Our Spirituality
Like Francis and Clare, we seek to follow in the footprints of Jesus, encouraging one another to wholeness and radical
Gospel living. We gather in fraternitas with Jesus as our brother, opening our hearts in peace and reconciliation. We minister
to all, doing so with a special awareness of those rejected by society. We seek to love the poor as Jesus did and
to work towards enhancing human dignity and furthering social justice.
Our founders, Father Wilhelm Berger, Sister M. Coletta Himmelsbach and Mother M. Anatasia Bischler, leave the following strong legacy upon which we
build our spiritual lives.
- A prayerful discernment of God’s call and a steadfast and daring response to it
- Living the Franciscan way of life as “Sisters of mercy, joyous and poor"
- Willingness to go where needed, “doing works of neighborly love” with the apostolic freedom of a St. Vincent de Paul
- Trust in Divine Providence while embracing a life of poverty and joy
- Determination to live in community despite the obstacles
These characteristics are the foundation for our deeply rooted faith life. The following further identifies us as Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. We are women who:
- Are members of a religious institute of consecrated life
- Follow the Rule and Life of the Brothers and Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis in living the Gospel
- Live the evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty and obedience in community
- Embody the love of the heart of Jesus
- Enliven in our times and circumstances the spiritual legacy of St. Francis and St. Clare