About Us
We are a semi-contemplative Congregation of Sisters whose first and primary end is the promotion of the honor and glory of Almighty God. This purpose is achieved through sanctifying ourselves by the observance of the simple vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience; observing the Rule of the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis of Assisi as approved by the Holy Father Pope Leo X; observing our Constitutions; and by unswerving fidelity to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to the teaching, discipline, and worship passed on to us by Holy Mother Church from the time of the Apostles.
The secondary purpose of the Congregation is the salvation of souls through a limited apostolate in teaching, sacristy work, and assisting the sick and dying.
We belong to the Capuchin branch of the Franciscan Order and, in keeping with the Capuchin customs, our constitutions protect the contemplative spirit of our congregation. When we are not engaged in our limited outside work, we remain in cloister where the spirit of silence and recollection permit the Sisters to remain united to and in conversation with their Divine Spouse.
The Capuchin Sisters lead a life without possessing anything of their own, trying to keep their hearts detached from goods and pleasures of this world, and obeying a superior in all that is not opposed to the Rule, in order to grow every day in the love and intimacy of God. St. Francis placed a particular emphasis on the spirit of poverty, humility and penance, of which the delicious fruits are spiritual peace and joy. A certain distance from the noise and agitation of the world allows the Capuchin Sisters to lead a life of prayer, in silence and recollection, which are necessary conditions for the development of the spiritual life.
Devotion to Christ Crucified
It was the Crucified Christ that called St. Francis. It was He who attracted him. “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,” Our Lord said to his Apostles. That is what He did for us. The marvelous love by which the Son of God Himself shed His Blood for our salvation cannot leave an ardent soul indifferent. St. Francis wanted to repay Christ love for Love, and this is what all his spiritual children desire. In the depths of the heart of every Franciscan, of every Capuchin, resounds this prayer composed by the Patriarch of Assisi:
“May the fiery and delicious ardor of Your Love, I pray you, O my Lord, absorb my soul and make it a stranger to all that is under heaven; that I may die for love of Your Love, You who deigned to die for love of my love. I ask You for Yourself, Son of God, Who, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, reign for ever and ever. Amen.”
To contemplate, love and imitate Christ, crucified for love of men, this can be said to be the quintessence of Franciscan spirituality. The life of the Capuchin, with all of its renunciations, is a consequence of the love of Christ crucified, and the means of walking more freely on the path He tread first before us. True love does not shrink from sacrifice; on the contrary, it is nourished by it.
Spiritual Exercises
The Sisters begin and end each day with mental prayer. Our spiritual exercises include the daily chanting of the entire “Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary,” the holy Rosary, spiritual reading, Scripture, morning and evening prayers in common, and a perpetual novena to the special patron of our convent, St. Joseph. We also have a special devotion to the Stations of the Cross, the Sorrowful Mother, and the Franciscan Crown. Throughout the day, we observe simple silence, speaking only out of necessity and in a low voice. Grand silence is observed from Compline until after Lauds the following day. Twice a day, except during Advent and Lent, we share our Franciscan Joy with one another through very lively recreations.
Capuchin Sisters of St Joseph 