Hawaii Catholic Herald
The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities are continuing their celebration of 20 years of unity of their three New York congregations.
Previously known separately as the Syracuse, Buffalo/Williamsville and Hastings-on-Hudson communities, the sisters in each location came together on July 11, 2004, to confirm their new status as one large community — named for St. John Neumann, the Philadelphia bishop who in 1855 invested three women as Franciscan sisters.
Hawaii Catholics are familiar with the Sisters of St. Francis of Syracuse thanks to Mother Marianne Cope, who arrived in the islands in 1883 with six other sisters to minister to patients with Hansen’s disease, also called leprosy. Pope Benedict XVI canonized Mother Marianne in 2012.
The sisters have become a crucial part of the isle community, providing health care, education and caregiving for generations.
The sisters quietly marked the July 11 anniversary with special prayers in the morning and evening.
In preparation for the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities’ general assembly in 2025, the sisters also held their regional meeting July 19-20. They reflected, prayed and discussed topics including missions, values and governance.
The sisters’ celebration will continue with Mass on July 21 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Ann Church in Kaneohe. All are welcome to attend.
Following is the prayer for unity released by the congregation to mark the anniversary.
Gracious God, we give thanks as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities and the journey that started so many years ago — and so many plans ago — and so many dreams ago.
We celebrate all the joys born in these 20 years. We celebrate all the happy times, all the accomplishments and all the triumphs. Thank you, Lord, for blessing us.
We acknowledge that there have been and will continue to be struggles. Yet we have traveled together under your protection and love. Thank you, Lord, for being with us in good times and bad.
We ask that you continue to protect, guide and sustain us as we carry on our journey together.
Celebrating 20 years of unity helps us rejoice in our present and look forward with eager eyes to the future. We pray that you will continue to make your love known among us. Give us zeal for mission.
Help us look beyond our walls to those who do not know you. Make this congregation be a blessing to those around us, and empower us to move forward with strength, hope and love toward what lies ahead. Amen.
