St. Clares
In the thirteenth century, Francis of Assisi answered a call from God to leave all and follow the Gospel way of life. H e became a prophet to the people in his time who were involved in war and fighting because of their greed for money and power. His simple and joyful life brought the peace and joy of Jesus to all.
In the mid-nineteenth century, Elizabeth Hayes left her life as a sister in the Anglican Church to become a Catholic, and like Francis answ ered her special call from God to follow Jesus more closely. Through her life of prayer and reflection as a Catholic sister, Elizabeth came to know and trust the Spirit of God within her. This complete trust in God\rquote s Spirit led her to establish the Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in 1873, in Belle Prairie, Minnesota, USA In addition to her vows of poverty, chastity and obedience, she made a fourth vow to dedicate her lif e to the missions. She was ready to leave home and country to reach out to all people wherever she saw a real need.
Fifty years ago four Missionary Fanciscan Sisters, Srs. Agnella, Agnes, Leo and Rose, set out from Australia to serve God\rquote s people in Papua New Guinea. On September 16, 1949 they arrived in Sissano and that day began the task of planting and nurturing in new soil the dream of Elizabeth Hayes that they carried in their hearts. The first Papua New Guinean women were received into the novitiate on 6th of August 1978.
Today, we, Missionary Franciscan Sisters, continue to live the spirit of St. Francis and of Elizabeth Hayes as messengers of peace and joy to God\rquote s people as we live together in union with God and one another. We are a mixed community of expatriate and national sisters trying to carry the Word, Jesus, in the depths of our being; trying to carry the Word, and like Mary, give birth to the Word s o that Jesus becomes alive and active in our lives and in the lives of those to whom and with whom we are ministering.
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St. Clares, front to back (left-right): Sr. Maryanne Waimba, Sr. Mary Paropet, Sr. Theresia Salatum, Sr. Rosemary Milur and Sr. Helen Neini For more information about our way of life please contact: Sr. Theresa Salatum St. Clare Convent - P.O. Box 179, Aitape - Sandaun Province 553 - Papua New Guinea Phone: (675) 857 2068, Fax: (675) 857 2056 |
Our Province (our particular group
in PNG) is called the Mother of the Word Province and the symbol
we have chosen for our Province is the "bilum".
"Bilum" is a Melanesian word for womb as
well as for string bag. In the womb new life begins and is
nurtured. The bilum provides a powerful image for us as women
religious. As St. Francis said, "You are mothers when
you bear Christ for the world." To bring forth the Word
incarnate, Jesus Christ, in this culture is the task of the
Mother of the Word Province.
Our sisters are involved in:
