USA MISSION

Saint Francis was a lover of all creatures. As followers of St. Francis of Assisi, we are called and challenged to give ourselves unreservedly. Together, as Franciscan Family, we are called to share our Franciscan values in following the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi and Mother Kevin, the Founder of The Little Sisters.

Mother Mary Kevin Kearney travelled all the way to Africa in 1903 to spread the good news of our ord Jesus Christ. Her goal was always to care for the poor and marginalised children and empower women and girls by offering health care and education. She touched the lives of many people through her words and deeds. She was a woman of great Faith, Hope and Charity. Everything she accomplished portrayed her as a highly gifted woman who trusted entirely in Divine Providence. We too, as Little Sisters, are called to spread the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and follow the spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi and Our Foundress Mother Mary Kevin with trust. Mother Kevin always says, “You do not need a lot of money….. Start in faith and the money will come.”

In 1990 Sr. Agnes Narocho was sent to Gallaudet University in-the USA to study Special Education. Along with Sister Agnes, many students studied in different Universities. During her Summer break, she was commissioned to carry out the Mission Cooperative Appeal for the Institute in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Archdiocese of Milwaukee assigned her a couple of parishes for the mission in Fond Du Lac.

The Franciscan Sisters in Fond Du Lac welcomed Sr. Agnes to stay in their community while she carried out her mission appeal for two weeks. She lived at Villa Loretto in the town of Mt. Calvary. During her stay at Villa Loretto, she helped the sisters in the nursing home taking care of the housekeeping and laundry. The home is operated by the sisters of Servants of Christ the King. Sr. Narocho did a tremendous job and so impressed the sisters, that they asked Sr. Agnes if there was a possibility of getting more Little Sisters of St. Francis to work in their facility. They needed more help because they were experiencing loss of the workers due to unrelenting snow storms and subsequent floods and suffering in that area.

Sr. Agnes did communicate the matter with the superior General at the time concerning the request for sisters to give service at the Villa Lorretto. The Superior General and her council honoured the request and; three Sisters were appointed in 1995 (Sr. Samuel Ibotet, Sr. Isabella Kanyua and Sr. Hermengilda Nulunyima ) to carry on the mission of Mother Kevin in USA at Villa Lorretto. These three sisters established the first community of the Little Sisters of St. Francis in USA. After the years passed, the fruits and the work of the Little Sisters can be seen in various states in the United States.

After Sister Agnes completed her studies, she opened several group homes and assisted living facilities for mentally challenged adults in Williamsburg, Virginia. Some sisters joined her in her ministry.Besides the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, the Little Sisters were invited to work in the Diocese of Syracuse. Sr. Anisia, Sr. Scholastica and Sr. Lilia, began a community at St. Anthony of Padua Parish in the Diocese of Syracuse. During her time of service with other sisters, she was inspired to start our Mission office in Endicott/Binghamton. She and other sisters established the Incorporation for the Little Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi that is Incorporated in the Diocese of Syracuse. To date we have sisters working in New York, the Archdiocese of Richmond in Virginia, the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, and the Diocese of Scranton in Pennsylvania, Diocese of Springfield in Missouri, and Diocese of Brooklyn, New York. As the mission of the Little Sisters start to grow in USA, The Superior General of the Institute felt a need to start another Incorporation of the Institute. Therefore, the Incorporation of the Institute – USA Mission Inc., was established in 2021 in the Diocese of Scranton. As years passed the Little Sisters have established their mission in various States in USA.

Our presence in the USA has provided the Little Sisters of St. Francis the opportunity to spread the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in keeping with the Spirituality of St. Francis of Assisi and Our Foundress Mary Mother Kevin Kearny. She died here in Boston in October 17th 1957. Mother Mary Kevin was dearly loved by the Little Sisters of St. Francis and the people of Uganda.