Mission and Ministry

As Sisters of St. Francis of the Holy Cross, our lives in Community are rooted in the Cross, Word, and Eucharist. Guided by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ, we compassionately respond to the needs of our times through prayer, presence and hospitality.

We serve as parish leaders, educators, health caregivers, campus ministers, artists, minority and environmental advocates, social workers, literacy counselors, retreat directors, missionaries and administrators. With the same courage, tenacity and faithfulness as our founders, we actively engage in improving the spiritual and material condition of those with needs.

We strive to live our Franciscan values in our relationships with all of God's creation. As we respond compassionately to today's needs we:

Uphold human dignity

• Provide for the spiritual and material needs of Community members and of those we serve
• Advocate respect for all life -- the unborn, elders, those with disabling conditions, and those on death row
• Work to reduce poverty in the world

Pursue peace

• Work toward a non-violent lifestyle like Jesus lived
• Teach non-violent conflict resolution
• Forgive one another and advocate for forgiveness as Jesus did
• Work toward the elimination of all forms of modern slavery including human trafficking
• Advocate redirecting excess military spending toward social needs

Promote Gospel Justice

• Teach Christian social principles
• Care for our Mother Earth
• Give voice to the voiceless