Intentional Communities

Women may choose to live the Franciscan Spirit (Charism) in community. Together they design how they will live their common life.  Women may choose to live with Franciscan Sisters or/and to live with lay women who express the same desires. 

The following is a quote from Cloudia Garza who lives with Sr. Maureen Leach, OSF in San Antonio, Texas:

"I enrolled in this course for several reasons.  First, I needed an elective for my MAPM degree; the time that it was being offered was perfect for my fulltime job and the other three courses that I am taking this spring semester.  The main factor however, was the title of the course. 

I live with a Franciscan Nun and her spirit has inspired me for the year that we have shared meals and prayer.  Being a lay person, I consider it a privilege to share my story and daily living with my Franciscan sister.  She is a wonderful spiritual companion and a role model for me. We pray from her Franciscan book and we share the spirituality but I really don’t know anything about Francis other than living the life with my sister.  Sometimes I think it’s like playing the guitar by ear without knowing the musical notes.  As a result, I am here because I would like to learn my musical notes, the background of my sister’s spirituality and who Francis is."

If you are interested in forming or joining such a community contact:

Sr. Ginny Heldorfer, OSF
Vocation Director
3390 Windsor Avenue
Dubuque, IA 52001
heldorferv@osfdbq.org
Phone 563-583-9786
Text 952-457-25193