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THREE MINUTES WITH THE SAINTS
Everyday Saints: The Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal
Saints among us
When we hear the word “saint,” we typically think of great spiritual heroes of the past like St. Peter, St. Teresa of Avila, or St. Francis of Assisi; all of these saints are immortalized (some would say calcified) in marble statues and stained-glass images. They are inspiring, but not always approachable. What we tend to forget is that every one of them was a living, breathing person just like us. They had hopes and dreams, fears and failings, as they made their way through the world seeking to follow Jesus as best they could, just like we do.
Ultimately, we are all called to be saints. Thus, it makes total sense that there would be saints living among us today; let’s call them “everyday saints.” In today’s installment of “Three Minutes With the Saints,” I want to focus on just such a group of 21st century saints serving both God and man in New York City and beyond even as I type this. Let’s meet the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal.
The Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal is a religious community founded in 1988 as a parallel to the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal. The following thumbnail sketch is taken from their mission statement:
