Sisters of St. Francis
of Penance and Christian Charity
Stella Niagara, New York
Sisters of St. Francis
of Penance and Christian Charity
Stella Niagara, New York
Stella Niagara Franciscans
The Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, Holy Name Province (HNP), has its motherhouse at Stella Niagara, New York.
We are part of an international congregation founded in 1835 in the Netherlands by Mother Magdalen (Catherine) Damen.
The presence of the congregation in the United States dates from 1874, when the first three missionary sisters, accompanied by general superior Mother Aloysia Lenders, arrived in Buffalo, New York. In 2024, we are celebrating 150 years of ministry in the United States.
The common website for the North American provinces and communities of The Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity can be found at franciscanway.org.
Who We Are
Who We Are
Holy Name Province is one of eight provinces and two communities worldwide, with headquarters located in Rome, Italy.
Our Charism
Like Francis of Assisi and Magdalen Damen,
we trust God's goodness and providence,
living the Gospel in our time with gentle courtesy toward all creation.
Our Mission
We are women choosing to live the gospel of Jesus Christ as Sisters of St. Francis in the spirit of our foundress, Magdalen Damen.
Our diversity of gifts is a power we choose to use for and with others because we are sisters to all. Conscious of our personal, communal, and national experience of history, sin, and grace, we, as people of God, commit ourselves to human rights, ecological harmony, and global peace.
Wherever we live and serve, we contemplate the Word of God and call one another to conversion of heart in order to transform unjust structures and to hear the cry of the poor. Trusting in God and open to risk, we walk with courage.
Our Ministries
The areas of service where our sisters live out their mission
Our Ministries
The areas of service where our sisters live out their mission
Presence and Prayer
Through many years of active ministry, Sisters have served God's people in various areas of need. As they advance in age, the Sisters continue to serve, whether in active ministry or in prayer ministry.
Education
Although our sisters have served as educators in dozens of schools, two have special significance as sponsored institutions: Buffalo Academy of the Sacred Heart and Stella Niagara Education Park.
Hospitality and the Center of Renewal
The Center of Renewal provides a peaceful and beautiful environment for spiritual, educational, and physical renewal. Through hospitality and sponsored events, the Center of Renewal works to carry out the mission of the Sisters of St. Francis.
Local and International Missions
Our Sisters are active in a variety of local ministries as well as international missions in Chiapas, a southern Mexican state, and Tanzania.
SPONSORED INSTITUTIONS
Contact Us
Contact Us
Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity
Holy Name Province
4421 Lower River Rd
Stella Niagara, NY 14144
Provincial Secretary:
716-754-4311 ext 764