The Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist have tirelessly served the Arlington diocese since their arrival at St. Philip Church in Falls Church in August 2006. In honor of the order’s 50th anniversary last month, the Arlington diocese joined the religious women in celebrating the joyous occasion.
The Franciscan sisters were honored at Mass at St. Philip Church in Falls Church Jan. 7. The Mass was celebrated by Bishop Michael F. Burbidge and concelebrated by Father Jamie R. Workman, vicar general; Father Denis M. Donahue, pastor; Father Philip D. Briggs, parochial vicar; Msgr. John C. Cregan, former pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Alexandria; and Father Anthony E. Giampietro, president of St. Anselm’s Abbey School in Washington.
Bishop Burbidge thanked the religious women for their dedicated service to the diocese and for sharing the light of Christ with others. “You have that light; you are that light,” he said.
The order was founded by Mother Rosemae Pender and Mother Shaun Vergauwen in La Crosse, Wis., and became a Pontifical Community Dec.2, 1973. The order practices Franciscan spirituality, focusing on Eucharistic devotion and rebuilding the church. The first community began with 55 religious women. Today, the order has expanded to 12 communities internationally.
“It’s not a coincidence that you (have) a great love and devotion of the Holy Eucharist, which you make the center of your spiritual lives,” Father Workman said in his homily. From school administration to nursing to studying theology, the Franciscan sisters “take this Eucharistic love” and radiate it through their apostolates, he said.
Whenever a Franciscan sister encounters someone “and serves them with the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, you extend the renewal brought to your life into the world: a renewal of the love of Christ,” Father Workman said. “Each of us here today has been a benefactor of that reality.”
Father Donahue made a brief announcement before the final blessing, thanking the religious women. “You are a gift, you are a blessing, you are a treasure, and we love you,” he said. “St. Philip Parish feels so privileged, that of all the parishes you could have stayed at, it’s here that you’re here with us.”
Following Mass, the women religious, Bishop Burbidge and the parish community gathered for a reception in the parish hall.
Franciscan Sister of the Eucharist Mother General Miriam Siferman thanked the parish community for their ongoing support. “The one thing we know is who we are 50 years later, who we’ve become, and what we have done, we could never have done without all of you,” she said.
Mother Miriam recognized two of the order’s “founding members” who were present, Sisters Janet Siepker and Judith Gebelein, “who were there from the very beginning.” These women “have poured themselves out over 50 years. It is a bit daunting for those of us who are called to bring it into the next 50 years,” she said, drawing laughs from the crowd.
Sister Judith recalled when Bishop Emeritus Paul S. Loverde invited the Franciscan sisters to start an Arlington community.
“He said, ‘If you come, there will be vocations in the Arlington diocese.’ And now, we have four young women with us,” Sister Judith said. Five sisters originally came to Arlington, Sister Judith said, “We were coined ‘the Falls Church Five.’ ”
John Elliott, a parishioner of St. Philip, likened the Franciscan sisters to “a leaven to the parish.” He fostered a friendship with the religious women while renovating their mission home.
The Franciscan sisters contribute both their spiritual and professional lives to people from all walks of life in Northern Virginia, Elliott added. “Applying the charisms they have in their daily lives clearly speaks the Gospel to the people around them.”
Several parents of the religious sisters attended the celebration, including Angela Elliott (no relation to John), mother of Sister Marie Benedict Elliott.
“It’s been amazing and wonderful, totally unexpected, a gift, because she’s in such a wonderful community that I know she’s completely supported, that she is serving God in a way that brings her great joy,” she said. “I know that she’s supported by her community, and for any mother, that’s what you want for your child.”
