During Catholic Sisters Week (March 8-14), we will join other communities of women religious from throughout Western Pennsylvania for a special Morning of Prayer for Compassion & Dignity at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, March 13. We will stand in prayer at the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Pittsburgh. Together, we will pray that compassion, dignity and respect be shown to all, in particular to those who are immigrants.

The theme for CSW 2026 is Stories of Hope and Heart. Our collective prayer action reflects our continuing story of support for immigrants and their fair and just treatment. For, we all are created in the image of God.

All people of good will are invited to join this interfaith prayer vigil. Please click the button below to review some important guidelines before attending.

Our Sisters welcome you to this special Lenten Reflection program at our Franciscan Resource Center in Pittsburgh. Lent calls us to “repent and believe in the Gospel.” Let us consider the ways we can witness to the Gospel of Peace. All are welcome, and no RSVP is necessary.

If you have questions, please email us at FRCpgh@schoolsistersosf.org.

How will this season of Lent be different for you? As we sit with the Scripture readings in the weeks ahead, we meet persons of compassion in Joseph the dreamer, in the prophets Daniel and Micah, Elijah and Hosea, and, of course, in Jesus our Lord.

Journey with us as we meet these figures of empathy and mercy amid the difficult stuff of life. In this Lenten season, we make a prayerful pause and ask ourselves, “Where is God in this situation?” Throughout history, God is with us, responding with love and compassion. The challenge is for us is to “go and do likewise.”

Join Sister Barbara Brown for March’s Simply Prayer: Walking the Lenten Journey with Compassion. We will gather in the first-floor conference room (Blue Room) of St. Francis Center at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. All are welcome to arrive at 9:30 a.m. for coffee.

Registration Details: Freewill offerings will be accepted. To register online now, simply click the button below. If you have questions or would prefer to register by phone or email, please contact Lauren Martin at 610-867-8890 or lmartin@schoolsistersosf.org.

Over the past two months, we have heard that the star directed the Kings to Jesus. Now we hear John the Baptist pointing to Jesus as “The One.” Are we also called to point out Jesus to those we meet? Do we believe He dwells within each and every one of us? Perhaps we need to “fix our eyes on Jesus” so that we can recognize Him in one another and ourselves.

Join Sister M. Virginelle Makos for February’s Simply Prayer: Recognize Christ. We will gather in the first-floor conference room (Blue Room) of St. Francis Center at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. All are welcome to arrive at 9:30 a.m. for coffee.

Registration Details: Freewill offerings will be accepted. To register online now, simply click the button below. If you have questions or would prefer to register by phone or email, please contact Lauren Martin at 610-867-8890 or lmartin@schoolsistersosf.org.

The Magi’s story is our story. Epiphany is the story of seekers. This morning, we will reflect on how we are seeking Christ in the here and now, and what gifts we are bringing to the God of Peace.

Join Sister Marie Therese Sherwood for Simply Prayer during the first week of a new year. We will gather in the first-floor conference room (Blue Room) of St. Francis Center at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. All are welcome to arrive at 9:30 a.m. for coffee.

Registration Details: Freewill offerings will be accepted. To register online now, simply click the button below. If you have questions or would prefer to register by phone or email, please contact Lauren Martin at 610-867-8890 or lmartin@schoolsistersosf.org.

Our Sisters invite you to join them for an Epiphany gathering at 3 p.m. on Sunday, January 4, at our Franciscan Resource Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. It is a time to continue celebrating the Christmas Season and enjoy one another with music, conversation and refreshments. No RSVP is necessary.

For Franciscans, the mystery of the Incarnation is a profound expression of the humility of our God. We invite you to explore this mystery with us as we host Stations of the Crib this holiday season.

Bring your family and join us at Monocacy Manor at 2 p.m. on Sunday, December 22, for an afternoon of song and prayerful reflection. We will revisit 15 events and experiences surrounding the birth of Jesus — from the Annunciation, on the journey to Bethlehem, to the Birth of Christ and the return to Nazareth.

