Are you drawn to the Franciscan way of life? Do you wonder what it would be like to be a Wheaton Franciscan Sister? Do you have the passion and desire to live and serve humbly?
As canonically vowed women religious, we live the Gospel values through a Franciscan lens. We live a life of contemplation and action, seeking always to integrate prayer and ministry. We respect the inherent dignity of all creation and challenge each other to deepen our Spirit-filled life. Living our particular charism, we are called to respond to the needs of the times. Through the public profession of the canonical vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity, we consecrate our lives to God, the church, and one another.
Contemplation and Action
We are called to be women of prayer and action in the spirit of Saint Francis, Saint Clare of Assisi, and Mother Clara Pfaender. Letting the spirit of prayer permeate the whole of our lives, we seek an attitude of awareness and presence that helps free the heart to be completely available and open to God working through us.
Love God, serve God; everything is in that.
Clare of Assisi
Canonical Vows
Poverty
We seek to be a prophetic sign of both the reality and the essence of religious poverty for the sake of the reign of God. We recognize that all that we are and all that we have is a gift from God to build God’s kin-dom.
Obedience
In the daily realities of our life together, we seek to discover and discern in and with one another how to manifest God’s love. Through trust-filled dialogue and shared responsibility, we work towards consensus in decision-making.
Chastity
As women called to a chaste life in celibacy, we recognize the primacy of Christ in our lives. Our growing intimacy with Christ is nourished through the Eucharist, prayer, and community living. This frees us to commit ourselves as daughters of God and sisters to the whole human family.
