BUFFALO, NY, JULY 20, 2008

At their July 12 through 20 General Chapter meeting, 212 delegates representing the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities gathered at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Buffalo, NY to affirm their Franciscan values and set a direction for the congregation.

During their time together, sisters elected a new leadership team including: Sister Patricia Burkard, general minister; Sister Marian Rose Mansius, assistant general minister; as well as four general councilors: Sisters Frances Kowalski, Maria Salerno, Roberta Smith and Barbara Woody.

L to R: Sisters Barbara Woody, Roberta Smith, Marian Rose Mansius, Maria Salerno, Patricia Burkard, and Frances Kowalski

Among the week's activities was a public event held Wednesday, July 18 at St. Joseph's Cathedral in Buffalo where sisters gathered to affirm their stance on justice, human dignity and the rights of all immigrants.

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities were officially founded on July 12, 2004 when the Sisters of St. Francis of the Immaculate Virgin of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, the Sisters of St. Francis Third Order Regular of Buffalo (Williamsville Franciscans), and the Sisters of the Third Order of Syracuse, NY united to form the new congregation.  This marked the first union of Franciscan congregations in the U.S.  In August 2007, the Sisters of St. Francis of Millvale merged with the Syracuse-based congregation, making it one of the largest Franciscan congregations in the nation.

These four grew out of the same Philadelphia congregation that Sister Mary Francis Bachmann, Sister Mary Margaret Boll and Sister Bernardina Dorn founded with the guidance of St. John Neumann (then Bishop of Philadelphia) in 1855.

The congregation is comprised of 550 sisters who serve in the ministries of education, healthcare, pastoral care, the missions, social services and retreat work in 33 dioceses and archdioceses around the world, including Hawaii, East Africa, Peru, Puerto Rico and Canada.  In addition, it brings together 274 women and men known as Franciscan associates who share in the sister's spirituality and mission.

General Chapter meetings are conducted by the congregation every four years.  This was the first meeting of the reunited community.