Featured Stations of the Crib

Based on The Gospel of Matthew and Luke, Saint Bonaventure’s The Tree of Life, John Shea’s Starlight, and Sharon’s Christmas Prayer:

• The Annunciation

• The Visitation

• His Name is John

• Joseph

• The Marriage of Mary and Joseph

• The Edict

• Journey to Bethlehem

• The Search for Lodging

• The Birth of the Child

• The Angels The Shepherds

• The Magi

• Simeon and Anna

• The Flight into Egypt

• Return to Nazareth/The Hidden Years

• Growing in Wisdom and Grace

We will gather in the White House Chapel at Monocacy Manor, located at 395 Bridle Path Road in Bethlehem, Pa. No RSVP is necessary. Freewill offerings will be accepted.

By the mystery of the Incarnation, Jesus has truly transformed our lives! Come and join us. It’s a perfect way to enter the very heart of Advent!

Our Sisters welcome all to Las Posadas, a Mexican Christmas tradition that commemorates the journey of Joseph and Mary seeking a room at the inn. The celebration is set for 4 p.m. on Sunday, December 14, at our Franciscan Resource Center in Pittsburgh, Pa. Refreshments will follow.

All are welcome. Freewill offerings accepted. Have questions? Contact us at 412-761-2855 or frcpgh@schoolsistersosf.org.

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The malls and shops in town have been telling us for weeks that Christmas is coming. And you can almost smell Christmas in the air with Christmas trees, candy canes and scented candles. What about the sounds of Christmas with traditional carols like Silent Night and O Come All Ye Faithful? Yes, the sights, smells and sounds of Christmas are all around us, and it’s only early December!

In the midst of all these external happenings, our Church is saying, “Now wait! There is a reason for this time, this season. From the last Sunday in November to December 24, we celebrate the season of Advent. The word advent comes from the Latin word “adventus,” which means “coming.”

Join Sister Marguerite Stewart for Simply Prayer during the first week of Advent, as, together, we wait and seek ways to prepare our hearts for Christmas 2025. We will gather in the first-floor conference room (Blue Room) of St. Francis Center at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. All are welcome to arrive at 9:30 a.m. for coffee.

Registration Details: Freewill offerings will be accepted. To register online now, simply click the button below. If you have questions or would prefer to register by phone or email, please contact Lauren Martin at 610-867-8890 or lmartin@schoolsistersosf.org.

Hanover Township Community Center in Bethlehem, Pa., will host a special harvest bingo to benefit our Monocacy Farm Project ministry. Admission is $25 per person for 20 games. Additional cards are $5. The event also will include raffles, baked goods, and a 50/50 drawing. Admission is limited to 100 people. Doors open at 5 p.m., and the games begin at 6 p.m.

With grateful hearts we prepare to celebrate the harvest of the land. Let us also celebrate with gratitude and joy the men and women whose paths to holiness were blazed in the Americas — a land of challenges and possibilities, a land of struggles and dreams.

Learn about the Jesuit missionaries who gave their lives to convert the Native Americans. Meet the resilient ones — Cardinal John Henry Neuman, Katherine Drexel, Francis Xavier Cabrini, and Elizabeth Ann Seton — who sowed the seeds of faith in northeastern United States and beyond.

Many holy people, once thought to be ordinary, have inspired us in more recent times. Among them is Jose Luis Sanchez Del Rio, a 14-year-old farm boy. Who can forget the courage of Bishop Oscar Romero, or the faith and trust of Father Damien and Sister Marianne Cope, who worked among the lepers of Molokai? Who can doubt that God was at work in the life Josephine Bakhita? Once sold into slavery, she later became a devoted religious sister, and is now the patroness for victims of human trafficking.

Army chaplain Father Stanley Rother shows us the path of humble service and leadership under very difficult circumstances. The audacious Dorothy Day and Robert Ellsberg call us to examine our attitudes regarding social justice, the dignity of each person and the injustice of war. It will be difficult to choose a favorite from so great a harvest of saints!

During this special morning of prayer with Sister Barbara Brown, we will find inspiration in these holy men and women and discover that, with God’s grace, the path to holiness can be discovered in the joys and sorrows of everyday life.

This program will be held in the first-floor conference room (Blue Room) of St. Francis Center at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. Freewill offerings will be accepted. Participants are welcome to join us for coffee at 9:30 a.m.

