The Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception
The Missionary Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Conception (MFIC) are an international religious congregation of Catholic women dedicated to living the Gospel through service, simplicity, and compassion, especially among the poor and marginalized.
The congregation was founded by Elizabeth Hayes, who was an Anglican convert to Catholicism. Elizabeth was born in Guernsey, in the Channel Islands.
Elizabeth (Mother Mary Ignatius of Jesus) opened her first mission in Belle Prairie, Minnesota, USA in 1873. Many founders are associated with a particular place, but Elizabeth’s vision was trans-Atlantic. She modelled her dream of an international sisterhood and established her motherhouse in Rome. Elizabeth encouraged the Sisters to engage in a variety of ministries, so long as they responded to peoples’ needs at the time. She paved the way for ministries in education, foreign missions, assisting migrants and reaching out to the poor and needy. She was once described as a commanding woman, but not a demanding one. Her faith in the mission given her by God was strong and was tested many times by setbacks. As an intelligent and well educated woman she saw herself equal to men, and was respected by them. On one of her journeys to America she accompanied the first Poor Clare Nuns to the New World.
From Minnesota Elizabeth travelled to Georgia at a time when slavery was abolished. There she established two centers of education for young black people to enable them to enter into the world of employment. Later schools for black children were opened with the help of the SMA Fathers congregation from France.
Over the years and with the increase of vocations, the congregation grew and was able to serve in ministries in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Bolivia, and South Sudan. The variety of work included, education of children and adults, spiritual direction, health care, support to the abused, poor and marginalized.
The Sisters follow St. Francis of Assisi’s example, embracing a life of joy, simplicity, prayer and contemplation while actively engaging in ministries that promote healing and wholeness.
Today many of the Sisters are elderly and retired, but their spirit and interest in the mission of the Church is strong. Their main ministry now is praying for peace, for the immigrant, for the marginalized. and that the legacy once created by Elizabeth Hayes lives on in those whose paths they have crossed.
Sisters In Lurgan
Three Sisters came to Lurgan in February 2006 to begin a mission focusing on reconciliation and peace-making. The seed of this mission grew from a response at the congregation’s General Chapter in 2005 in Rome.
A number of Sisters various parts of the world attended a workshop in Belfast which educated them about the trauma suffered by the people of Northern Ireland during the “Troubles”. Since many of the congregation were native to Northern Ireland it was fitting there should be a presence there to join in on peace-making efforts. Lurgan was recommended as it was one of the towns most affected. The Sisters began work with St. Vincent de Paul Society, teaching English to the immigrants in the town and with visitation to those in need. Not long after, one of the Sisters was asked by the local Parish Priest to represent the Catholic Church in an outreach programme – The Community Outreach Group – newly established by both the leaders of the local Catholic and Church of Ireland leaders in the town, to invite both sides of the community together in an effort to educate and to help heal the trauma suffered. One Sister (Sister Elise) remains today and works with C.O.G. to continue the peace-making efforts.