Higher Education

Our three institutions of higher learning find inspiration from both St. Francis of Assisi and Felician foundress Blessed Mary Angela — offering students a distinctively Felician-Franciscan education, with opportunities to serve the needs of others. Each college or university has unique regional characteristics, stellar academics and a commitment to liberal arts education integrated with career preparation. Felician higher education strives to help students reach their full potential by offering tuition support and wraparound programs to ensure successful completion of degree programs.

Felician Sisters sponsor the following three schools.


Villa Maria College

Buffalo, NY

Founded in 1960, Villa Maria College prepares students to succeed academically, offering 19 degree programs across 6 departments. With over 500 students in a supportive, inclusive community, Villa strives to transmit Felician core values, forming leaders capable of doing good in the world.


Felician University

Lodi, NJ and Rutherford, NJ

Founded in 1923 as Immaculate Conception Normal School by the Felician Sisters, Felician University has campuses in Lodi and Rutherford, NJ. More than 2,000 students from diverse backgrounds enroll each year in a range of undergraduate, pre-professional, graduate and certificate programs. Steeped in Franciscan tradition, Felician University strives to help students develop into leaders who work for justice and peace. 


Madonna University

Livonia, MI

Established by Felician Sisters in 1937, Madonna University has become one of the largest Franciscan universities in the U.S., with an enrollment of approximately 3,000. Madonna University exemplifies Christian humanistic values, intellectual inquiry, respect for diversity and commitment to serving others through a liberal arts education. In Felician Franciscan tradition, Madonna shapes students to apply their knowledge and skills in meaningful service around the world.

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Serving where needed since 1874

Founded in Poland in 1855, the Felician Sisters are a congregation of women religious inspired by the spiritual ideals of their foundress, Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, and Saints Francis of Assisi, Clare of Assisi and Felix of Cantalice. Arriving in North America in 1874 following Blessed Mary Angela’s directive “to serve where needed,” they helped to weave the social service system. Today, the Felician Sisters founded, sponsor or support through the presence of our sisters, more than 40 ministries – all continuing to evolve to meet the needs of the people they serve.

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Provincial Offices

Provincial Information

  • Felician Sisters of North America is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.
  • EIN 27-1282473
Felician Sisters of North America