To register online now, click the button below. If you would prefer to register by phone or pay by check, please call 610-867-8990 or email Lauren Martin at lmartin@schoolsistersosf.org.

Get into the holiday spirit with our 2025 Holiday Craft Fair & Bake Sale, set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 1, in Mullen Hall at Monocacy Manor, 395 Bridle Path Road in Bethlehem, Pa.

Explore a wonderful selection of handmade crafts, gifts, and treats created by local artisans. Enjoy delicious snacks, festive music, and the joy of community. This is the perfect opportunity to find unique holiday gifts and support local creators!

Vendor Spots Available: Interested in showcasing your handwork at our event? Space are available. Contact Lauren Martin at 610-867-8890 or lmartin@schoolsistersosf.org for details.

Baked Goods Needed: We are seeking volunteer bakers to contribute cakes, cookies, cupcakes, breads and more to sell during the craft fair. If you can help, baked goods can be dropped off at St. Francis Center at Monocacy Manor on the following dates:

• Tuesday, October 28 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

• Thursday, October 30 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.)

Bring your friends and family — let’s make this holiday season unforgettable. We look forward to celebrating the season with you!

Our Sisters welcome you to our Franciscan Resource Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., for a presentation that will explore of Sister Death from St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation, as well as El Dia de los Muertos in the Latin tradition. Please note that this program will be offered twice on October 29, so we hope you will be able to join us for one of the presentations. All are welcome, and no RSVP is necessary.

Our Sisters welcome you to our Franciscan Resource Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., for a presentation that will explore of Sister Death from St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation, as well as El Dia de los Muertos in the Latin tradition. Please note that this program will be offered twice on October 29, so we hope you will be able to join us for one of the presentations. All are welcome, and no RSVP is necessary.

Join us in reaching out to our neighbors in need by donating to our Fall Food Drive on Saturday, October 18. From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day, our Sisters will be collecting non-perishable food and essential non-food items to benefit the food pantries at Saints Simon & Jude Parish and Cay Galgon Life House. Monetary donations and grocery store gift cards also will be accepted. Convenient drive-thru dropoff of donations will be available at the garage near the White House.

Suggested Non-Perishable Food Items: Canned goods, boxed meals and sides, water and other beverages, spices and seasonings, coffee, tea bags, baking supplies, baby food, hot and cold cereals, pasta and sauce, and canned meats and fish.

Suggested Non-Food Items: Soap, toothpaste, cleaning supplies, laundry detergent, baby and adult diapers, shampoo and conditioner, personal hygiene items, food storage containers, pet food, paper towels, toilet paper, and kitchen and household items. Please note that these items are not available for purchase with food stamps.

If you do not live nearby but would still like to support this effort, you can make a monetary donation online here.

Monocacy Manor is located at 395 Bridle Path Road in Bethlehem, Pa.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, we will experience many challenges and times when we may not feel hopeful. Join facilitator Bob Olney for an evening focused on the wisdom that can be discovered in our suffering and losses. Together, we will explore how prayer and trust can bring us closer to Jesus.

This program will be held in the first-floor conference room (blue room) of St. Francis Center at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. Registration is $25 per person.

Click the button below to register online now. If you would prefer to register by phone or pay by check, contact Lauren Martin at 610-867-8890 or lmartin@schoolsistersosf.org.

When Mary appeared at Fatima she asked us to pray the rosary daily. Many of us grew up with this devotion. Sometimes we prayed the rosary faithfully and then we might slack off or fall out of the habit.

During this special morning of prayer with Sister M. Virginelle Makos, we will revisit this devotion to better understand the mysteries upon which we meditate. Mary is our Mother and, if she encourages us to use the rosary, perhaps we should to help us — and the whole world — draw closer to Jesus.

This program will be held in the first-floor conference room (Blue Room) of St. Francis Center at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. Freewill offerings will be accepted. Participants are welcome to join us for coffee at 9:30 a.m.

To register online now, click the button below. If you would prefer to register by phone or pay by check, please call 610-867-8890 or email Lauren Martin at lmartin@schoolsistersosf.org.

Welcome one and all! Bring your pets to Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa., for a traditional blessing of the animals to be held outside the White House on the Feast of Saint Francis — Saturday, October 4, from 11 a.m. to noon. Monocacy Manor is located at 395 Bridle Path Road in Bethlehem, Pa. 18017.

