Sister of St. Francs of the Neumann Communities Professed Vows

Syracuse, NY ­– On Saturday, August 2^nd the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities witnessed Sister Caryn Crook’s temporary profession of vows. This three year commitment took place during the 10:00 a.m. Eucharistic Celebration in St. Anthony Convent Chapel at 1024 Court Street, Syracuse, NY. Sister Patricia Burkard, OSF, General Minister, received her vows. On Friday, August 1^st at 7:00 p.m. Anne Marie Saphara, who has completed her first candidacy year, was officially received into the community and will begin her novitiate.

The novitiate is a period during which the novice experiences initiation into the religious life, and a time of intense spiritual preparation for commitment to God. The purpose of the temporary period is to provide a time of lived experience of the Franciscan vowed life in community as well as the experience of full-time ministry within the church. It is a time of immersion into the ordinary life of the community. The lifestyle and commitment are the same as that of the perpetually professed sisters.

“In a society that offers so many opportunities for women,” said Sister Patricia Burkard, “it is particularly gratifying to see two women publicly commit to living the Gospel message of Jesus Christ in the spirit of our patrons, St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare. As committed members of the Sisters of St. Francis, they join with our sisters in our mission to serve the needs of others through our various ministries. New members are critical to continuing our works of mercy and charity and we are grateful for the generous gift of the lives of these women. We encourage other women to consider joining our way of life.”

Sister Caryn, originally from Fulton, NY joined the Peace Corps after graduating from college and lived in the Central African Republic for two years teaching farmers how to raise fishponds. In 1991 she was hired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as a biological technician, and mostly focused on restoring marshes, but she knew something more was in store for her.

“My life as a religious has been filled with a peace and joy I never thought possible,” she said. “I am no longer waiting for something great to happen in my life, but am living fully. I am in an atmosphere where prayer and self discovery are of prime importance. I look forward to each day and continuing my journey with the Sisters of St. Francis.”

Sister Caryn ministers at the Spirituality and Nature Center at Alverna Heights in Fayeteville, NY where she is integrating her past career with the Fish and Wildlife Service with Franciscan theology of creation. She leads book clubs on St. Francis and the environment, manages the land for wildlife habitat and experiences of God in natural settings and works with school groups that come to learn more about ecology.

Ann Marie Saphara is originally from Auburn, N.Y. She graduated from Cayuga Community College before going on to earn a degree in Art and Education from SUNY Oswego. In 1983 she moved to Washington D.C. Ann Marie worked for Headquarters U.S. Air Force in the Pentagon and Northrop Grumman Corporation in Falls Church, VA as a graphic artist before entering the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities in September 2007.

Upon entering the novitiate, Ann Marie will be called Sister Ann Marie. “Entering the novitiate is important to me” she said, “because the sisters have granted me the opportunity to become the individual I hope God wants me to be. I am happy I have been able to respond to Christ’s call to come and live among women of prayer, learning and action.”

Ann Marie will be leaving for Joliet, Ill in September where she will be participating in the Common Franciscan Novitiate experience of prayer and study.

The Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities consists of 550 members 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 sisters’ spirituality and mission.