About Us
Our Mission
In the spirit of Francis and Clare, Father Lissner and Mother Theodore, and compelled by the love of Jesus, we, the Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary, are committed to joyful evangelization and empowerment of people, especially those experiencing discrimination.
Our Leadership
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Who We Are
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In front of the Motherhouse, Harlem, NY: |
We are a congregation of sisters founded by Rev. Ignatius Lissner, SMA, and Mother Theodore Williams, FHM, an African-American woman, in Savannah, Georgia, in 1916.
We are followers of St. Francis committed to the gospel way of life.
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| Sister Hyacinth (of Blessed Memory) |
We are disciples of Christ consecrated to Him by vows of poverty, chastity and obedience.
We are women religious based in New York, with our motherhouse in Harlem.
We are daughters of Mary dedicated to serve one another and those committed to our care with the same diligence, zeal and love with which she served her Divine Son.
We are Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary bound together in the service of our God and our people.
We are a community of sisters from diverse cultural backgrounds united in the service of God’s people, particularly those of African descent.
We are evangelists compelled by the love of Christ to teach, to counsel, to catechize, to comfort, to heal and to be instruments of God’s peace and justice.
We are missionaries who have served with
- the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement in High Point, North Carolina
- the Josephite Fathers in Wilmington, North Carolina
- the Society of African Mission Fathers in Georgetown, South Carolina
- the Passionist Fathers in Kingston, Jamaica
- and we are working with an African mission in Nigeria.
We are the sisters who have opened wide our doors to the poor, the sick, the hungry, the imprisoned, the oppressed, the immigrant, the homeless, the child, the youth, and the aged.
Articles About Us
From the New York Times, October 13, 2001: Dwindling Numbers, Constant Faith; Mostly Black Order of Nuns in Harlem Celebrates 85 Years
From the Staten Island Advance:
Staten Island students celebrate 100 days with 100 donations


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