For the safety of every person and pet, all animals must be leashed or otherwise secured.

Join our Sisters for a joyful celebration of the Eucharist upon the blessed feast day of our patron saint, Francis of Assisi. We will gather in the White House Chapel at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. No RSVP is necessary. Come pray with us!

Each year, Franciscans and their friends come together to remember the final journey of our father — Francis of Assisi — from life, through death, and to new life in God. We learn much about a person in the last moments of his or her life.

Here, we will recall the things he thought and said and did in his last days and hours on earth. Join us as we accompany our father, Francis of Assisi, as he prepares to meet Sister Death on his way home to God.

We will gather in the White House Chapel at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. No RSVP is necessary. Freewill offerings will be accepted.

Our Sisters welcome you to join them for the Transitus, a special prayer service commemorating the death of St. Francis, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 3, at Mt. Assisi Place in Pittsburgh, Pa. Held annually on the eve of the Feast of St. Francis, this solemn candlelight service will reenact the final hours of the saint’s life. We welcome you to stay for lite refreshments afterwards. No RSVP is necessary.

Mt. Assisi Place (formerly Mount Assisi Convent) is located at 934 Forest Avenue, Pittsburgh PA 15202. The GPS address is 1515 Quaill Avenue (15202).

Our Sisters invite you to join them at our Franciscan Resource Center in Pittsburgh, Pa., for a special Season of Creation program entitled Peace with Creation: Living the Truth of Our Creaturely Kinship, at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 1. All are welcome, and no RSVP is necessary. Freewill offerings will be accepted.

The Franciscan Resource Center is located at 1023 West View Park Drive, Pittsburgh PA 15229.

Join our Sisters on the farm on Sunday, September 28, for the 10th annual Monocacy Farm Food Festival, a family-friendly day featuring local food and craft vendors, live music, Bob Swaim's environmentally-friendly toys, “Meet the Bees” on the Farm, crafts and activities, a Cover Crop Maze, farm tours, info sessions and demos, great raffles and more!

Bring the kids for fall-themed activities and pick up some unique foods and crafts created by folks right here in the Lehigh Valley. There is something for everyone!

The festivities run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free parking and free admission. While you're here, be sure to grab some official Monocacy Farm Project merch and fresh produce grown on the Farm. All proceeds benefit our Monocacy Farm Project ministry in Bethlehem, Pa.

Join the School Sisters of St. Francis — along with our Associates and friends — as we take up Catholic Climate Covenant’s invitation to “embark on a pilgrimage focused on healing and renewal, deepening our relationship with God, one another and the Earth.”

There is indeed much to celebrate in 2025! It is the 800th Anniversary of Francis of Assisi’s Canticle of the Creatures, the 10th Anniversary of the papal encyclical Laudato Si, and the Jubilee Year of Hope. Bring an open heart and a sturdy pair of shoes to journey through the grounds of Monocacy Manor and the Monocacy Farm Project in Bethlehem, Pa., pausing to learn, pray, reflect, and appreciate the beauty that surrounds us.

All ages are welcome, and no RSVP is necessary.

Join our Sisters for the perfect late-summer evening — Monocacy Farm Project’s fifth annual Pairing for a Cause — set for 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, September 12, at Black River Farms Vineyard & Winery in Bethlehem, Pa.

Your $65 ticket includes six exclusive wine pairings in the vineyard. Enjoy vineyard tours; specially-selected wines by Black River Farms, gourmet bites by The Marquee Kitchen, feast, Aroi Mango, Sumac Catering, Panchitas Kitchen and The Little Oven Bakery; live music by Episode; and scrumptious hors d’oeuvres by Wegman’s and Pat’s Pizza & Bistro. There will be a wine pull, a MFP merchandise sale, a silent auction, and a tastebud-tempting raffle. All proceeds benefit the mission and work of our farming ministry.

Save money and get to the fun faster with a VIP Pairing Package, including your event ticket ($65 value), three raffle sheets ($25 value) and a wine pull ($25 value) for just $100! This offer is available only with online presale purchase. Click the button below to order tickets from the MFP website.

