St. Elizabeth Mission Society

Our Christmas appeal and Christmas Cards are live and available! All donations support the ministries of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany in Brazil, Bolivia, Jamaica and the United States. Visit the Mission Society's website to order or call the office at 716-373-1130.

2020 Easter cards are now available! All donations support the ministries of the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany in Brazil, Bolivia, Jamaica and the United States. Visit the Mission Society's website to order or call the office at 716-373-1130.

HIGH WATER COSTS DON'T DETER STUDENTS' FUTURE THANKS TO MISSION SOCIETY GRANT They are adorable and imaginative, and it seems, the children at St. Alvernia Preparatory School in Kingston, Jamaica, are excited about their future. ... While Jamaica’s rich lush tropical climate and clean sandy beaches make it an enticing luxury spot for tourists, behind the colorful scenes and elegant accomodations abounding in tourism magazines the small island country has been experiencing a severe drought for several years. In an effort to conserve water usage, the country has been rationing and driving up water costs. Often, the steep cost of water is absorbed by tourists through their hotel and food costs. However, for the 200 children at St. Alvernia Preparatory School, the high water costs are draining the quality of their education. Challenged financially by the water crisis, the school had to dip into their educational funds to pay the high water bills. Each month, St. Alvernia Preparatory School was paying a whopping $3,406 (in U.S. dollars) just for water, according to school Principal Sheryl Dixon-Lewis. In order to reduce water usage and protect the children’s educational funds, the school chose to replace its old toilets with 25 new aerator toilets. Yet, that project comes with a hefty price tag. The cost of replacing the school’s toilets and updating the plumbing is more than $10,000. But, the school was in luck. As the St. Elizabeth Mission Society is committed to supporting the work of the Sisters in Jamaica (and Bolivia, Brazil, and other marginalized communities in the United States), the Society chose to actively support them with a $5,000 grant. Today, thanks to the resourceful ingenuity of the Sisters and the generosity of the St. Elizabeth Mission Society the children’s future is in good hands.

ST. JOSEPH'S INFANT SCHOOL ROCKS WITH NEW PERCUSSION ENSEMBLE The dream for a band has finally come true for the 300 children of St. Joseph’s Infant School in Kingston, Jamaica. Now, with a new percussion ensemble thanks to a grant from the St. Elizabeth Mission Society, (https://www.franciscanhope.org) the youngsters can rock on with new xylophones, maracas, claves, and melodicas.... The grant afforded us the opportunity to replace old, damaged instruments and to purchase additional ones to facilitate more students, Damian Walters. Music teacher, said, adding. The improved Music Program serves to expose the students to the world of percussion instruments with the hope to one day have a school band. In addition to the creativity and fun of playing percussion together, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, who have been teaching in Jamaica for 80 years, see an additional value in music for the young students. Students who have early musical training will develop the areas of the brain related to reasoning and language, Sr. Teresita Marie DeSouza, OSF, said. As chair of the school board and past principal of the school, Sr. Teresita who initiated the grant application, teams up with members of the sponsorship council which share her commitment to ensuring the students benefit from a rich music program.

PRAY FOR PEACE IN THE WORLD WITH THE FRANCISCAN SISTERS OF ALLEGANY EVERY WEDNESDAY AT NOON Please join the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany in the United States, Jamaica, Bolivia, and Brazil in their prayer for peace in the world by saying (OR SINGING) this prayer every Wednesday at noon. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace;... Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled, as to console; To be understood, as to understand; To be loved, as to love; For it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; And it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen https://youtu.be/ZI1Gst7pEqc

MERRY CHRISTMAS! THE ST. ELIZABETH MISSION SOCIETY WISHES YOU A JOYOUS AND BEAUTIFUL CHRISTMAS. The office will be closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and will reopen on Thursday, December 26.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!! Warmest wishes for a blessed and joyful Thanksgiving Day. The St. Elizabeth Mission Society will be closed to celebrate the holiday on Thursday and Friday, November 28 and 29, and will reopen on Monday, Dec. 1.

CATTARAUGUS GIVES SUPPORTS THE VITALLY IMPORTANT RELIEF WORK OF THE ALLEGANY FRANCISCAN SISTERS IN BOLIVIA, BRAZIL, JAMAICA, AND U.S. ON DECEMBER 3. Your financial support will ensure the marginalized children, adults, and elderly living in these third world conditions will continue to receive the benevolent outreach, education and health care provided by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany to the poorest of the world's poor. Open your hearts on December 3, so they can continue to open their hands all year. THANK YOU!! https://www.cattaraugusgives.org//st-elizabeth-mission-soc

RENODIN FOUNDATION AND ST. ELIZABETH MISSION SOCIETY AWARD GRANTS TO WARMING HOUSE http://www.oleantimesherald.com//article_b926a4b3-a9e9-530

St. Elizabeth Mission Society and the Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation bid farewell to Connie Cooper last week. Connie was a gift to both organizations for three years as our Communications Coordinator. She will now be enjoying more time with her family in the Erie area. We are truly happy for her, but she will be dearly missed by our staff, board members, friends and of course, the Sisters.

Join Laura Whitford, president of the Dr. Lyle F. Renodin Foundation and St. Elizabeth Mission Society, and Sr. Melissa Scholl, president of Canticle Farm, by p...articipating in Cattaraugus Gives! They are registered and ready, and you should be too! These organizations do so much to support those living and poverty or facing financial hardship locally and across the globe the Renodin Foundation and St. Elizabeth Mission society through responsible grantmaking and Canticle Farm by providing produce to organizations alleviating food insecurity. Join these organizations by registering today, or get ready to support them and a number of other deserving community causes on Dec. 3 at cattaraugusgives.org

Happy Feast of St. Francis! https://www.franciscanhope.org/

On this date in 1934, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany opened St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa. Over the past 85 years, their legacy has expanded to include St.... Joseph's Children's Hospital, St. Joseph's Women's Hospital, St. Joseph's Hospital-North and St. Joseph's Hospital-South. We are proud to be a part of their mission to be a beacon of healing and compassion to those in need. See more

MAKING A DIFFERENCE The Mission Society is proud to announce that its Board of Directors recently awarded 16 grants totaling $59,400 to organizations with actively engaged Franciscan Sisters and Associates in the United States, Bolivia, Brazil and Jamaica. Click on the link for the details! https://www.franciscanhope.org/grants/2019-recipients/