F rom our life of prayer flows our ministry. In joy and gratitude for the Lord's daily provision for us, we in turn respond to the needs of our local church and community.  We strive in simple ways to make known God's merciful love by serving the poor, the elderly and the sick, and by evangelization and teaching the faith through programs like our "Reach Out" class and parish missions.

"L ike our Father Francis, we are called to be contemplatives in the world, leaving the solitude of prayer to bring Christ's light and salvation to the world."

Corporal Works of Mercy

M ay we share in the compassion of Christ as we contemplate His Crucified face in those who suffer, the poor, the sick and the unevangelized." (Constitutions)

Downtown Ministries

Our sisters are present to the people of downtown Steubenville in various ways. Visiting and eating with the people at the soup kitchens is a primary way we minister to them. We run a catechetical soup kitchen called LAMP where we serve breakfast and a bag lunch. We also present a catechetical lesson fostering an opportunity for the people to develop a personal relationship with the Lord. Many times this lesson comes in the form of a skit and usually the people of downtown are more than willing to be apart of it! We also do an arts and crafts project for the children who are present helping them to grow in their understanding of God's love for them.

We are also involved in a soup kitchen on Fridays where we pick up junior high students from the Catholic School in Steubenville and bring them to serve the people. It is awesome to see how the students blossom as they partake in every Christian's responsibiliy: to serve the needs of others.

Another way we minister to the downtown area, and the most prominent way, is through our thrift store and emergency food bank we run called Samaritan House. Samaritan House enables the sisters to have one-on-one contact with the people of downtown. It also provides an opportunity to pray with and talk to them. Through our presence downtown we try to uphold the dignity of each person we meet and bring them an experience of God's merciful and unconditional love.

Above, Sr. Della Marie is helping a customer at Samaritan House.

Above Sr. Catherine Lynn and Sr. Carrie Ann help the children at LAMP with the craft project.

Every year at least one sister is blessed with the opportunity to go on a mission trip through Francicsan University's Missions of Peace program. Above on the left Sr. Monica is being a tangible sign of God's love for a little girl in Equador. On the right, is a picture taken when Sr. Mary Ann went on a medical mission trip to Jamaica. Our other ministries include taking Communion to the sick in the hospital and visiting the elderly in nursing homes.

Spiritual Works of Mercy

One of our Mission Houses is on the Franciscan University of Steubenville Campus in Gaming, Austria. There we do various ministries with and for the students such as spiritual direction, Bible study, and lead pilgrimages to Assisi. Below is a picture of the women's Bible Study group.

"May we be filled with apostolic joy in proclaiming Christ's love.  With Franciscan simplicity, we utilize our talents and creative energy for the furthering of God's kingdom, willing to be considered fools in the world's eyes for the sake of Christ."

Our apostolate also includes ministries which serve to renew Catholic life, such as catechesis, parish missions, and various roles of service in the parish and Catholic schools and community. 

In a local Catholic School, our sisters teach a program called "Reach Out" where we teach the older students skills on how to evangelize. At the end of the year they put what they have learned into practice and present a catechetical lesson to a younger class. Above Sr. TIna Marie is preparing the class for the teaching.

We also help out with the Steubenville Youth Group by serving as a member of the Core Team. It is so awesome to watch how the Lord moves and works in the lives of the youth! The above picture was taken at a Steubenville Summer Youth Conference.

Fostering Prayer

Being contemplative penitents, prayer is our primary ministry. We value and safeguard our life of prayer because we know that without it our efforts, our ministry, and our life would not bear as much fruit. It is from our life of prayer that our ministry flows. We learn what mercy and love is by being at the foot of the Cross with Our Lady receiving Christ's love and mercy and once received, we are are able to pour it out on the world. Part of the "pouring" is helping others to foster their own prayer life and personal relationship with the Lord. Below is a picture of Sr. Joan Paule and Sr. Della Marie leading a rosary walk during a May Crowning procession.

Parish Missions are an excellent way to evangelize and promote a deeper understanding of Catholic life. It is an awesome opportunity to delve into the great gifts that we have as Catholics and to renew the zeal and enthusiasm in the hearts of the faithful. Above Sr. Eliana uses a young parishioner to help foster an appreciation of the Mass. Below sisters begin their parish mission with a fun icebreaker.

We are also given opportunities to lead retreats for different occasions. Below is a picture taken from a retreat for Secular Franciscans that our sisters helped to lead.

In our efforts to build up the "culture of life", as Pope John Paul II exhorted us, some of our sisters are blessed to be able to work with men and women who may be suffering from past abortions in our participation in Rachel's Vineyard Retreats. We have also worked with a Crisis Pregnancy Center in the area who assist pregnant women in need.

A number of our sisters are asked to speak periodically at various functions such as conferences, retreats, and on college campuses.

"As servants of the cross of Christ, our mission is to bring God's mercy into the world so that all may be reconciled and brought into communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. By our commitment to the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, we follow the pattern of Christ and His faithful servant, Francis, in preaching by both word and deed. " (Constitutions)