Black River Farms is located at 2472 Black River Road in Bethlehem, Pa. Questions? Please email mfp-info@monocacyfarmproject.org or call 610-867-8494.

Please note that this is an outdoor event. In the case of substantial rain, Pairing for a Cause will be rescheduled for Friday, September 19, and all original tickets will be honored.

Jesus told them this parable: “the Kingdom of Heaven is like yeast a woman took and mixed it with three measures of flour till it was leavened all through.” (Mt. 13:33)

As we look at the events that are taking place in our society today, it is clear that we Christians are meant to be “leaven.” We are called to rise in all directions with the compassionate presence of our lives and help others to discover the hint of eternity that flows through the inner rivers of their being. This hint of eternity will nurture hope.

During this special morning of prayer with Sister Marie Therese Sherwood, we will sit with the dough of our lives, waiting for what is finished in us to rise. Knead it, believe in it, call it forth, wait for it … let God make of you fresh new bread.

This program will be held in the first-floor conference room (Blue Room) of St. Francis Center at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. Freewill offerings will be accepted. Participants are welcome to join us for coffee at 9:30 a.m.

To register online now, click the button below. If you would prefer to register by phone or pay by check, please call 610-867-8990 or email Lauren Martin at lmartin@schoolsistersosf.org.

The month of June, in all its beauty, is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our Church encourages us to reflect on the unconditional love of God that this image represents.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart began in 1673 when Jesus appeared in France to a young Vincentian sister, Margaret Mary Alacuque. During this, and subsequent apparitions, Jesus encouraged reparation for the sins of mankind. In turn, He promised many blessings.

In our world today, we are in great need of conversion and turning to the merciful love of God, a devotion that leads to following in the footsteps of Jesus and living a life of love. Join us as we gather to pray and share around the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

This program will be held in the first-floor conference room (Blue Room) of St. Francis Center at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. Participants are welcome to join us for coffee at 9:30 a.m.

Registration Details: Freewill offerings accepted. Please click the button below to register online now. If you would prefer to register by phone, please call 610-867-8890 or email lmartin@schoolsistersosf.org.

About the Presenter: For 12 years, Sister Marguerite served in Rome as vicar general of the School Sisters of St. Francis international congregation, as well as formation director. With more than 30 years of experience, Sister ministers as a spiritual director and workshop presenter. She holds a bachelor’s degree in pastor counseling and spiritual direction studies and, in 2021, celebrated 70 years in religious life.

Believe it or not, it’s time to get outside and jump-start the growing season! To help you do just that, our Monocacy Farm Project ministry will host its fifth annual Spring on the Farm event from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

The day will include a sale of a wide variety of plants direct from our greenhouse (sure to sell out), local food and craft vendors, farm tours, an opportunity to learn about beekeeping and more!

All proceeds from this and all the day’s events benefit the ministry’s good works in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. Parking and admission are free. As the day approaches, keep an eye on the event Facebook page for late-breaking updates, vendor profiles, plant availability and more!

Two weeks after Easter, we hear the stories of life in the company of the Risen Jesus. What was it like? Meet the men and women who accompanied Jesus in the 40 days after his resurrection. Then consider their mission, how the Gospel spread, and how the Church grew under their care.

Today we are the “Easter people.” How should we prepare to take up our mission in the Church? What is expected? What is possible with God’s grace? In this May session of Simply Prayer, Sister Barbara Brown, OSF provides stories to ponder and challenges to meet.

We will gather at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, May 6, in the first-floor conference room (Blue Room) of St. Francis Center at Monocacy Manor in Bethlehem, Pa. Participants are welcome to join us for coffee at 9:30 a.m.

Registration Details: Freewill offerings accepted. Please click the button below to register online now. If you would prefer to register by phone, please call 610-867-8890.

Our Sisters invite you to join them at our Franciscan Resource Center for A Hidden Wholeness: Uncovering an Integral Ecology, set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 24. Presenter Jarrod Kinkley will lead this evening of reflection focused on God’s presence in creation and developing prayer in the midst of community service.

All are welcome and no RSVP is necessary. Freewill offerings will be accepted. The Franciscan Resource Center is located at 1023 West View Park Drive in Pittsburgh, Pa. For more information, email frcpgh@schoolsistersosf.org.