharismToday. Like our Facebook page to follow the #HowsYourCharismToday movement.  Feel free to share how you spread your charism.  Just make sure you use the hashtag. 

Meet Sr. Pat Moore


Sr. Patricia Moore's relationship with the Sisters of St. Francis dates back to her grade school years at St. Elizabeth School in Baltimore and later at the Catholic High School of Baltimore. "I found the sisters very friendly," she explained, "and they seemed to be very happy." That attraction deepened when Pat was a junior and joined a group of her classmates at a weekend retreat at the motherhouse. "It was a wonderful experience," she recalled---remembering even the detail of the cost---$25!

Sr. Pat's years in ministry began in education but eventually she studied nursing and ministered for many years at St. Agnes Hospital in Philadelphia. Her current ministry as part of the Franciscan Care Team in Assisi House, the sister's retirement residence, began in 2006. When she was at the Glen the weekend of her golden jubilee, she was asked if she would work at Assisi House for a year to fill in for a sister who was on sabbatical. At the end of that year, she was asked to continue and agreed if the work could be on a part-time basis. Currently Sr. Pat works as a volunteer along with a number of other sisters. Explaining why she chose to continue this ministry, Sr. Pat said, "I want to continue helping with the needs of our sisters. I enjoy being with them and I try to always be a joyful presence to them. I love to see them smile and laugh."   Read more

Read and learn about more of our sisters by visiting our Meet Our Sisters page.

Taking on Wells Fargo
 
Shareholders of Wells Fargo and members of the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility today announced that they have filed multiple resolutions as a result of fraudulent activities uncovered by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Wells Fargo recently reported a $185 million settlement with the CFPB due to widespread and systemic illegal acts of consumer fraud, including setting up two million deposit and credit card accounts for customers without their permission.

Sr. Nora Nash of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia said, "At our meeting with Wells representatives last December, we pressed for disclosure and we were denied the truth. Now we are confronted with painful accounts of fraud, including some 80,000 customers in Pennsylvania alone. As shareholders and customers ourselves, we feel betrayed and have no choice but to call for a full review of business standards through this resolution which we hope other shareholders will support."

Our website: www.osfphila.org has some good information.  Read more about the resolution by visiting our Active Actions page.   This resolution has been getting a lot of press.  To see the coverage visit our In the News  page.
Raffle Tickets on Sale Now

Annual Raffle Drawing - November 22, 2016

Grand prize of $5,000.  All proceeds benefit the ministries and retirement needs of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. Purchase a book of six tickets for $10 or individually for $2 each.   For information on how to participate, contact Sr. Kathleen Groome, (610) 558-6126, or  [email protected].

During the month of October, sisters will be visiting a number of parish churches at weekend Masses to make raffle tickets available. Click here for a list of upcoming parish sales if you wish to purchase your raffle tickets at one of these sales or invite your family or friends to purchase some.
The Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia | 610-558-7726 | [email protected] | www.osfphila.org
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