OUR VALUES
Leading with Values
The values of the Sisters were inherited from St. Francis and St. Clare, who both exemplified a life of prayer, dignity of others, conversion, serving the poor, and responsibility for God’s earth.
The Sisters will always be rooted in faith, centered around their relationship with God through prayer, striving to be like St. Francis, who was reverent, humble, joyful and filled with praise for the goodness of God. Through this faith, they are also rooted in the values of dignity of the individual, peace and justice, conversion of heart, and responsible stewardship.
These values can be seen in the rich history of the Sisters, making differences to individuals, groups, communities, and our world. Some, such as the start of the Academy of the Immaculate Conception, which later was incorporated, and Marian College, now Marian University, are well known. Others, such as the Sisters’ work with minorities, Native Americans, and foreign missions in China and Papua New Guinea, and standing up on behalf of the poor may have been more discreet, or their volunteering at food pantries and hospitals may have even gone unnoticed. But it all had a positive impact, which is not only their goal, but their mission.
The Value of Prayer
Prayer is one of our most powerful ministries. It embodies who we are. Prayer comes in many forms, both as groups and individuals, including liturgies, meditation, centering prayer, personal prayer, music, and reflections to just name a few. All lead to an ongoing relationship with God.
Through prayer, we learn to respond to our calling. Prayer is personal and unique for each of us, yet it is all inclusive. Our prayers are petitions, adorations, reparations, and thankfulness. Our petitions are usually for something or someone else, the requests that affect daily lives and situations, both big and small. Our adorations show our reverence, strong admiration, and devotion to God. Our reparations ask for forgiveness for ours and others’ sins toward God. Our thankfulness acknowledges God’s goodness and cultivates a spirit of gratitude.
As stated in our constitution, “We strive in prayer to be as St. Francis was: reverent, humble, joyful and filled with praise and thanksgiving for the goodness of God. Daily we are called to pray both alone and together. Coming before God in solitude, we listen and respond to the Spirit. Gathering in Jesus’ name we share his word and support one another.” We do not stand alone in our commitment to prayer. We can all be people of prayer. We can all find our calling, rejoice in each other, and ask forgiveness when we fail. Through prayer, we do not escape the world, we enter it more fully, with the heart of Christ.
The Value of Dignity of the Individual
As stated in our Vision and Journey, “As Franciscans we show mutual concern, forgiveness and loyalty, and we extend special care toward the sick and those in need. The Franciscan joy, hospitality and service that bind us to one another empower us to encompass all people as brothers and sisters.”
Francis and Clare both focused on creating caring communities through their great love and respect for the dignity of each individual. They believed in and nurtured genuine friendships based on openness, honesty, mutual interest, and support. Their outreach was intended to be all-inclusive and they regarded others as equals. Francis and Clare called men and women to be brothers and sisters.
We see each person as a reflection of God – beloved, sacred, and worthy of honor. We listen with empathy, accompany with gentleness, and create spaces of belonging. Whether in ministry, community, or advocacy, we work to ensure that every person is seen, heard, and valued. We walk with our sisters and brothers, whoever they are and wherever they may be in life.
We strive to reflect in our lives and in our service our belief in the presence of God, dwelling among us, loving us unconditionally, and calling us in that love to accept our dignity as human persons endowed with the very life of our Creator. We recognize and affirm the personal gifts and talents of each person. We likewise acknowledge and celebrate the gift of rich diversity present among us. Through collaboration and mutual support, we empower one another and strive to achieve life-giving unity within authentic relationships.
The Value of Peace and Justice
Rooted in the Gospel and responsive to the cries of our time, we walk the path of peacemaking. Our justice work is contemplative and active: showing up for the marginalized, advocating through letters and phone calls, and sowing hope in places of despair. We believe peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, compassion, and courageous truth.
We strive to reflect in our lives and in service our belief that individual response to God’s initiative is best experienced and fostered in the sharing of ourselves, gifts, and talents. We desire to be concretely responsive to the ever-present issues of peace and justice. In this stance, and together with church, religious, and civic communities, we dare to challenge contemporary values and practices which are contrary to the Gospels wherever they occur. We likewise challenge one another to venture into new creative responses to ever-changing needs among and together with a diversity of God’s people.
This concept is not new to us. In 1892, the Sisters opened St. Ann’s, the only school for African American children in the segregated city of Indianapolis, Indiana and continued to staff other African American schools in other cities. In 1935, the Sisters responded to missionary work among Native Americans. They helped establish schools and a religious congregation in Papua New Guinea from 1960 to 2011. We have been present at borders, helped establish a women and children’s task force, and continue to mentor those in need. Although it may look different now, we have always had a strong sense of peace and justice.
The Value of Conversion of Heart
The Value of Responsible Stewardship
Inspired by St. Francis, we acknowledge the Earth as sacred. We practice stewardship that is both spiritual and practical, tending to the land, advocating for sustainability, and educating future generations. From the legacy of Michaela Farm to our Laudato Si’ commitments, we honor creation with reverence and responsibility. We believe that to care for creation is to care for all life, especially the poor and vulnerable, who are most impacted by environmental harm. Ecological justice and social justice are inseparable. Every act of conservation, every step toward sustainability, is also a step toward protecting human dignity and building a more compassionate world.
We strive to reflect in our lives and in service our belief that an intimate relationship with God calls us to responsible stewardship: delight with all creation, reverence for persons, responsible use of the earth’s resources, and freely sharing the gifts entrusted to us with those in need and less fortunate.
St. Francis saw all of creation as kin; the sun, the moon, the animals, the elements, and every human being. Inspired by his deep reverence for life and his radical simplicity, we also seek to live in harmony with the natural world, nurturing a profound spiritual connection to the land and all its inhabitants.
We hold the conviction that to care for creation is to care for all life. The cries of the Earth and the cries of the poor are intertwined. We cannot work for ecological healing without also working for justice, equity, and human dignity.