Franciscan Sisters Celebrate 50 Years as a Province

The Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate celebrated its 50th anniversary as a Province March 25 with a Mass and meal at St. Francis Convent.

Bishop Patrick J. Zurek was the main celebrant at the Mass, with Monsignor Norbert Kuehler, Father Ed Sweeney and Father Anthony “Tony” Romo, concelebrating.

The Amarillo Province is one of six Provinces of the Franciscan Sisters of Mary Immaculate, with two provinces in Colombia and additional Provinces in Panama, Ecuador and Switzerland, according to Sister Valentine Curry, FMI, Local Superior of St. Francis Convent, Amarillo.

“My role as Local Superior is to oversee the activities of our local house,” she said. “Our local house is the home of elderly and infirm sisters. My job is make sure that everyone has what they need and to try to keep their spirits up.”

Sister Valentine said she is grateful to Bishop Zurek and all the Bishops who have supported the Franciscan Sisters since they arrived in the Diocese of Amarillo in 1932.

“We would also like to thank all those who joined us, most of them are our benefactors,” she said. “Without their help this little house would not be able to manage.”

But Sister Valentine also asks for prayers for vocations.

“We all need to pray for vocations, not just to our congregation, but for all congregations,” she said. “There are vocations. It’s just a matter of people encouraging their sons and daughters to follow the call and answer their vocation.

“Many people look at religious life as one of too much sacrifice. While there is sacrifice, there is also great joy in our lives. If someone has a vocation, they really needs to be encouraged to answer that call.”