Diocese of Buffalo-Vicar for Religious

The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) is a canonically approved membership organization which exists as a support system and corporate voice for leaders of institutes of women religious (Catholic sisters) in the United States.

The purpose of the Conference is to promote an understanding of the religious life of Catholic sisters in the United States through its service to religious leaders.

The following are the members of the Buffalo LCWR and their mission statements:

Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul

We Are A Community of Women

Committed By Vow

To Live the Charism of St. Vincent and St. Louise.

Therefore, we will move toward service that addresses absolute human need that is not being met (food, shelter, clothing, safety, health, education, work, socialization/relational needs, spiritual formation).

We will respond to these needs with an attitude of availability and mobility strengthened by prayer and by service together in the apostolate.

Where possible, we will choose to live in the midst of the poor as a sign of our solidarity with them.

Felician Sisters

As Felician Sisters, inspired by our foundress, Blessed Mary Angela, we

FOLLOW THE GOSPEL

in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi

LIVE THE VOWED LIFE

as active-contemplative women

EVANGELIZE

in all our ministries

STRIVE TO BECOME THE COMPASSIONATE PRESENCE OF JESUS
to all

Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Divine Child

The Mission of our Community is to internalize the Gospel in the Spirit of St. Francis, so that we become living witnesses of God’s Incarnate love. We express this by our consecrated service to the people of God particularly through:

Christian Education

Parochial Ministry

Spiritual Guidance

Franciscan Sisters of Allegany

We, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, seek to live the Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ. We witness to God’s love in the Franciscan tradition by living as sisters to all creation and by joyfully serving others, especially those who are poor or marginalized.

Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph

We, the Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph, are vowed religious living in Fraternity, Simplicity, Servanthood, and Joy. The Gospel way of life directs us to respect and care for all persons and all creation. Through ongoing conversion and with a compassionate heart, we commit ourselves to continue Francis’ mission of peace and to be a voice that transforms the world of the vulnerable. This we do with love and joy!

Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart

We, the Grey Nuns of the Sacred heart, are dedicated to contemplating and incarnating Gospel values. As daughters of Marguerite d’Youville, Mother of Universal Charity, who was motivated by a consciousness of God as Eternal Father, we continue her mission: to be signs of God’s constant and unconditional love for every person. We are an apostolic religious congregation in the Roman Catholic Church, striving to integrate our faith with our actions and to see each being and all of creation as gifts of God.

Our overriding concern is that the Gospel be proclaimed to all we serve, especially the poor and the needy of our world. We have a preferential love for the materially poor and demonstrate it in our life and works by:

	living more simply;
	working with the poor, sharing our love and abilities and being enriched by their gifts;
	educating ourselves and others to the responsibility in justice to satisfy the needs of the poor;
	acting upon unjust societal conditions.

Aware of our rich heritage of responsiveness, we will continue to identify and address new societal needs, ever mindful of the neglected, rejected and uncared-for people of our world. We will collaborate with one another and with other groups and individuals to increase the influence of God’s love within our world.

Rooted in the heart of Jesus, we accept the difficulties and sufferings, which are our share in the Cross, as opportunities to participate fully in the Paschal Mystery. Trusting in Divine Providence, we embrace a future empowered and enriched by God’s love.

Missionary Sisters of St. Columban

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and in response to God’s grace and love, the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of St. Columban was founded to participate in the Church’s missionary task of proclaiming the Gospel to the nations….sent in her name we spread the Good News of the Kingdom of God, especially among those who have not yet received it.

Conscious of God’s loving care for all peoples, in collaboration with those who share our vision, we commit ourselves to:

	entering into dialogue with other religions and cultures;
	building peace in the midst of violence, injustice and death;
	walking in solidarity with the poor and marginalized;
	recognizing the dignity and place of women in a society where they are exploited and their person is denied;
	caring for the earth which is threatened with devastation.

Receiving life and inspiration from the people among whom we live and work, we place our hope and trust in the experience of a loving God who never leaves us and whose promise to remain with us as we continually celebrate.

Sisters of St. Francis of Penance & Christian Charity

We are women choosing to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ as Sisters of St. Francis in the spirit of our foundress, Magdalen Daeman. Our diversity of gifts is a power we choose to use for and with others because we are sisters to all.

Conscious of our personal, communal and national experience of history, sin and grace, we, as people of God, commit ourselves to human rights, ecological harmony and global peace.

Wherever we live and serve, we contemplate the Word of God and call one another to conversion of heart in order to transform unjust structures and to hear the cry of the poor.

Trusting in God and open to risk, we walk with courage.

Sisters of St. Francis of the Third Order Regular

With hearts open to the Word of God, we the Sisters of St. Francis of the Third Order Regular of Buffalo journey in faith and love as pilgrims within the global Church.

We strive to live joyfully the Gospel following the example of St. Francis and Mother Mary Francis Bachmann.

As women of prayer, committed to continual conversion, we dedicate our service to the needy: especially the poor and those suffering injustice.

United fraternally in a spirit of poverty, simplicity and reverence, we seek to bring Christ’s peace to all.

Sisters of St. Joseph

We, the Sisters of St. Joseph and Associates of Buffalo, freely respond to God’s call to live the reconciling, unifying mission of Jesus. We desire to live in a dynamic spirit, tempered by gentleness, peace and joy. In prayer and service, we move toward an all-inclusive love of God, of neighbor and of all creation.

The quality of our presence is the essence of our ministry. With special concern for the poor and marginalized, we engage in various ministries that attend to the needs of our neighbor.

We cooperate with others in confronting and seeking to change unjust structures.

Responding to the challenges and risks in our lives, we seek to be a leaven and a healing presence of Jesus.

Sisters of St. Mary of Namur

We are Sisters of St. Mary, apostolic women religious, consecrated by vows in the Church, together to live our faith in Jesus Christ. Nourished by prayer, we offer our lives in simplicity and joy.

In the spirit of our founders, we minister in diverse ways to the needs of our times.

Witnessing to the love of Christ for all, we give priority to the poor of the earth.

Sisters of Mercy of the Americas

Animated by the Gospel and Catherine McAuley’s passion for the poor, we, the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, are impelled to commit our lives and resources to act in solidarity with:

	the economically poor of the world, especially women and children;
	women seeking fullness of life and equality in church and society;
	one another as we embrace our multicultural and international reality.

This commitment will impel us to:

	develop and act from a multicultural, international perspective;
	speak with a corporate voice;
	work for systemic change;
	act in harmony and interdependence with all creation; and
	call ourselves to continual conversion in our lifestyle and ministries.

Sisters of Social Service

We live a life that is:

	rooted in the Holy Spirit,
	grounded in the spirit of St. Benedict,
	characterized by an informed social consciousness,
	and contemporary in its life style.

We are called:

	to witness to God’s Holy Spirit of Love,
	to deepen and spread the spirituality of communion within and outside the community,
	to share in Christ’s concern for the poor,
	to participate in the social mission of the Church, to minister to families, women and children.