Mother of the Eucharist Convent, Bastress, Pennsylvania
The Capuchin Sisters of Nazareth is a Catholic Franciscan community of women religious who are apostolic contemplatives. Started in 1995 under the direction of Cardinal Sean O’Malley, also a Capuchin, in the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts. The sisters were inspired to live Franciscan way of life in the spirit of the Capuchin Reform of 1525.
To better live in quiet and solitude, the sisters left the streets of New Bedford, MA, and moved to Tunkhannock, PA on October 28, 2001, with the permission of Cardinal O’Malley. Through the help of generous benefactors, here they built their motherhouse, the Mother of God Convent.
Quickly outgrowing their motherhouse, the sisters petitioned Bishop Martino for an additional convent. With the rectory at Bastress now empty following the linking of Immaculate Conception and St. Luke parishes, and the staff of Sisters of Christian Charity at Immaculate Conception now reduced to three, Bishop Martino arranged for the Capuchin Sisters to take charge of the Immaculate Conception Convent, renaming it Mother of the Eucharist Convent, on November 30, 2006, and the Sisters of Christian Charity relocated to the former parish rectory.
The Mother of the Eucharist Convent serves as the Capuchin Sister’s postulate formation house, and shortly after arriving, the men of the parish built a hermitage for the sisters on the mountain above the convent, for their periods of isolated prayer.
Following the poor, humble life of the Poverello of Assisi, St. Francis, and in union with the spirit of the Capuchin branch of the Franciscan order, the sisters strive to live a joyful, simple lifestyle. So, "poor in fact but rich in spirit", they entrust themselves to Divine Providence.
The Capuchin Sisters' prayer life is centered on Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. Mass and Eucharistic Holy Hours are part of their daily life. They also pray together, at the prescribed hours, the beautiful prayer of the Roman Catholic Church: the Liturgy of the Hours. In this way, by the lifting up of their voices in song and their minds in prayer throughout the day, God is constantly being praised in their convents.
The sisters also pray daily for the intentions of the world, for the Holy Father and all Bishops, priests, and deacons, and for all those who ask for their prayers. Taking their call and consecration seriously, they strive to bring to their Spouse, Jesus Christ, all the pain, poverty, and sickness of our empty world, so that it may be filled with His divine grace and goodness.
Visit the Sister's website here for more information on their order: www.capuchinfranciscansisters.com
