During Mission and Heritage Week, October 4 – October 10, the Felician Sisters of North America celebrated their mission, ministry and heritage across various ministries. This annual week-long celebration commenced on the Feast Day of St. Francis, October 4th, and concluded on the Feast Day of Blessed Mary Angela, October 10th, all under the theme ‘Reverencing the Other: Fostering Cultures of Encounter.’
From left, SM Ramona Dombrowski, SM Clarette Stryzewski, SM Beatrice Knipple (with Cookie), Fr. Sante DeAngelis, SM Victoria Richardson, Monica Edaburn and Veronica Kowalski
Students and teachers at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School honored past Felician Sisters with prayers and reflections for their dedication and ministry, as well as the repose of the souls of our deceased Felician Sisters. Felician Village dedicated the week by reflecting on core values through videos featuring themes of Respect for Human Dignity, Justice and Peace, Compassion, and Transformation.
St. Felix Centre celebrated by hosting activities and even a free Pet Vaccine Clinic, emphasizing their commitment to the well-being of all beings. Villa St. Francis‘s week included a pet blessing, Mass in honor of St. Francis, and presentations on saints embodying the Felician core values.
Madonna University hosted the Franciscan Symposium on “Reverencing the Other,” inspiring attendees with insights from Sister Maryann Agnes Mueller. Throughout the week, they also hosted a variety of events, including a pet blessing, days of service, interfaith prayer service, liturgy in honor of Blessed Mary Angela, and more. Villa Maria College commemorated Mission and Heritage Week with events like Franciscan trivia, a community celebration, and service initiatives. Felician University conducted a Blessing of the Animals ceremony in honor of St. Francis.
Angela Hospice observed the Feast Day of St. Francis by focusing on compassion, echoing the mission and core values of the Felician Sisters. Marywood Nursing Care Center planned a special Blessed Mary Angela Foundress event, fostering a sense of community. Meanwhile, St. Anne Home celebrated the week by showing appreciation to their employees and commemorating the feast of St. Francis.
St. Francis and Blessed Mary Angela serve as shining examples for us. St. Francis, whose feast day we celebrated at the beginning of Mission and Heritage week, lived a life of love, emulating God’s love by praising and caring for all of creation, serving the poor, and embracing the marginalized. Similarly, Blessed Mary Angela dedicated her life to meeting the needs of her time, serving God and all with joy. They both imitated Jesus by offering love and care to everyone, especially the unseen, shunned and most in need.
Together, the mentioned ministries, alongside many others throughout our province, demonstrated their commitment to our Felician heritage and core values. Their collective efforts during Mission and Heritage Week reflect a deep appreciation for the principles upheld by St. Francis and Blessed Mary Angela. All our ministries continue to their dedication to fostering cultures of encounter and serving those in our communities.
To learn more about Blessed Mary Angela, visit our website.
